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?

Rhetorical Analysis - "Traffic"

WATCO: The rise and prominence of illegal drugs on our society?

Claim: The rise and prominence of illegal drugs hurts our society because young people’s focus on buying, selling and becoming addicted to these drugs provides a shaky foundation for the future of our country.

Implicit Assumption: Whatever provides a shaky foundation for the future of our country also hurts our society.

Audience: Parents and other figures in authority who could possibly monitor or otherwise regulate the dangerous habits of youngsters

The movie Traffic is a social drama that focuses on the drug trade both on the streets of our country and with Mexico. It features several different settings that rotate throughout the show. One is in Mexico with a brave cop (Benicio Del Toro) who is unafraid of the drug cartels that have such a strong influence in his country. Another is in San Diego, where undercover cops (Don Cheadle & Luiz Guzman) are trying to take down several drug dealers and their contacts (Dennis Quaid & Catherine Zeta Jones). The final setting switches between Ohio and Washington D.C. where the nation’s drug czar (Michael Douglas) is trying to find a balance between fighting the war on drugs and helping his own addict daughter. Though the show is an obvious dramatization, it powerfully relates the feeling that this problem can occur anywhere, anytime, and to anyone. Rarely has a mainstream movie been so blunt with such a large issue. The problems portrayed are real and occur every day all across our country. After watching the show, one is left with a strong emotional sense of catharsis that the war on drugs must be started from inside the home. Everyone can reach out to those who are close to them and really make a difference in their lives.

Technique Analysis – Random Introductions

Introduction #1

I never thought it would take me close to a decade to graduate from college, though I guess my life is filled with lots of things I hadn’t thought about before. I knew I wanted to go to BYU since I can remember, but now that I’m here my main goal has gradually turned into developing an effective way to get out of here. It seems that many people know exactly what they want to do with their lives from a young age, and college is just a quick stop for them as they proceed with the rest of their lives. Me, I just knew that I wanted to go to BYU. And as much as I love it here, that particular dream has extended its welcome a bit too long. Is it better to map out your life while you’re still a young teenager, or should you let experience and time decide what route you should take?

Introduction #2

My Grandpa Bagley is the smartest person I know. He knows just about everything there is to know about apples. And about chemistry. And about Africa. And about chickens (which absolutely terrify me, so I won’t talk much about them). One thing I’ve come to learn over my 25 years of life is that there isn’t much that my grandpa doesn’t know about. He worked as a physicist for the government, makes the best apple cider in the world, taught chemistry at the University of San Francisco, and served as a mission president in Zimbabwe. Regrettably, he has also had chickens for as long as I can remember. He is kind, gentle and charitable, and he would claim that he is no different from anybody else in the world, but I know better.

Rhetorical Analysis – Beer and Circus

In Beer and Circus, Murray Sperber argues that the level of education of major universities in the United States is quickly deteriorating. He argues that big-time college sports play a large roll in this decline.

WATCO: Big-time College sports on the level of education at large universities?

Claim: Big-time College sports hurt the level of education at large universities because the focus on socializing and partying distracts students from their studies.

Audience: Critics of modern higher education who ignore the student population in the reviews and critiques.

Sperber is very persuasive in his arguments against college sports. First, he is a highly credible writer, having published numerous books about similar subjects. He has also been an English Professor at Indiana University for the past three decades or so. His book appeals to anyone who is frustrated with the state of modern education, citing large class sizes and high tuition (among other things) as components of modern student life. Students, parents and critics all feel frustration at these trends. His research is very extensive, and he provides sufficient evidence of his claims throughout the book. One area in which his argument is unique, however, is in relation to other critics’ views of education today. Many critiques focus on the university presidents and professors, but spend little time on the students. He feels that the students are the key to a university and makes his argument from their perspective. Though different, this view is effective in his argument.

Beer and Circus is an intriguing book. Though it does not read like a novel, the subject matter is interesting and very thorough. Sperber makes his argument well and relates sports to educational failures in ways many people have not even considered.

Free Writing – Parents, Kids and Sports

Approximately 42 million kids play youth sports every year. The majority of children who participate in sports play because it is a good form of exercise and a good way to socialize with their peers. Beyond the rare exception, they do not sign up at a young age with the hopes of someday becoming a professional athlete. Most kids want to become skilled at the games they play, but often not for the same reasons as their parents. Many parents want their kids to be the best, while many kids simply want to be good enough to fit in and enjoy the game. Parents have big dreams for their kids, but it is important for them to keep those dreams in check and help their kids define an appropriate line between fun and competition. Parents and coaches who put winning as the only standard of success significantly diminish the kids’ chance to grow and have positive experiences with athletics.

For parents, encouraging their kids to participate on athletic teams is a serious commitment of time and energy. Dedicated parents spend hours on end driving their kids to and from practices and games. Many parents also serve the dual role of parent and cheerleader at their children’s games. All the time and effort, though, is worth it for parents because of the end results. Being part of a team gives kids confidence and teaches them about responsibility and accountability. They are motivated towards both individual and team goals, and don’t want to let the team down by slacking off. For parents who are worried about how their children spend their free time, sports represent a wholesome way that kids can spend their time after school. Kids who want to participate in sports are forced to manage their time to find a balance between all their different activities. In general, sports benefit both parents and their children and help them to grow in unique ways.

