Assignment #4 Part Two
In the book Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach (published in April 2011), Roach takes you on the journey of what it takes to become an Astronaut. From the unusually small living spaces to the packaged frozen meals. Mary Roach is trying to create a new perspective of science in a humorous way. By finding the amusement of being trained to become an astronaut. Roach insist that there is more to the career of an Astronaut then just going to space. The message I receive from the book is, To not make assumptions or generalize something or someone without evidence. Astronauts do not simply sign up to go to space and are instantly sent. It takes months even years to train them to live in a completely different environment for a long period of time.
The author studies the many ways Astronauts train, by using logos throughout the book to create a credible and fact based story. "I pictured Astronauts, all of them, as they were in the Apollo footage: faceless icons behind gold visors, bounding like antelopes in the moon's weak gravity," this is written to explain the often stereotype created about astronauts. "Earlier, I asked Tachibana whether he was planning to pull any surprises on his candidates, to see how they cope under the stress of sudden emergency." "If something goes wrong everyone's clarity of mind is needed,"(packingformars).
The author explains the emotional and mental strength astronauts have to contain in order to be able to manage in any situation good or bad. "A broken toilet is not only more representative of the challenges of space travel, but-as we'll see in chapter 14-stressful in its own right," (packingformars). They are trained to be ready and prepared for anything to happen do to the fact that they do not have the same advantages in space as on earth (example: Gravity). The author wants readers to have an open mind about different fields of studies and careers that are not familiar to them. To not make assumptions based on opinions heard by media and the environment around them.
I believe the target audience the author is trying to appeal to is those with a love for science and space. It is not the average science book, it not only contains empirical evidence, but also finds the comical side of science. For example " Lunch has arrived and all ten candidates get up to unpack the containers and set out plates. They sit down again, but not one picks up chopsticks. You can tell they're strategizing. Does taking the first bite show leadership, or does it suggest impatience and self indulgence?"(packingformars) Creating a humorous tone of what often might go through astronauts mind while in training. Packing for Mars is overall a fantastic book that does not only make you laugh it also teaches you many things about the field of science.
Bibliography:
(packingformars)Roach, Mary. "Countdown." Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010. N. pag. Print.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Assignment #4
The Book Nickel and Dimed- On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich (published in May 2002), is a magnificent story about Ehrenreich's plan to live the life of a minimum wage American. She is curious to see what it is like to live on a 7 to 8 dollar an hour salary. As the book goes on you recognize the hardship that comes from living on minimum wage and the many sacrifices people have to make on a day to day basis. The story gives off a very clear message that the author intends to change the perspective of the audience, In life we often take advantage of the many privileges and opportunities we receive, we often forget what its like to work hard to achieve goals and or our dreams.
In the book the author uses the literary devices: ethos, pathos and logos to create a very distinct message for the audience. For example though I have already used this quote I feel it is very strong use of logos, “But as I’d learned from my coworkers in Maine-several of whom had spent time in tightly shared space-people who depend on the generosity of others for their lodging always have something untoward to put up with, typically incompatible relatives and long waits for the bathroom,”(nickelanddimed). As mentioned before people often do not have the same opportunities as others and have to do what they can to make sure their needs are fulfilled. One of those needs is having shelter.
The author uses pathos to make the audience feel sympathetic and have a change of perspective,“He is the only representative of that better world where people go to college and wear civilian clothes to work and shop on the weekends for fun,”(nickelanddimed). Often we take advantage of the privileges we have in which "we can not go a day without shopping" when others can go a day without food in order to make sure they have shelter. I think this quote is fantastic, it is short but yet carries a deep meaning. That some people only have to worry about getting through school and getting accepted to college. Most people do not have the same opportunity, they have to worry about making a living and supporting themselves or in some cases a family. In which school is not their number one priority, though it is often not their choice to make this decision.
