Hw 4/29

[blog] how your group is planning to use rhetorical strategies to make your argument
We plan to use logos in atleast two of our three arguments to show statistics about how TCU athletes get special treatment. We want to explain with logos how many athletes are on schlorship (percent wise) versus the students who are not athletes. We also plan to you estimates on how much money would be spent on the tutor individually if TCU did not pay for the athletes to have a tutor. We also are going to use pathos to hit the hearts of individuals to show them how student athletes get so much more special treatment and we want to prove this by showing all the advantages that take place for them.
Athletes are treated differently here at TCU and get so many more opportunities and we want to show everyone what takes place and show them that its WRONG!

Authors Note for Unit 3 Portfolio

1. Final drafts of: The letter to the editor, Op-Ed, humor argument, and the portfolio as a whole.

2. First and foremost, I loved how unit three had a twist on it. It wasn't all about just creating one single paper, it allowed me to see other ways to make an argument. I am very content about my letter to the editor as well as my op-ed but I am a bit nervous about my humor article. I am afraid that some of the Top Ten Reasons are funny to me but others may not "get" them. I also couldn't figure out a way to jazz the humor article up as some individuals from class did with their articles. I like the way that my portfolio as a whole came together. Each article connects to one another as well as back to the original article my argument was based off of. Every item is neatly placed into their own category. With the portfolio, I am worried about one piece of information: My prewriting for my humor argument. I checked back at the agenda for class that day and I remember presenting my humor article samples that I had found especially since one was a bit vulgar but I do not see it on the blog. I went ahead and put my sample humor articles in the portfolio along with some prewriting I did with Ms. April.

3. My argument was targeted towards the general public. I was arguing that some cops abuse their authority and that some even try to get away with it. I started out replying to an article about Officer Powell and how his behavior was unacceptable in a situation that occurred with Ryan Moats. Next, I wrote about how many cops abuse their authority and get away with is which lead me to my humor argument which reflected on stupid reasons that cops give tickets. They know they can give out tickets and will use their authority or credentials to have a reason to back up why the ticket is issued. Once again, I am worried that my humor argument will not be funny to some individuals especially if they have not heard of the Ryan Moats/Officer Powell situation. I have really enjoyed doing this unit and I am very happy with my portfolio as a whole since all the assignments tie together and reflect off of each other to make an overall argument. Also, in this portfolio I was not sure if there was suppose to be a heading on each page (pankey 2, pankey 3,etc) especially since all my papers are divided into their own category.  I hope my argument is clear and that all of my pieces have followed the guidelines. 

Hw 4/22

1. First draft of humorous argument.

2. I like the approach I took for this argument. It was simple yet expressed humor in a creative way. I am worried that all of my TOP TEN weren't comprehendible by all viewers. I added things that I thought were funny but not everyone "gets" them since they do not know what my article is about. I am happy that I was able to come up with ten reasons, ten doesn't sound like very many but it was difficult to think of them in sarcastic ways.

3. I need help in making each reason humorous but in a way where everyone understands them. I also need help with the tense I decide to go with because I have noticed that I tend to go back and forth in that area.  I also would appreciate if someone told me that something was just not funny so I could think of a better reason.

HW 4/20

I decided to do my humor argument in a David Letterman kind of style. He features "The top ten reason..." so I made a headline of my own using "The Top Ten Ways to get a Ticket from an Officer." I then went in descending order from 10-1 rating the reasons from the weakest humor to the most humorous. I ended on "Pissing off officer Powell." This wraps up my whole argument that leads back to my topic of some cops being on power trips.

  This uses humor to describe many instances when cops get on power trips and want to write individuals tickets for so called idiotic reasons. They like taking the glory for what they do and use their authority for granted. I ended with  Powell because it reflects back on the original article I used so I thought that was pretty cool.  Im hoping it makes an effective argument because I know that Letterman's does so Im crossing my fingers that mine does the same!

Hw 4/15

As I was searching for humorous arguments on the lines of my topic I thought there would be a galore of examples. Unfortunately, there was little to be found. There was nothing on the late night shows or the onion. Therefore, I found two cartoons that made a pretty good argument even though they are a bit vulgar. 

