Our group plans on convincing the audience that Living Learning Centers here at TCU are a bad idea because they keep our campus from becoming diverse, they separate the campus instead of integrating it, exclude members of a certain group if they aren’t able to actually live in the LLC. Our group plans on using visual aids as a strategy for making our argument. So far the ideas that we have come up with are humorous or satirical. We choose to take this approach because our audience is generally college students, and humor is a good way to reach a group like that. We are using pathos to make our argument by appealing to the audience’s emotions, doing this by visually communicating our argument.

Authors not- humerous piece

Author's Note for humerous piece.
For my humerous piece, I used a picture of a beached whale who died from the recent drug war while trying to smuggle drugs across the border into Colorado and a group of people around it saying "Whale thats a bummer." The ironic thing about the whale dying by smuggling drugs to Colorado is that it didnt die from being out of the water, it died from the drug war. I decided to use a whale instead of humans becuase I didnt want to make my humerous picture offensive in any way. I think that most of the possible ways I could have taken this humerous piece could have been seen as offensive since the subjust involved drugs and a forign country. Origionally I had the whale just across the border, but as I discussed it with my group they told me I should put the whale in Colorado. I also thought it could be a good idea to have the whale die as soon as it crossed into the Mexican border because of all the murders going on, but I thought that could be seen as offensive.

Author's note- oped

Author's note:
So far my oped is just a planned out overview of what i'm going to write about. As of right now, I have background information the origional article, A stand point on the issue at hand, and a pretty good idea about how I am going to connect them all together. Next I am going to work on putting my ideas down and further explaining my view on the issue. While writing this, I was having a hard time figuring out how to make my oped different than my letter to the editor. To make the two different I decided to look further into the laws and background that have made the drug issues into what they are today, and how Colorado, individually, can help out the issue. I still have a lot of work to do on this piece but I think that so far I have a pretty good idea about where I'm heading with it.

op-ed prewrte

After reading several op-eds from the Denver Post, I found that the general tone coming from the editors are all very different. In articles dealing with politics and legislation, the tone seems to be intelligent, composed and based on reason. These articles include opinions, but do not forwardly cut down the actions or words of others. They are also supported with facts and evidence. Other op-ed articles from this venue, dealing with recent topics or actual events that have recently taken place carry a much different tone. These articles are argumentative, and put down the opinion and actions that others have taken. They hold a strong opinion, but do not necessarily back it up with factual evidence, but personal stories, feelings, and events instead. They seem less intelligent and much more uptight. However, the assumed audience for both types of op-ed articles is the same. Many of the articles deal with various current issues that take place in Colorado, therefore an audience would most likely consist of Coloradoans or people that are interested in the politics and events that take place in Colorado. Also, the op-eds in this venue mostly deal with current issues that are taking place which would mean the audience is concerned with things that are going on in the world. It is not a blog, or newspaper that references only one area of interest which means the reader is looking to obtain a full coverage of news and not just news about a certain issue. This venue will be a suitable venue for my op-ed because my topic deals with the Coloradoan culture, and relates current issues to one another. It deals with the recent drug war, politics, and laws that are being put into place on both the state, and national level. The interesting this about the pieces in the Denver Post is that most of them deal with money, education, or legislation.
The specific identifiable issue that I am going to focus on is how Colorado has been using their money to fight the ongoing Colorado drug war, and how this is helping the recent drug problems that Mexico has been dealing with. I think this is a good topic because it directly relates to the effects that Mexico’s drug war has been having on the US, and how our own policies and money can help them in their recent situation. It takes the article that I am focusing on and looks into the background of the issues at hand, which then draws a direct connection to how it relates to the future.
The course of action that I am gong to take to address my issue is going to be to give background information regarding the drug problems in Colorado, then talk about how they relate to the drug war going on n Mexico, and lastly discuss what can be done by Coloradoan legislature to help Mexico in their war.
I think that the most effective rhetorical appeal for this article would be logos, to appeal to the readers logic or reason. I think this will be effective because will support my argument wth reason and evidence.
Believe that facts and hard evidence will best support my points because my article will deal with the law and politics.
I will have to research the laws Colorado has to fight drugs and look into what is currently going on in Mexico’s drug war.

