Rhetorical Analysis of Project 3

Project two has been signed, sealed, and delivered (or so the saying goes), but now it is time to move onto the next project, the public argument. Therefore, in this blog post I am going to examine the rhetorical situation of project three. 

-Author-

1. How will you draw on any or some of the following for Project 3?

Instead of pursing a public argument in Public Health or Pharmacy (major) I have instead decided to explore a topic of my own general research interest. In order to do so I turned to the Internet for help. 

After tirelessly perusing the abundance of controversial topics that are found on various Internet forums or online magazine articles, I stumbled upon a contemporary social issue that I have been following for sometime now. The issue/problem with breeding orcas at SeaWorld.  

This topic is the perfect blend of my own general research interest in combination with a current-day social issue that I am interested in.

2.  What are the preconceptions, previously held opinions and/or potential areas for
               personal bias that you should be aware of for Project 3?

The biggest area of personal bias would come from my family of origin and my geography/location. In relation to my topic (orcas), I have been raised in a family that are "animal huggers". My grandfather is a veterinarian and to a degree my upbringing has been centered around animals. Animals have been a huge part of my life since before I can even remember.  

However, on the other hand my geography/location also puts me at risk for personal bias because I am from California, which is coincidentally the location of the public argument. I have been to SeaWorld plenty of times growing up, and I have seen the Shamu show many times. I have also seen the documentary, Blackfish.

     These are just some potential areas of personal bias that I should be aware of throughout the production of my project. 

-Audience-

1. How are you thinking about your audience for this project? Who are you going to make this for? Describe them.

     In regards to my audience for this project, I am going to assume that they have a very general/vague understanding of the topic. Meaning that they have heard of the issue  and have been following the story to some degree due to the media, however, haven't really dived into the solution that has been crafted/concocted. 

     Therefore, the target audience for this project is anyone that is interested in animals/topic or anyone that has been loosely following this story.

2. What beliefs and assumptions might this audience already hold? What position are they likely to take on this issue? How will you respond to that position?

     My audience may already believe that the mistreatment that SeaWorld has inflicted on the captive orcas is unethical. This belief may cause my intended audience to take a position in favor of the solution, which is that orcas should be free altogether. Personally, I think that the ban on orca's breeding in captivity is a step in the right direction, however, the best option would be for the orcas to be free from show performances at SeaWorld. 

 3. How might they react to your argument?

      In my project, my audience will probably favor my argument. Since my intended audience are those that have followed the story or have some sort of opinion regarding the topic, their feelings towards my argument will probably coincide with my own. 

4. How are you going to relate to or connect with your audience? Are there any specific words, ideas or ways of arguing that will help you relate to them in this way?

       In order to better relate or connect with my audience I will implement the use of rhetorical strategies. Specifically, ethos, pathos, and logos or credibility, emotion, and logic. 

       I will use personal stories, reports, interviews, and expert opinions as a means/method of arguing my point. I will also place an emphasis on tone and word choice in an effort to strengthen my credibility and argument. In terms of language, I will use emotion-provoking words when speaking about the mistreatment of orcas, and will try to appeal to the shared values/beliefs. 

5. Think of one specific person or a set of people you know personally or professionally who fall within the definition of ‘target audience’ you’re using for Project 3.

My brother would be a person that I personally know who would fall within the definition of 'target audience'. He has been invested in the story since the production of Blackfish, and at one point wanted to drive down to San Diego to protest. He would be an example of a very passionate audience member, while on the other hand my roommate would be an example of a loose audience member. She has been following the story of-and-on for sometime now, but doesn't really know too much about current events.

In order to really convince my target audience that the solution proposed by the California Coastal Commission is only a temporary solution I will need to present the  alternative solution (overall freedom) as the moral/ethical choice. Emotion and human guilt are two extraordinary powerful tools of persuasion 

-Purpose/Message-

1. What do you want to accomplish with Project 3? What affect do you want it to have on your intended audience?

       I want there to be a sense of momentary security surrounding with the decision made by the California Coastal Commission on the ban of orcas breeding in captivity. However, my main goal is convince or have my audience consider that the best solution for the orcas would be for them to be free altogether. 