The First cartoon that I found reads "I'm going to kick your ass, and get away with it." The background picture is a picture of an officer holding a gun. This is showing a humorous argument because it is saying that even though cops make sure the laws are followed, sometimes they believe they can get away with breaking the laws themselves because they are in charge. Also, this has to go along with my topic of how the officer beat up a man that was deaf just because he could not communicate and yet the officer got a paid 2 day leave. Therefore, this officer pretty much got away with harassing the deaf but if the deaf man would have harassed the officer it would have been a different story.  It shows humor because it is mocking what officers actually get away with in a form of a cartoon.

The second cartoon I picked read, "You didn't think we give pretty women tickets? You're right. We don't. Sign here." This shows a women getting pulled over by an officer trying to get away with not getting a ticket because of her looks. This shows humor because we know many officers let the pretty ladies go with just a warning sometimes. In my case, If I would have just done what the officer asked me to do so he could glance up my skirt, I would have got away with the warning. This is humorous because situations happen like this everyday but then again officers would never admit to this! 

Authors Note for first draft of Op-Ed

1. First draft of the editorial Op-Ed.

2. I am excited that I met the length requirement for this Op-Ed but I am worried that my argument is not strong enough. I have a hard time making an argument and sticking to one side. My opinions about things have never been really strong which made this piece a bit difficult to me. This draft isn't as intense as my others but in a way I feel that it is a good thing considering it is geared towards the general public and every individual needs to be able to understand it with varying education levels. 

3. I need reassurance that I have completed this assignment correctly. I also need help in how to make it look like an editorial. I feel like the columns are two long and skinny. If there are any words that could be replaced with more in-depth/stronger vocabulary that would be greatly appreciated as well.

Prewriting Op-Ed

Lacy Pankey

Prewriting for Op-Ed

April 6, 2009

 

1.     What are the general tone and assumed audiences in this venue? What is interesting or unique about these pieces?

The assumed audiences in this venue are the residents of Dallas. The audiences will be pulled one way or another and will end with an opinion of the article themselves. A lot of politics were brought up in these Op-Eds but all were linked back to something going on around Dallas. Many of the articles began with “I” which then lead to a clear point on what side of the argument they agreed/disagreed with. Personal experience was added as a big chunk of the Op-Ed and creatively linked back to the topic as a whole. All of these Op-Eds were formed on short paragraphs and single spaced with a bold headline placed above the article including the author’s name. At the end of the article, the authors name and email address are both stated.

 

2.     Identifiable Issue for your focus.

The issue of focus that I am grasping is the topic over cops and athletes in the Dallas area. To me, it seems that if a well-known Dallas athlete gets pulled over one out of two things are going to occur. Either the officer will be extra caring and let the athlete go or the athlete will be punished more by the officer due to the reason of being a “famous” athlete. Therefore, policemen treat athletes differently when pulled over.

 

3.     Tell your readers what should be done about it.

No matter who you are, everyone should be treated the same.  If an athlete is speeding, they should get a ticket.  If an athlete has an emergency, they should be led to the event and excused for whatever reason just like any other pedestrian would be. For the general Dallas population, I just want readers to know that this is a problem and hopefully the Dallas Police Department will notice this and act to include this in their policy and will be able to take note of this in some way.

    

4.     What rhetorical appeals will be most effective for your audience?

Pathos will take a huge toll in this article.  People have emotions when it comes to: Who you are and how you are treated.  Some athletes believe they are better than others and believe they should get away with certain things just because of who they are. On the other hand, others emotions flare when they see athletes getting special treatment just because of who they are. Even down to instances of athletes not having to wait in line can burst a person’s bubble that may be waiting in line for hours.  Athletes get a lot of free items as well which don’t go down with many individuals as well.

Ethos is also involved for the reasons that both cops and athletes take a role of authority and credibility but their authority is used in different ways and different circumstances.

 

5.     What will best support your points for the rhetorical situation?

For my Op-Ed, hard evidence, statistics, referring to other authorities, and personal experience will best support my article. I need to incorporate these categories evenly in order to make my argument clear and this will back up my argument. My reasoning for my topic will be provided through these rhetorical situations.

