Free Writing – Ridiculous College Bowl Games

One prime example of today’s consumer-driven sports society is the college bowl season. Many traditional bowl games, such as the Holiday Bowl and Rose Bowl have been re-named according to their corporate sponsorships. They are now the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl and the eloquently-named Rose Bowl presented by Citi, the latter representing corporate America’s clever if transparent attempt to maintain the traditional mystique of the Rose Bowl while still making some extra money on the side.

Some bowl games have changed their name completely, such as the Peach Bowl, which is now the Chic-fil-A Bowl. These bowls have also been joined by a number of other bowl games, such as the Capital One Bowl and the Papajohns.com Bowl, that exist for the singular purpose of increasing the name recognition of their sponsors, who pay handsomely for such advertising.

The advertising connected with the bowl system has transformed the college football landscape by creating a way to make millions of dollars of revenue in a short period of time – over $400 million in about three weeks, to be exact. While fans obviously realize that the bowl games have become nothing more than commercial enterprises, few, if any, have spoken out and complained against the NCAA for selling out. This quiet submission to the commercialization of college football outlines the shape of the modern fan.

Technique Analysis – Issue Analysis (Media Pornography)

WATCO: Pornography on teenagers’ ability to develop proper habits and values?

Claim: Pornography cripples teenagers’ ability to develop proper habits and values because becoming addicted to obscene material distorts proper views of love and intimacy.

Audience: LDS teenagers who are constantly

About the Audience:

They are at a time in their life full of change and development – physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually

Want to be accepted by their peers

Seek counsel from parents and friends

Highly influenced by advances in technology and media

General desire to do what is right, but highly influenced by what is cool

Choices made during teenage years help lay the foundation for adulthood


Pornography (+)

Temporary fulfillment of physical desires

Easy Access

Many people do it

Addictive (this is good for people who produce it, not for those who consume it)


Pornography (-)

Highly addictive

Deceiving in that it brings only temporary gratification

Obscene

Objectifies women

False Idea of Love

Often viewed in secret, bringing feelings of shame and guilt

Technique Analysis – Practicing Introductions

Introduction #1

Pornography is a difficult topic to research for someone with not desire or intention to see obscene pictures or video. Our society is saturated with different types of pornography, and it is often too easy to accidentally access these things. This type of material used to be available only to those who searched it out, but with technological advances it is readily available to anyone at anytime, anywhere. This is especially problematic for people who want to raise their kids in a wholesome atmosphere amid the flood of movies, music and Internet sites that showcase inappropriate behavior. What kinds of things can families do to combat this issue?

Introduction #2

Pornography is a multi-billion dollar industry and continues to grow every year. This is an industry where a few people become very rich at the expense of many people who lose their dignity and self-control. One thing that is so difficult about pornography is its addictive nature. What may start out as a seemingly harmless peek often turns into an appetite that is impossible to quench. Many people try to avoid it, but pornography is available pretty much wherever you go. Supporters of pornography argue that people have a choice whether or not to access that material, while anti-pornography advocates insist that pornography creates an addiction and ruins lives. What kind of stand should our political and social leaders take to help control this issue?

Rhetorical Analysis – "A Tragic Evil Among Us" by President Hinckley

WATCO: Pornography on people’s ability to lead fulfilling lives?

Claim: Pornography cripples people’s ability to lead fulfilling lives because storing up a memory of obscene images and ideas keeps people from feeling self-worth and real love towards those around them.

Audience: Boys and Men ages 12 and up

Implicit Assumption: Whatever keeps people from feeling self-worth and real love towards others also cripples their ability to lead fulfilling lives.

Pornography is all around us, which is probably why President Hinckley decided to give this talk during the priesthood session of General Conference. It has been three and a half years since he gave this talk and President Hinckley has since passed away, yet his counsel may be even more applicable today than it was at the time. His talk is persuasive on many different levels. First, nobody is more credible than the prophet when talking about what is beneficial to us and what will help us grow. President Hinckley used real life experiences, statistical evidence and personal testimony to make a case against pornography. The letter he received from an anonymous woman was very emotional, while the statistics he presented added logic and credibility. Many other church and civic leaders have spoken against pornography, so his talk was in line with other credible sources. I remember President Hinckley giving this talk. The love and concern he felt for all of us was evident, and his words hit home and made an impression with many who were listening.

Free Writing – My Super Power

I’ve often imagined what kind of super power I would have if I was a star in an X-Men movie or on the popular television show “Heroes.” Many people dream of being invisible or being able to fly or something fancy like that, but not me. I have long since come to the conclusion that I would like to be able to burrow like a gopher or a groundhog. I would use my special ability to save people in dangerous situations (use your imagination as to how I would do that!) and even find shade on a hot summer day. I would also be a natural landscaper and have the most beautiful yard in the neighborhood. Many people have made fun of me because of my ambitious desire, which has not phased me in the least bit. I don’t let others control what I dream about. Anyway, I have also thought about my natural abilities and which of them could be considered a super power, and I found one (so far). It is my ability to tell what time it is without the use of a watch or any other timepiece. I’ve never worn a watch, and yet my biggest pet peeve is running late. These things may seem contradictory, but I have developed a sixth-sense of being able to tell, with remarkable accuracy, what time it is at any given moment. My wife suggested that her super powers could be losing things or forgetting people’s names, but I know she has much more to offer than those abilities. The End.

Free Writing – March Madness

March Madness. This is the time of year when millions of women resign themselves to the fact that their significant others will be situated in front of the television every day for a few hours (some guys probably do this anyway, but at least now they have an excuse) watching college kids play hoops. This activity is a yearly ritual that represents everything that is right with sports. The Men’s College Basketball Tournament is an event that throws away the money, endorsement contracts, and selfish look-at-me attitudes in favor of good old-fashioned teamwork. Anyone who has watched it can attest that the emotions emitted by the players cannot be matched anywhere in sports. It is always fun to cheer for the underdog (since BYU never fails to deliver a first-round loss), and this year tiny Davidson College fits the bill. This school has an enrollment of two thousand students (two thousand!), but they have beaten the likes of Gonzaga, Georgetown and Wisconsin. Their “we may be small but we’re not going to back down no matter what” style of play is inspiring. They lost a nail-biter today against the heavily favored Kansas team, but they provided a great deal of enjoyment to the aforementioned couch-potatoes the past few weeks. Yep, I can’t wait until next year.

Technique Analysis – Potential Introductions for Paper C (Media)

Introduction #1

Violence is nothing new to society, but it is being promoted and accepted like never before. This is in large part due to the easy access many people have to the advanced technology of our age. Movies and video games are popular forms of entertainment, and often contain some type of violence. Some researchers have found that exposure to violence, both pretend and real, leads to more aggressive behavior in children. On the other hand, supporters of this kind of entertainment argue that children are going to be exposed to violence anyway, so their products inflict no additional harm. With such conflicting approaches, we are left with the question – what are the true consequences of media violence?

Introduction #2

Advertisements are all around us, and, whether we recognize it or not, play a large part in our daily lives. Some advertisements are for products that are helpful or necessary to many people, but most are for silly things that are a waste of both time and money. One area of advertising that is especially hurtful is the focus on superficial physical beauty, no matter the cost. Many products, from fast-food to hygiene products, tell people that true worth is found on the outside rather than the inside. What kind of affect does this attitude have on the consumers who make up our society?