TOW #28 - The United States of Europe (T.R. Reid)

In his informative book, The United States of Europe, T.R. Reid explains how Europe has surpassed America as the new superpower and put an end to American supremacy. The book was published in 2004, before all the drama regarding the European Union put into question the very assertion Reid attempts to claim. As a well-established reporter, author, and documentary film correspondent, Reid is extremely credible. His audience is chiefly those with a prior understanding of the European Union and its role in the global community. In order to show that the European Union is the next superpower, Reid includes a lengthy appendix, uses economic statistics, and quotations from credible sources. Reid includes a lengthy appendix at the back of the book for multiple reasons to establish his ethos. The appendix lists the European Union nation countries and shares a great deal of information on each one, such as their land area, population, per capita income, and much more. Reid provides a resource that allows the readers to more deeply understand the issue. Reid also includes economic statistics to demonstrate the might of the European Union. For example, he shares, “European investment in the U.S. was almost $900 billion” (120). This large sum of money shows the influence that the European Union has on America and, as a result, the rest of the word. These statistics are an example of logos and help logically prove Reid’s argument. Finally, Reid includes quotations from credible sources to soothe any of the reader's’ doubts about his own credibility. For example, he quotes Jean-Pierre Malivoir, who came up with the symbol for the Euro. Malivoir writes, “I took epsilon and imposed two parallel lines. Then we sent it out to citizen panels all over the eurozone, and they liked it” (73). Clearly, not just Reid believes in the success and popularity of the European Union. Ultimately, Reid’s argument is extremely clear and is successfully proved through his book, largely a result of his rhetoric.  

TOW #27 - Bangkok Street Food Ban: Is the Thai Capital Really Getting Rid of Vendors? (Helen Coffey)

Helen Coffey recently published an article in the popular news site Independent in order to calm the nerves of many a concerned tourist. A well-established British author, Coffey, explains the recent actions by the Thai government that stated all Bangkok food vendors must be gone by the end of 2017. While this might not seem like a big deal, anyone who has visited Thailand has seen the extent to which these vendors affect cultural life. They are extremely popular and both locals and tourists alike rely on the vendors for cheap eats in two of the most famous Bangkok neighborhoods, the backpacker-friendly Khao San Road, and Yaowarat or Chinatown. Those concerned about the upcoming ban is her chief audience so, as a result, her purpose is to demonstrate that the ban will likely not be as terrible as many people think. In order to accomplish this, she quotes foreigners living in Bangkok and long-time Bangkok residents. She quotes foreigners living in Bangkok to connect with her audience who are mostly not Thai residents. This also helps establish her ethos, as it shows she has done her research. For example, she writes, “Richard Barrow, one of the longest running travel bloggers in Thailand, has claimed the report is “fake news.” This decisive and comforting statement made by someone in a similar situation to the audience helps prove her point. Coffey also quotes long-time Bangkok residents because their lack of concern helps put her audience at ease. The author shares, “Chongtong said locals believe it is a matter of regulation rather than prohibition.” Clearly, there is not as much to be worried about as the news originally state. Ultimately, Coffey’s use of direct quotes, both from foreigners and from Thai natives, allowed her tale to calm the concerns of many travelers who want nothing more than to eat Thai street food.

TOW #26 - Peaceful Bear Pillow Pet

The Peaceful Bear pillow pet pictured above is a classic example of advertising directed at a very specific audience: young children. Pillow pets are themed comfortable pillows that are easy to fold up, doubling as stuffed animals. They have been extremely successful in the commercial world, grossing millions of dollars in sales each year since the mid-2000s. The designs of these infamous pets are specifically tailored to their audience. In order to get kids to want the Peaceful Bear, the designers used multiple bright colors, a smiley face on the bear, and a visibly plush exterior. The bright colors are used because it is common knowledge that young children enjoy bright flashy colors that catch their attention. This specific pet features purple, blue, green, orange, pink, yellow, and blue. All of these colors used together also gives off a sense of the supernatural, and kids enjoy using their imagination to play with their pets. These fantasies are enhanced by the many colors. Additionally, the bear is smiling, and this is extremely important as it gives off a vibe of happiness. Considering that the animal pictured is a bear, generally an animal to be feared by small children, the smiling face encourages the children to believe that the bear is a friendly one, and that there is no need to be afraid. Finally, a visibly plush exterior is important as it convinces both the children and the parents buying the pet for the children that the pet is comfortable.Since the ultimate function of the toy will be as a pillow, comfort is an absolute necessity. The small bristles you can see on the pet confirm that it is indeed quite comfortable. Ultimately, the use of visual devices that appeal to kids and satisfy parents are what make the item so popular. With these rhetorical devices it is understandable why the product is so popular.

IRB Intro Post #4

This marking period, I am choosing to read The United States of Europe by T.R. Reid because the close relationship between European nations has always interested me. Like the last book I read, this one was sitting on Mr. Yost’s shelf when I noticed it. I am looking forward to learning about how the European Union has become a global power and what this means for American foreign policy. The book was written in 2004, meaning that Brexit had not yet occurred. This will be interesting for me to put into context, as I will understand more fully how the political, economic, and social situation of Europe led to this decision.

