TOW #17

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/biocentrism/201202/does-time-really-exist

Robert Lanza is the Chief Scientific Officer at the Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Adjunct Professor at Wake Forest University. In this article, he attempts to convince the reader that time does not exist. Although we as humans are led to believe for so long that it does, Lanza uses scientific experiments and efforts to dissuade readers otherwise. In the article, he uses facts and allusions to relate to the reader and to convince them to see his point of view.

In the article, instead of diving head first into such a difficult topic, Lanza first attempts to relate to readers. He does this by referring to everyday life, "For example, find yourself short of either time or space, or both—late for work, standing in a stalled subway car packed with riders". This is a typical situation that most people can relate to. By incorporating this, Lanza successfully hooks in the reader by making the topic of time and space relevant to their everyday life. In addition to alluding to the reader, Lanza also uses ethos in facts that he provides throughout the article that help support his point. For example, he writes, "The results of quantum physics, such as the two-slit experiment, tell us that not a single one of its subatomic particles actually has any physical properties until we observe it". By incorporating proven chemistry knowledge in the article, the author successfully validates his logic to readers. It is very important to have rational science in such an article to prove to readers the nonexistance of time.

Thus, the reader is left to ponder the validity of Lanza's words. It is difficult for them to blindly believe him at first, but readers will slowly take in his words and then will they choose to validate them or cast them aside. 

TOW #15

This image was taken during a long-awaited military offense to reclaim the northern Iraqi city of Mosul from so-called Islamic State. This conflict forced thousands of Iraqis to flee their homes and was launched on October 17th, more than two years after jihadists overran the city before seizing control of much of northern and western Iraq. The photographer, although unknown, must have travelled a very long time and spent a lot of effort in order to capture this photo.

Their purpose is most likely to appeal to the rest of the world and show them how it feels to live in such an environment. The picture also appeals to pathos in which the onlooker could sympathize with the fear in the subject's eyes. The narrative that the girl's eyes tell is that she is concerned and frightened, and as the onlooker can tell from the background which shows a lot of smoke, that there is most likely a conflict going on. Children, no matter where, should not have to endure through grown men's conflict, and the apprehensive look that the child in this photo gives to the reader makes them feel sadness and sympathy.

The photo also zones in on the note that the adult in the background seems to be holding. The viewer cannot see what they are holding, but it is inferred that it is important. Whilst the city in the back is burning, the adult saw that this piece of paper was too important to leave behind. The onlooker can sympathize with the same passion that the adult has and their bravery in supporting their entire family in such a conflict.

The photographer successfully captures the raw emotions in this photo in that viewers thousands of miles away can still sympathize with the little girl in the photo. 

TOW #16- Time doesn't exist!

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/biocentrism/201202/does-time-really-exist

Robert Lanza is the Chief Scientific Officer at the Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Adjunct Professor at Wake Forest University. In this article, he attempts to convince the reader that time does not exist. Although we as humans are led to believe for so long that it does, Lanza uses scientific experiments and efforts to dissuade readers otherwise. In the article, he uses facts and allusions to relate to the reader and to convince them to see his point of view.

In the article, instead of diving head first into such a difficult topic, Lanza first attempts to relate to readers. He does this by referring to everyday life, "For example, find yourself short of either time or space, or both—late for work, standing in a stalled subway car packed with riders". This is a typical situation that most people can relate to. By incorporating this, Lanza successfully hooks in the reader by making the topic of time and space relevant to their everyday life. In addition to alluding to the reader, Lanza also uses ethos in facts that he provides throughout the article that help support his point. For example, he writes, "The results of quantum physics, such as the two-slit experiment, tell us that not a single one of its subatomic particles actually has any physical properties until we observe it". By incorporating proven chemistry knowledge in the article, the author successfully validates his logic to readers. It is very important to have rational science in such an article to prove to readers the nonexistance of time.

Thus, the reader is left to ponder the validity of Lanza's words. It is difficult for them to blindly believe him at first, but readers will slowly take in his words and then will they choose to validate them or cast them aside. 

TOW #14- Generations DON'T exist!

https://aeon.co/essays/generational-labels-are-lazy-useless-and-just-plain-wrong

In this article concerning the idea of "generational thinking", the author, Ross Anderson, attempts to understand and debunk this myth. He first starts with marginalizing and time-lining the events that led to this type of thinking, such as Hollywood or grandparents. Since generations do not exist, what does? Well, there exists a group of people who are alive at the same time, which is a rough constitution of a generation, but at the same time, isn't.

