Research paper subject (blog11)

I am doing my research paper on concealed and carry gun control. The issue seems to be whether or not to allow conceal and carry permits to pass state boundaries. The pro side argues that it’s a gun owners right according to the second amendment to “bear arms”, and that it increases of the safety of our nation when more responsible gun owners have a conceal and carry permit. They use examples like Virginia Tech and Columbine shootings as examples. The con side argues that letting more people have conceal and carry would increase crime and would be even more dangerous if they were allowed to cross state boundaries. The issue is pretty heated and both sides are fairly divided. Each side has statistics against the other that contradict, so the trick will be finding sources that aren’t biased or based off of political party stances, but rather focus on the issue. I think I am going to side with the pro side because I agree that it is useful to a society for people to know how to defend themselves and that laws cant always protect us. People who commit crimes will do so with or without weapons. The aspect of weapons makes it easier for them, but it also makes it easier for trained citizens to defend themselves as well. For instance, if there were armed students at columbine or Virginia tech the shooters could have been easily stopped. (one of the first things that happened in Germany before the Holocaust was increased gun control among the citizens.)

Rhetorical Analysis (10)

I feel really relieved to have my rhetorical analysis finally done. I feel like it was good, but like the personal narrative, I feel like if I had more time it could have been better. I thought the most frustrating part of it all was not getting the help I was expecting from the writing lab. 

Blog Post #10 (Rhetorical Analysis Paper)

I am doing my Rhetorical Analysis Paper on C.S. Lewis's work entitled "What Christians Believe", and I'm really excited about my choice actually. I love C.S. Lewis's works because he almost always uses such a strong appeal to Logos. And the reason I enjoy that so much is because he allows me to think as a reader and follow him in his thought process, and he always does an excellent job of leading the reader through the steps of his reasoning. So far, with the paper, I still need to write that rough draft. The meeting with Sister Elliot cleared a lot of things up though and I feel my paper is already focused better on the goal I had for it.

Blog # 8 Letter From B. (Ethos, Pathos, Logos)

In the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” there are many examples of the use of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. Almost the entire letter is filled with examples. King uses frequently the use of Ethos by comparing himself with Biblical figures. This is entirely appropriate considering he is writing to eight white clergymen. He first compares himself with Paul who traveled in effort to spread the gospel and then he compares himself with Christ, both being an “extremist in love” as King would put it. He also establishes Ethos by demonstrating that he is not unreasonable in his efforts. He explains that he and his followers waited for after a community election so they would not interfere with election business. He also explains he is one of the few forces standing between violent actions and “do-nothing-ness” Negroes.

He has a great sense of pathos in this essay as well. Probably the best example is his long paragraph explaining the frustrations of the Negro community such as having to explain to his young children why they are treated differently and why they are often victims of hate. He also expresses the pain he feels when he sees other Negroes treated unjustly, even to the extreme of hanging and murder.

Last but definitely not least is Kings ability to use Logos. The paper is filled with it. He explains the usefulness of Direct Action, and why he feels obligated to strive for his cause. He explains that it doesn’t make sense to punish someone because they were the reason for a crime rather than the criminal. For instance if a man is robbed it doesn’t make sense to arrest him because his ownership of money caused someone to steal…

King uses great Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in this essay to capture his audience and compel, almost insisting, his audience to take action.

Blog # 7 Analytical Response to What Christians Believe

Cs Lewis’s work entitled “What Christians Believe” is a persuasive essay written in attempt to explain Christianity in terms of how it differs from other religions and perhaps is trying to persuade his audience into logical reasoning about the truthfulness of his beliefs.  His main points of argument include that there is such thing as right/wrong, there must be a God, and that religion is not meant to be “simple” but is understandable.

While writing this, it is clear, that CS Lewis assumed his audience was generically familiar with Christianity because of all the basic doctrinal details that he leaves out, and the questions he strives to answer. He also assumes that religion is an important subject to his audience and that everyone understands the basic concepts of right and wrong, and it is upon these assumptions that he builds his argument. It is clear also that he personally believes in a God and is religious himself, this also is an underlying influence in his writing.

In order to reach his audience he uses powerful analogies and examples to prove his points. For example: he explains that the idea of duel idealism is wrong. Meaning something can’t be good/bad at the same time. The example he uses for this is: we all consider cancer bad because it kills people, but we don’t consider a surgeon bad because he kills cancer.

He uses these examples and step by step processes to convince his audience. Also, in the beginning of the essay he creates an ethos for himself by saying he was once an Atheist himself but he found the logic in religion. In this he shows he has seen both sides and has chosen. In this he builds his audiences confidence in him.