I plan to analyze and observe the TCU library over the next week. It will serve as my space for the Unit essay. I chose this space because I think it has a lot to offer. It is interesting to see the many functions the library provides for students. Of course, TCU students can go and work on projects, do homework, and access many databases for papers and other projects they have to do. Perhaps the most interesting function the library serves is as a social one. So many people go to the library to meet up with others, chat, and do everything but study.
I plan on going to the library multiple times over the course of the next week to observe both the library and those going in and out of it. I think the best times to observe are in the middle of the day, between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. During these times you see a different group of people than you would between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. So, over the next few days, I plan on going to the library to observe during these time periods, and see how much the 24 hour operation is affecting those who go to the library. The best days are during the week, so I will probably go Wednesday and Thursday night, and earlier on Friday. I will probably close out my observing session on Sunday night because that is when many of the procrastinators shine.
I already see and believe the library to be a space which is more suited for socialization than getting work done. I know there are those who do get a fair amount of work done while they spend their time at the library, but I feel more lean toward choosing other places to go study and actually do work than the library. I also feel the older you are, the more you feel inclined to go study somewhere else because you have experienced how tough it can be to get things done at the library. Younger students have yet to discover this and/or realize it and like to go to socialize anyway.
It will be interesting to see after observing and even talking with students if my thoughts are the majority. I feel it will be a good experience nonetheless.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Local Community Spaces
Some of my favorite local hangouts include the Pour House, Fuzzys, Buffalo Bros, and Buffalo Wild Wings. Although I am not 21, the Pour House is an awesome place to go watch football on Sunday afternoon. I love going there to watch my Green Bay Packers and many other teams. Fuzzys is a ton of fun, and it is so close to campus that it provides an easy way to get a group together and go out for a bite to eat. Buffalo cubed (Wings and Bros) serve the same purpose: Good food and a great place to go watch TCU or any other sporting event.
Two places that really do not fit in with the previously mentioned hangouts are the TCU library and the TCU rec center. These are hangouts for me as well, but in a very different sense. I like to go to the gym and work out, play racquetball, basketball, among other things. It serves as a tremendous stress release, and I do spend a great deal of my time there. The library used to be a hangout for me freshman year in the sense that I always went there to "study." I found out that I never really got too much done while I was there because so many people come to the library to socialize instead of study. I have been guilty of this too, but nevertheless, I have learned if I want to actually get work done, a coffee shop or even my room is a better choice.
Two places that really do not fit in with the previously mentioned hangouts are the TCU library and the TCU rec center. These are hangouts for me as well, but in a very different sense. I like to go to the gym and work out, play racquetball, basketball, among other things. It serves as a tremendous stress release, and I do spend a great deal of my time there. The library used to be a hangout for me freshman year in the sense that I always went there to "study." I found out that I never really got too much done while I was there because so many people come to the library to socialize instead of study. I have been guilty of this too, but nevertheless, I have learned if I want to actually get work done, a coffee shop or even my room is a better choice.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Argument With Rhetorical Appeals
I picked a sports piece that ran a few years ago. Although older, it was so powerful when I saw it that it was the first thing that came to mind, and I felt like it hit all appeals perfectly. The piece, which can be found at http://espn.go.com/video/clip?categoryid=3060647&id=3066192, is about Jason Ray. Ray was the University of North Carolina mascot, and during the NCAA basketball tournament, he was struck by a car while walking to get some food. He died a few days later, but he was no where near done helping people. Ray was a good, well-rounded, extroverted person who tried to help as many people as he could, and because he was an organ donor, his help continued after his death. To this day, people are still alive because of the organs and tissues Ray provided.
I think the most obvious and well-used appeal in this story is pathos. The emotion spills out everywhere in the package, comes right through the screen and hits you with such force. The first time I watched it, I was brought to tears. It evokes so much emotion, and you feel so bad that someone so wonderful died so young, but you also feel joy that so many were saved because of his sacrifice. The interviews, shots, and pictures all do their part to make the pathos appeal so present and relevant in this story.
I feel ethos and logos are overshadowed by pathos, but nevertheless are represented. The ethos is in the reporter reporting and those she interviewed. Lisa Salters is a veteran reporter for ESPN, and I definitely trusted her and saw her as extremely credible. She backed that up with all the angles she covered in this fourteen and a half minute story. Those interviewed ranged from the Jason's parents, to those who received his organs and even the head coach of UNC, Roy Williams. She did a very good job at covering all of the bases, which further added to her credibility.
