Aria

1.        What is an “aria”? Why do you think Rodriguez chose this word for his title? Is it appropriate and/or effective?

a.        An aria is a long piece, with accompaniment, featuring a solo singer or melodic line. Rodriguez likely chose this word for his title as it reflects how he sees his life within the public sphere. He likely sees himself the solo and the public as the accompaniment. It is very effective as it connects with his focus on sounds within language and contributes to the sense of isolation in language he establishes.

2.        How do the first four paragraphs appeal to ethos?

a.        In regards to ethos, the first four paragraphs illustrate the lack of knowledge and the isolation that Rodriguez felt as a child. It demonstrates Richard Rodriguez's integrity in the subject he is writing about as he was placed in a situation where in his childhood consisted of his struggle in language. He shows this in such descriptions as he states he was "able to understand some fifty stray English words" (1), that his classmates were "children of doctors and lawyers and business executives" (3), and especially as he states the "first time I (he) had heard anyone name me (him) in English" (4). These descriptions illustrate the wide language barrier that Rodriguez had to face in his childhood due to his lack of understanding in English which in turn establishes his authority in bilingual education.

3.        Describe the tone of paragraph 5 where Rodriguez first raises issues of bilingual education.

a.        The tone in paragraph 5 is one of skepticism and spite. It is evident that he doesn't believe that bilingual education can preserve or promote all that is says it can in terms of language as he calls such a "scheme" (5). His description in stating that such "trivialize(s)the nature of intimate life" (5) further demonstrates his spiteful tone.

4.        Why does Rodriguez emphasize the sound of language? Is this an appeal to logos, pathos, or both? Explain.

a.        Rodriguez emphasizes the sound of language as in his childhood it was the only way he could possibly start to understand English, because he didn't understand words he picked up on the full meaning in how people talk rather than what was stated. This an appeal to both pathos and logos as it is an emotional connection Rodriguez made with language in the intimacy of communication as well as the logical understanding of words that would later come to replace his focus on sounds.

5.        How would you describe Rodriguez's attitude toward his parents? Does it change from one point to another? Identify specific passages.

a.        Initially, Rodriguez is very fond of his parents because they speak Spanish with him, which reminds him of home and a sense of security. He says, “And we happily sounded that military drum roll, the twirling roar of the Spanish r. Family language: my family’s sounds. The voices of my parents and sisters and brother. Their voices insisting: You belong here. We are family members. Related. Special to one another. Listen! (pg 313)” Rodriguez’s sense of comfort comes from being somewhere he felt a part of, home and with his family. But, as the family starts speaking more English the communication becomes less personal and mundane. His father became quieter and he was told that was the way his father was but Rodriguez did not agree. He says, “But my father was not shy, I realized, when I’d watch him speaking Spanish with relatives. Using Spanish, he was quickly effusive. Especially when talking with other men, his voice would spark, flicker, flare alive with sounds. In Spanish, he expressed ideas and feelings he rarely revealed in English. With firm Spanish sounds, he conveyed confidence and authority English would never allow him. (pg 318)” Rodriguez’s resentment isn’t toward the shift in his father’s demeanor but rather the culture he was stripped of that silenced his true self.

6.        Where in the essay does Rodriguez present his most straightforward argument. Is it effective? Would it have been more effective if it had been placed nearer the beginning? Why?

a.        Rodriguez presents his most straightforward argument when he states "Intimacy is not created by a particular language; it is created by intimates." (55) It is effective where it is placed as it synthesizes the points Rodriguez makes throughout his essay; however it may have been more effective if it was placed near the beginning. In this way, his argument would have been established and more coherent, it seems the overabundance of counterargument and repetition of experiences seems to dull his argument in a sense that is not helped by the placement of his central claim.