 

 

6.     Is there any research that you need to do?

There is certainly much research I need to do pertaining to cops and the different instances they have experienced with pro-athletes.  I am not well educated in this area so with a bit of Google and guy friends this should be taken care of.

HW April 5

The effective instances that the sample Op-Ed uses on my topic is how it approaches the topic of racism and cops. Many people believe that cops are always on a power trip and use their badge to discipline those of different color as well as ones with a history of being well-known to the public aka NFL football players. Many believe that cops come down harder on those in the NFL because for once, the NFL players do not have authority to intimidate others by their representation of "who" they are and "what" they can get away with. Now, the man in the uniform has authority and many will take full advantage of this.

The ineffective instance about this Op-Ed is that it seems to cover many arguments instead of just pin-pointing one and running with it like the title suggest. My topic is only mentioned in a small paragraph of this Op-Ed but the surrounding information pertains to my argument and can be used if used in a different form. The length of this Op-Ed is not as lengthy as an Op-Ed should be but it does account for one.

Authors Note of First Draft Letter to the Editor

This is my first draft of my letter to the editor. As of now, its lacking in length and this is what I am worried about.  Its hard to drag something out when you have your point across in just a few words. I feel like this is a strong start to my letter to the editor but it is a work in progress. I need help with punctuation and making sure that I am following the directions to the assignment. I need help with the continuation of this piece and want to know if I am getting my point across as well as if it is interesting to other readers.

HW April 1

I have changed my article to the issue on Ryan Moats and the cop who held him up in the hospital parking lot as his mother-in-law passed away.

Dear Mark Davis:

 

 

Your March 31^st editorial article entitled “Mark Davis: Sorry or not, this cop must go” fairly depicted the incident that evoked the emotions of America after being widely streamed in the media.

The issue that raised eyebrows nationwide wasn’t due to the fact of Officer Powell pulling over Moats after witnessing his traffic violation, but instead the lack of poise in his conduct. In his defense, Officer Powell had every right to implement the law and penalize traffic violators, but most seem to agree the scrutiny that Moats and his family members underwent far surpassed the level to which it deserved.

The incident gave rise to the deeper issue undermining this case by raising the question of what he didn’t do ethically rather than concerning what he did legally. Different situations call for different measures in any given line of duty and at the end of the day the individual has to use their best judgment to make decisions. Unfortunately for Powell his downfall was in his inability to decipher, or better yet unwillingness to fairly interpret the situation and act accordingly.

Should Powell be penalized? Yes. Did Powell apologize? Yes, but only conveniently after his deplorable actions suffered widespread scrutiny from angered Samaritans. In contrast to before, where he stood firmly behind his behavior.

 I agree with you when you state that actions, not words, dictate reality, however, Powell’s words decree verbal conformation to his cruel emotionless detachment from the severity of the situation and in my opinion were just as disturbing as his actions. “I can screw you over” was just one of the appalling comments made by officer Powell during the occurrence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HW 3/30

   As we begin a new section in English 20803, I always feel uneasy about the topic. For the most part, it takes quite a while to make a decision on anything I do but I feel like my decision making in this class has gotten worse. As I looked for an argument going on in the community, an editorial over the famous "Octomom" appeared and I thought it would be just perfect to use. Not only is this issue full or drama but I believe it would be interesting to write over. On the downside though, I lost the article I found in the last session of class. 

   I had to find new articles but none of them fit perfectly into the argument I wanted to make on if it was right to be able to have that any babies (which I can no longer find the article of). I keep going back on two new articles though. The first article is from the Dallas Morning News and it questions what the community should do with all of the leftover-frozen embyros. We could be like Nadya Suleman and impregnant ourselves with all 6 eggs so that none are left over but I believe that the majority of the population are fine with just a few children in their lives. Therefore, should be keep all of the leftover-frozen embryos or do away with them but then the question arises on if abortion is taking place or not. 

  The second article is a letter to the editor titles, "15 (or more) Minutes of Fame."  This is referring to how Octomom just wanted to have 8 children for the fame and receive an expensive home and personal care for the children. It is pretty much stating that it is ridiculous to put a child's life at risk just so an individual can have the fame like she has always wanted. Therefore, Octomom is present in both articles but Im not sure on which one pertains to the community more.