Rhetorical Analysis – Athletes as Heroes

WATCO: Professional athletes on American society?

Claim: Professional athletes help the American society because professional athletes work hard and serve as role models for others.

Implicit Assumption: Whatever provides society with role models also helps society.

In his essay "Sports Heroes and American Culture," Steven A. Riess tries to convince his audience that sports players are larger than life and serve a greater purpose than just playing games in front of spectators. He claims that they are heroes that people can look up to and emulate, not just in how they play their respective games, but in how they lead their lives. This may have been true during the early part of the 20th century, but definitely is not true today. Riess is correct that athletes served a great purpose in the past. He cited the fact that athletic heroes such as Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey and Bobby Jones helped many Americans define their own personal sense of identity. They also helped people escape from the rigors of daily life. His information to back up his claims is substantial and historically accurate, and it is doubtful that many, if any, other historians would disagree with him. One glaring omission from his essay, however, is how commercialization and technology have changed how Americans view athletes. Athletes are no longer heroes, people who symbolize the American working man and lead moral and ethical lives. Rather, sports stars of today are paid outrageous amounts of money and generally show complete disregard for the mantle of role model. People cannot relate to athletes as they could a hundred years ago. The premise behind Riess’s essay is interesting, but his point that athletes are heroes in society represents and ideal that is far in the past.

Technique Analysis – Enthymeme & Introduction

WATCO: Involving your kids in team sports when they are young on their overall well being?

Enthymeme: Involving your kids in team sports when they are young increases their overall well being because working with others their age helps them emotionally, socially and physically.

Audience: Parents with children ages 8 and younger

Implicit Assumption: Whatever helps kids emotionally, socially and physically also increases their overall well-being.

Parents have a natural concern for their children, whether they want it or not. They want them to learn and grow and develop solid relationships with others their age, and these things can be accomplished in many different ways. Some experts claim that parents should push their children in their studies to help them get ahead, while others argue that wholesome physical recreation is more beneficial. What exactly are the best ways to help your kids grow without being overbearing or intrusive?

Free Writing – Commercialization of Sports

This photo was taken recently at the Super Bowl Media Day in Phoenix. The woman pictured is Inez Sainz, a reporter for TV Azteca in Mexico. Instead of reporting about football she circulated herself around in a wedding dress and proposed to a number of players from both teams. Would anyone consider what she does reporting? Better yet, does anybody even care? Each year the Super Bowl becomes less about the actual game and more about the marketing and attention for everyone involved. This attitude is a microcosm of how our modern society treats sports, and miles away from where sports started.

Professional sports should not matter so much to so many people. Fans are somehow considered to be stakeholders in sports despite the fact that they don’t get anything in return besides a constant wave of commercials and whining from overpaid athletes. Sports used to be a way people defined themselves, but it is difficult for that to be the case anymore. While many people can relate to sports and be entertained by sports, these superficial rewards are the extent to which most people can be involved with sports in our society.

Rhetorical Analysis – Elder Oaks

WATCO: Young adults’ dating rather than “hanging out” on their relationships with the opposite gender?

Claim: Young adults’ dating rather than “hanging out” helps build healthy relationships with members of the opposite gender because spending quality time getting to know each other helps people respect and appreciate each other.

Implicit Assumption: Whatever helps people respect and appreciate each other also helps build healthy relationships.

Audience: LDS Young Adults who for various reasons are not inclined to date

Elder Oaks’ talk, “The Dedication of a Lifetime” has become quite famous in the LDS community since he gave it nearly two years ago. In this address he expresses his concern over the growing trend of young adults to stay single for longer periods of time, then encourages them to go on meaningful dates with members of the opposite gender. His argument is well-founded and well-stated. He uses academic articles and statistics to show that the average age of marriage in the United States is increasing, and that young adults fit into a new and strange demographic. His many years of experience as a church leader and as President of BYU add to his credibility. I’m sure many of our church leaders would give the same advice, and likely contributed to his talk in various ways. He just acted as the mouthpiece with this address. Elder Oaks was not overbearing in giving advice and counsel to the young adults of the church. Rather, he used humor and wit to confront a potentially sensitive subject. This helped many young adults accept and internalize his message.

I was single when he gave the address but have since married, so I guess dating worked for me. Really, though, Elder Oaks’ talk was very motivational and tactful, which are things the young adults of church needed in a message meant to drive them to action.

Free Writing – Thoughts on TA’s

I understand the value of a good Teaching Assistant (TA) for college professors. Professors are busy people. They have class to prepare for, meetings to attend, research to perform, books to write, and, usually last on their list, papers to grade. TA’s serve as a liaison to students for many professors, especially since classes are usually large and learning the name of each student is not a high priority for many educators. TA’s help teachers run the class by being present (for moral support?) as well as collecting and grading papers. Many TA’s also teach a lab session on the side. They are very convenient for professors.

They are not, however, convenient for students.

Many TA’s are nice people, but it seems that at least one class each semester assigns to me a TA who thinks he/she is better than everyone else. Why is this? Is it because they took the class the previous semester and got a decent grade so they think they know more than us? Is it because they don’t have to do the homework and look down on those that do? Or is it because a large part of students’ grades rest on their judgment? Whatever the reason, I have a hard time supporting the fact that a TA who may or may not know more about the subject matter than I do is determining my grade. I respect professors, and I am willing to accept whatever feedback they give to me. In fact, I enjoy getting feedback from my professors. They are trained and paid professionals who (for the most part) do a fine job. They should be in charge of the class and what grades the students get, but this responsibility too often falls to the TA’s. Personally, I think it is ridiculous that I pay money for an education only to have my success or failure determined by a fellow student.