I believe the target audience that the author is trying to appeal to is every hard working man and woman, who knows what it is like to work for their living. Those who do not receive the recognition they deserve, who are not talked to as though they help make a difference in the business and the world. The reason I think this is the audience the author is trying to appeal to is because of her choice of diction. She uses the word "Pariah" which means outcast. That was used by one of the people she was interviewing, and it creates a big symbol of how they feel the world sees them. She wants people to stop using salary as a determination of social status and notice that almost everyone works for their living.
Bibliography:
(nickelanddimed)Ehrenreich, Barbara. Nickel and Dimed: On (not) Getting by in America. New York: Metropolitan, 2001. Print.
The Book Nickel and Dimed- On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich (published in May 2002), is a magnificent story about Ehrenreich's plan to live the life of a minimum wage American. She is curious to see what it is like to live on a 7 to 8 dollar an hour salary. As the book goes on you recognize the hardship that comes from living on minimum wage and the many sacrifices people have to make on a day to day basis. The story gives off a very clear message that the author intends to change the perspective of the audience, In life we often take advantage of the many privileges and opportunities we receive, we often forget what its like to work hard to achieve goals and or our dreams.
In the book the author uses the literary devices: ethos, pathos and logos to create a very distinct message for the audience. For example though I have already used this quote I feel it is very strong use of logos, “But as I’d learned from my coworkers in Maine-several of whom had spent time in tightly shared space-people who depend on the generosity of others for their lodging always have something untoward to put up with, typically incompatible relatives and long waits for the bathroom,”(nickelanddimed). As mentioned before people often do not have the same opportunities as others and have to do what they can to make sure their needs are fulfilled. One of those needs is having shelter.
The author uses pathos to make the audience feel sympathetic and have a change of perspective,“He is the only representative of that better world where people go to college and wear civilian clothes to work and shop on the weekends for fun,”(nickelanddimed). Often we take advantage of the privileges we have in which "we can not go a day without shopping" when others can go a day without food in order to make sure they have shelter. I think this quote is fantastic, it is short but yet carries a deep meaning. That some people only have to worry about getting through school and getting accepted to college. Most people do not have the same opportunity, they have to worry about making a living and supporting themselves or in some cases a family. In which school is not their number one priority, though it is often not their choice to make this decision.
I believe the target audience that the author is trying to appeal to is every hard working man and woman, who knows what it is like to work for their living. Those who do not receive the recognition they deserve, who are not talked to as though they help make a difference in the business and the world. The reason I think this is the audience the author is trying to appeal to is because of her choice of diction. She uses the word "Pariah" which means outcast. That was used by one of the people she was interviewing, and it creates a big symbol of how they feel the world sees them. She wants people to stop using salary as a determination of social status and notice that almost everyone works for their living.
Bibliography:
(nickelanddimed)Ehrenreich, Barbara. Nickel and Dimed: On (not) Getting by in America. New York: Metropolitan, 2001. Print.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Assignment #3 Part 3
In the article A Day in the Life Aboard the International Space Station: Introduction. Compared to the other two article is more fact-based then opinion based. It describes the astronauts mission in space. Also what NASA wishes to achieve with every mission to space.
In the Article it describes the job of an astronaut in space, ". The station crew spends their day working on science experiments that require their input, as well as monitoring those that are controlled from the ground. They also take part in medical experiments to determine how well their bodies are adjusting to living in microgravity for long periods of time"(NASA) while in the book Packing for Mars describes a different point of view "In reality maybe one percent of an astronauts career takes place in space, and one percent of that is done in a pressure suit. Not that bravery has been entirely phased out. Those recommended astronaut attributes also include 'Ability to Function Despite Imminent Catastrophe.' If something goes wrong everyone's clarity of mind is needed."(mars) Both explain that the life of an astronaut in space is difficult, to be able to cope with a tragic incident, or handle a very different environment is incredibly difficult.