In class 3/25

I am leaning towards the "octomom" for my topic of this editorial argument. This is a local women that has just recently had 8 babies with many more children already at home. She is single and has done in vitro to bring these babies in to the world. The problem is that she is now getting many things given to her to care for her children in which it is not very fair since she is the one who took control and decided to bring this problem upon herself. I am concerned about the children but I do not feel sorry for her.
The way this topic connects with the community is that she is from the DFW area. Many stores are volunteering to bring products to her and offer her money that she needs yet you do not see these companies helping out the homeless in the community. Once again, she made this decision and yet she is the one receiving all this help. This interest me for one because it is a hot topic floating around in the news. It has almost become a Joke in the media as well as in television shows and I know there will be alot of information about this. Also, girls love drama and keeping up with the daily events which this have been a major part of.

Authors Note for Final Draft and Portfolio

AUTHORS NOTE

1. Final draft and a complete portfolio.

2. As I completed my final draft I was pretty pleased as to how it finished. I am now happy with the new transitions I have included in my draft and the analysis I have added (especially to the section covering House Hunters International). I also worked on the section of LUXE in which I explained in more depth on Jaccarino's situations which helped the paper pull together in the end.  I spent many hours on this final draft depicting each sentence to make sure the word flow made sense and that the correct grammar was used. On the downside, I am a bit hesitant about this final draft because I am unsure if it is as strong as my public space analysis draft. Of course, I could be feeling this way due to the fact that I had a lot more fun creating the last paper.

  I love the way my portfolio came together. First off, I am a very organized person and have to have structure in everything I do, including my completed portfolio.  I have printed out all of my assignments but I am worried about the category including a check of toulmin charts and rhetorical analysis charts. I was not present the day in class that you checked these but I did meet with you the very next day and had them (plus I went and bought a computer to complete them). 

3. I feel that my portfolio as a whole and my final draft are complete. This paper was not the easiest for me, especially in the beginning of having to choose a topic, but I feel like after hours of research and after actually putting my paper together I was successful. I had a very hard time trying to structure out my draft but with a quick meeting with you (Ms. April) a light switch turned on and that is when my ideas started flowing. Hopefully, I have followed the guidelines on both the final draft and portfolio and I hope you enjoy reading my work!

Authors Note for Second Draft

1. Second Draft of Rhetorical Case Study

2. I feel good in a sense that the majority of my paper is complete. I like how I have a strong structure in that it flows from description to analysis...description-analysis, etc. I am worried that the paper as a whole still isn't as strong as I would like for it to be but am out of ideas in how to make it complete.

3. Today I need ideas of how to analyze my last source (HGTV) as well as a good transition from my second to third source (..My routine at night is watching HGTV...) . I also need help in forming a thesis sentence that ties all three of my sources together.  Any suggestions on my final paragraph would be a great help as well!

HW 3-23-09

   My goal for the first draft was to complete my essay so that for my second and final draft I could just go back and edit places that needed improving. I ended up not using my first two analysis simply because I did not like them and so I recreated the analysis of those.  The main development that I included in my second draft was grammar editing. I depicted each sentence making sure that I had included every coma, period, quotation marks, etc. I also took my peer review group's advice as well as Ms. Patrick's to include certain words that had previously been written incorrectly or spelled wrong. 

   My draft has developed in a grammar sense. I still have a lot to do in improving the analysis part of my paper which I plan to complete before Wednesday. The number of pages have not increased or decreased during the development due to the fact that I have completed the majority of my paper but I still have plenty of work to complete before the final draft is ready to turn in. Much more development is still to come.

Authors Note 3-9-09

1. Unit 2 First draft

2. I do like that my case study that was completed reached nine pages. I feel like the beginning of this essay is very strong but I am worried that it fades away approximately at page six. My first source was very elaborate, therefore, I had to narrow it down quite a ways but It enabled to explore deeply into the analysis. My last two sources are not as strong as teh beginning of the paper and I am really worried about my works cited at the bottom of my essay as well as throughout it.

3. Today I need help with my works cited throughout the paper. There are very many details that go into preparing this for a final draft and this is def. the weakness of my paper. I also could use some help with the summary and analysis of my last two sources as well as a transitioning paragraph from my first source into the second.

