Blog Post #10:

These are the identities that I take on during a usual week (in no particular order): daughter, student, friend, employee and sometimes boss, girlfriend, and roommate. I can't really think of any other ones. I would definitely not consider my identity as stable. I do not have just one identity that I take on and stick to it. I switch between these different identities many times a day and even more times per week. It all depends on who I am around. I could be the daughter identity while I am talking on the phone with my mother, but when I walk into my apartment, I switch identities and become the girlfriend and the roommate depending on who is sitting in my living room at any given time.

Technology allows me to be certain roles that without it would not be as prevalent. If I did not have my cellphone, I would obviously still be able to identify with the daughter role, but I would not frequently have to act upon it because I would not be able to talk to my mother as constantly as I do now.

Blog Post #9: Project Update

Well, so far I have started doing some research about what I am going to try and include in this. Most of it is coming from our textbook, but I am trying to do a little bit of outside research as well so that I can have some other information to back me up. I have also begun drafting out ideas of what my script will be like, but nothing is set in stone yet on that. The next step I would take would be to really start writing down information about the characters, setting, story line, and other things like that.

Blog Post #7: Project Update

I'm going to preface my update on my project with saying that I have a huge report due for another class this Thursday, so quite honestly, I have not begun to think about this in depth. I have, however, decided what I am going to be doing. I have also been known to change projects halfway through the assignment period, but I will alert you if any serious changes happen.

I'm thinking I might include a video to go along with my presentation, because I am not a public speaker. I do not do well in front of people and anything I can do to shorten the time I have to speak is welcome, because I can guarantee I will not do well. I stutter and get really nervous, and I just don't do well in general.

Otherwise, I decided that I am going to do a dialogue between a character that represents the belletristic movement and a character that represents the elocutionary movement. I will find a way to work the important parts from each idea into the conversation. I have not decided much else besides that.

I will begin working on this project after I finish my report and turn that in later this week. I am good with projects though, so I will find the time to do it eventually.

Blog Post #6: The Man Your Man Could Smell Like

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE

By this point, everyone has probably seen the newer Old Spice commercials. I absolutely love this commercial and chances are I am not the only one who will be focusing on this ad. With this ad, the person who is negated would be a) females, because this ad is not directed at them since the product is for men only and b) the men who already smell like this fancy man. This ad sets some pretty high and ridiculous standards. It kind of establishes that women want their man to be amazing and handsome and be able to turn tickets into diamonds. That isn't always the case. And with the tickets to diamonds that is never the case. These standards are ridiculous, but so is the commercial in general. These standards aren't really fair, but I don't see them necessarily as an ethical issue either.

Blog Post #5: Plato and Aristotle Walk Into A Bar...

I have had a really hard time deciding what to do for this project, and even now I am not quite sure what it is I'm going to do. I have a basic idea, but it could change, I'm not really sure. I am not fond of the traditional analytic paper because I have to do one of those for all of my other classes. I think I want to do a dialogue either between Aristotle and Plato or between a generic Belletristic representative and an Elocutionary representative. It will be kind of an argument about the beliefs that each party holds and it is designed to be informative, yet somewhat funny. The audience will probably be the class or anyone that wants to learn more about these opposing theories in a fun manner. I have not had a chance to decide what information I will include, but I will be working on that in the next few weeks.

Blog Post #4: For Argument's Sake

http://hamptonroads.com/2011/09/ban-cell-phones-bus-truck-drivers

After a severe crash in Kentucky, federal officials are looking to place a ban on all use of cell phones, both hand-held and hands-free. To my knowledge in this argument there really isn't a qualifier, though considering the source I wouldn't expect there to be. Qualifying words like "probably" and "maybe" are avoided most of the time, because the paper needs to know for a fact something before they publish it. Now, they can publish with these words included, but it might put the credibility of the paper in jeopardy, so must prefer not to.

However there is a rebuttal statement. The ban should be placed on cell phone usage unless in an emergency. This is a logical rebuttal statement. Things happen that the driver could not have accounted for and he will have to use his or her cell phone. It is a nice loop hole to get out of a situation.

I figure any good argument will have a rebuttal, because most people will need a loop hole so they can escape backlash from people arguing against the point. Having a qualifier I don't think is nearly as important though. While these words may make your argument stronger, they could also weaken the integrity of the argument, so it's kind of a crapshoot.

Blog Post #3: Letters

The letters written in medieval times and the letters written today are actually very similar. With the medieval letters, there are five key parts of a letter. The first is the greeting. All letters today start off with a greeting for if they didn't, the writer might be construed as rude and not willing to take the time to wish the reader of this letter well. The second thing is what was called the benevolentiae captatio. To my knowledge this is partially the hook to get the reader interested in the letter and partially a bit of flattery to get in the reader's good graces before asking them for something or delivering bad news. The third part lays out the facts that are being presented. Pretty straight-forward. The fourth part is the petitio, where the writer requests something of the reader. These are common in business letters today. If the letter is not in the format of "please do this thing for me," then usually there will be a line at the bottom requesting a meeting or a phone call. The final part is the conclusion which will sum up the letter and most likely include a sign off.

These similarities can probably be contributed to the fact that if something has worked in the past, then why change it? If formula letters were what a) got your point across or b) got you what you wanted, then why have a different way of doing things? They are easy to use, and in my mind if it's convenient then it is even better than the other alternatives. (Please note: that does not hold true in all circumstances. Just this one)

Technology has greatly impacted letter writing. For one, back in ye olden days it could take an indeterminate amount of time for a letter to reach its intended reader. There was no instant connection between all people. The improvement of technology has made delivery of messages so much faster and therefore the response time has also dramatically decreased. It has also changed the format of some letters. Letters become shorter if people are under a deadline and much less eloquent. They become demanding.