7.        What are the major counterarguments Rodriguez addresses: (He does not address them all at once; identify specific passages).

a.        One major counterargument Rodriguez makes is that, "children loose a degree of "individuality" by becoming assimilated". (43) To this end, he argues that a sense of individuality is gained rather than lost; one of public identity. Another counterargument that is addressed by Rodriguez is that, "students like me (him) miss a great deal by not being taught in their family's language". (25) He addresses this in stating that what is lost is the intimacy of language rather than the educational benefits implied by supporters of bilingual education.

8.        Who do you think is the intended audience for this essay? Cite specific passages to support your viewpoint.

a.        I believe the intended audience is mainly for supporters of bilingual education that may not see his point. Continually he states that the experience he had with language was intensely personal, "my society". (14) In addition he isolates himself from the public he sees in calling them "los gringos in power." (18) In both isolating himself and describing his personal experience with language, coupled with the plethora of addressing counterarguments it logically follows that Rodriguez is most likely trying to illustrate his argument to supporters of bilingual education.

9.        What is the the tone in the final paragraphs (beginning with par. 69)? How has the tone changed (or not) from the tone in the rest of the essay? What would have been the effect on Rodriguez’s argument of eliminating these last paragraphs?

a.        The tone in the final paragraphs is nostalgic and reflective as he describes "the last time I (he) saw his grandmother". (73) The tone is less spiteful and fearful as the rest of the passage. The tone in the final part of the essay serves to show how his personal language was the only way to illustrate the nostalgia and heretical value of his grandmother. Without this shift, the pathos that the last part appeals to would be lost and the argument would not be nearly as strong or revealing.

10.     Fill in the blanks:

The general argument made by Rodriguez  in "Aria" is that_________________________. More specifically, Rodriguez argues that ______________________. He(select appropriate verb from verb bank here), "_______Direct Quote Here_________." In this passage, Rodriguez is (select appropriate verb from verb bank here) that ___________________________. Thus, Rodriguez's belief is that _______________________.

The general argument made by Rodriguez in "Aria" is that personal language and the value it holds cannot be recreated by the system of bilingual education that is in place. More specifically, Rodriguez argues that He( develops the idea that), ""Intimacy is not created by a particular language; it is created by intimates"(55)" In this passage, Rodriguez is (justifying the idea ) that the very value that bilingual education serves to save is being destroyed by the lack of knowledge in the intimacy of language that proponents of the system hold. Thus, Rodriguez's belief is that his personal language can never be recreated or preserved by anyone but his own family and that the idiosyncrasies of his family and language are the cornerstones of his identity .

The Language of Civil Disobedience

The language of C.D. is marked by an implicit call to action to right the wrongs of the government and abolish slavery which is categorized by a list of conditions for which government can operate. However, when these conditions are breached with unjust, the responsibility to amend these faults is then placed upon the people by appealing to their pathos. This is evident in Thoreau’s essay when he notes that , “If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth--certainly the machine will wear out…but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then I say, break the law. Let your life be a counter-friction to stop the machine. What I have to do is to see, at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn.” He says this in order to evoke a sense of responsibility in the people and urge them to take action to abolish slavery by appealing to the audience's pathos. In parallel, it could be argued that the Declaration of Independence also presents the language of civil disobedience as Jefferson’s language has similar markings. These markings are clear when Jefferson notes that, "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."Jefferson says this in order to present a justified case for seceding from England by appealing to the audience's logos. At the same time Jefferson, in similar fashion to Thoreau, highlights that when certain conditions for which government can operate are breached to the point of sheer unjust, the colonies must be independent. He is stating that the colonies are seceding not because of petty complaints and trifles, but because of noble aim to claim their unalienable rights which also appeals to the audience's pathos. 

