One of the most significant facts about us may be that we all begin with the natural equipment to live a thousand kinds of lives but end in the end having lived only one. (Geertz 24).
Rhetorical Analysis Recipe
1 c. topic sentence.
2 Tbsp. of evidence.
360* for 10 minutes analyzing evidence.
If you want to be a success at writing a rhetorical analysis, you would be wise to follow the procedures mentioned above. I started out with a quote, which is NOT a good idea. But, I did that on purpose. If the only thing you read was that quote, then good job, you got the gist.
REAL Topic Sentence: The purpose of this life is to learn how to make small decisions and it is with those that we determine our destiny.
Evidence: [Insert previous quote.]
Analysis: I often think about the experiences of my past life...
I could have been a dancer, gymnast, or tap-dancer, but instead I chose to play sports.
I played basketball, volleyball, softball, soccer, and ran track.
I could have been an actress, a performer, or a choir girl, but instead I took art lessons.
I paint, draw, and watercolor with pencil, acrylic, and pen.
I could have been shy, quiet, or reserved, but instead I'm a people-person.
I would rather be with a stranger, than be alone.
I could have gone to Weber, Dixie, or USU, but instead I chose BYU.
I had the chance to live a thousand types of lives, I could have, but if not I wouldn't be...
Yours truly,
ME
Geertz, Clifford (1965). The Impact of the Concept of Culture on the Concept of Man. In John R. Platt (Ed.), New Views of the Nature of Man (pp.16-29). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
You'll Have the Force
Writing for me has been more about quantity than about quality. For years I have spent Sunday afternoons recapping my week as a dedicated journal writer. I have always loved to write, but I don't consider myself by any means John Greene or Nicholas Sparks.
Learning about "Mindful Writing" has opened up my limited view of writing. It is no longer about words on a page or sentences in a line. It is about the structure and art of forming a coherent thought or argument. The structure, I consider, is a lot like a battle plan with the intent to blow the reader away. (No pun intended.) There are tactics and devices used to maximize the quality and power of a piece. As part of the plan, there are six interconnected forces in a rhetorical situation.
Exigence, Kiaros, Rhetor, Purpose, Genre, and Audience
I want to give a quick synopsis of each.
My friend Hiram taught me a valuable lesson on exigence. He explained that a particular girl in our FHE group had mastered this tactic. Exigence is the invitation to speak. This girl knew exactly what questions to ask to get a guy to talk. She would break the ice and draw them out of their shell. As soon as they were out, she would suddenly lack interest. But, it was the first initial invitation that keep the guys coming back. Now, if that isn't a battle plan, I don't know what is.
Simplistically stated, kiaros means the right timing. Writing is not only a process, but an art. It requires the author to artistically communicate their point of view at an appropriate time when the audience is most likely to receive it.
Rhetor has a lot to do with what you are taught as a kid. Think before you act. In this case think before you say something. This in itself is quite eloquently stated.
Females are experts at purpose. In writing, this is what you are trying to achieve by what you say. The reason females are excellent at purpose is for the sake of the concept: "a question behind a question." For example, if we were to ask, "What are you doing this weekend?" We might be trying to see if the recipient remembers this weekend is her birthday, an anniversary, or a special event. In a more personal experience, while at a football game, my date and I came upon the subject, for lack of a better term, "courting rudeness." I told him a story about how a guy, while walking with my friend and I, asked for her number in front of me. I mentioned, that a few minutes later, almost out of pity (or in his mind), politeness, he asked for my number as well. While telling the story I mentioned how inconsiderate this experience was. A few minutes after telling the story he turned to me and said, "That was about me, wasn't it?" Yes, yes it was.
If you have ever read a book in your life, or watched Netflix, you understand genre. This includes fiction, non fiction, bibliography, or action, romance, and comedy.
Think of this joke for example, "What is the difference between the MTC and prison?"..."In prison you can have visitors." Nearly everyone I know, including myself tries to come up with some sort of joke before speaking in sacrament meeting. In order to do so, you have to come up with something appropriate, funny, and relatable to the ward. If you understand who your audience is, all your jokes will be funny.
When you incorporate these six steps in writing, also known as interconnected forces, you will have the force. In writing, obviously.