Technique Analysis – Paper B Issue Analysis

WATCO: Young adults choosing to get married over staying single on society?

Claim: Young adults’ choosing to get married over staying single has a positive effect on society because establishing a home promotes healthy morals and strengthens the community.

Audience: LDS Young Adults who would rather “hang-out” than date with the goal of getting married.

About the Audience

-interested in having fun and meeting new people
-have testimonies of the gospel
-typically between 20-25 years old
-interested in the opposite gender, but not willing to commit to anything serious
-many are college students or recent graduates
-financial and material things are often important
-desire security (financial, emotional, etc.)
-knowing the eternal nature of marriage, they want to be very careful about entering into serious relationships
-often wish to delay adult responsibilities
-understand the importance of marriage and family, but are passive about setting goals in those areas
-desire to do good and help those around them


Marriage (+)

Family builds emotional stability

Husband and wife strengthen each other
Strong families add to local community

True happiness is found within family life

Marriage teaches people to sacrifice for others and develop unselfish motives and habits


Marriage (-)

Newlyweds are often poor

Marriage carries with it many large and intimidating responsibilities

“Hanging Out” is within many people’s comfort zone, while marriage is challenging on many different levels

Eternity is a long time, so finding the right person can sometimes be stressful and difficult

Free Writing – Ballet vs. Cougarettes

My wife is a dancer, and she likes to watch other people dance. I like to make my wife happy. Put these together and sometimes I have the privilege of going to events such as ballets and dance concerts. Two weeks ago BYU’s ballet department put on their winter show, and last week the Cougarettes were performing their annual concert. Lucky me, I had the chance to go to both of them. After watching both of these concerts I thought I would take a minute and make note of some of my observations from each – a comparison if you will.

Ballet Concert

The ballet was okay. I thought it was cool how they could stand on their toes for so long and spin so much without getting dizzy. One girl spun around 36 times in a row without showing any type of disorientation. My brothers and I used to have competitions to see who could spin the most and I don’t think we ever reached 36 times before we fell over. Some of the dances were very beautiful, and my favorite was a dance to Pachelbell. One thing that is normal in the dance world but that I thought funny was the pants that the guys were wearing. Let’s just say that they didn’t leave much to the imagination. This made me laugh every time they were out on the stage, and my wife had to shush me a few times. Besides these things, the show wasn’t all that compelling. Their timing wasn’t very good and I thought most of the music they used was boring.

Cougarettes Concert

This was a different story. I loved just about every minute of the Cougarettes’ performance. Their timing was right on (which you would expect given that they have won seven out of the last eleven national championships) and their music covered the spectrum of cool and funky to soothing and beautiful. They also used cool props to dance to, such as a ladder and chairs, as well as a cube made out of pipes. One of the things I noticed about the Cougarettes is that the girls are not as skinny as the ballet dancers. None of them were fat, but they were strong enough to do their own lifts and use all the props with ease. I liked that about them. I left the Cougarettes concert feeling like I would gladly pay another $10 to see it again, which is a tribute to them. My wife liked it much better too, so it turned out to be a much better date than the ballet concert the previous week.

Rhetorical Analysis – “The Enriching of Marriage” by President Faust

WATCO: Divorce on future happiness?

Claim: Divorce hurts the chance for future happiness because divorce makes people take on life’s challenges alone rather than with someone to help them.

Implicit Assumption: Whatever makes people take on life’s challenges alone also hurts their chance for future happiness.

President Faust’s argument that divorce is a deceptively easy way to make life more difficult is full of facts and experience. Many people believe that getting a divorce is a way to put marital and life struggles behind them, but according to President Faust this line of reasoning is false. He cites his many years of experience as a lawyer and other capacities working closely with people as evidence of this. He is extremely credible, and what he has to say agrees with the results of many studies on divorce. He notes that, statistically speaking, about half of married couples in the United States will eventually get divorced, but that does not necessarily make them happier. He focuses on the emotionally stability that comes with being part of the partnership that is marriage. As hard as marriage is sometimes, it is easier than going through life alone. He outlines several ways that couples can strengthen their marriage and get through the hard times without resorting to divorce. He notes the spiritual characteristics of praying together, showing trust and virtue, paying tithing, and focusing on parenthood as a way to strengthen each other. His counsel is nothing new, but it is through the simple things that progress is made and relationships become stronger.

I feel that President Faust’s talk on Divorce is very persuasive. The ideals he encourages are not difficult to do, but will nonetheless make an extreme difference in the lives of people who put them to practice. He is very knowledgeable and his advice can be trusted.

Technique Analysis – Practicing Enthymemes

WATCO: Getting divorced on future relationships?

Claim: Getting a divorce does not improve your chance at having fulfilling future relationships because getting a divorce does not help you learn to overcome problems and obstacles.

Implicit Assumption: Whatever does not help you learn to overcome problems and obstacles also does not improve your chance at having fulfilling future relationships.