2. Now that you’ve done all your research and figured out what you think about the controversy you’ve chosen, what still needs to be accomplished? 

I think that the only major element that still needs to accomplished is to understand/explain SeaWorld's side of the story. In doing so I need to refute SeaWorld's defense regarding orca captivity. This is just a factor that needs to be pointed out in order for the audience to understand the purpose of the bill that was passed and even why it was created in the first place. 

-Context-

What genre?

1. 1. What course genre will you be writing in for Project 3?

I will be creating a video essay for this project. I thought that a video essay would really convey the purpose/message of this project in a very organized, cohesive, and eloquent manner.

 2. What kinds of audience expectations come along with this genre, generally?

In this genre, the audience will expect a relatively short video, background music, images/clips, characters, an engaging story, and a lively tone.

3. What is your history working in the genre you have selected for Project 3?

My history with working with this genre includes a very brief period of time in my youth when my cousins and I would create random western or crime videos. However, I was mainly an actress or the star of the show. In other words my history with video essays is pretty lackluster or non-existent.  

4. Describe your comfort level and general feelings about the genre. How will they affect your work on Project 3?

I would confidently say that I am uncomfortable with this genre. However, that seems to be the case for every genre that I have used this semester. I will figure it out as I go. It may take me a little bit longer to finish Project 3, due to my lack of technology knowledge, but the important part is I will figure it out. (I have to I don't have any other choice)

5. What are the two most effective conventions in this genre, in your opinion? Why? Be specific.

In my opinion the two most effective conventions of this genre are images/clips and an engaging story. Without these two conventions the video essay doesn't have much bulk to it. Images/clips bring an active element to the Project, while an engaging story is essential to a persuasive argument. 

When?

1. Are there any historical events that might impact how your audience perceives your argument or the kind of background information or evidence you need to include?

The major background information regarding this topic would be the law that was passed by the state of California regarding breeding orcas. An explanation of the California Coastal Commission is also a key piece of information that will also need to be provided. 

2. Who else is talking about this topic? Provide us with working hyperlinks to coverage of the controversy on FOUR different media outlets.

This topic has been in-and-out of the news for quite awhile now, and it has been on a variety of different media outlets. For example,

•  Twitter: @peta
• New York Times
• YouTube
• Blog: The Orca Project

3. What are the three or four major counter-arguments you’ll have to respond to, based upon what people are saying in the press/media?

(a) SeaWorld has kept the orcas in captivity in order to "save them" from extinction/harm in the ocean.

(b) Allowing for captivity gives researchers the opportunity to study orcas, and provide information regarding the species. 

(c) Although breeding is no longer allowed, the best solution would be for orcas to be free altogether. 

Peer Review For Nicholas Hoover

In this blog post I will make re-design recommendation for Nicholas Hoover's Quick Reference Guide, "Writing in Linguistics". 

Peer Review

• How a change to any one genre convention could improve the project

In Nicholas's project I think that he could add a a couple more images towards the end of his QRG to really make it pop. He does a great job incorporating images early on,however, towards the end it becomes very text based. I would also recommend playing around with the fonts and the background in order to make it more visually appealing.

• How the elimination of any one genre convention could improve the project 

I wouldn't say that Nicholas needs to eliminate any of his genre conventions. If anything I would say that he needs to add more or change more of the genre conventions. 

• How the addition of any one missing genre convention could improve the project 

I also recommend that Nicholas re-think his title. I think he should eliminate the one that he has right now and come up with a more engaging title. A QRG needs to give the dirty facts in a quick manner, but as of right now the title isn't giving me very much to work with. I also think he should incorporate quotations in order to better give his piece some credibility. The requirements of the project were to interview two professionals in our field, but based on his QRG I can't really tell if he actually fulfilled that requirement. 

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*I think that I helped Nicholas to really make his project more appealing. I did a QRG for Project 1 and based on the feedback I received from that I think that I was better able to help Nicholas get the scoop on what to include and what not to include. I lost points for visual appeal. Therefore, I recommended that Nicholas add more photographs and make it more appealing.

