Author's Note for Final Draft and Portfolio

I feel my final draft is my best draft because I have made the necessary revisions to form the most effective, cohesive paper. With all of the peer reviews, drafts, observations, etc., I have been able to make many changes, and all have made my paper better. The biggest improvements I made concerned analysis and description. I had a lot of description and analysis in my paper, but with the teacher and peer reviews, I saw, from their comments, what I was lacking. It was not anything major, but by adding two or three sentences about this area or that area, I made my paper that much stronger. After organizing everything in my portfolio, I can see how much work i have put into this paper, and I think all that work shows in my final copy.

It has been a lengthy process, but definitely a necessary one. Each draft brought out a better paper, and now, after probably the fourth or fifth draft, I know I do have my best work ready to be turned in. All the steps along the way have made that possible, and more importantly, easier.

Feedback and Revisions

Cameron and Lacy read over my paper, and their suggestions were very similar. Both suggested that I should add more description about the colors of the sections of the library, and what is exactly going on. What is the cafe like, and what are the frog pods like in the loud section are two things I could elaborate on. I see this as something I will do in my paper; in addition to adding on to both of these things, I plan on adding more description as a whole. Although I do not feel my paper is general or bland, I do think I could go more in detail, describing more of what each area is like. Colors, sounds, smells, and so on, could all enhance the quality of my paper. They both had many good things to say. Lacy liked how what I was trying to get across was presented in one sentence. Both Cameron and Lacy thought some of my examples about behavior in the library were accurate and funny.

Overall, I think fine-tuning and painting more of a picture for my audience are the two pressing things I need to do. By doing both, I think my paper will be much more explosive and entertaining. I think I have some great stuff to work with, and I think the peer reviews were a great help.

Author's Note for Draft 1

In my first draft, I am trying to get my ideas out on paper, in a fairly organized way, and I try to make it as complete as possible. I would like help seeing what else needs to be addressed in my paper, style/grammar critiques, and overall flow of the paper. I feel like I am best at getting it all out, then going back and fine-tuning here and there.

What the Library Means to the Community

The TCU library plays a huge role for the TCU and surrounding communities. It is not only a place to go and study for tests or in between classes, but it is a place where students can socialize with each other. The resources provided, like books, computers, DVDs, make our (students) lives so much easier. As some students have told me, since the BLUU is so far away, the library is taking the place of the main, as a place where you can go to kill time in between classes. I have to agree. It is a place to gather, hang out, and occasionally it's a place where students get work done.

The Library

I observed my space on two different occasions, and most of what I thought about the library was confirmed. It is a big social gathering place, but students do still find ways to get things done while there. Talking with a student, I gathered some interesting information, and she also had some great insight on a few things. One, because the main is gone, and the BLUU is so far away, the library is the only real big meeting place. So, students go there in between classes and to meet up with others more this year than before. I found that to be an interesting observation. Also, my idea that the library is kind of a one stop shop in that it has something for everyone, was confirmed by her as well. All in all, it was fun to see how many people were doing different things in one place. From the cafe to the quiet and loud sections, everyone was doing something...how productive they were is a completely different story.

Space Proposal

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.

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.

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.

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.