Audience: Couples who are considering getting a divorce

Sometimes divorce is the best option, but more often than not people could work through their struggles if they showed more dedication and put in more effort. Many people get divorced because they have differences that seem insurmountable. Divorce is a very short-sighted fix to this problem, as the two people involved do not learn how to overcome their differences. Chances are that the next relationship they enter into will confront them with differences as well. Studies have shown that people who work through their trials (even though this is very difficult sometimes) are much happier five years later than people who have chosen to get a divorce.

Technique Analysis - Enthymeme & Introduction

WATCO: Giving student-athletes preferential treatment on the academic integrity of a university?

Claim: Giving student-athletes preferential treatment diminishes the academic integrity of a university because affording student-athletes easy access to academic tutoring and counseling gives them learning opportunities that other students don't have.

Implicit Assumption: Whatever gives student athletes learning opportunities that other students don't have diminishes the academic integrity of a university.

Audience: The university president (President Samuelson) and Board of Directors at Brigham Young University

Introduction: Sports are a prominent pastime in American history and an important part of campus life across the country. Big-time college sports are an important money-maker for large universities, and the student-athletes that make the teams successful often occupy center stage and draw attention from the media, fellow students and faculty members on campus. Some experts claim that the same sports that bring in millions of dollars and thousands of new students every year have an adverse effect on the integrity of the university because of the preferential treatment placed on the athletes involved. Others would claim that the athletes deserve the attention and that sports have the positive effect of attracting incoming freshmen and building school pride and unity. The question is how far are universities willing to go to help their student-athletes succeed both on the field and in the classroom?

Rhetorical Analysis – “Hate Me” by Blue October

Of all the songs I could have picked, “Hate Me” is probably one of the more depressing choices. This is not to say it a bad song, because I think it is a very good song. It has a strong beat and the lyrics are beautiful in highlighting the far-reaching effects of people’s actions.

"Hate Me" Music Video (Warning: The lead singer is kind of crazy in the music video. Oh well.)

WATCO: Unhealthy habits on important relationships?

Claim: Unhealthy habits ruin important relationships because drinking and doing drugs put unnecessary burdens on people you love.

Audience: The singer's mother

This song is about a mother/son relationship, and starts out with the singer listening to a voicemail from his mom. The lyrics are an apology by the singer, who wants what is best for his mom but also knows that his actions have prevented her from being happy a lot of the time. Even though his mom has always been there to help him and pick him up when he fell, he feels like the damage from all the bad things he has done is irreparable. His solution is that it would be easier to just break ties and end the relationship, because that way his mom would no longer have to deal with the sadness he causes her to feel. Relationships, however, are difficult things to sever because of the deep emotions involved. Love is a very strong bond, so he feels that if she hates him then parting ways will not be as difficult.

“Hate me today. Hate me tomorrow. Hate me for all the things I didn’t do for you…Hate me so you can finally see what’s good for you.”

This song is about self-reflection and realizing that your actions affect everyone around you, especially those who care about you. It is important to be careful with the emotions and feelings of those you love, because you never know what the future has in store.

Free Writing – The Nicklecade Experience

Not all people enjoy the Nicklecade, but I’m a fan. Growing up, arcades always seemed like a waste of money to me, and my parents obviously concurred because I can’t remember one instance of them taking us there to let loose. 25 cents (or 50 cents in some cases) was a pretty steep price to pay for a minute or two of fleeting entertainment.

Now, though, the Nickelcade provides a great opportunity to have some kid-style fun at one-fifth the normal price. My wife and I made a night of it on Friday (for an hour and a half that is) and had a great time. I swept the motorcycle and car racing games while she humbled me at “Dance, Dance Revolution.” I was close though. We also hit up the game where you smack the frogs as fast as you can, because that one gave us the most tickets, which is a very important part of going to the Nickelcade. We had 194 tickets at the end of the night. All in all we spent about $10 and came away with two fake-tattoos, a rope of Laffy-Taffy, a little plastic lizard (Steph loves amphibians of any kind), and one of those complex pocket mazes with the little steel ball – quite a haul for the evening. This is all in addition, mind you, to the fun we had escaping the stresses of school and work and acting like kids again.

So for those who are turned off to the idea of spending a bit of time at the Nickelcade, I suggest that you throw caution to the wind and give it a try. You’ll thank me afterwards.

Technique Analysis – Practicing Introductions

Sports are a prominent pastime in American history and a popular hobby for millions of Americans today. Sports play many roles in today’s complex society, one of which is held at the university level. College sports is a huge money-maker for large universities, but some experts claim that the same sports that bring in millions of dollars and thousands of new students every year have an adverse effect on the educational level of universities. Others would claim that sports have the positive effect of attracting incoming freshmen and building school pride and unity. It is certain that large universities sacrifice a lot for their sports teams, but the question is how far they will go to find success on the playing fields.

Sports represent one of the world’s most popular pastimes, and yet what we call sports in our society is very different from what sports used to be. Sports started out as a way people proved their worth and status, both physically and financially. While this is partially the case today, our society puts a higher premium on the advertising space associated with large sporting events that on the actual events themselves. Today’s fans are not simply fans, but consumers participating in commercialized activities that suck them of their money and love of the sports they’ve grown up with.