Logos was an integral part to the story as well because some of the facts mentioned were extremely powerful and shocking. One talked about how many people were helped from his death. Around 50 people were helped from his body. Those living today are carrying a piece of him with them, and he lives on through them. The other huge purpose logos served was telling the stories of those who received organs from Jason. How hard and long their path had been before Jason saved them was unbelievable.
All in all, this story uses all of the appeals in different ways, and it not only grabs your attention, but it makes you care. It has the power to evoke change. Who knows how many people might have become donors because of having seen this story. You know your story is important and truly meaningful when so much power radiates from it.
I think the most obvious and well-used appeal in this story is pathos. The emotion spills out everywhere in the package, comes right through the screen and hits you with such force. The first time I watched it, I was brought to tears. It evokes so much emotion, and you feel so bad that someone so wonderful died so young, but you also feel joy that so many were saved because of his sacrifice. The interviews, shots, and pictures all do their part to make the pathos appeal so present and relevant in this story.
I feel ethos and logos are overshadowed by pathos, but nevertheless are represented. The ethos is in the reporter reporting and those she interviewed. Lisa Salters is a veteran reporter for ESPN, and I definitely trusted her and saw her as extremely credible. She backed that up with all the angles she covered in this fourteen and a half minute story. Those interviewed ranged from the Jason's parents, to those who received his organs and even the head coach of UNC, Roy Williams. She did a very good job at covering all of the bases, which further added to her credibility.
Logos was an integral part to the story as well because some of the facts mentioned were extremely powerful and shocking. One talked about how many people were helped from his death. Around 50 people were helped from his body. Those living today are carrying a piece of him with them, and he lives on through them. The other huge purpose logos served was telling the stories of those who received organs from Jason. How hard and long their path had been before Jason saved them was unbelievable.
All in all, this story uses all of the appeals in different ways, and it not only grabs your attention, but it makes you care. It has the power to evoke change. Who knows how many people might have become donors because of having seen this story. You know your story is important and truly meaningful when so much power radiates from it.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Chapter 1: Is everything an argument
I thought it was interesting that you can have so many different types of arguments. I have had my fair share of arguments, but I never really stopped and thought about what category they fell under. The author(s) do a great job at convincing the reader that everything really can be an argument because if you break down each situation, sign, statement, etc., there is some sort of reason behind everything. Most people, like me, might not go that in depth when considering if the choice of food they ate at lunch is an argument, but if you look close enough, it is. If I chose to eat a filling breakfast that included eggs and oatmeal, instead of a pop tart, I would be doing this because I thought the latter would not fill me up. They used so many examples that included simple thoughts that backed up many things they said.
As interesting as it was to hear how some of the simplest things or choices we make can be considered arguments, I thought it was a little much to think that every single thing I do is an argument. I respect their examples and reasoning, but I do not agree that every possible thing is an argument. Sometimes I choose to do something because I want to. It is something I feel. It could be playing a game, going to a movie, or eating at a restaurant. When I do these things, I do not take the time to consider other options, and rule things out, I choose what I do because that's what sounds good at the moment. I do not argue it against something else.
As interesting as it was to hear how some of the simplest things or choices we make can be considered arguments, I thought it was a little much to think that every single thing I do is an argument. I respect their examples and reasoning, but I do not agree that every possible thing is an argument. Sometimes I choose to do something because I want to. It is something I feel. It could be playing a game, going to a movie, or eating at a restaurant. When I do these things, I do not take the time to consider other options, and rule things out, I choose what I do because that's what sounds good at the moment. I do not argue it against something else.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Hello
My name is Kyle Arnold, and I am a junior at Texas Christian University. I am currently a broadcast journalism major with a criminal justice minor. I was born and raised in Austin, Texas, and I love it there. I try to go back home as much as possible, but I do love my new home in Fort Worth.
I am a huge sports fan, and I hope to get a job in sports journalism when I graduate. I root for the Houston Astros, Green Bay Packers, North Carolina Tar Heels, and of course, any TCU team. GO FROGS!
At TCU, I am involved with Frog Camp and FrogHouse, among other things. I am serving as a director for both programs this year, and I am extremely excited for the upcoming months where I will be crazy busy with these two programs. If you do not know much about either of the programs, feel free to ask me about what they are and/or how to get involved.
I did take this course because it is required for me to graduate; however, I hope to become a better writer when I am done with this course. As a broadcast journalism major, writing is kind of what I do. It is drastically different from writing papers for class, though there are some common guidelines. You always want to get the point across, regardless if you are writing an anchor script or a research paper; the main difference is when writing for TV, you have a limited amount of time to reach your audience. I am also a firm believer that one can always get better at writing, so no matter how good I think I am, I know I can get better.