The author of the article mainly uses logos from the rhetorical triangle to give a clear and basic answer for why they send astronauts to space. "The space station is a working laboratory orbiting 240 miles above Earth and is home to an international crew. The station has more than 15,000 cubic feet of habitable volume, which includes more room than a conventional three-bedroom house. The station provides a laboratory complex where gravity, a fundamental force on Earth, is virtually eliminated for extended periods,"(NASA) it gives a straight forward answer of what the shuttle is like. The article contains very little opinions, and is mainly facts from the direct source NASA.
In comparison to the previous article Space Living the writer states the negative in space travel that did indeed change my perspective but after reading this new article I understand the fascination people have with space. Its a mystery that people are slowly trying to understand, and if people want to go explore the mystery of space who are we to stop them.
Bibliography:
(mars)Roach, Mary. Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010. Print.
(NASA)Dunbar, Brian. "A Day in the Life Aboard the International Space Station: Introduction." NASA. Ed. NASA Administrator. NASA, n.d. Web. 17 Aug. 2014. <http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/teachingfromspace/dayinthelife/#.U-4TA9m9LCQ>.
In the article A Day in the Life Aboard the International Space Station: Introduction. Compared to the other two article is more fact-based then opinion based. It describes the astronauts mission in space. Also what NASA wishes to achieve with every mission to space.
In the Article it describes the job of an astronaut in space, ". The station crew spends their day working on science experiments that require their input, as well as monitoring those that are controlled from the ground. They also take part in medical experiments to determine how well their bodies are adjusting to living in microgravity for long periods of time"(NASA) while in the book Packing for Mars describes a different point of view "In reality maybe one percent of an astronauts career takes place in space, and one percent of that is done in a pressure suit. Not that bravery has been entirely phased out. Those recommended astronaut attributes also include 'Ability to Function Despite Imminent Catastrophe.' If something goes wrong everyone's clarity of mind is needed."(mars) Both explain that the life of an astronaut in space is difficult, to be able to cope with a tragic incident, or handle a very different environment is incredibly difficult.
The author of the article mainly uses logos from the rhetorical triangle to give a clear and basic answer for why they send astronauts to space. "The space station is a working laboratory orbiting 240 miles above Earth and is home to an international crew. The station has more than 15,000 cubic feet of habitable volume, which includes more room than a conventional three-bedroom house. The station provides a laboratory complex where gravity, a fundamental force on Earth, is virtually eliminated for extended periods,"(NASA) it gives a straight forward answer of what the shuttle is like. The article contains very little opinions, and is mainly facts from the direct source NASA.
In comparison to the previous article Space Living the writer states the negative in space travel that did indeed change my perspective but after reading this new article I understand the fascination people have with space. Its a mystery that people are slowly trying to understand, and if people want to go explore the mystery of space who are we to stop them.
Bibliography:
(mars)Roach, Mary. Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010. Print.
(NASA)Dunbar, Brian. "A Day in the Life Aboard the International Space Station: Introduction." NASA. Ed. NASA Administrator. NASA, n.d. Web. 17 Aug. 2014. <http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/teachingfromspace/dayinthelife/#.U-4TA9m9LCQ>.
Assignment #3 Part two
In the article Space Living: Astro Home, compared to the previous article, it uses a more humorous tone to describe living in space. Explaining that Velcro is often an astronauts friend in space, because everything is floating around Velcro helps restrict the items making them of easier access to astronauts. The writer exaggerates when describing the shuttle creating a humorous irony. In which the way they describe the shuttle is so dull its funny.
Both the Book and the Article use an amusing tone when describing the trip to space. For example in the book Packing for Mars "To the rocket scientist you are a problem. You are the most irritating piece of machinery he or she will have to deal with. Your fluctuating metabolism, your puny memory, your frame that comes in a million different configurations. You are unpredictable,"(mars) and in the article Space Living "All portable items must be either tied to the walls or stuck to your body. This fact accounts for the design of your new pants, space life’s primary contribution to futuristic fashion. Your space pants have thick Velcro strips across the thighs so you can stick your favorite toys to your legs and fly around barnacled with notepads, pens, and cameras. Ditch your shoes—you’ll nearly never be standing on anything. You’ll need, however, warm socks since your feet will lack proper blood flow and will always be cold."(space) both authors describe the negatives of a space mission, or people going into space but create a lighter side to the situation by using a humorous tone.