This marking is continued in the work of Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in that he states that, "We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given rights. The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jetlike speed toward gaining political independence, but we stiff creep at horse-and-buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter...But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers... when you are humiliated day in and day out by nagging signs reading "white" and "colored"...when you are forever fighting a degenerating sense of "nobodiness" then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait. There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair. I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience."Unlike both Jefferson and Thoreau, King is able to use a common ethos to appeal directly to his intended audience. In doing so, his language has different linguistic markers; these direct Biblical allusions help him to appeal more directly to his audience’s sense of suffering. The parallelism paired with the repetition of "when you" divide the mirage and the reality of what the white moderates view what black life is; all the examples used are harsh truths the white moderates never had to experience but the blacks experience on an everyday basis. Having been personally experienced such unjust appeals to MLK's ethos. On top of that, the polysyndeton conveys the sense on constant weight these acts have on the people which further emphasizes that the people cannot wait any longer and must at now. We see this when he notes that, "Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their "thus saith the Lord" far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco-Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town. Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid."; the appeal to the Bible is used in order to appeal to the audience's pathos in order to urge them to take action now and not wait any longer or suffer the consequences of unjust. 

To this end, by utilizing this language, the three writers challenge their audience to act in a manner in accordance with justice, morality, and civil duty by appealing to their ethos, pathos, and logos.

Thanksgiving Asignment

Johnny Dinh

Thanksgiving Assignment

Assignment #1- Dumpster Diving and Value

The essay, "On Dumpster Diving", by Lars Eighner explains the travels that Eighner had on the streets, homeless and as the title suggests, diving in dumpsters for food and other necessities. Eighner begins by describing what foods are safe to eat, noting that the telltale signs of “safety” are obvious imperfections on the food, as "he" (the diver) is constantly reminded that most food is discarded for a reason. In addition to food, Eighner tells of how a "scavenger" like himself often unintentionally discovers surprises about those who discarded the trash or predicts where the best disposed items will come from. Simply put, the blunt and candid manner in which he describes what for many may be a less-than-appealing topic strengthens his argument that, "one man's trash is another man's treasure." Overall, the subject of the essay is of value which is defined by the dictionary as, "the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something." However, to me, value is both tangible and intangible. Yes, one can place value on anything object because of its usefulness or sentiment, but one can also place value on a person because she is trustworthy, loyal, or caring. To me, value is as simply a degree of significance that is placed on a person or object for perspective reasons as simple as, "I like it." Much like how the "scavenger" finds value in discarded items, I find value in the people who I call my friends and family. Because, people will have a different perspective on the value of an item one man's trash will always be another man's treasure, therefore it is important to recycle or donate things you don't want anymore, since there will always be someone else who mind need or want it.

Assignment #2

Value Essay

Through Eighners’ essay, "On Dumpster Diving", it was clear that his definition of value is equivalent to the cliche, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. Upon further analysis I realized how true of a statement it is when it comes the perspective of value. Over the weekend I kept track of the things people and I thre away at the Best Buy when I was working. The things thrown away consisted of: paper, receipts, empty water bottles, used gift cards, empty chip bags, and candy wrappers, etc. All the while I tried to put myself in Eighners’ shoes, and in an overall more appreciative perspective of the “trash”, and how I could find value in every last scrap.

It was difficult. While Eighner spent a large portion of his essay discussing the kinds of food he finds whilst dumpster diving, I was keeping track of literal scraps of paper. Due to my bias that paper is completely disposable and recyclable (even though it's made from trees which is a limited resource) I found it incredibly hard to find value in them. They were trash in my eyes but as I went to throw away my paperwork, I kept optimistic and thought a person in the future would be able to use this paper again once it's been recycled and processed. My point is, even used paper still has a purpose even after it you are done with it.

I also threw away many miscellaneous items, the plastic bags, broken alarm clock, star bucks cup, old papers, Q-tips, jars, which could all be recycled by some means, processed, and used again. The clock wasn’t even really broken; the face had just cracked, easily ready to be used by someone who maybe can’t afford random amenities such as clocks. The plastic bag could be stuffed into shoes to keep someone’s socks dry. The jars could be used as cups. And even the seemingly useless papers, wrappers, and Q-tips could probably be recycled. All these things in the trash will just be sent to a bigger pile of items like mine.