Review of "Beer and Circus," by Murray Sperber

In Beer and Circus, Murray Sperber argues that the level of education of major universities in the United States is quickly deteriorating. He argues that big-time college sports play a large roll in this decline.

WATCO: Big-time College sports on the level of education at large universities?

Claim: Big-time College sports hurt the level of education at large universities because the focus on socializing and partying distracts students from their studies.

Audience: Critics of modern higher education who ignore the student population in the reviews and critiques.

Sperber is very persuasive in his arguments against college sports. First, he is a highly credible writer, having published numerous books about similar subjects. He has also been an English Professor at Indiana University for the past three decades or so. His book appeals to anyone who is frustrated with the state of modern education, citing large class sizes and high tuition (among other things) as components of modern student life. Students, parents and critics all feel frustration at these trends. His research is very extensive, and he provides sufficient evidence of his claims throughout the book. One area in which his argument is unique, however, is in relation to other critics’ views of education today. Many critiques focus on the university presidents and professors, but spend little time on the students. He feels that the students are the key to a university and makes his argument from their perspective. Though different, this view is effective in his argument.

Beer and Circus is an intriguing book. Though it does not read like a novel, the subject matter is interesting and very thorough. Sperber makes his argument well and relates sports to educational failures in ways many people have not even considered.

Free Writing – Grandpa Bagley

My Grandpa Bagley went to the hospital today to have a minor surgery done to help his tear ducts drain properly, but 20 minutes into the operation his heart stopped beating. Thanks to modern medical technology and proficient doctors my grandpa is still alive tonight. He is in the ICU, and they will spend tomorrow monitoring him and doing tests on his heart, but he is alive. I’ve never had anybody close to me die before, and the news this morning that my grandpa might not make it came as a shock. My grandpa is getting old and his health isn’t what it once was, but he’s always been around and it is hard to imagine what life would be like with him gone. I guess you just never really know when tragic things are going to happen, so it’s difficult to be prepared when they do. My family has bonded together today through a constant exchange of phone calls and text messages, and we have been able to comfort each other through a roller-coaster of emotions. I guess the thing that I realized most today is how often I take meaningful relationships for granted. I’m surrounded each day by people who make my life wonderful. I don’t know what I would do if I lost my wife or someone in my immediate family, but I do know that from now on I’ll do a better job of loving them while I still can.

Rhetorical Analysis – Buying a Suit

I had heard that Mr. Mac’s was having a special sale this last week, so I recruited my brother to go with me (for moral support and to give me someone to talk to) to the mall and check out what they were offering. It turned out that their deals weren’t so special after all, but that didn’t keep Ryan (that was the salesman’s name) from trying to get me to buy something I didn’t really want.

WATCO: Buying a suit on my sense of self-fulfillment?

Claim: Buying a suit will increase my sense of self-fulfillment because buying a suit will help me to look stylish and professional.

Implicit Assumption: Whatever helps me look stylish and professional will also increase my sense of self-fulfillment.

Audience = Me

Ryan used several different techniques in his attempt to persuade me to purchase a suit, or socks, or pretty much anything else from the store. First of all, he presented himself well. He let us browse for a bit before asking if there was anything specific that we were looking for. I hate it when salesmen jump on you the second you walk through the door. He was also dressed very nice in a dark blue suit with a light blue pinstriped shirt and yellow tie. His appearance gave him credibility that he actually knew how to dress stylishly and pick out clothes that matched. I feel that these are very important traits for a suit salesman. This is about where the positive things ended, however, because he started being very pushy after the initial greeting. Instead of bringing out the suit I was considering, he brought out five completely different styles. I still can’t figure out why he did this. Maybe he had other issues he was dealing with at the time, but he just didn’t really seem to listen to what I was saying, and he wasn’t particularly nice about it. His whole attitude seemed to be, “Our suits are very nice, so you should pay lots of money for them without complaining about it.” It may not be his fault that the store wasn’t having a very good sale, but there was no way I was going to spend $300 for a new suit. I’m cheap, and he didn’t help me overcome that concern very well. The best deal he could think to offer was to give me $15 off a new shirt if I were to purchase the $350 suit. That’s it? He didn’t try to build any emotional or logical connection between me and the suit(s) he was offering, and while his arguments were sufficient, typical and accurate – that is, he knew his stuff when it came to suits – nothing he said was relevant to how I was feeling.

As you can tell, Ryan was completely unsuccessful at selling me a suit. I expect people who are paid on commission to be pushy and maybe a bit cranky sometimes, but he just seemed to be off his game when I came in. His complete lack of regard for what I wanted turned me off to the idea of buying a suit from him.

Free Writing – Thoughts on President Hinckley

I don’t think I’ve spent as much time the past few weeks thinking about President Hinckley as other people have. It’s not because I won’t miss him sometimes or because I don’t believe he was a prophet or anything like that, but I haven’t let my feelings dwell on his passing like so many others have. My wife and I attended church with my family last Sunday in Sandy, where we were visiting for the weekend. It was fast and testimony meeting, and, not surprisingly, many people stood at the pulpit and spoke about President Hinckley. Sunday School and Elder’s Quorum proved to be no different. Instead of having normal lessons, the teachers set aside the time for everyone to share memories of and reminisce about our former prophet. Many people cried, but I just didn’t feel it. In fact, I haven’t shed one tear since hearing of his death. I was recently comparing these reactions to my feelings about Heath Ledger’s recent death. I did not cry when I found out about the popular actor's passing either. In fact, the first thing that popped into my mind was, “I hope they finished filming The Dark Night.” This was very shallow of me, I know, but my next reaction was one of sadness. I don’t know the man or even know very much about him. I don’t know if he was a good person or not, but I was sad that he died so suddenly at such a young age. I think his family and friends will have a much more difficult time finding comfort than those of President Hinckley. I was happy when I found out President Hinckley had passed away. He knew where he was going and who was waiting there for his arrival, and I cannot imagine anything else making him happier. It would be selfish for me to feel sorrowful because someone else got just what he wanted.