letter to editor

Dear editor,
I was pleased to see that The Denver Post's March 26th editorial "Drug’s not just Mexico’s issue" presented a variety of diverse key facts that are usually omitted in the debate on whether or not Mexico’s drug issue should be considered an issue of our own as well. It was pointed out the violence that has been taking place during the drug wars across the border have started to cross over to the United States, with numerous reported kidnappings and murders not only taking place in boring states, but also as far as Atlanta. Because these violent issues, and many others, it is safe to say that the drug war has indeed become a problem of the United States. Because of these problems that the US has recently faced I agree that something does have to be done by our government to end the drug fight, however, the steps that we are taking towards an end to these wars may not be the most effective. Part of the problems that are taking place across the border are actually due to the drug problems that we have here in the US. By stopping these problems first, we will be able to focus our money and time on eliminating Mexico’s drug problems in their country alone. Therefore, the first step in fighting this drug war would be eliminating form the US. I agree with your statement that the Colorado government in particular, has not taken the proper steps in fighting drug problems. Instead of focusing on ending current addictions, we should transfer our focus to fight drug sales in the first place. I agree that putting harder consequences on those involved in the drug environment would be a perfectly edible first step.
However, I believe that by the United States government merely providing stimulus money as a means of protection from the drug war entering in our country will do more harm than good. First of all, Mexico’s government might consider the idea of relying purely on our “charity” money to fight the war instead of creating ideas of their own that would provide the intelligence to fight this war from the inside out. By providing money and troops to the Mexican government, we are basically telling the already faulty government, that relying on troops and money from another country is the way to solve your internal problems. This could potentially have minimal benefits for the time being, but as for the future, we will have to support our tactis used before and fish them out of all their problems using our money and troops. A better way to help fight this war from an outside country, would be to help them produce an intelligent plan to stop drug violence, and drug problems altogether.
Sincerely,
Kristen Wilson

Authors not- unit two

Authors Note for final draft:
My writing process for this project basically started with research, followed by a short and not complete rough draft, and then my final paper! I felt that I was abl to find really good sources for this paper, and they they helped me understand the topic, therefore when it came to writing the paper, I didnt have too much difficulty becuase I understood what was going on. I feel that I could have done a better job drafting this parer and getting it editied by my peers or possibly the writing center.

The most recent draft that I have completed is very different than the last draft that was revised because I have completely taken my topic in a different direction. My last topic dealt with how New York Fashion Week and New York Socialites were connected and influenced by each other. With this topic, I was having a hard time connecting all of my sources together, and finding sources that related to the topic. I decided to come up with a topic that would provide much more research material, and actually had an evident connection. Thus, I choose to take my topic in the direction of relating New York fashion week to the current recession, and providing research materials that connect the two topics. I found materials that voice a designers opinion, some that voice the sponsors opinions and some that voice the opinions of the fashionistas, or socialites. These sources all, of course, deal with the idea of New York Fashion week being affected by the recent economic conditions.

workshop writing 3.2.09

Workshop writing 3/2/09 (how the media impacts New York socialites)

What connects each source to one another?
All three of my sources, as of right now, deal with both New York Socialites and New York fashion week, which obviously relates them to one another. One is an article by a socialite, on is an article about a designer, and one is an overview of the week itself. These are connected because they all deal with the central topic of how socialites affect fashion week.

Summary of controlling idea:
The controlling idea of my topic is relating socialites to New York fashion week, and describing what role they play in affecting decisions being made. Throughout the essay I hope to make it obvious to the reader that New York socialites have an impact on fashion week, and what that impact is. I plan on doing this through presenting, explaining and analyzing the three sources that I have.

Organization if the sources:
• Overview of Fashion week by an expert
• Article about NYFW written by a socialite
• Interview with a designer

I think that this is the best way to organize my sources. First I will provide the reader with an overview of New York fashion week by presenting the source from the Tobe report. This source is a rundown of what happened during fashion week, and I believe it is beneficial to have this source first because readers will be able to understand what my topic is if they are familiar with fashion week. Next, I think it is a good idea to include a source talking about what a socialite is so that the reader will begin to make the connection between fashion week and the socialite. After that I will present the article written about New York Fashion Week by a socialite so that I can make a clear connection between the two topics coming from the socialite point of view. Last I will discuss the article about a designer in New York Fashion Week, as he discusses topics that deal with socialites. This will provide the reader with a view of the connection and topic coming from a different point of view.

How to transition from source to source:
I plan on transitioning my sources by summarizing the most important general topic I wanted my reader to gain from the first source, then by mentioning how it relates to the most important general topic I want them to gain from the second source. I think this will be the most beneficial because it a) gives an overview of the source b) states what I would like the reader to take from the source and c) relates the important facts between the two sources in an easy to understand way. After they read the entire paper, the reader can then make their own connection between the topics as well.

While researching the topic of New York socialites and their role in New York Fashion Week, I have been able to gain a new perspective regarding many aspects of the topic. First I have developed an understanding of the characteristics and personalities of socialites, from and insiders and an outsiders point of view. I have also gained a greater understanding of how they are related to New York Fashion Week, the effect they have on it, and the possible effects it has on them. It has been very interesting to learn about this elite social circle, and the caddy thing that are said among and about them.. However, it is also interesting to see that there are many positive and and encouraging things being said about such a superior group of people. My perspective on the issue has slightly changed on the subject in the sense that I have come to realize that the New York socialite group is not as powerful, and in a the public eye as I would assume them to be.