This was the first time I truly looked at my trash with a perspective of someone like Eighner, and came to the conclusion that nothing is absolutely worthless. I defined value as simply a degree of significance that is placed on a person or object for perspective reasons as simple as, "I like it.". So in that sense, whether it is still consumable, recyclable, or reusable, a dumpster contains hundreds of values. Just because it doesn’t have a price tag, doesn't mean someone else can take it and make it into something more.

Assignment #3- Christmas Ad. OPTIC

O: This image portrays an old man on the man waving towards planet Earth for an unknown reason (the reason is displayed in the commercial, not the picture). In the black expanse of space the words, “Show someone they’re loved this Christmas” are present.

P: The picture is broken down into the foreground of the moon, with a man waving towards Earth. The words “Show someone they’re loved this Christmas.” are in the center of the picture which takes center stage. The  man is the detail that stands out the most, giving an allusion to the fable of “the man on the moon.”

T: There is no title for this picture, only the words in the center that connote a warm feeling of love around the holidays. The phrase promotes good will of all people during the holiday season, and utilizes a lonely “man on the moon” to exercise this point.

I: In the image, the greatest relationship present seems to be the relationship of the man on the moon and what/whoever he is waving to on Earth. Along with the text in the picture, the man and Earth give me clues into the message of being kind to others and spreading love during the holiday season, regardless of who they are or where they come from.

C: I believe that this is intended for all people around the world who are able to see this advertisement. The purpose is to raise awareness on the importance of being kind and loving towards other people, and the intended message is to show that all people deserve love in every corner of the world, and even beyond just as the image portrays.

Lewis, John. Man on the moon Christmas advertisement. Digital image. N.p., 2015. Web. 28 Nov. 2015. <http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1467841/john-lewis-christmas-advert-2015-screencap.jpg>.

On Compassion Questions on Rhetoric and Style

1.        Why does Ascher open her essay with the description of the “grinning man”?

a.        Ascher opens her essay with the description of the "grinning man" in order to illustrate the ambiance of isolationism surrounding him and the ambiguity as what to do with the "grinning man" throughout the rest of the reading. The "grinning man" is a homeless man, a dirty lost soul with no purpose in society, and his description sets the neutral tone for the rest of the reading.

2.        “On Compassion” might be divided into four parts, the first running from paragraphs 1 through 6, the second from paragraphs 7 through 9, the third from paragraphs 10 through 12, and the final part consisting of paragraphs 13 and 14. Explain the differences in the modes of discourse among the sections. What is the effect of Ascher’s organization?

a.        Part 1 details the actions of a mother as she gives a homeless man a dollar.

b.        Part 2 details the observations of a customer as she views a homeless man being given coffee and food by the cafe owner.

c.        Part 3 details the mayor as he wants to move all the homeless people into Bellevue Hospital.

d.        Part 4 details the origins of compassion, the purpose of it, and why it is important to have.

e.        The effect of Asher's organization strengthens the argument of the reading, which is what is compassion and why compassion is important. The constant presence of the homeless man help elevate the acts of "compassion" (a dollar, to coffee and food, to shelter) and perfectly highlight the fact that compassion, "must be learned, and it is learned by having adversity at our windows, coming through the gates of our yards, the walls of our towns, adversity that becomes so familiar that we begin to identify and empathize with it.". As far as modes of discourse goes, Parts 1 has a purpose of decription as it depicts the homeless man and his environment before moving the purpose to narration for Parts 2 and 3 in order to replay the sequence of events she saw in the 1st pserson, and then ending with a purpose of argumenation to prove the validity of her definiton of what compassion is by presenting facts like the Greek origin of compassion.

