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.