*I didn't necessarily incorporate something from the Student's Guide, however, I based my recommendations on personal experiences as well as on the example QRGs that are linked in D2L. From my personal experience as I mentioned above I recommended that he visually fix his project, while with the projects in D2L I recommended that he re-think the title that he chose.

*I really admired the incorporation of a flow chart. I think that really helped to organize the information. I learned form Nicholas's project about the organization of the information as well as what to include. Seeing what my peers produced in terms of content gave me confidence in the work I did. I was a little wary with content, but after reading Nicholas's QRG I have gained more confidence in my own project.

Peer Review for Sarah Moskowitz

In this blog post I will examine Sarah's podcast, "When I Realized How Important Writing Actually Is in The Real World". I will give her feedback regarding the form of her project and will hopefully provide insight that will help her complete her project. 

-Peer Review-

• How effectively the “Rough Cut” uses appropriate genre conventions

The "Rough Cut" of Sarah's podcast used the appropriate genre conventions in a very effective manner. She properly introduced herself as well as the podcast's title, and also included very upbeat music in both the beginning of the podcast and at the end. She also effectively incorporated transition music in-between the information regarding the two interviewees/professors.

• How creatively the “Rough Cut” presents the content while working within appropriate genre conventions 

Sarah's podcast is set up like a radio show. I thought that this was a creative way to present the information. It allowed for the audience to stay engaged while also being able to cohesively bring the information together. She was still able to present the information, but she was also able to incorporate the appropriate genre conventions in a more creative method. 

• Ideas or suggestions about creative ways  genre conventions could be used in the next draft of the project 

In the next draft of the project, I think that a creative genre convention that could be used would be to add music in order to more descriptively follow the information. For example, when describing the standard form of an academic journal maybe add some writing sounds or some other creative sound just keep the audience more engaged. 

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*I think that I helped Sarah to just refine her form just a little bit in order to get her podcast in a more finalized form. She adequately used the appropriate genre conventions throughout her entire piece, but I think that I helped to offer some advice on how to keep a potential audience member more engaged.

*In regards to the Student's Guide I don't think that I specifically helped with one category since they were all mainly content related, however, in regards to the genre conventions that we went over in class I think that I was able to help Sarah achieve/incorporate those conventions.

*I really admired the flow of Sarah's podcast. All of the information was really easy to follow and just had a very cohesive element to it. I really admired the way that she incorporated quotes from her interviewees. I found that I was struggling with a way to connect the information to the quote, but after listening to Sarah's podcast I think that I was able to learn how to better transition my own work.

Reflection of Post-Production

In this blog post I will explore all of the ups, downs, failures, and successes that occurred throughout the post-production week. 

What Went Down This Week... 

1. What were some of the successes (or, things that went right) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.

During this week's process work I think that my main success was with the final production of my podcast. I was able to make some really great form changes to my podcast in an effort to really bring it all together. I also found that getting my grade back from the first project was very helpful because I was better able to see the type of work that is expected/wanted. I lost points on the form portion of my project so now I can take that criticism and carry it over to my podcast so that I won't make that mistake again. 

2. What were some of the challenges (or, things that went wrong) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence. 

I think that my biggest challenge during this post-production week was getting back into the swing of things. I had to come back from spring break and really get back into school mode. I also had to work on my time management. I had a biology test on Friday so that took up most of my week's extra time so I didn't get to spend as much time as I would've liked editing my work. I was also really frustrated with garageband. Making a podcast is a pain and it takes hours. I don't understand how people have the time to make one of these everyday or even just once a week. 

3. How do you think next week will go, based on your experiences this week? 

This is the final week of this project. I will be turning in a final draft of my project and then we jump straight into the next project. I think that after this entire experience I am more comfortable or I have more confidence in my abilities to learn how to use technology and create a piece. However, that confidence may all change when I get my grade back, but who knows.  

4. How are you feeling about the project overall at this point? 

At this point I am super stoked that this project is almost over. I now know that I am not a huge fan of podcasts, and I can't wait to be done with this. In terms of the actual project I feel a little bit hesitant towards my final draft, but only because I worry that the content isn't correct. I mean the guidelines were pretty vague, but I am not sure if that means we are supposed to interpret it how we like or if you still have a very specific idea in mind. Regardless, I am happy I am almost done.