3.        Note the questions that Ascher poses throughout. Which ones are rhetorical questions? What purpose do they serve?

a.        Rhetorical questions are:

                                                   i.      Was it fear or compassion that motivated the gift? Or does she simply want to rid her shop of his troublesome presence? Could it be that this was the response of the mother who offered the dollar, the French woman who gave the food? Could it be that the homeless, like those ancients, are reminding us of our common humanity?

b.        The purpose of these rhetorical questions are to get the reader to ponder insightful situations and for a lack of a better saying, "get them to think", to question the principle of compassion is why we do it. It brings up the idea that most people perform acts for reasons more selfish than to just help out, and eventually leads the reader to the notion that compassion must come after one obtains empathy.

4.        Cite examples of the speaker’s appeals to ethos,logos, and pathos. Which one is more prevalent in the essay?

a.        Ethos is displayed through the 1^st person as seen in, "Twice when I have stopped here to stave hunger or stay the cold, twice as I have sat and read and felt the warm rush of hot coffee and milk," and " Twice I have witnessed this, and twice I have wondered, what compels this woman to feed this man?"

b.        Pathos is depicted very much throughout the entire reading in the form of vivid imagery and contrasting diction between the fortunate and the homeless. The juxtaposition between the  homeless man with, "His buttonless shirt, with one sleeve missing, hangs outside the waist of his baggy trousers...his gait is the shuffle of the forgotten ones held in place by gravity rather than plans." and " A man with a briefcase lifts and lowers the shiny toes of his right shoe, watching the light reflect, trying to catch and balance it, as if he could hold and make it his, to ease the heavy gray of coming January, February, March." establish a clear divide between the two in which you should feel sorry for the homeless man.

c.        Logos is demonstrated through reasonable claims such as, " If expulsion were her motivation she would not reward his arrival with gifts of food. Most proprietors do not. They chase the homeless from their midst with expletives and threats." where it's evident the narrator had put in thought as to why the cafe owner would repeatedly give food the homeless man.

d.        Obviously pathos is more prevalent in the essay and it should be since compassion stems from emotional connections.

5.        It is not until paragraph 7 that the reader knows for sure that the piece is delivered in the first person. What might be the purpose of withholding this perspective?

a.        The reason for withholding this perspective is to allow the reader to develop his own perspective on what the situation/setting entails. Had she brought in the 1^st person immediately the reading would lose the initial ambiance and ambiguity since instead of coming up with thoughts on his own, the reader would simply just read and accept what the narrator thought.

6.        How effectively does Ascher use personal experience to prepare the reader for her conclusion? How effectively does she make her individual perspective universal?

a.         Ascher use personal experience to expertly prepares the reader for her conclusion because by bringing in such anecdotes, the reader can understand exactly what Ascher was probably feeling during that time (the curiosity, the uncertainly, the,  "Why would she do that?") and in doing so sets the reader up for her definition of compassion. On top of that, the limited usage of the first person allows the reader to place himself in her shoes to view the various situations, effectively making her stories universal. We were allowed to see everyhting through our own perspective and even when Ascher brought in the 1st person, it didn't feel like it interrurpted the flow of the narrative, but simply vocalized the thoughts in our own brains. 

Position Paper #1 reflection

My first position paper ever went as pretty well as I expected: good but not great.

Strengths: 

I did a good job establishing ethos/pathos. My sources were valid and I organized my essay fairly well.

Weaknesses: 

I failed to full analyze my quotes in depth with a "because" statement which would have further supported my argument. My outside of class sources were also pretty weak. I also did not site my sources correctly.

Areas of Improvement:

I got a 5 which means I, "utilized 3 r more sources to convey a central argument, but their analysis is limited" That's ok but lack of explanation prevented me from getting a 7. In order to reach my goal of a 7 which is, " utilized 3 r more sources to convey a central argument, and provides a more complete analysis or demonstrates a more mature prose style. " I will sit down with Mrs. Neel to discuss my writing and figure out how I can develop that more mature style of writing.