1: Overall concerns that I have with my research:
1. Having trouble getting non bias, primary sources that realte back to the initial subject. (getting reports from socialites, but not relating to my subject)
2. Having outdated sources that relate to my subject, but not with recent times.
3. Finding a source on the "other side" of New York Fashion Week, people who dont belive it is important.
2. Summary of each source:

Source #1: Interview with Michael Kors about New York Fashion Week...
I feel that this qualifies as a primary source because it is a personal interview regarding fashion from a designer participating in NYFW therefore he has a first hand ecperience with the actual event. I choose this sourse becuase he had many good things to say about the people that attend the fashion shows, which is what my subject is. It addresses my topic by relating the fashion shows to the people from New York who attend. The sourse basically gives MK's opinion about fashion week, his particular line, the people who attend, and the series of events that take place. Instead of giving an outside view of the event, it states the opinion of the designer, which is important because they play a big role in the fashion shows. Since the article was about MK, it is rhetorical and bias towrds not only his spring 2010 line, but fashion week in a whole. Some outside sources might belive that fashion week is a waste of time, money and resources, but by reading what MK has to say about fashion week, one would not even consider to think it is a waste.

Source #2: Article written about Fashion Week by a New York socialite, who attended the events...
I feel that the sourse qualifies as a primary source becuase my subject deals with how New York socialites and New York Fashion Week relate to one another, and this article relates the two subjects first hand by having a New York socialite write about the events. I choose this source becuase it related my subjects together really well, and covered the topic from an important view. It clearly addresses my topic by involving both sides of my argument. The source is just a general summary of the events that took place during New York Fashion Week, and how the socialite felt about each event, designer, and line. The article was very rhetorical becuase it convienced the audience that New York Fashion Week was an important event, as well as convienced the audience which lines were better than others.

Source #3: an article in the Tobe report, one of the leading trend forcasting magazines, regarding Fashion Week...
This source qualifies as a primary source becuase it is a professional view of New York Fashion Week. I choose this source becuase I figured it would give the most knowledgable imformation about NYFW and it was a credible sourse. It also gave statistics and facts instead of just opinions. THis source was just an overview of the events that took place and the trends that came out of the shows. The article was rhetorical becuase it was persuading the audience to believe in the future trend that were forcasted to take place.

Unit 2 research experience

My reasearch experience for my topic wwent well becasue I was able to find a number of plausible primary sources. I was also very intersted in what I was researchnig, which made it a lot easier to spend a good amount of time researching. However, while I was researching my topic, I found it very difficult to stay on my subject without drifting off topic because there were so many intereesting articles concernong sub topics. One interesting thing I read about was how New York socialites rise among others, and how they officially begin to carry the title as a New York Socialite. The sources that I found cover my topic becuase I found sources from all angles and sides of my research topic. I was able to get a good idea about y subject becasue I had first hand stories and experiences from many different parties involved. All of my sources are connected in a way because they deal with the same subject, and with how one another view the topic.

Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week:
Fashion week is a week long event held in the fashion district of New York City. It's a time for mega name designers around the world to preview and show their apparel lines for Fall 2009. They create lines for the runway that will inspire their fall lines for the public. Most of the clothes seen on the runway are either a vaunt garde, or only given to celebrities to wear. New York Fashion Week is an interesting topic because there are so many different sub categories to look further in to. Designers, models, press, and New York socialites are all topics that branch from NYFW.

I choose to observe and write a space analysis on Fussys becuase it is very significant and importna to me for a number of reasons. First of all, I love the food! Fuzzys has some of the greatest food in the TCU area and that is significant becuase it draws me to go there at least weekley! Second, becuase I go to Fuzzys so much, I have developed a firnedship with the employees and regulars. It is great to know there is a restaurant to go to where you will know people everytime you enter. It creats an exciting atmosphere and makes it comfortable to overstay a usual restaurant visit. Also, Fuzzys is important to me because I have spent so many great times there with my friend, and met many new ones!

First I took observations of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop on Wednesday night around 8:00pm. When I first arrived, there were only 14 people there, all were eating meals. The music was low, and the atmosphere was calm. There was soccer on the TV, but nobody was really watching. People were engaging in quiet conversation. Around 8:30, 2 representatives from the Michelob Beer Company came in and gave samples out of the Michelob light 64 beer in plastic cups, also offering free cozies to anyone who bought the beer that night. One table took the plastic cups and began playing “flip cup” buying a new beer after every round, and receiving a number of free cozies. Around 9:00pm the restaurant started to get more crowded with college students coming for drinks. People began buying songs on the jukebox and the music started to get louder. The table playing flip cup started to talk really loud, which caused everyone in the restaurant to speak louder. By the time we left, Fuzzy’s was packed with college students who all knew each other for the most part, drinking, eating, and being loud!