The writer of the article Space Living used the rhetorical triangle by using pathos almost throughout the whole article. To try to create a sympathetic emotion from the readers towards the astronauts that are flying through space in their words a "totally airtight, multiwindowed terrarium, about the size of a Boeing 767. Your surroundings have the general look and feel of an aircraft fuselage, except with a full-time live-in crew. The color scheme is bright aviation white, accented with the metallic blue handholds, chrome mesh cabling, and glittering gold cable connectors."(space) The writer uses sarcasm and humor when describing the shuttle, it sounds like a pretty depressing environment that makes readers feel bad for the astronauts.
Some people dream of the day they can go to space, from the popularity it gathers from the media. After reading this article it kind of puts that idea into perspective. When you think about it you are flying into a never ending environment with little knowledge, traveling in a metal box, with little control over your body movements do to the lack of gravity. I would have to agree with the argument the article is presenting. Traveling to space does not seem all its cracked up to be.
Bibliography:
(Mars)Roach, Mary. Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010. Print
(space)"Space Living: Astro Home." Dwell. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Aug. 2014. <http://www.dwell.com/future/article/space-living-astro-home>.
In the article Space Living: Astro Home, compared to the previous article, it uses a more humorous tone to describe living in space. Explaining that Velcro is often an astronauts friend in space, because everything is floating around Velcro helps restrict the items making them of easier access to astronauts. The writer exaggerates when describing the shuttle creating a humorous irony. In which the way they describe the shuttle is so dull its funny.
Both the Book and the Article use an amusing tone when describing the trip to space. For example in the book Packing for Mars "To the rocket scientist you are a problem. You are the most irritating piece of machinery he or she will have to deal with. Your fluctuating metabolism, your puny memory, your frame that comes in a million different configurations. You are unpredictable,"(mars) and in the article Space Living "All portable items must be either tied to the walls or stuck to your body. This fact accounts for the design of your new pants, space life’s primary contribution to futuristic fashion. Your space pants have thick Velcro strips across the thighs so you can stick your favorite toys to your legs and fly around barnacled with notepads, pens, and cameras. Ditch your shoes—you’ll nearly never be standing on anything. You’ll need, however, warm socks since your feet will lack proper blood flow and will always be cold."(space) both authors describe the negatives of a space mission, or people going into space but create a lighter side to the situation by using a humorous tone.
The writer of the article Space Living used the rhetorical triangle by using pathos almost throughout the whole article. To try to create a sympathetic emotion from the readers towards the astronauts that are flying through space in their words a "totally airtight, multiwindowed terrarium, about the size of a Boeing 767. Your surroundings have the general look and feel of an aircraft fuselage, except with a full-time live-in crew. The color scheme is bright aviation white, accented with the metallic blue handholds, chrome mesh cabling, and glittering gold cable connectors."(space) The writer uses sarcasm and humor when describing the shuttle, it sounds like a pretty depressing environment that makes readers feel bad for the astronauts.
Some people dream of the day they can go to space, from the popularity it gathers from the media. After reading this article it kind of puts that idea into perspective. When you think about it you are flying into a never ending environment with little knowledge, traveling in a metal box, with little control over your body movements do to the lack of gravity. I would have to agree with the argument the article is presenting. Traveling to space does not seem all its cracked up to be.
Bibliography:
(Mars)Roach, Mary. Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010. Print
(space)"Space Living: Astro Home." Dwell. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Aug. 2014. <http://www.dwell.com/future/article/space-living-astro-home>.
Assignment #3
In the Article Daily Life in Space, from National Geographic. It describes what its like to live in a shuttle in space from the perspective of Astronauts. They explain their daily routines, and how sometimes it can be a challenge to fulfill their routines because the lack of gravity. Though it can sometimes be a frustration with the lack of control over movement, the magnificent view of earth leaves a memory to last for a lifetime. The Book by Mary Roach, Packing for Mars she also in the beginning of her book describes the difficulty that comes from living in space. One thing the article and the book both mention is the problem with receiving and sending food.