 

Editorial Report 9b

In this blog post I will once again display my editorial process. I have included two snippets: one selection from the rough cut and another re-edited version. 

Selection From Rough Cut #2

Re-Edited Selection #2 

1. How did the content change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the content is being communicated more effectively in the re-edited version?

In the re-edited version I added some sentences in order to make it more conclusive and bring the entire piece together. In the rough cut selection my information was all over the place, but simply adding a couple of conclusive sentences I was able to hone in my information and form a much more conclusive ending to my podcast. 

2. How did the form change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the form is presenting the content more effectively in the re-edited version?

In the re-edited version I added some music to end off the podcast. I just think by adding that one simple genre convention it helps to convey the form (podcast) in a more effective manner. Before it was just a quick goodbye and then the podcast ended, however, now I am more engaged with my audience and hopefully my audience is more engaged with me. 

Editorial Report 9a

In this blog post I will be displaying my revision process. I will include the un-edited version along with the edited version in order to better explain/show my editorial process. 

Selection From Rough Cut 

Re-Edited Version 

1. How did the content change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the content is being communicated more effectively in the re-edited version?

In the re-edited version I added a small paragraph in order to more clearly explain/communicate the main idea of that section. It gave the listener a little refresher on the rhetorical situation as well as a small introduction so that they aren't lost when I really dive into the bulk of the piece.  In the rough cut selection of the podcast I just went straight into explaining the rhetorical situation of writing an academic journal, but in the re-edited version I gave some context, which in my opinion effectively allowed me to communicate my information much more clearly. 

2. How did the form change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the form is presenting the content more effectively in the re-edited version? 

In re re-edited version I added a snippet of the Bear Down Arizona song when I introduced the professor that works for the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. I thought that by playing the song it kept the listener more engaged. It just added another dimension to my podcast. It also helped establish credibility for both the professor that I introduced as well as the author (me). 

Open Post to Peer Reviewers

In this blog post I have addressed the entire project as a whole. Take note that it is a very rough and raw draft of this project. I plan to spend major time revamping the entire thing.

Audience Question: What are you anticipating the post-production process to be like, based on what you accomplished during the production phase?

Based on the production phase, I expect the post-production phase to be mainly editorial. Meaning that most of it will be spent making tweaks and changes to the draft in order to get it to the "final" form. However based on what I accomplished during the production phase I expect this phase to be another week of frustration. The production week just went. It didn't go particularly well or horribly it just simply happened. Therefore, there is a lot of work to be done in order to get my project to perfection.

Author Response

• I would like my peer reviewers to understand that this project is not 100% complete. I still have a lot of work to do before it is in it's final form
• I think that a major issue or weakness of my project would be the genre conventions. I am not sure if the conventions that I used are correct. I am not entirely sure that I should have set up my podcast the way I did in terms of my introduction/closing, but I tried my best.
• I think that the strength of my project lies in the context of it all. I think that the actual material that I am talking about is solid in the sense that I worked hard to gather this information. I spent a lot of time researching the different professors that I interviewed. 

Rough Cut

*Please let me know if the link that I have provided does not allow you to listen to my podcast. 

Reflection on Production Week

In this blog post I will be discussing the challenges and successes of the production of my project. Stay tuned for more information as to what went wrong and what went right.

What were some of the successes (or, things that went right) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.

I would say that the main success of this week's process work would be the production of my script. In my opinion, I find that the script is essential to the success of my project. Without my script I would just be rambling on and on in my podcast. Therefore, I am glad that I was able to bust it out.

What were some of the challenges (or, things that went wrong) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence 

I would say that the main challenge of this week's process work would just be time management. It is the week before/of spring break and my time management was not on par. I fell behind on my project in terms of the actual production of the audio content. I was able to actually create the script no problem, however, I have had major technology issues. I would not say that I am by any means technologically savvy. In fact I am on the same level as my grandma (if not worse) when it comes to anything tech related. That being said, I have struggled with trying to create this podcast both in terms of working garageband as well as just simply uploading it to blogger. I have been so worried that my the way I uploaded my podcast isn't acceptable that I have actually had a nightmare about it but that is besides the point. In essence these past few weeks have left me very frustrated so hopefully things will look up.