Technique Analysis – Originality

I'm sitting here recounting yesterday's activities, one of which was walking around the library listening to a sometimes entertaining but mostly annoying recording of people trying to make the experience of taking a library tour more interesting than it really is. While I did learn that the largest open-access computer lab on campus is in the LRC, the tour on a whole seemed like a waste of a half-hour. I transferred here from another college and (thankfully) did not have to take the tour as a freshman like many other students. Even though I haven't taken the tour I still know my way around the library. I know how to do research and I know how to look up books and find what area of the library they are in. I made it all the way to my senior year without taking the tour, and I honestly felt a little bit ridiculous walking around the entire library with my headphones on and the map in my hand. I'm just glad it’s done and I don't have to do it again.

Paragraph Revised for Emphasis, Variety and Distinction:

I had a very busy day yesterday, and yet I still found time to walk around the library listening to a mildly entertaining but mostly annoying recording of people trying to make the experience of touring the library more interesting than it really is. BYU requires each student to take a library tour sometime during their time here, and my time just happened to be yesterday. While I did learn that the LRC contains the largest open-access computer lab on campus, the tour as a whole seemed like a grand waste of time. As a transfer student, I made it all the way to my senior year before they caught me and made me take the tour, and I don’t feel any more knowledgeable than I was last week. I already knew how to study. I knew how to do research. I knew how to look up books. I even knew how to find the books that I looked up. I felt more than a bit ridiculous walking around the library with my headphones on and the library map in my hand. Everything about me screamed “I’m a freshman!” I didn’t like that, and I’m glad that I don’t have to take that tour ever again.

Technique Analysis – Tone

To: Our Landlord
About: The large pile of ice in front of our door

My wife and I have already mentioned this problem to you in addition to submitting numerous maintenance requests, but our abundant concern has obviously not been as clear as we would have hoped. WE HAVE A HUGE FREAKIN’ PILE OF ICE IN FRONT OF OUR DOOR! As we talked to you about last week, a leak in the gutter above our apartment has led to an ever-growing pile of ice that creates a miniature lake on our doorstep by day and a healthy sheet of ice by night. If it weren’t winter right now then I’m supremely confident that a family of ducks would call our entryway their home. We’ve tried to clear the ice ourselves, but that solution is only temporary because the leak is still there and a new pile of ice forms within a day or two of us clearing the original pile. It is both a safety issue and an eyesore, as we are the only apartment in the entire complex with an abundance of water collecting at our doorstep. We love our apartment and everything else has been great, but we would greatly appreciate your help in solving this problem.

Sincerely,

Matt Payne

This is an example of a letter with an angry tone.

Rhetorical Analysis – Forgotten Man

Maynard Dixon’s painting, Forgotten Man (1934), is a social protest piece showing the feelings of working class people during the depression. His argument is that the leaders of the country did not do enough to help and protect the common people of America.

Forgotten Man link

WATCO: Ignoring the common man during the depression on the future of the American economy?

Claim: Ignoring the common man during the depression hurts the future of the American economy because failing to help people who are struggling takes away their hope of ever being successful.

Implicit Assumption: Whatever takes away people’s hope of ever being successful also hurts the future of the American economy.

Audience: The leaders of the country who, in Dixon’s opinion, were not doing enough to help the many people who struggled economically during the depression.

This painting uses persuasion on several different levels. The artist depicts a man who is rejected by society without society even really knowing or caring about it. The Great Depression was a time when people looked out for themselves because the economy was not strong enough for them to support anybody else. The man in the picture is discouraged and sitting on the curb while everyone else walks by without even noticing he is there. This image builds credibility with the audience and is effective in building emotional attachment to the piece. The man’s down-trodden countenance and posture are an accurate depiction of the despair many people felt during that period, and Dixon’s views are not dissimilar from the feelings of many others at that time.

I feel that this painting is an effective argument on behalf of the working class of America. It reminds people of how difficult times were in the 1920’s and 1930’s, and how success can be such a fragile thing. The painting is sad and thought-provoking, yet beautiful to look at and emotionally moving. Nobody wants to go back to that, and hopefully our leaders will do things that will prevent that from happening again.

Free Writing – Pieces of April

My wife and I just finished watching Pieces of April, a movie made in 2003 starring Katie Holmes (before she married Tom Cruise and could actually be in movies). The show is about a girl named April (Holmes) who leads a rebellious life and has been estranged from her family for many years. He mother is terminally ill, however, and she invites her family to New York City – a five hour drive from their suburban home – to join her for Thanksgiving dinner and try to salvage any kind of relationship that had been damaged in the past.

