RA Process

I highly disagree with the concept of a Rhetorical Analysis. Though rhetoric is an underlying factor to logic and reasoning, to simplify something so complex as a persuasive analysis into three different types of reasoning is almost offensive. When writing a Rhetorical Analysis, almost all creativity and skill is taken away from the author as he must follow stringent guidelines to fulfill the flawed rubric of the Rhetorical Analysis process. Likewise, I believe it near impossible to write a quality Rhetorical Analysis because it is in such an equation-like format. Since, our instructor has also showed his dislike of the assignment, it is discouraging to be required to complete it.

Review Processes

I like the RA review process more than the Opinion Editorial review process because there was more time to analyze the paper before seeing the author. However, I believe a shortcoming in the RA review was that it was a one way flow of information. The reviewer told the author what he thought and there was little discussion. Sometimes, the author has a good idea, but is not conveying it properly, so a situation arises where the reviewer does not know what the author is trying to say. In all, however, reading a paper aloud, to yourself or to others, helps both the author and reviewer to see mistakes or awkward phrasing.

Another Figure of Literature: Jonathon Swift?

Irony, coincidence, or satire?

I know the answer; but do you?

Figures of Literature: Hemmingway, Twain, and Shakespeare

Hyperbole: Mark Steyn takes the most ridiculous of situations (though yes, it happened) and uses that as an example of what our world is coming to. When he describes the illegality of anti-gay sentiment in Sweden and the incidence of a Catholic school being required to allow a same-sex date at prom, he portrays an idea of commonality, not obscure events.
Irony: Steyn first talks of the "tolerance" of today but then highlights how intolerant the tolerant people are towards those who disagree with them. Later, he makes a joke about getting beat up because of not jumping on the "band-wagon" of diversity which shows how increasingly ironic the concept of acceptance and freedom has become.
Rhetorical question: Though not explicitly stated, Steyn seems to encourage the reader to ask several questions along the lines of "How diverse are we as a society, really?" "What is the real goal of the people running 'non-profit' organizations?" and really, "What is our world coming to?"

http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/komen-338772-planned-parenthood.html

RA Thesis Number 1

In his article "Komen Has its Awareness Raised," Mark Steyn makes use of rhetorical devices such as humor, tone, and irony to show how the post modern diversity and tolerance movement are just an illusion to mask an increasingly intolerant and uniform ideals of organizations such as Planned Parenthood and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Steyn cites evidence and makes assertions to increase his credibility and repeatability to the reader.

Possibilities

http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/komen-338772-planned-parenthood.html

This is an interesting article written by Mark Steyn regarding breast cancer and the feminist movement. In his own way, he sums up what many social conservatives (who are not anti-women) feel about how it is "cool" to "support the cause" and how the whole breast cancer thing is more about clothes and ribbons than actually being useful.

http://universe.byu.edu/index.php/2011/12/01/viewpoint-hows-it-hangin/ 

This article amused me because of how relate-able it was and wasn't simultaneously. I was also born in 1991, but I remember the shows and fads spoken of only as reruns and out of style. When I first read this article, I wanted to look up actual air dates, but couldn't justify wasting the time. Well now I can...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/03/opinion/why-we-shouldnt-attack-syria-yet.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss 

Lastly, this article strikes me as interesting because it shows two sides of America: the compassionate and the mind-your-own-business side. In Syria, there is much wondering of how the political situation will turn out. While some foreign policy such as Jefferson's invasion of Tripoli during the First Barbary War to stop pirates attacking civilian US ships, other instances such as the Bay of Pigs and the Vietnam Conflict have turned into fiascoes. We are at a crossroads now when we decide what the UN (or rather, the US in disguise, be it fiscally or physically) will do in Syria.

OpEd in Review

Though i like the idea of an opinion editorial, the most frustrating thing for me was going to the writing center. Though some viable suggestions were made, I feel that some suggestions were not applicable to my paper. Frankly, I didn't want to change how I wrote my OpEd because it was just that--my OpEd. I acknowledge that the mentor at the writing center had an outside opinion on my paper, but I disagree with a few of his suggestions and politely ignored them. Other than that incident, I felt the OpEd was an assignment worth doing. Though I come from a Ford family, my favorite car and pride and joy is a Porsche 924. It amused me to talk down on other manufacturers and I think, as a future attorney, that this skill is something I need to develop. All in all, I had fun and am looking forward to the next assignment.