"Games" by Steven Johnson Questions on rhetoric and style:

"Games" by Steven Johnson Questions on rhetoric and style:

1.        What is the thesis of Johnson’s argument? Is there one sentence (or several) that states it or is it implicitly stated?

a.        In the essay "Games" by Steven Johnson (2005), Johnson's thesis is that playing video games is not better or worse than reading, but instead games exercise different skills. This thesis is implicit and is not outright stated in the text.

2.        How does opening with the counterargument (in pars. 1 and 2) lay the foundation for Johnson’s argument?

a.        The counterargument in paragraphs 1 and 2 lays the foundation for his argument because it addresses the common assumptions that today’s society has about video games. He then later goes on to address these assumptions or conventional wisdom head on. This is an underscored aspect of common Rogerian style arguments.

3.        Discuss the effect of citing Dr. Spock and Andrew Solomon in the opening paragraphs. What purpose does Johnson achieve?

a.        In the opening paragraphs of "Games," Johnson was able to strengthen his argument and provide an appropriate layout for the thesis throughout the rest of his paper. It was effective for the reasons that he was able to bring in ethos for his readers from both sides. By quoting Dr. Spock and Andrew Solomon he raised his chances of grasping the attention of the opposing side, hence raising his chances of persuading those who did not agree with his argument in the beginning.

4.        What rhetorical strategies does Johnson use in his imagined response to the book as a challenge to the accepted practice of gaming (par.3)? Use your notes from EaA and/or your Glossary of Terms to help you with this.

a.        In paragraph 3, Johnson uses rhetorical strategies such as diction, syntax, and visual language in his imagined response to the book as a challenge to the accepted practice of gaming to effectively create a hypothetical argument to switch places of the arguments adversaries. Through these strategies, Johnson creates an overall negative feeling towards books and a positive feeling towards video games

5.        What does Johnson mean by “a kind of amplified selectivity” in paragraph 4?

a.        When he says, "a kind of amplified selectivity" in paragraph 4, Johnson means people only focus on certain isolated properties of books, and they projects worst-case scenarios based on these properties and their potential effects on the 'younger generation'" (pg 198).

6.        Discuss how Johnson uses analogy to develop his argument. Consider examples in paragraphs 5 and 11.

a.        Johnson utilizes analogy to develop his argument because by doing so he highlight the faults of the other side. He says, “When I read these ostensibly positive accounts of video games, the strike me as the equivalent of writing a story about eh merits of the great novels and focusing on how reading them can improve your spelling,” (Johnson 200). By using an analogy such as this, he illustrates how the benefits video games are, in fact, not being displayed in full color. These facts being said about them might be true, but are not showing the full picture.

7.        What specific beliefs and assumptions does Johnson challenge as he develops his argument?

a.        As Johnson develops his argument, he challenges the belief that reading books beats video games when it comes to your mind and intelligence, and that because they each have their own advantages and disadvantages, it is wrong to put them in the same category to show which is better. He used social media as a similar example, to make the assumption that both can be good if looked at individually.

8.        What effect does the shift between second and third person have on the essay? How does this shift help Johnson achieve his purpose?

a.        In "Games," the shift between second and third person helps separate the two medias, books and games. He achieves his purpose because he refuses to put them in the same category to one another, thereby bringing out  each of their importance. This separation allows people to appreciate their own advantages and capabilities, and even mark down on their disadvantages.

9.        Discuss at least three ways that Johnson establishes ethos in this essay. Cite specific passages that illustrate the relationship he tries to develop between himself and his audience.

a.        Johnson establishes ethos by displaying relevance to his audience by quoting Dr. Spock and using societal figures such as Michael Jordan. He also establishes ethos by using a Rogerian argument and exemplifying how the counterargument could also be right in addition to his own. Another way Johnson establishes his ethos is by not only stating a claim, but also exemplifying the claim. For example, he states, “in the presence of the recent past inevitably colors your vision of the emerging form, highlighting the flaws and imperfections,” (Johnson 197). He then goes on, “In this parallel universe, kids have been playing games for centuries—and then these page-bound texts come along and they’re all the rage. What would teachers, and the parents and the cultural authorities have to say about this frenzy of reading?” (Johnson 197). This helps him develop ethos because he exemplifies his points clearly.