HW-3-9-09

The way my topic impacts the local community from my rhetorical case study is that the community itself is involved. The ones who pick up the magazines full of elaborate home decor, the ones who flip through the channels and come to a halt as the home and garden television show appears, and the ones who spend hours on the web searching for the perfect piece of furniture to complete their home are the members impacted in the local community.
The community is made up of several different social classes. The target audience that is impacted in my rhetorical case study is the community of wealth, the ones who can afford the luxurious items that come along during life. The second target audience that is impacted is the community of dreamers, the ones who are not as fortunate to afford these luxurious designs that are well placed in the home. Therefore, I have two main audiences that are impacted by my rhetorical case study.

HW 3-4-09

  In preparing myself to begin writing these two body sections, I precisely went through each source and noticed every detail and every aspect that could make an argument over my topic. In the LUXE magazine, I noticed from the thick glossy paper to the price of the magazine. There are even games of Polo and golf courses advertised all throughout this source, of course, targeting the more affluent population. For my Hot on Homes section, I went through all the advertisements and listened to all the descriptiveness of all of the interior decor. All of the decor were so elaborate that even the middle class would not be able to afford the decorations. I also prepared with my rhetorical analysis as a guide.

  The first thing that I have discovered about my topic is that this paper is not going to be easy. I keep finding myself going back to the questions...Wait...What am I writing about and what am I supposed to be writing about? I thought this topic would be a lot easier than it really is. Maybe I should have gone with something more popular, more personal. Hopefully, I will figure this out though. 

  My main rhetorical strategies with be wit style and focusing on the audience it targets. Also, there are a lot of pathos that should be shown throughout my paper, how, I am not quite sure.  I cannot find much about logos through my topic because believe it or not, not many interior designers like to just tell you they focus on the upper class community.  I am far from where I really need to be right now but maybe it will all come together.

HW-3-2-09

My perspective on the topic of interior design materials and what audience it targets had remained the same. In my rhetorical case analysis, I am pullin the analysis from many pictures, the word choice, the style of the word choice, and tone. The reason my prespective has not really changed is because not a ton of arguments are including in who interior designers target. They target the more upper class groups or the many individuals (like me) who dream of having the items in my house one day that are featured in my sources of magazines, internet sites, and television shows.
My research has mainly come from depicting each page of a magazine or each word a person says about the home decor. My research doesn't really include reseaching article after article and observing how those articles differ, but instead, going into the pages to analyze what audience my sources are targeting. Not only does the home decor focus on the upper classs but I have found that the advertisemets for other products than the decor are also targeting the wealthier community and I wish to analyze this as well. My perspective has not changed a whole lot after researching my topic and I mostly believe it is because this topic is not only narrowed down but also stuck in my head of how I want it to turn out.

In class: 2-25

List 2-4 Overall concerns about research at this state in the process.
1. There are hardly any internet resources available on my topic. Therefore, someone's personal experience is hard to find unless I interviewed an interior decorator. Problem with this is that an interview is not a primary source.
2. I am not sure if I am approaching my argument correctly. I am analyzing the audience that are reached to from interior design magazines and tv shows.

How do you feel the source qualifies as a primary source?
A. The LUX magazine is direct tangible evidence of my topic. It shows what audience it is targeting which is my topic. It is not anyone else's opinion on who these publications reach out to...it is the publication
B. Hot on Homes television show is also a primary source due to the fact that it in itself is targeting the upper class individuals, it specifically is reaching out to them. Once againl, it is not someone explaining what is going on, it is where my argument is coming from.
C. An article written by Chameleon Interiors is a blog which equals personal experience. This opinion on who interior decorating targets is coming directly from the source. It shares how when the economy is down so are the jobs of interior decorators, showing how the individuals that use the designers usually have money to spend in the first place on luxurious, unneccessary items.

Why did you choose this source?
1. LUX- this is where I sparked my topic idea. I have been really interested in this magazine and wanted it to be the focus point of my paper.
2. Hot on Homes- This is one of my favorite shows due to the fact that I love dreaming of my dream home and seeing how the designers decorated the place.
3. Chameleon-I chose this source because April helped me out on finding a document that was from the internet, someone's personal experience which I desperatley needed.