Most of the movie chronicles two storylines. One is April’s adventure in attempting to make a Thanksgiving dinner that won’t completely disappoint her family. This is entertaining because she doesn’t really cook. Due to a broken oven, she is also forced to go door to door in her apartment complex asking if she can borrow people’s ovens to cook her Turkey. Along the way she makes plenty of new friends and even learns to cook a bit. The other plotline focuses on her family and their trip to New York. None of them really want to visit April because of all her past misgivings, but a feeling of obligation drives them to visit, especially if it’s the last time she’s able to see her mother. Their trip is full of surprises, which is representative of the entire show. April and her family are only together at the end of the show for a minute or two, but their separate journeys to get to that point are worth watching, and the resolution is satisfying.

This film was both quirky and sad at times, and it effectively conveyed the feelings of a family trying to find the desire to be together despite life’s mistakes and tribulations. Every family deals with difficult times, but small and deliberate expressions of love go a long way to healing any past wounds. Pieces of April is a short film (only 75 minutes), but it is also though-provoking and well worth an hour of anyone’s time.

Pieces of April trailer

Free Writing – Sports & Undergraduate Education

Sports have been something that I’ve loved since I was very young. I played soccer and baseball all through my youth and into high school, while also collecting thousands of baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and even hockey cards along the way. There was a time when I could literally tell you the main statistics of just about every player that was currently playing professional sports. Thus was my interest in the sporting world. Now that I’m in college and looking to make a career out of sports reporting I find myself reflecting beyond the playing field into the deeper aspects of the sports I’ve enjoyed since I was a child. One thing that is particularly interesting to me is the high level of influence that sports figures wield in our society. Even, and maybe especially, on college campuses, the balance of power does not lay where one would normally suspect. It is not so gradually becoming a stark reality at many major universities that the person with the most influence is not the college’s president, but rather the head football coach. The coaches are paid much more than any administrator on campus (including the president) and the marketing and financial implications of the football program are too large for anyone to ignore. Many colleges bend over backwards to do anything that will help them compete athletically with their rival schools, while the focus on academics is being left somewhere in the background. You just don’t see any million-dollar teachers out there, even though they have a much larger influence on a much broader group of people than any football coach ever will. It will be interesting to see how the education aspect of college fairs in the future in its competition with athletics.

Technique Analysis – Practicing Introductions

Introduction #1

I never thought it would take me close to a decade to graduate from college, though I guess my life is filled with lots of things I hadn’t thought about before. I knew I wanted to go to BYU since I can remember, but now that I’m here my main goal has gradually turned into developing an effective way to get out of here. It seems that many people know exactly what they want to do with their lives from a young age, and college is just a quick stop for them as they proceed with the rest of their lives. Me, I just knew that I wanted to go to BYU. And as much as I love it here, that particular dream has extended its welcome a bit too long. Is it better to map out your life while you’re still a young teenager, or should you let experience and time decide what route you should take?


Introduction #2

My Grandpa Bagley is the smartest person I know. He knows just about everything there is to know about apples. And about chemistry. And about Africa. And about chickens (which absolutely terrify me, so I won’t talk much about them). One thing I’ve come to learn over my 25 years of life is that there isn’t much that my grandpa doesn’t know about. He worked as a physicist for the government, makes the best apple cider in the world, taught chemistry at the University of San Francisco, and served as a mission president in Zimbabwe. Regrettably, he has also had chickens for as long as I can remember. He is kind, gentle and charitable, and he would claim that he is no different from anybody else in the world, but I know better.

Rhetorical Analysis – “Rule of Law” in Cambodia

In his essay, “Striking a Blow for Democracy in Asia,” Jeffrey S. Brand argues that Congress’ action of suspending much of its $35 million aid package to Cambodia will do nothing but strengthen Prime Minister Hun Sen’s position of power.

WATCO – Congress suspending its $35 million aid package to Cambodia on the promotion of democracy in the country?

Claim – Congress’ suspension of its $35 million aid package to Cambodia weakens the promotion of democracy in the country because eliminating funding for the “Rule of law” program keeps Cambodian people from learning how to support democratic institutions.

The most obvious audience is whoever reads the article, but Brand clearly wants the decision reversed, so someone in Congress or with the ability to influence Congress would be his main audience.

Brand uses persuasion in his article on a few different levels. He appears to be credible because he teaches law at the University of San Francisco (USF) and is also the director of the university’s Cambodia Law and Democracy Program. He uses an almost patriotic sense of emotion when describing the plight of Cambodians to learn how to support the functions of a democracy. This appeals to most (if not all) Americans who are grateful for their freedoms and liberties. He also outlines a brief history of the “Rule of law” program in Cambodia, along with the country’s political problems over the years, which adds a logical flow to his argument.

Another way that Brand’s argument is persuasive is that he uses a sufficient amount of facts and history to paint a picture of how government funding would promote democracy in Cambodia. His argument also seems typical of what someone opposing the suspension of financial aid would say, and his facts and historical background are accurately and concisely stated. Finally, his article is relevant to Congress because when he wrote that article the situation in Cambodia was obviously unsettled and somewhat up for debate.

I feel that Brand’s argument is persuasive enough to merit some extra thought and consideration about the benefits of withholding aid from Cambodia. He is obviously passionate about the issue and effectively uses facts and reasoning to express his stance. The only problem I have is that his position at USF may lead to a strong bias on behalf of the Cambodian people and the programs that are meant to help them. Those strong ties may make it difficult for him to think and reason objectively, which would in turn significantly weaken his argument.