Sources: Johnson, Steven. "Games." 50 Essays: A Portable Anthology. By Samuel S. Cohen. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2007. N. pag. Print.

For "I Just Wanna Be Average,":

1. What purpose does the opening paragraph serve? (consider this entire essay as a metaphorical journey.)
          The opening paragraph serves as an indicator to what Mike Rose became despite his struggles in the vocational school program. The juxtaposition between young Mike Rose and present day Mike Rose highlights the fact that one can be more than what the school system deems one should be.

2. When Rose describes the actions of Brother Dill, how does he convey the immediacy (and insensitivity) of this experience without making acerbic or critical comments about Brother Dill? Would a negative tone have lessened the impact of the incident on you are a reader? Explain.
          He conveys the immediacy by understating the whole ordeal. Through a casual tone Rose establishes that for him and many other students in that system, physical abuse was common and thus more shocking to the audience. A negative would have lessened the impact because of the audience feeling shocked and uncomfortable we would more likely be feeling sympathy which is less powerful because it takes away from the situation.

3. What kind of detail does Rose use in his characterization of the other vocational education students? Consider his descriptions of Bill Cobb, Ted Richard, and Ken Harvey.
           Rose characterizes Bill, Ted, and Ken all as normal high school students using causal diction in phrases, "good-looking in a puffy way", "chunky and had a baby face", "grease pencil artist extraordinaire". This sets up the idea that these kids don't possess any handicaps that would suggest that they be in a vocational program.

4. How does Rose characterize his own response to vocational education? Does he try to evoke sympathy from his readers? What is he trying to evoke?
          Rose characterizes his own response to vocational education as a failure because he didn't have the best grades and even then, he relied on a cheating system to get by. This evokes no sympathy from his readers because he clearly didn't try in school however it does evoke a feeling of disappointment on the vocational school program in that it did not do nearly enough to aid the "struggling" students.

5. In paragraphs 21, 22, and 23, why does Rose go into such detail about problem-solving? What is his purpose?
           Rose's purpose in paragraphs 21-23 is to highlight the issue with how they teach problem solving in the system (word problems) is not how to solve problems in real life.

6. Is Rose’s description of his father’s deterioration appropriate for this essay? Why? What impact would deleting it have had on the story Rose is telling or the argument he is making?
           I believe that the description of his father was a completely necessary addition in the essay because it reveals the abandonment and "daddy issues" Rose had growing up. Without these paragraphs it could create the essay less relatable for the audience, and less emotional for Rose himself.

7. In the description of Jack MacFarland’s influence on Rose, which passages represent the young man’s view of this teacher and which ones the adult looking back? How does Rose intertwine them so the overall descriptions have coherence?
          Jack MacFarland had a very positive influence on Rose becuase he convinced Rose to start reading again even after his father died. He also taught him how to think critically which allowed him to become a better student and person in life.

8. Rarely does Rose step out from the narration and state his point explicitly. Why not? Would you classify this essay as more of a memoir or an argument? Why?
          Rose does not step out from the narration and state his point explicitly because he wants his stories to illustrate the point for him. For that reason, this essay can be classified as more of a memoir because of the persistence of continuing the anecdotes.

9. How would you characterize the style of this essay? Rather than using a single word, describe it with a phrase that captures the different levels of diction.
         I would characterize the style of this essay as narrative in that he uses anecdotes and commentary to display his argument that the vocational school program is failing students.

Rose, Mike. ""I Just Wanna Be Average"" 50 Essays: A Portable Anthology. 3rd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2007. N. pag. Print.