What is the Source about?
A. This source is a magazine full of interior design items. It focuses on advertisment for many home decor stores and reaches out to the public to try to sale their items. It places luxurious items as a focus so that people will want the decor or atleast dream of having it.
B. This source is about selling homes around different communities. This source displays houses in a way to make people want to buy them. Its a tv show in Sunday morning, when many corporate business people are off work.
C. This source is about how the economy has affected the jobs of interior designers. How she is impacted as well as others in her career department.

What interesting rhetorical strategies did you notice in your source?
For the first two sources the strategy of style jumped out to me in more depth than the others. The way they worded advertisements, the tone of voice they used as they described different rooms, and the different colors that were involved approached me strongly. Also, the how the author targeted one specific audience while still catering to another knowing that he will not benefits from the "dreamers." The author also is involved in much personal gain and benefit since he structures everything around targeting a certain audience to bring in the paycheck. For the third source, it was more of a personal experience that caught my eye. This person has credibility of being an interior designer after stating how many years she had been in business. Pathos is also thrown in after the author makes your heart melt from seeing her struggle through the economic crisis.

HW 2-25-09

During my research I discovered that the topic I picked was not the most popular. I could not for the life of me get anything to come up about interior decorating from any of the library databases. There were many documents that came up that didnt pertain to my topic which I was a bit confused about. I spent hours and hours reading articles that after I read them had nothing to do with my topic. The sources that I chose are materials that are tangible instead of just articles off of the internet.
I chose magazines and television shows for the most part. The documents that I did find on google were helpful but just not quiet what I was looking for. Miss April helped me out a bit with articles she had found and I can use one of these as a primary source since it is coming from an interior decorators blog. I have this idea in my head of what my topic is and how the sources are going to work so based off of this they connect in a way that I wan them to according to how I decided to approach them. I am analyzing the color of rooms, how they are structured, and what audience is reaches out to!

2-18-09 Homework

Today is a day to blog about the topic I have chosen for the unit 2 assignment. This is the point where I stop and think and think and think and still cannot for the life of me come up with a topic that I am really fascinated in. I am not sure if I am still confused by the topic/assignment or if my creativity has taken a plunge. I want to come up with a topic that I will not mind researching for 5 weeks, something that I could use in my future.
As I have undergone tons of reasearch to find that perfect topic on sites such as wfaa.com and entertainment tonight I have pulled a few ideas from their pages. Some of these ideas include controversy on the new Cowboys stadium...is it a waste of money or will it make money for the community. The women that just gave birth to octuplets seemed interesting to me but I am not sure if I could write and 8 page paper over this issue. Michelle Obama's new fashion statments and reality television shows. I originally wanted to do something on the line of weddings but am not sure how to narrow this topic down. Hopefully today in class I will have some kind of spark that will lead me into the perfect topic.

I have decided to choose Interior designs and what audiece it targets!

2-16-09 HW-Authors Note of Final Draft.

I have finally finished my final draft. I believe that I am very happy with the way it turned out, especiallysince this was the first time I have ever written a seven page paper. I am still a bit worried that my analysis paragrash are lacking a bit. For me, it is very hard to go back into a paper and change many things that were once created. This is something that will grow with me as I continue writing I hope. I enjoyed this paper due to the fact that it was a place that is very special to me and I believe I incorporated this into my paper. If anything, I probably have made mistakes in the area of mechanice. This is a huge weakness of mine which I am gradually overcoming. Overall, I believe my paper turned out how I wanted it to.
My portfolio is now completed. Putting things together in an organized fashion is one of my very favorite activities. I chose to present my portfolio in a folder rather that submitting it online. Every section is divided into a separate category making it easier to access. On the downward side, I am hoping that I did not leave out an article that was supposed to be included. I believe that all my assignments have been completed and are in my portfolio ready to be turned in!

