The context of this article is the terrible shooting that happened in Sandy Hook Elementary School (Newtown, Connecticut) on Friday December 14th, 2012. Connecticut Shooting Victims' Stories Begin To Emerge describes the stories of the twenty-six victims, twenty of them children, including adults: Victoria Soto (teacher); Mary Sherlach (school psychologist); Lauren Gabrielle Rousseau (teacher); Anne Marie Murphy (teacher); Rachel Diavino (behavioral therapist); and Dawn Hochsprung (principal).
Connecticut Shooting Victims' Stories Begin To Emerge was published in news website The Huffington Post, a credible news source that has been on the internet since 2005. A liberal, left-wing newspaper, it can be somewhat skewed.
The author's purpose in writing this article was to inform people about a terrible event that happened on Friday, and I think he was able to accomplish just that. School and university shootings, however unfortunate, are not unheard of, and have been littering the news as early as the 1960s. However, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was one of the first shootings targeting such a young crowd, making it even more devastating. The intended audience was really just anyone who wanted to learn more about the shooting, especially since there were a lot of people curious about the event.
A rhetorical element used in this article is pathos. The author is able to convey the bitter sadness at the thought of the death of these good people through sentences such as, "It was the last outfit the redhead would ever fit out."
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Sunday, December 9, 2012
NHL Lockout
The National Hockey League has been in an almost three month lockout, with all ice hockey games cancelled through December 14th. The article explains the ongoing labor dispute between the franchise owners and the players. Many of the disgruntled ice hockey players are considering switching over to a European ice hockey league, and the delay of the season has resulted in loss of money for many Canadian businesses. Unfortunately, it looks as if this issue is not going to be resolved soon. Sorry dad.
NHL says it's out of ideas on how to resolve lockout is published in USA Today without a credited author. USA Today is a believable news source, but because there is no cited author, this article could potentially not be credible.
The context of this article is surrounding the current stand-still following the expiration of the NHL's collective bargaining agreement. The author's purpose in writing this article is to explain the lockout between the NHL and the players, mainly defending the players. I think the author achieves this purpose when he writes "The Pittsburgh Penguins star [Crosby] wants to get back to work. He said Friday the prospect of lacing up his skates in Europe is growing more appealing as the lockout nears the three-month mark. The breakdown in negotiations left Crosby "disappointed" and considering other opportunities. The intended audience for this article are the many disheartened Flyers fans begging and pleading for this lockout to be over because the Eagles are not playing very well and nobody really likes the 76ers.
The author uses ethos in this article. He quoted a particular player saying, "'I just want to play hockey,'" Crosby told reporters after an informal workout with some of his teammates on Friday morning." The author is appealing to the readers in saying these players don't want a lot, just to be able to keep playing the sport they love.
NHL says it's out of ideas on how to resolve lockout is published in USA Today without a credited author. USA Today is a believable news source, but because there is no cited author, this article could potentially not be credible.
The context of this article is surrounding the current stand-still following the expiration of the NHL's collective bargaining agreement. The author's purpose in writing this article is to explain the lockout between the NHL and the players, mainly defending the players. I think the author achieves this purpose when he writes "The Pittsburgh Penguins star [Crosby] wants to get back to work. He said Friday the prospect of lacing up his skates in Europe is growing more appealing as the lockout nears the three-month mark. The breakdown in negotiations left Crosby "disappointed" and considering other opportunities. The intended audience for this article are the many disheartened Flyers fans begging and pleading for this lockout to be over because the Eagles are not playing very well and nobody really likes the 76ers.
The author uses ethos in this article. He quoted a particular player saying, "'I just want to play hockey,'" Crosby told reporters after an informal workout with some of his teammates on Friday morning." The author is appealing to the readers in saying these players don't want a lot, just to be able to keep playing the sport they love.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
The Soloist: Post #1: The Beginning
The Soloist by Steve Lopez is about a young man named Nathaniel Ayers who attended the music school Juliard, but was forced to drop out, even though he still had world-class talent, because of his growing mental instability. He now wanders the streets of Los Angeles playing a dilapidated violin. Steve Lopez, columnist for the Los Angeles Times, is searching for a new story when he meets Nathaniel and decides to use him. After the reactions he was receiving from his readers, Lopez becomes more interested in Nathaniel's life and wishes to help him. The novel takes place mainly on the poor streets of Los Angeles as well as a mental health facility for the homeless on Skid Row. Through a patient and unlikely friendship, Steven Lopez is able to get Nathaniel Ayers off of the streets and into an apartment as well as treatment for his schizophrenia.
The purpose of this book is to show Lopez's story, showing how Nathaniel changed his life, and possibly change the reader's life as well. I feel that the author is able to accomplish this task, because after his first column, support for Nathaniel, for example by way of letters and instruments, started flooding in. Lopez's original audience was the readers of his column in the LA Times; however it has become more popular, especially after the book was made into a movie.
Similies and metaphors are used in The Soloist as well as rhetorical questions, analogies, and imagery.
Four Score and Seven Years Ago...
During the throes of the Civil War, on November 19th 1863, President Abraham Lincoln had to find a way to unite the quarreling states after the bloody Battle of Gettysburg.
With only using ten sentences and just over two minutes, President Lincoln was able to sum up the ideals that would go on to shape America. His speech not only moved the thousands of people who had gathered for the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, but also many people across the globe by speaking about American independence and freedom.
Lincoln's speech has two purposes. The first was to dedicate a plot of land that would become the Soldier's National Cemetery to honor the fallen soldiers. Also, since the Civil War still raged, President Lincoln realized that he also had to inspire the people to continue to fight. I think he is able to accomplish his purpose when he eloquently said, "Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated can long endure." The importance of winning this war takes on an even greater significance. Lincoln's audience is the American people after the terrible Battle of Gettysburg.
A rhetorical device effectively used in this speech is contrast. Lincoln says, "those who here gave their lives that this nation might live." This major contrast between life and
death is most compelling.
With only using ten sentences and just over two minutes, President Lincoln was able to sum up the ideals that would go on to shape America. His speech not only moved the thousands of people who had gathered for the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, but also many people across the globe by speaking about American independence and freedom.
Lincoln's speech has two purposes. The first was to dedicate a plot of land that would become the Soldier's National Cemetery to honor the fallen soldiers. Also, since the Civil War still raged, President Lincoln realized that he also had to inspire the people to continue to fight. I think he is able to accomplish his purpose when he eloquently said, "Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated can long endure." The importance of winning this war takes on an even greater significance. Lincoln's audience is the American people after the terrible Battle of Gettysburg.
A rhetorical device effectively used in this speech is contrast. Lincoln says, "those who here gave their lives that this nation might live." This major contrast between life and
death is most compelling.
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