In the article it explains the astronauts opinion on the food they eat in space, " But when delivery costs $10,000 per pound of food, meals are mostly a time to talk with fellow crew from the U.S., Russia, Canada, Japan or Europe. "(Mars) From Packing for Mars shares the same opinion " The engineer must worry about the water and oxygen and food you'll need in space, about how much extra fuel it will take to launch your shrimp cocktail and irradiated beef tacos,"(Mars). Both explain how it is a challenge to send food, and how that adds on to the preparation of sending people to space.
The article does use the rhetorical triangle but not as much as an author of a book would. The article is giving a insiders look into the life in space, stating more facts then persuading the audience to feel sympathetic or persuading the audience to agree with the argument they are trying to get across. Also the article is not trying to attach to a certain type of audience. They are trying to appeal to those interested in the mystery of space. The Daily Life in Space does however use pathos vaguely to create a mild sympathetic feeling towards the astronauts- “The thing I missed the most was nature, the smell of grass, being around trees and seeing birds and other animals.”(NatGeo) They remain in space for so long they begin to miss the natural beauties of earth.
I think the argument that both the article and the book make about how it is difficult to create a safe shuttle that will be aloud to carry on a mission and also create an environment in which people can live in the shuttle also, is indeed very tough. That it will take multiple blueprints and designs to create an efficient and reliable shuttle.
References:
(NatGeo)Ingber, Sasha. "Daily Life in Space." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. <http%3A%2F%2Fchannel.nationalgeographic.com%2Fchannel%2Flive-from-space%2Farticles%2Fat-home-in-space%2F>.
(Mars)Roach, Mary. Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010. Print
In the Article Daily Life in Space, from National Geographic. It describes what its like to live in a shuttle in space from the perspective of Astronauts. They explain their daily routines, and how sometimes it can be a challenge to fulfill their routines because the lack of gravity. Though it can sometimes be a frustration with the lack of control over movement, the magnificent view of earth leaves a memory to last for a lifetime. The Book by Mary Roach, Packing for Mars she also in the beginning of her book describes the difficulty that comes from living in space. One thing the article and the book both mention is the problem with receiving and sending food.
In the article it explains the astronauts opinion on the food they eat in space, " But when delivery costs $10,000 per pound of food, meals are mostly a time to talk with fellow crew from the U.S., Russia, Canada, Japan or Europe. "(Mars) From Packing for Mars shares the same opinion " The engineer must worry about the water and oxygen and food you'll need in space, about how much extra fuel it will take to launch your shrimp cocktail and irradiated beef tacos,"(Mars). Both explain how it is a challenge to send food, and how that adds on to the preparation of sending people to space.
The article does use the rhetorical triangle but not as much as an author of a book would. The article is giving a insiders look into the life in space, stating more facts then persuading the audience to feel sympathetic or persuading the audience to agree with the argument they are trying to get across. Also the article is not trying to attach to a certain type of audience. They are trying to appeal to those interested in the mystery of space. The Daily Life in Space does however use pathos vaguely to create a mild sympathetic feeling towards the astronauts- “The thing I missed the most was nature, the smell of grass, being around trees and seeing birds and other animals.”(NatGeo) They remain in space for so long they begin to miss the natural beauties of earth.
I think the argument that both the article and the book make about how it is difficult to create a safe shuttle that will be aloud to carry on a mission and also create an environment in which people can live in the shuttle also, is indeed very tough. That it will take multiple blueprints and designs to create an efficient and reliable shuttle.
References:
(NatGeo)Ingber, Sasha. "Daily Life in Space." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. <http%3A%2F%2Fchannel.nationalgeographic.com%2Fchannel%2Flive-from-space%2Farticles%2Fat-home-in-space%2F>.
