#5

1)
English has always been one of my weaker subjects throughout my life. When it comes to writing I always world just start to write instead of making an outline or jot down ideas. This chapter taught me that an outline is basically my cheat sheet and is a great tool that should always be used. Wood states “A written outline helps many people see the organization of ideas before they begin to write.”(80) I guess I have always been one of those people who “just write” and organize afterwards because in my papers my thoughts were out of order. Creating an outline doesn’t only keep your thoughts in order but helps to stay focused on an area and what to continue to write next. Another good point that Wood makes is time management. I definitely qualify under the category of procrastinate and it gives me an overwhelming feeling and can cause some stress.
2)
I believe that the author of The Controversy behind Barbie has a neutral perspective on the matter of a Barbie doll to be good or bad for a young girl. She does not agree or disagree with one side but a mix of both and I basically feel the same way. The paper has a few perspectives describe throughout it which shows that she is not trying to argue one view. I feel this doll is good for children’s imagination but should not learn the way of life by a doll. Virasin states “We, as an entire culture, need to look at our ideas about beauty and what we are teaching children about themselves.”(98)


Essentials of Argument Second Edition Nancy V. Wood
The Controversy behind Barbie Prisma Virasin

Blog #4

After reading Birdsel and Groarke's text I have come to the realization that it is an argument within itself. The writer never tries to discredit the fact that a written argument is inferior to visual argument but the fact that both will have the same impact on the reader. I feel that their purpose here is to better explain how when a visual argument is presented correctly it will have the same and if not more of an effect on the reader. A great example of this from the reading is figure 2 from the reading. The picture depicts an artist painting what he sees in front of him in his own abstract way. Although the picture does not go deep into details, the painter does focus on a few key parts in order to get his argument across. “Someone who does not see his cartoon as an answer to criticisms of Soviet communism has radically misunderstood the point.”(4) I feel that in order to fully understand a visual argument you must be able to understand where the artist is coming from and usually some sort of text is needed for that.

Two terms that I can relate to the immediate visual context, verbal context, and visual culture are signs and symbols. Signs and symbols are used together for a means to communicate. Visual context is very similar to symbols in my opinion for the fact that a symbol represents something else by virtue of relationship and visual context is a series of frames to depict a scene. Symbols and signs also compare to visual culture for the same reasoning but just like an Icon, its meaning can change over time. Sometimes a sign and symbol could not be enough to explain an argument, so we add verbal context. Just like in figure 1 of reading, the picture alone would not explain the message of the picture so text was added to it.

Work Cited

Birdsell, David and Groarke, Leo. Argument and Advocacy; Summer 1996; 33, 1-10; Research Library

Blog #3

1)
After reading this chapter I learned that visual arguments are probably one of the most convincing parts of an agreement. People say that a picture can last a thousand words and from what I have learned this is more then truth; a picture can be interpreted in many different ways but usually the artist or photographer leads you to a specific idea through the picture. In the end of this chapter Wood makes claims that visual argument has a few parts, she says “Think through the eight special features of visual argument and how you will employ some of them to make your agreement more convincing.”(255) Pictures can describe an event or subject better then a speech because people tend to relate easier to visual things rather than text. So to me the most important part of visual argument is to engage the emotions of a viewer because of the fact that people tend to side with arguer based on the way the picture can make one feel.

2)
The most important feature of visual image I have learned from McCloud is that the simpler the better. Humans are very complex and to my experience are always on the move. What I meant by this is that when a person sees a visual image the more basic it is the easier a person will relate or listen to it. McCloud says “Why would anyone young or old, respond to a cartoon as much or more than a realistic image.” (201). In my opinion I feel that people enjoy a cartoon rather the realistic for the simple fact that a cartoon is an escape from reality for most people. And the cartoon is the way for people to forget, even for a short time, how long, bad or even enjoyable their day has gone.

Essentials of Argument Second Edition Nancy V. Wood
Michael Langensten, Play Ball 1982

Visual Rhetoric in a Digital World A Critical Sourcebook Carolyn Handa
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. 1994 24-37

Blog #2

1)
I always considered myself to be a good arguer because of the fact that I wont give up until my point on the subject is understood. I always felt that in order to win an argument you did not have to be right but to achieve the approval of others and make them believe that what you are proclaiming is the truth. Most of the arguments I become involved in tend to become a screaming match because of peoples and my own stubbornness. As I read the chapter in the book I came to realize that an argument is much more in depth then once believed. In the book wood says, “A rhetorical situation has five elements. We arrange the elements in order from the acronym TRACE,”(27). TRACE simply stands for: text, reader, author, constraints, and exigence. An argument must have common ground, which is very much understandable because without it there would be no argument.

As I finished the chapter I have learned that every argument is different and not because of the subjects changing but the audience is changing. One of my favorite movies is Thank You for Smoking because the whole movie is about a lobbyist who can argue and win one of the hardest topics to win which is smoking in not unhealthy for a person. Everyone knows smoking is bad for you but was great about it is that he shows how to turn the argument around on someone. That was what I thought an argument is supposed to be. In the book I’ve learned that the most important thing is to come to an agreement and be able to see but sides of every story.

2)
I choose the magazine Wired because it is all about technology in the new age. I consider myself to be on top of the changes in technology and really enjoy new gadgets and toys. I assumed that the magazine will show me even newer technology then I am aware of and for this reason I choose Wired.

Essential of Argument By Nancy V. Wood

Rhetoric

In An Introduction To Rhetoric Foss explains rhetoric to be a combination of symbols and expressions that are used daily and date back to B.C. times to express and understand ourselves and others. Foss goes on to say "To clarify this definition, we will discuss each of the key components of this definition- human, symbols, and communicate." (Pg.1). Even before humans were able to communicate with one another, because of language barriers, they used symbols to communicate. Fire is a symbol with multiple meanings; it represents the possibility of destruction and also the feeling of warmth and the means to cook food for survival.

In the reading Corax was one of the first people to understand the necessity to teach and understand rhetoric. He sought after the use of it in court rooms and wrote a treatise called the "Art of Rhetoric". (Pg.5). Even though there was never a copy of his work recovered we understand that he was the first to introduction the three major parts of writing. Rhetoric has a major importance even in today’s court rooms. Ones argument is important to winning a case which is another basis for rhetoric. And a lawyer will have an opening argument, his proof and a closing statement, which is a perfect example of Corax use of major parts of writing.

Rhetoric today is seen all over the world in the use of symbols. One of the major uses of it is sign language. Also the way children communicate to their parents before learning how to verbally communicate is through signs they make and symbols they use. To me an object that is a great symbol to me is sand, because it represents vacation.

Rhetoric

1 : the art of speaking or writing effectively

2 a : skill in the effective use of speech

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2010.