The few arguments of fact that I found while doing observations at Fuzzy's Taco Shop were mainly seen in the signs and informational argument pieces. The menu, for instance, would be considered an argument of fact because it clearly stated the correct and factual prices of food. Another argument of fact would be the sign at Fuzzy's that sates you have to be 21 years if age in order to purchase an alcoholic beverage. One xample of an argument of definition that I observed ___

I plan to analyze Fuzzy's Taco Shop on Berry Street. I choose this space because I spend a lot of time there, and it is one of my favorite places in the TCU community. It's always packed with students, the atmosphere is fun, and the food is delicious! First, I plan to observe Fuzzy's on a Thursday night because it is usually crowded with TCU students, so I'll be able to see the fun and busy aspect then. I will also go during lunch hour one day so I can observe the mellow and calm side. These are two important times to observe fuzzy's because they will be able to give me ideas about both extreme characteristics that Fuzzy's has. I already know that Fuzzy's is a restaurant that serves food and drinks, plays loud music and interacts with the customers. By taking a closer look at the space, I expect to learn more about the customers, the surrounding, such as wall decorations and arrangement, and the persuasiveness that the restaurant contains.

I am a member of both the TCU community as well as the Boulder Colorado community. While spending a great amount of time in both communities, I have developed a number of favorite places. In the TCU community, my favorite local space is the TCU men's baseball field. It reminds me of spring, the weather getting warm, and school soon coming to an end for the summer. The food, which includes send home hot dogs, nachos, and dip-n-dots, also adds to the wonderful experience of my favorite space. In m,y community of Boulder Colorado, my favorite local space is Pearl Street. Pearl Street is full of character, "characters," original entertainment, delicious food, and great shopping! The pathways are lined with a mix of street performers, local skateboarders, CU college students, locals, and many tourists. The surrounding mountains and beautiful nature scenery add to the already amazing area.

One example of an argument that I found is a Betty Crocker cupcake mix box. This could be considered both an argument to inform, and an argument to persuade. The front of the box is an argument to persuade for a couple of reasons. First, it has a picture of a delicious looking cupcake on it which is there to persuade the audience to purchase the item so that they can experience the cupcake. This is using the appeal pathos, because it is provoking the audiences emotions. It also used logos to develop credibility by placing the Betty Crocker label very viably of the front of the package. The back of the box could be considered an argument to inform because it lists the ingredients that are needed and the direction to follow. This is informative because it is informing the audience how to make the cupcakes that are shown on the front of the box. From this exercise I have found that one single object can be placed several different argument categories.

Chapter 1

While reader chapter one, I found it to be very interesting that the book explained meditation or prayer as an argument. The book explained that the individual praying was trying to transform something in him or herself, or in the case of meditation, meet equallibrium or peace of mind. The book also explains how the stained glass in church is also a way to argue to power of the lord. The dazzle aspect of the window sends a deeper argument than if it were written on paper or in a poem style.
I would have to disagree with the book's idea that in order for an argument to occure, and audience is needed. The book explains that in order for an argument to be effective, it ust be compelling to others. I disagree with this becuase I believe that an argument is still considered effective and useful even if the audience does not agree with it. Also, in some ways I think that an individual can make an argument or statement even if there is no audience present.

Blog 1.12.09

My name is Kristen Wilson. I am a junior fashion merchandising major and business minor from Boulder Colorado. I am taking this course to further my writing skills, and because it's required. I don't do much writing outside of class papers and e-mails, facebook, etc. I enjoy reading others writing much more than creating my own. I am from Boulder Colorado, which is also referred to as the "hippie town." This had impacted my identity because I grew up around a community of people concerned and dedicated to protecting our enviroment and mother nature. Most of the people in the area are much more concerned about contantly participating in outdoor activities, world peace, and protesting in aim to save the environment than formal eduation, including writing, and marterial objects! This has impacted my everyday ideas and suggestions about life becuase it has helped me realize and appreciaite the diversity we posses in the U.S. I believe that the simplisity of my blog is making the argument that a: I'm not a frequent blogger, and b: things are understood better if they are stated simply and clearly. I choose a black background with dots for my page becuase I didn't think anybody else would choose that one. By doing that, I believe I am making the bold argument that I preffer to be different. Also, I have read, understand, and agree to the terms of the course syllabus.