(Mars)Roach, Mary. Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010. Print
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Assignment #2
Authors often in books use literary devices to enhance their writing and create a more appealing story to the readers or their target audience they are trying to interest in the story. Some of the common literary devices used in writing is Ethos, Pathos and Logos. Ethos is used to "Influence the readers emotions, behaviors and morals," (Wiki-ethos). Which can motivate ideas, also Ethos is a way for the author to convince the audience that the information they are giving is trustworthy and reliable. Logos is used by authors to employ reason and logic into the information they are attempting to persuade the audience with. Often Logos is used to support or "back up" a claim made by the author. Pathos is used to by the author to create an emotional appeal between the readers and the information written by the author. Pathos is often considered the strongest of the three appeals (Ethos, Logos and Pathos). For it attempts to persuade readers by appealing to them emotionally.
In the Book Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, the author uses mostly Pathos to create an emotional connection to the story and allowing readers to view things from a different perspective. To further explain I have found examples to allow for a better understanding of how the author used the three appeals to persuade the audience to view life from another perspective or point of view.
“On my last afternoon, I try to explain who I am and why I’ve been working here to the women on my team for the day- ‘Will you listen to me? I’m a writer and I’m going to write a book about this place.’ ‘ Lori leans around from the front seat and hushes the others with, ‘ Hey this is interesting,’ and to me: ‘ Are you like, investigating?’” (nickelanddimed) The author explains in the story that she is a writer, and is trying to write a credible story about how hard people work to make a sufficient amount of money to be able to take care of their basic necessities. And she wants to interview them to see their point of view and allow for the readers to see life from another point of view with reliable information from a direct source. Rather then the Author creating her own inferences and supporting it with her own opinion. This is why the author uses Ethos in the quote above.
“And this is the answer from Colleen a single mother of two who is usually direct and vivacious but now looks at some spot straight ahead of her, where perhaps the ancestor who escaped from the Great Potato Famine is staring back at her, as intent as I am on what she will say: ‘I don’t mind, really, because I guess I’m simple person, and I don’t want what they have. I mean, it’s nothing to me. But what I would like to be able to take a day off now and then…if I had to…and still be able to buy groceries the next day”(nickelanddimed) Curious on the perspective of someone who lives on a low salary, to give a reliable and trustworthy source to the information the author is attempting to persuade the reader with. The reader would not be convinced or consider viewing things from a different perspective if the author did not give a reliable reason to do so. This is why the Author used ethos in the quote above.
“But as I’d learned from my coworkers in Maine-several of whom had spent time in tightly shared space-people who depend on the generosity of others for their lodging always have something untoward to put up with, typically incompatible relatives and long waits for the bathroom,” (nickelanddimed) The Author uses Logos to explain the obstacles many people run into when they do not have the financial advantage others do. So often we chose to find the positive side of the situation and logically reason threw the pros and cons of life.
“He is the only representative of that better world where people go to college and wear civilian clothes to work and shop on the weekends for fun,” (nickelanddimed)The Author uses logos in reference to discussing that people often work extremely hard to make ends meet but see many living in their view, a privileged life. “Or maybe it’s the low-wage work in general that has the effect of making you feel like a pariah" (nickelanddimed)The Author uses Pathos to create a emotional appeal by using selective diction, example; "Pariah" meaning "outcast" . No one enjoys the feeling or even the thought of being an outcast by people therefore, the author uses this particular word to create a sense of sympathy from the readers. To allow them to understand and feel empathetic.
“As far as I can figure my coworkers’ neediness-because that’s what it is-stems from chronic deprivation. The home owners aren’t going to thank us for a job well done, and God knows, people in the street aren’t going to hail us a heroines of proletarian labor,”(nickelanddimed). The Author uses pathos to allow readers to empathize with those who do not receive the recognition they deserve. Instead are taken advantage of for, and viewed as the "underdogs of society". In conclusion, the book Nickel and Dimed uses the three appeals to persuade readers to change their perspective on the way they view things in life and to not take advantage of the simple things. Often the simple things to us can be a huge blessing to others in their point of view. Barbara Ehrenreich, uses Pathos a various amount of times throughout the story to create the emotional connection between the information given and the readers and allow for them to become more aware and open minded about looking at situations from more then one perspective.