In order to break the reader's already made mindset, the author must use logic and credibility to support his claim. In the article, Anderson states, "Strauss and Howe are futurists; they predict that a major crisis will occur once every 80 years, restarting the generational cycle". By going into further detail about Strauss and Howe, Anderson must first establish the researcher's credibility. In addition to establishing credibility, Anderson also must provide logical evidence to support his claim, such as, "It encourages us to focus on vague ‘generational personalities’, rather than looking at the confusing diversity of social life.". Anderson entwines his personal thoughts with the one he is arguing, appealing to readers thinking process because he can relate to them.

Thus, Anderson is able to successfully navigate the reader through the maze also known as the debate of "generationalism". 

TOW #13 - Fitbit Ad

This ad is for the Fitbit bracelet that helps people track their everyday footsteps and get in shape. As depicted in the picture, the subject is doing an impressive back flip whilst wearing his Fitbit in order to appeal to the reader’s emotions. By doing so, the Fitbit company achieves their purpose of “wowing” the audience into buying a watch, just because it looks cool here but gives the customer no surplus ability to do a backflip whatsoever.

The Fitbit Company prides itself in getting people into shape. By buying the watch, customers also install an app which will help them track their everyday performances through an app. The customer can then set goals for him or herself to reach, such as walking a certain number of steps a day or drinking an amount of water. Nonetheless, the sole purpose is to help people reach their full health potency.

The creators of this ad also use alliteration to appeal to viewer’s minds. The effect of the alliteration is that it makes the words sound more harmonious, thus more appealing and abler to sell, achieving the country’s goals. These ads are typically very well planned and thought out in order to achieve the company’s goals. 

TOW #12- How to Be Polite by Paul Ford

Like any known society, there must be norms that people operate by on a day-to-day basis. Politeness - something that can be considered a universal norm, is used on everyday occasion, but as author Paul Ford points out, can sometimes not be utilized enough, or in the wrong way. Ford is a Medium Adviser, writer and programmer based in NYC. Everyday he deals with people, and his experiences lead him to writing this short essay in which he hopes in helping the reader understand and perfect their social etiquette. 

In the text, the first thing Ford does is point out the importance of politeness. Politeness, he says, can help one make new friends, nail a first impression and increase ones happiness, among many others. Ford definitely appeals to pathos when writing this part; he emphasizes the importance of kindness towards others and to not judge others before understanding their full story. The emotional words that he chooses definitely gets his point across by playing on the readers feelings and compelling them to be more polite towards others. 

In addition to that, Ford uses his past personal successes to score credibility with the reader. In the article, me mentions a moment in his life when he's used his politeness to make new friends, in addition to making others feel included, "I could tell that she was disappointed to be introduced to this rumpled giant in an off-brand shirt, but when I told her that her job sounded difficult to me she brightened and spoke for 30 straight minutes about sapphires and Jessica Simpson". As Ford illustrates a moment in his life in which politeness applied to the situation, the reader will be more reliant to trust him because of his credibility and experience.

Thus, in the essay, Ford utilizes pathos and logos to appeal to the reader successfully in order to convince them to be better members of society.

TOW #11 - Ain't I a Woman?

Being alive during the 19th century was an especially trying time for African Americans and women. Sojourner Truth, who was both, was negatively impacted by racism and sexism every single day. Having to endure 13 child births, and also having to watch each of her children be sold to slavery, was just a taste of what her life was like. In Aint I A Woman, Sojourner Truth uses her words to expose and call out her oppressors in addition to motivating her audience of black women to also call for justice.
In the text, Truth juxtaposes 19th century society's views both black and white women through how they are seen and treated. In the text, she mentions how men view women as delicate and need to be helped and pampered to, however, this train of thought does apply to black women as herself, who carries out male occupations on a daily and has never been treated with as much respect as a white woman.
In addition to tackling racism, Truth also uses the white man's weapon against him: the Bible. She references Jesus and Mary along with Adam and Eve when making her argument about women. She first talks about the popular misconception that women can't have as much rights as men because Jesus was a man, but then she fires back with about how womankind gave birth to mankind. The popular analogy with the Bible and Christianity helps Truth identify her audience and use their logic against them. She then speaks directly to the women reading this by mentioning how if one woman, Eve, could turn the world upside down, then the combined effort of all women would be sufficient enough to turn the world right side up.
Thus, Truth writes in order to inform and to expose the evils of mankind. She is trying her best, as an oppressed woman and black American at the time, to shine light on the situations needed to be addressed in America.