Learning about "Mindful Writing" has opened up my limited view of writing. It is no longer about words on a page or sentences in a line. It is about the structure and art of forming a coherent thought or argument. The structure, I consider, is a lot like a battle plan with the intent to blow the reader away. (No pun intended.) There are tactics and devices used to maximize the quality and power of a piece. As part of the plan, there are six interconnected forces in a rhetorical situation.
Exigence, Kiaros, Rhetor, Purpose, Genre, and Audience
I want to give a quick synopsis of each.
My friend Hiram taught me a valuable lesson on exigence. He explained that a particular girl in our FHE group had mastered this tactic. Exigence is the invitation to speak. This girl knew exactly what questions to ask to get a guy to talk. She would break the ice and draw them out of their shell. As soon as they were out, she would suddenly lack interest. But, it was the first initial invitation that keep the guys coming back. Now, if that isn't a battle plan, I don't know what is.
Simplistically stated, kiaros means the right timing. Writing is not only a process, but an art. It requires the author to artistically communicate their point of view at an appropriate time when the audience is most likely to receive it.
Rhetor has a lot to do with what you are taught as a kid. Think before you act. In this case think before you say something. This in itself is quite eloquently stated.
Females are experts at purpose. In writing, this is what you are trying to achieve by what you say. The reason females are excellent at purpose is for the sake of the concept: "a question behind a question." For example, if we were to ask, "What are you doing this weekend?" We might be trying to see if the recipient remembers this weekend is her birthday, an anniversary, or a special event. In a more personal experience, while at a football game, my date and I came upon the subject, for lack of a better term, "courting rudeness." I told him a story about how a guy, while walking with my friend and I, asked for her number in front of me. I mentioned, that a few minutes later, almost out of pity (or in his mind), politeness, he asked for my number as well. While telling the story I mentioned how inconsiderate this experience was. A few minutes after telling the story he turned to me and said, "That was about me, wasn't it?" Yes, yes it was.
If you have ever read a book in your life, or watched Netflix, you understand genre. This includes fiction, non fiction, bibliography, or action, romance, and comedy.
Think of this joke for example, "What is the difference between the MTC and prison?"..."In prison you can have visitors." Nearly everyone I know, including myself tries to come up with some sort of joke before speaking in sacrament meeting. In order to do so, you have to come up with something appropriate, funny, and relatable to the ward. If you understand who your audience is, all your jokes will be funny.
When you incorporate these six steps in writing, also known as interconnected forces, you will have the force. In writing, obviously.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Go Ye Unto All the Earth
Our
bodies allow us to experience our life on earth in a deeper, more God-like way.
“Our physical bodies create depth.” (Things as They Really Are – Ensign June
2010). Elder Bednar explains that we have feelings, urges, and tendencies that
we are born to master. Our time on earth is brief and needs to be utilized so
that we can return to our Heavenly Father in a more perfected form. Satan,
however, has attempted to manipulate our feelings, urges, and tendencies in a
way that wastes our time through misuse of social media. Whereas, in his talk
“Sweep the Earth as a Flood,” he highlights the positivity and the righteous
influence that these technologies can likewise have in our lives as well as in
the lives of others.
The Plan of Salvation requires us to live in a reality
that is hard, trying, and often discouraging. Elder Bednar in his address,
“Things as they Really Are,” warns us of “digital distractions, diversions, and
detours,” that often feel more secure when faced with the alternative of
reality. Satan has bombarded our lives with social media, TV, music, and video
games to distract our minds and hearts from our true purpose. In contrast,
illustrated in his talk “Sweep the Earth as a Flood,” God has provided technology
as a way to communicate and send uplifting messages to the world. Through use
of technology in missionary work, it can touch the lives of individuals who
would not have otherwise heard about the gospel.
As summarized from Joshua 24:15, “No
man can serve two masters,” describes the two conflicting uses of technology in
Bednar’s talks. We can’t be a part of the flood of the gospel when we are
wasting our time on temporary satisfactions. In the talk “Sweep the Earth as a
Flood,” we can spend time posting pictures, quotes, and messages of hope, as
well as focusing our time on building lasting relationships with people we
love. In our united effort we can reach the billions of people on social media
sites and together prepare the world for the second coming of Christ.
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