How do you think next week will go, based on your experiences this week?

I think that next week will go ok. It is just the editorial week so there is no major production going on just little tweaks here and there. I also think that having the time over spring break to really contemplate the quality of what I've produced will also be helpful. It just gives me time and I love time.

How are you feeling about the project overall at this point? 

I am feeling ok about this project at this point. My main concern was the content of my project, but once that I had that figured out it was just technology that seemed to be my biggest foe. This entire project has been a learning experience for me, and I have come to realize that my frustration threshold is not very high.

Production Report 8b

In this blog post I have included another snippet from my overall project.

Outline Item: Body Paragraph

(3) Sample analysis of academic journal

•  Main Idea: To breakdown a real academic journal and to analyze the different components in regards to rhetorical strategies.
•  Evidence: Analyze each of the professor’s academic journals. Identity similarities/differences within each.
• Proves/Importance: Helps to identify any relationships between the structure of each journal and the overall genre.
• Evidence: Analyze the rhetorical strategies such as credibility, logic, and emotion.
• Proves/Importance: Creates a better understanding of the piece as a whole by figuring out the rhetorical strategies that were used to convey the overall purpose/message.

Outline Adaptation:

The main genre conventions of the above-mentioned journal article are: an abstract or introduction, figures, data analysis, acknowledgments, and a supplemental information section.  This structure is fairly similar across the board.

In terms of rhetorical situations of a journal article I will be first analyzing the ways in which authors are portrayed in academic journals.

 In Dr. Chapman’s article, the author’s names are given along with a short description of their job titles. However, the bulk of the text is strictly data. There is no use of the first person nor is there any personal accounts included. In fact, the audience doesn’t even know which section each of the authors wrote.

According to Dr. Chapman this is done to ensure that the main focus of the journal is on the data/information not on the author.

How did you decide to use form to present your content in the raw material you’ve shared here? How did the conventions of your chosen genre influence your choices?

I decided that the best way to truly understand the most important part of the project (the bulk or content) would be to have the script available. The script allows the audience to directly see the content of my project. I also decided to include a snippet of the audio as well. This type of raw material goes more with the conventions of my genre.

How did the production of this raw material go? What kinds of any hiccups, challenges, successes, creative epiphanies, etc. occurred during the process?

The production of this raw material went fairly well. I was able to take my outline and bring it to life. I would say that the only challenge would again be trying to figure out how to incorporate an actual audio clip onto blogger. Through the creative process I was able to fit all the pieces together and get a general idea of how I want my overall project to look/sound like.

Production Report 8a

In this blog post I have included a little snippet from my overall project. It is just a little "behind-the-scenes" action for ya. 

Outline Item

-Introduction-

Brief Summary Of: How do professionals in the pharmaceutical field create or author texts?

Adaption of Outline Item

"In order to fully grasp the writing process, I had the opportunity to pick the brains of two professionals in my field.

I first spoke with Dr. Eli Chapman. Dr. Chapman is an Assistant Professor for the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy.

In my interview with Dr. Chapman he said that the three main genres that he utilizes are book chapters, invited reviews, and peer reviewed articles (academic journals), however, his main genre is peer-reviewed articles." 

How did you decide to use form to present your content in the raw material you’ve shared here? How did the conventions of your chosen genre influence your choices?

I decided to present my content through a snippet of my podcast in script form as well as a link to the audio snippet. I thought this would be the best method to show accurately depict the genre that I am working in as well as the conventions of that genre. It gives my project some clarity in the sense that it shows my process and not just one blob of product. My genre, podcast, required me to do a snippet of the project.

How did the production of this raw material go? What kinds of any hiccups, challenges, successes, creative epiphanies, etc. occurred during the process? 

The production of the raw material was ok. I am still not sure how to work garageband so it was difficult trying to put my podcast together. However, I am figuring it out as I go along. In terms of successes I would say that the script portion or the bulk of my project is fairly decent. I really like the way it turned out.