TOW #25 - Want to Know Where Yiddish is Going? Ask Directions in Israel (Rukhl Schaechter)

In his article published in Forward, a popular Jewish news source, Rukhl Schaechter explains how Yiddish, while commonly believed to be an almost-extinct language, is still spoken by many Israelis. Since Israel’s founding in 1948, Hebrew has been taught as the nation’s principal language. However, the founders of this country originally spoke Yiddish, a German-based dialect unique to the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe. As European immigrants began to die, their descendants spoke less Yiddish. However, Schaechter’s purpose is to prove that Yiddish is not as much of a dead language as many believe. He accomplishes this through sophisticated jargon and personal examples. The specialized jargon Schaechter uses is extremely important in establishing his ethos. Although he is a good and knowledgeable writer, he is not an expert on the Yiddish language. For that reason, his naming of Israeli places and Yiddish terms is necessary to show that his own personal interest has made him an expert. For example, he writes, “They may not know...Yiddish classes and cultural events like Leyvik House,Yung Yidish and Beit Sholem Aleichem.” These events and terms would only be known to an expert, making Schaechter seem extremely trustworthy. Schaechter also uses personal examples to make his case, and these are important because of their number. Because the author is trying to prove an unpopular opinion, many examples are necessary to do this. He shares his son’s experiences with two shopkeepers, a passerby, and a taxi driver in order to do this. He writes, “The driver didn’t smile enthusiastically, but simply replied in Yiddish with no emotion, as if hearing a 31-year old guy speaking Yiddish occurred on a daily basis.” This example really helps Schaechter’s assertion that speaking Yiddish is more common than people think. In the end, because of the caliber of his examples, Schaechter’s argument is understood and accepted by the audience.

TOW #24 - On the Hunt for the Lost City of Z (Thomas Page)

In an article published in CNN, a sophisticated news source, Thomas Page shares the story of an explorer who traced the footsteps of the historical figure Percy Fawcett. In 1925, Fawcett disappeared deep in the Brazilian Amazon along with his son after numerous expeditions to discover an ancient civilization known as the Lost City of Z. His fate unknown, David Grann returned 90 years later to where Fawcett was last seen in an attempt to find anything that might shed light on the mystery. Thomas Page’s goal is to inform the general public about a fascinating topic. To accomplish this, he uses an advanced vocabulary, he provides helpful visuals, and he explains the historical context. An advanced vocabulary is necessary due to Page’s audience. the audience Page is trying to appeal to. CNN is a popular news source commonly read by intellectuals, so Page tailors his diction accordingly. He writes, “A variety of thinly-veiled retellings appeared in Hollywood, and his story was pastiched in a 1930s Tintin comic.” The vocabulary used in this sentence can be difficult to understand, but it gives his article an informational tone that matches his purpose. Page also provides helpful visuals that help establish his ethos as well as aid the audience’s understanding. For example, he includes a map of Fawcett’s Final Expedition in 1925. This image helps the audience understand exactly where the story takes place, putting it into perspective for them. These visual touches are essential in informing the audience more about Fawcett’s original expedition and Grann’s later expedition. Finally, Page explains the historical context of both expeditions so that the audience fully appreciates their significance and has a holistic understanding of the topic. He writes, “A military officer posted around the British Empire, Fawcett found his calling in uncharted Amazonia in the early 20th century.” This context helps the reader understand who Fawcett was and what made him so interesting. This is necessary in being completely informed on the subject. Ultimately, Page successfully allows his audience to gain a full understanding on the search for the Lost City of Z.

TOW #23 - Abraham Lincoln's DNA and Other Adventures in Genetics (2nd Half - Philip Reilly)

In the second half of Abraham Lincoln’s DNA and Other Adventures in Genetics, Philip R. Reilly does the same thing he does in the first half, which is to share his research on the different effects genetics has on a person’s mental and physical characteristics. He does this, once again, in three parts: This time, he discusses DNA with regards to genetic engineering in plants and animals, the diseases explained by the genetic revolution in medicine, and problems with regards to genetic technologies. As the CEO of Interleukin Genetics and a Tufts University professor, Reilly has sufficient ethos to speak on the topic. In both parts of the book, his purpose is to reveal the true role that genetics plays in our everyday lives from a variety of different angles. To accomplish this perfect, he uses a straightforward organizational structure and clarifying diagrams. Reilly’s explicit organizational structure is in the form of a specific Table of Contents that allows the reader to pick and choose which sections of the book they would like to read. Due to the book’s disconnected nature, the reader could read any chapter of the book without reading any others. This fits with the purpose, as it shows a variety of unrelated ways in which genetics affect our lives. Additionally, Reilly includes diagrams to help illustrate his purpose. Throughout the book, he describes scientific case studies and concepts that are very difficult for most readers to comprehend. For that reason, he includes diagrams that make the concepts easier to interpret. For example, Reilly accompanies statistics regarding the hereditary nature of breast cancer with a diagram of a genetic family tree. Ultimately, Philip Reilly successfully accomplishes his purpose because of the clarity of his organizational structure and the diagrams he so kindly provides.