Free Writing – The Elephant Man Review

I watched an interesting movie the other day called The Elephant Man, which was made in 1980 and stars Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt. The main theme I got out of the movie is that people who take advantage of others do not lead fulfilling lives. John Merrick (Hurt), who was born with severe physical deformities, was exhibited as a freak and shown at the circus as entertainment for people with morbid curiosity and low morals. The story leads us to believe that this is how he spent his entire life, for he was "owned" by a man named Bytes, who made his living by showing of John's limitations. As his caretaker – if you can even call him that, for he didn't seem to care about John very much at all – Bytes was not happy with his pitiful existence, and was even more miserable at the end of the show after he had kidnapped John from the hospital only to find that John would not go along with his Elephant Man act anymore. The last we know of Bytes is that he was drunk and asleep in his carriage, which very well may have doubled as his home. Another character who took advantage of John was the night porter, who collected money from random drunks, among other people, in return for late-night tours into John's hospital room. In return for treating John like an animal the porter got exactly what he deserved – a swift knock upside the head, which amounted to a painful pink slip.

These two characters were balanced out by Dr. Frederick Treves (Hopkins). Dr. Treves showed kindness to John, and while he openly debated his own motives for entering such a strange friendship, his compassion helped John to feel human and gain a sense of his personal worth. Dr. Treves did not take advantage of John, and his life was blessed with a meaningful relationship and an increase of respect from those around him. During one emotional encounter, Bytes exclaimed to Dr. Treves, "Do you think you're better than me?" I'll take the liberty of answering his rhetorical question with a resounding yes! Dr. Treves was much better than either of the two main antagonists, and the quality of their lives is evidence of this. I would recommend seeing The Elephant Man. I wasn’t always comfortable watching the movie, but that ended up being a good thing because my mixed feelings caused me to really think about how I interact with others.

The Elephant Man trailer

Technique Analysis – Enthymemes

Situation #1 – Affordable housing is always difficult to find around campus, and this problem was not helped by the fact the BYU has decreased the size of the boundaries where students can find university approved housing.

WATCO – Shrinking the approved housing boundaries on the lifestyle of BYU students?

Audience – BYU administrators who are in charge of student housing.

Claim – Shrinking the approved housing boundaries cramps the lifestyle of BYU students because shrinking the approved housing boundaries increases the amount of money students have to pay for rent every month.

Implicit Assumption – Whatever increases the amount of money students have to pay every month also cramps the lifestyle of students.


Situation #2 – It seems that the most powerful person at many large universities is not the university’s president, but rather the head football coach. The head coaches make more money than the university presidents and have a very large influence on campus.

WATCO – Focusing on athletics over academics on the level of education at a university?

Audience – The governing Board of Directors at large universities.

Claim – Focusing on athletics over academics decreases the level of education at a university because prioritizing football and basketball encourages students to study less and party more.

Implicit Assumption – Whatever leads to more parties and less time spent studying decreases the level of education.


Situation #3 – English 312 is a difficult class, and there are probably easier alternatives for students who need to take an advanced writing class to graduate.

WATCO – Taking English 312 on a student’s experience at BYU?

Audience – BYU students who are not majoring in English and are deciding which advanced writing class to take.

Claim – Taking English 312 enhances a student’s experience at BYU because learning how to write for specific audiences pushes students to learn valuable communication skills that will be helpful in many different occupations.

Implicit Assumption – Whatever helps students learn valuable communication skills enhances the student’s experience at BYU.

Rhetorical Analysis – T-Mobile

You probably can’t watch TV for more than ten minutes these days without seeing a cell phone commercial, which may not necessarily be a bad thing because they are some of the most creative commercials in recent memory. Of all the cell phone commercials, however, T-Mobile MyFaves are my very favorite, so I picked one of them to analyze.

T-Mobile Creepy Daddy Commercial

The argument of this advertisement is that getting a T-Mobile phone will help parents regulate their children’s activities and keep them in check. The general audience is anybody who may be inclined to purchase a cell phone, and the specific audience of this commercial is any parent who wants to keep in close contact with his or her children, which, not coincidentally, happens to be a popular reason to get a cell phone in the first place.

The ad uses persuasion on several different levels. It is credible because many people recognize T-Mobile as a legitimate company and may even know people who have phones from T-Mobile. This ad also reaches out to the emotions of a parent who cares for the well-being of his or her child and wants to make sure that he or she is okay. This particular situation uses humor to effectively convey the dramatized feelings of a protective father. The father in the commercial uses his patriarchal influence and exalted spot in his daughter’s phone to intimidate her date before they go out that evening – and you better believe that kid’s going to have her home right on time, if not early! What father wouldn’t want this kind of result? Finally, the logical side of the advertisement is that using a cell phone is an affordable way to stay close to those who are important to you. If sending a text message or even just having a phone will help build relationships, then many people will invest in the amazing technology that is a cellular phone.

I feel that this is an effective advertisement to its target audience. On a personal level I find this ad very funny to watch, but I also happen to know that my dad (who has two teenage daughters and another who will eventually become a teenage daughter) enjoys it thoroughly as well.