Sunday, November 22, 2015

Reflection on Project 3

This post will go through a reflection, including what specifically I revised, and how it all went, as I completed project 3. It will take the format of a numbered list from Writing Public Lives.

Penaud,Georgia. "NICO looks at himself" 2006 via wikimedia. Public Domain.

1. What was specifically revised from one draft to another?

I mostly took some of the advise I got from the peer edits, a little at a time, and tried to work minor sentences to fit the feedback. In that sense, I added pictures and other elements to fit the genre better. I also felt like I got off track, but the edits brought me back, and I made the content relevant to a refutation argument.

2. Point to global changes: how did you reconsider your thesis or organization?

The main thing was staying true to my thesis throughout the op-ed. In doing this, it helped that other people read it, and could point out that I left it a bit, plus reading it myself after a week of having not thought about it helped.

3. What led you to these changes?

I guess just realizing that my thesis wasn't being adequately supported.

4. How do these changes affect your credibility as an author?

They should help to build it, as a well structured essay is always more convincing, as it sounds like it's coming from an intelligent person. On the other hand, if it's poorly constructed, a reader would probably assume a) the topic wasn't important enough to give full attention to detail, and b) the writer wasn't smart enough to structure it properly, so why is their input valuable?

5. How will these changes better address the audience or venue?

Since now the whole piece is structured properly, it is all aimed at the target audience, rather than just the first couple paragraphs, followed by some drifting, wandering, rambles about space.

6. Point to local changes: how did you reconsider sentence structure and style?

Mostly for clarification, I revised some sentences to make more sense, like "However, Money is money - nothing is special about that which is given to NASA." as opposed to just skipping to "just because that money isn’t being spent on Earth, or that it’s spatially the furthest from helping with those problems..." things like this, I think just make my point a bit clearer.

7. How will these changes assist your audience in understanding your purpose?

Hopefully, by eliminating the barriers (meaning confusing sentences, and unexplained ideas) to my audience, they can get a direct understanding of my argument, at which point it is up to if it is any good itself.

8. Did you have to reconsider the genre you are writing in?

I did, actually. I included captions for images, the font style, an end bio, and some other little things to make it look more like an LA Times op-ed.

9.How does the process of reflection help you reconsider your identity as a writer?

It forces me to be aware of the things I kinda just did on autopilot. I guess that's pretty helpful, as if I can control those things, I'll be able to write well without even trying. But, for the most part, it just shows me I've got a long way to go before that is possible.

Publishing Public Argument

This post will contain the link to my final version of my op-ed for the Washington post "Why spend so much in space?” Here’s why." as well as a bit of accompanying information about it.

No Author "Win" 3/14/2014 via Pixabay. Public Domain.

1. Mark with an "x" where you feel your target audience currently stands on the issue below (space exploration BAD because Earth problems):
←-------------------------X--------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------->
Strongly                                            Totally neutral                                                    Strongly
agree                                                                                                                          disagree

2. Now mark with an "x" where you feel your target audience should be (after they've read/watched/heard your argument) below:
←----------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------X------------------------>
Strongly                                            Totally neutral                                                    Strongly
agree                                                                                                                          disagree

3. Check one (and only one) of the argument types below for your public argument:

         ___X__ My public argument openly refutes a specific solution or policy under debate (and clearly identifies the idea I'm refuting).

4. Briefly explain how your public argument doesn’t simply restate information from other sources, but provides original context and insight into the situation:

My argument, for one, acknowledges, and tries to respond to the emotional pull of not wanting to abandon those in need, by citing examples of how NASA also helps those in need. Also, I took the stance that agreed that those in need deserve help, but showed that it doesn't have any impact on whether or not NASA's funding is justified.

5. Identify the specific rhetorical appeals you believe you've employed in your public argument below:

Ethical or credibility-establishing appeals
                               Telling personal stories that establish a credible point-of-view

                    __X__ Referring to credible sources (established journalism, credentialed experts, etc.)

                    __X__ Employing carefully chosen key words or phrases that demonstrate you are credible (proper terminology, strong but clear vocabulary, etc.)

                    __X__ Adopting a tone that is inviting and trustworthy rather than distancing or alienating

                    __X__ Arranging visual elements properly (not employing watermarked images, cropping images carefully, avoiding sloppy presentation)

                                Establishing your own public image in an inviting way (using an appropriate images of yourself, if you appear on camera dressing in a warm or friendly or professional manner, appearing against a background that’s welcoming or credibility-establishing)

                                Sharing any personal expertise you may possess about the subject (your identity as a student in your discipline affords you some authority here)

                    __X__ Openly acknowledging counterarguments and refuting them intelligently

                    __X__ Appealing openly to the values and beliefs shared by the audience (remember that the website/platform/YouTube channel your argument is designed for helps determine the kind of audience who will encounter your piece)

                                Other: ---

Emotional appeals

                               Telling personal stories that create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                               Telling emotionally compelling narratives drawn from history and/or the current culture

                               Employing the repetition of key words or phrases that create an appropriate emotional impact

                    __X__ Employing an appropriate level of formality for the subject matter (through appearance, formatting, style of language, etc.)

                    __X__ Appropriate use of humor for subject matter, platform/website, audience ("appropriate" being not much at all)

                    __X__ Use of “shocking” statistics in order to underline a specific point

                    __X__ Use of imagery to create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                                Employing an attractive color palette that sets an appropriate emotional tone (no clashing or ‘ugly’ colors, no overuse of too many variant colors, etc.)

                                Use of music to create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                                Use of sound effects to create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                    __X__  Employing an engaging and appropriate tone of voice for the debate


                                 Other: ---

Logical or rational appeals

                               Using historical records from credible sources in order to establish precedents, trends, or patterns

                    __X__ Using statistics from credible sources in order to establish precedents, trends, or patterns

                                Using interviews from stakeholders that help affirm your stance or position

                                Using expert opinions that help affirm your stance or position

                    __X__ Effective organization of elements, images, text, etc.

                    __?__ Clear transitions between different sections of the argument (by using title cards, interstitial music, voiceover, etc.) - Maybe a text-based equivalent?

                    __X__ Crafted sequencing of images/text/content in order to make linear arguments

                    __X__ Intentional emphasis on specific images/text/content in order to strengthen argument

                    _N/A_ Careful design of size/color relationships between objects to effectively direct the viewer’s attention/gaze (for visual arguments)

                               Other: ---

6. Links to examples (OP-EDs from LA Times):

A common-sense solution to the Uber vs. taxi wars.

Think religion makes society less violent? Think again.

We should look less hard for cancer.