I do a lot of TV and newspaper writing, and as a college student, I am constantly texting, emailing, and facebooking people. I feel as a journalism major, I have become faster at typing, and I owe that to basically doing all of my work on the computer. I like the journalism type of writing more so than the academic kind, filled with term papers and book reports, because I feel you can have more fun when writing a column or a TV script. Also, instead of just turning in a paper for a grade in class, my TV packages will go on TV, and my news stories will be published in newspapers. It's exciting to read something you wrote that anyone in the world can access.
My university involvement is strong, as I am a part of Frog Camp and FrogHouse. Through these programs, I am privileged enough to meet many of the new students coming to TCU. With this, a student's first impression is based on how well they liked the program I helped set up or how well he/she liked me. It is a huge responsibility, and it is a ton of fun at the same time.
My hometown of Austin, Texas is extremely important to me. I love it there, and for those who have visited this place, some think it is kind of weird (AND THAT IS THE WAY WE LIKE IT!). It is weird in the sense of you can find just about any type of person in Austin, and you can do many different types of things. It is a huge melting pot, and there is something for everyone in Austin. It is my home, and I am proud to say that.
Based on what I have read from the book and what I have said in my first post, I feel I am making an argument based on the type of person I am. By mentioning my activities and likes, I feel I have shown that I am a person who likes to be involved and likes to be active. I have voiced strong opinions when talking about my hometown and other things, but they have not been overbearing, be all end all type statements. As much as I love Austin, I understand if someone does not. That is kind of the main idea I have tried to incorporate in this first post is that I am open to a lot of different things, people, and ideas. I will draw my own conclusions and I have my own opinions, but I do respect other ideas and opinions. This also applies to how I plan to act and participate in this class. I like to make my voice heard, but I don't like to prevent others from doing the same.
I am a huge sports fan, and I hope to get a job in sports journalism when I graduate. I root for the Houston Astros, Green Bay Packers, North Carolina Tar Heels, and of course, any TCU team. GO FROGS!
At TCU, I am involved with Frog Camp and FrogHouse, among other things. I am serving as a director for both programs this year, and I am extremely excited for the upcoming months where I will be crazy busy with these two programs. If you do not know much about either of the programs, feel free to ask me about what they are and/or how to get involved.
I did take this course because it is required for me to graduate; however, I hope to become a better writer when I am done with this course. As a broadcast journalism major, writing is kind of what I do. It is drastically different from writing papers for class, though there are some common guidelines. You always want to get the point across, regardless if you are writing an anchor script or a research paper; the main difference is when writing for TV, you have a limited amount of time to reach your audience. I am also a firm believer that one can always get better at writing, so no matter how good I think I am, I know I can get better.
I do a lot of TV and newspaper writing, and as a college student, I am constantly texting, emailing, and facebooking people. I feel as a journalism major, I have become faster at typing, and I owe that to basically doing all of my work on the computer. I like the journalism type of writing more so than the academic kind, filled with term papers and book reports, because I feel you can have more fun when writing a column or a TV script. Also, instead of just turning in a paper for a grade in class, my TV packages will go on TV, and my news stories will be published in newspapers. It's exciting to read something you wrote that anyone in the world can access.
My university involvement is strong, as I am a part of Frog Camp and FrogHouse. Through these programs, I am privileged enough to meet many of the new students coming to TCU. With this, a student's first impression is based on how well they liked the program I helped set up or how well he/she liked me. It is a huge responsibility, and it is a ton of fun at the same time.
My hometown of Austin, Texas is extremely important to me. I love it there, and for those who have visited this place, some think it is kind of weird (AND THAT IS THE WAY WE LIKE IT!). It is weird in the sense of you can find just about any type of person in Austin, and you can do many different types of things. It is a huge melting pot, and there is something for everyone in Austin. It is my home, and I am proud to say that.
Based on what I have read from the book and what I have said in my first post, I feel I am making an argument based on the type of person I am. By mentioning my activities and likes, I feel I have shown that I am a person who likes to be involved and likes to be active. I have voiced strong opinions when talking about my hometown and other things, but they have not been overbearing, be all end all type statements. As much as I love Austin, I understand if someone does not. That is kind of the main idea I have tried to incorporate in this first post is that I am open to a lot of different things, people, and ideas. I will draw my own conclusions and I have my own opinions, but I do respect other ideas and opinions. This also applies to how I plan to act and participate in this class. I like to make my voice heard, but I don't like to prevent others from doing the same.
I have read the syllabus, and I understand and agree to all the terms and conditions in it.
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