Bibliography:
(Wiki-Ethos) "Ethos." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 July 2014. Web. 20 July 2014.
"Ethos - Definition and Examples." Literary Devices. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 July 2014.
(NickelandDimed)Ehrenreich, Barbara. "Scrubbing in Maine." Nickel and Dimed: On (not) Getting by in America. New York: Metropolitan, 2001. 117-18. Print.
(NickelandDimed)Ehrenreich, Barbara. "Selling in Minnesota." Nickel and Dimed: On (not) Getting by in America. New York: Metropolitan, 2001. 120-23. Print.
In the Book Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, the author uses mostly Pathos to create an emotional connection to the story and allowing readers to view things from a different perspective. To further explain I have found examples to allow for a better understanding of how the author used the three appeals to persuade the audience to view life from another perspective or point of view.
“On my last afternoon, I try to explain who I am and why I’ve been working here to the women on my team for the day- ‘Will you listen to me? I’m a writer and I’m going to write a book about this place.’ ‘ Lori leans around from the front seat and hushes the others with, ‘ Hey this is interesting,’ and to me: ‘ Are you like, investigating?’” (nickelanddimed) The author explains in the story that she is a writer, and is trying to write a credible story about how hard people work to make a sufficient amount of money to be able to take care of their basic necessities. And she wants to interview them to see their point of view and allow for the readers to see life from another point of view with reliable information from a direct source. Rather then the Author creating her own inferences and supporting it with her own opinion. This is why the author uses Ethos in the quote above.
“And this is the answer from Colleen a single mother of two who is usually direct and vivacious but now looks at some spot straight ahead of her, where perhaps the ancestor who escaped from the Great Potato Famine is staring back at her, as intent as I am on what she will say: ‘I don’t mind, really, because I guess I’m simple person, and I don’t want what they have. I mean, it’s nothing to me. But what I would like to be able to take a day off now and then…if I had to…and still be able to buy groceries the next day”(nickelanddimed) Curious on the perspective of someone who lives on a low salary, to give a reliable and trustworthy source to the information the author is attempting to persuade the reader with. The reader would not be convinced or consider viewing things from a different perspective if the author did not give a reliable reason to do so. This is why the Author used ethos in the quote above.
“But as I’d learned from my coworkers in Maine-several of whom had spent time in tightly shared space-people who depend on the generosity of others for their lodging always have something untoward to put up with, typically incompatible relatives and long waits for the bathroom,” (nickelanddimed) The Author uses Logos to explain the obstacles many people run into when they do not have the financial advantage others do. So often we chose to find the positive side of the situation and logically reason threw the pros and cons of life.
“He is the only representative of that better world where people go to college and wear civilian clothes to work and shop on the weekends for fun,” (nickelanddimed)The Author uses logos in reference to discussing that people often work extremely hard to make ends meet but see many living in their view, a privileged life. “Or maybe it’s the low-wage work in general that has the effect of making you feel like a pariah" (nickelanddimed)The Author uses Pathos to create a emotional appeal by using selective diction, example; "Pariah" meaning "outcast" . No one enjoys the feeling or even the thought of being an outcast by people therefore, the author uses this particular word to create a sense of sympathy from the readers. To allow them to understand and feel empathetic.
“As far as I can figure my coworkers’ neediness-because that’s what it is-stems from chronic deprivation. The home owners aren’t going to thank us for a job well done, and God knows, people in the street aren’t going to hail us a heroines of proletarian labor,”(nickelanddimed). The Author uses pathos to allow readers to empathize with those who do not receive the recognition they deserve. Instead are taken advantage of for, and viewed as the "underdogs of society". In conclusion, the book Nickel and Dimed uses the three appeals to persuade readers to change their perspective on the way they view things in life and to not take advantage of the simple things. Often the simple things to us can be a huge blessing to others in their point of view. Barbara Ehrenreich, uses Pathos a various amount of times throughout the story to create the emotional connection between the information given and the readers and allow for them to become more aware and open minded about looking at situations from more then one perspective.
Bibliography:
(Wiki-Ethos) "Ethos." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 July 2014. Web. 20 July 2014.
"Ethos - Definition and Examples." Literary Devices. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 July 2014.
(NickelandDimed)Ehrenreich, Barbara. "Scrubbing in Maine." Nickel and Dimed: On (not) Getting by in America. New York: Metropolitan, 2001. 117-18. Print.
(NickelandDimed)Ehrenreich, Barbara. "Selling in Minnesota." Nickel and Dimed: On (not) Getting by in America. New York: Metropolitan, 2001. 120-23. Print.
Friday, June 27, 2014
Assignment #1
Rhetoric is a tool used in language to persuade a target audience through spoken or written form. "Aristotle defined rhetoric as 'an ability, in each particular case, to see the available means of persuasion” (PurdueOWL). "Rhetoric" can be divided into three categories: Ethical appeals, Emotional Appeals and Rational Appeals. Or terms easier to remember Ethos, Pathos and Logos. Ethos allows the reader to know that the Author is credible and trustworthy. Pathos creates an emotional appeal to the audience from the message the Author is attempting to get across. Finally Logos, how the facts given by the Author affects the Readers opinion.
Rhetoric is a tool used in language to persuade a target audience through spoken or written form. "Aristotle defined rhetoric as 'an ability, in each particular case, to see the available means of persuasion” (PurdueOWL). "Rhetoric" can be divided into three categories: Ethical appeals, Emotional Appeals and Rational Appeals. Or terms easier to remember Ethos, Pathos and Logos. Ethos allows the reader to know that the Author is credible and trustworthy. Pathos creates an emotional appeal to the audience from the message the Author is attempting to get across. Finally Logos, how the facts given by the Author affects the Readers opinion.
Rhetorical Triangle
The top of Aristotle's Rhetorical Triangle is the Audience (Logos), helps the Author to give a "debatable thesis statement". The next point is Speaker (Ethos), the Author gives readers a credible evidence for the message they are trying to get across. The final point is Message (Pathos), the Author uses emotional appeal to explain to readers why they should care for the said situation.
In the book Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, the Author uses Pathos to explain why she appreciates the simple things in life for they were often luxurious items in her eyes, "Not this girl. I felt sorry for the parents who had paid college tuition for these blue-collar wannabes and sorry, too, for the people they intended to uplift. In my own family, the low-wage way of life had never been many degrees of separation away; it was close enough, in any case, to make me treasure the gloriously autonomous, if not always well paid, writing life."(NickelandDimed) She explains in the story that often many of her relatives had low-wage jobs, and that created her appreciation for the life she has now.
Ehrenreich uses Ethos to create credible evidence for her thesis and Pathos to emotionally appeal to the audience, " My sister has been through one low-paid job after another-phone company business rep, Factory worker, receptionist- constantly struggling against who she calls 'the hopelessness of a wage slave,"(NickelandDimed) the author describes how her sister works so hard, and struggles to make a living. Ehrenreich uses the Rhetoric Triangle method to explain that sometimes things in life come easy to others and sometimes it does not. We often take advantage of the easy achievements and do not recognize that often hard work and dedication is skills we can forget when goals are easily achieved.
Below are links and References of Websites and Videos that can further define Rhetoric:
"Welcome to the Purdue OWL." Purdue OWL: The Rhetorical Situation. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 June 2014. <https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/625/01/
An, When Crafting. LOGOS: Logic (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 28 June 2014.
Ehrenreich, Barbara. "Introduction: Getting Ready." Nickel and Dimed: On (not) Getting by in America. New York: Metropolitan, 2001. 2. Print.
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