2-11-09 homework

First of all, I have to give credit to my workshop partners: Cameron and Kyle. Their advice helped me out alot and allowed me to see my paper in different ways. They both thought my description of my public space was very vivid. They both believed it painted a picture of what the atmosphere looked like. I was glad that what they believe was the controlling idea was indeed correct. This assured me that I was getting my argument across (which I was not so sure of before). Kyle did an awesome job of helping me place commas in the correct areas (this is a huge weakness of mine) and Cameron could relate to areas of my paper since he is from Texas as well. Cameron even offered to back me up on an argument. Both were confused on my word choice in one sentence so I went ahead and re-worded it. I received many comments on the tenses that I had chosen which was included in my author's note. I am still unsure of how to change them, or atleast what to change them to due to the fact that I am still confused on whos perspective the argument is coming from. Hopefully, I will figure this out in order to change this. Words such as "I", "You", and "one" are also words that I threw around quiet often. I also need help in this area as well. The main feedback that I tried really hard to focus on in this draft is about the personal connection I have with Billy Bob's. I added more sentences to this and tried to structure is a bit better, but I know it is not yet perfect. Overall, I need to work on the analysis paragraphs and figure out what tenses I am supposed to be using. Therefore, I will keep on working on this!

2-9-09 Authors Note for Draft-1

1. First Draft. Draft short on length and in progress of working on conclusion.

2. In my opinion, my first draft started off on the right foot. I was very detailed and knew what my goal for the first two paragraphs were.
* I believe I lost focus on tying my paragraphs back to the main arguments.
* I am not really sure what person to put my paper in.... do I write it like I am observing the location or do I write it explaining what actions the participants are taking. "They" or "I"
*Im not really sure how to break up paragraphs.
*I am worried that my creativity disappeared of writing for hours.

3. ->Today I believe I need guidance on an outline.
-> If you were a reader of my work could you imagine a snapshot of what is going on in my location?
->are you realizing what my argument is?
->I need opinions on how to lengthen my paper
->I know what the purpose of my paper is but Im not sure if I am proving my point in my writing.

2-4-09 Homework

Once again, my space that I chose to observe is Billy Bob's Texas. The meaning of this space for the audience is mainly to have a good time. Billy Bob's is one of the most well known bars/dancehall in Fort Worth. Another meaning of this space is to get the feeling of what Texas is all about or known for. Its a space where people choose to go and dance, watch a live band, and congregate with friends and family. Its a tourist attraction which means that for the tourist, the meaning may be in educating themselves on Texas and the lifestyles that many Texans live. Overall, its a place for a fun time, a place to laugh and dance with friends, and bring in lots of income for the one who created this famous honky tonk.

Annotation-2/2

As I chose Billy Bob’s Texas for my observation, I knew this was not my first time to in this environment, nor would it be my last. My first observation was definitely out of the norm of what I am used to experiencing at this location. I chose to sit and observe Friday, January 30, 2009 at approximately 1:15 pm. The space was very open, almost having an echo-like feeling to the place. I was surrounded with hardwood floors, western art décor, and cemented walls of hands. This one large space included many small areas such as: a restaurant, gift store, bull-riding arena, picture booth, and an arcade and pool table space. The size of Billy Bob’s was overwhelming to me since this was the first time I had ever seen this location with less than 300 people there. A big stage caught my attention; its structure is more noticeable when no one is performing. The dance floors were bare; normally they would be filled with shuffling boots. Few individuals were at Billy Bob’s this afternoon and the ones that I saw were mostly tourist. The work crews of Billy Bob’ were busy getting prepared for the nights show, bartenders were not hustling and bustling like usual, and tourist were just being, well, tourist. The activity was very slim. Pictures were being taken, tourist putting their hands against the molds of their favorite performer, work crews moving tables, and words such as “OO look” and “Texas” were often repeated. Without much emotion, the objects that caught my eye were a lot of detail. Tables and chairs were placed throughout the entire area, bars were full of liquor and beer bottles, pool tables were not being used or the arcade games, and big blue trash cans were empty. There were a couple of food baskets lying in the restaurant area due to some that had just finished lunch. As I drew myself more into the acts of what others were experiencing, I noticed people on cell phones, swaying along with the texas country music playing in the background and some were even having an afternoon drink. I heard many “wows” and “awws” as people were fascinated with the Texan traditions and décor. Much memorabilia caught the tourist’s eyes. I noticed many trying to reach the goal of getting that “feel” of Texas, or suddenly trying to act like they were from Texas ( by wearing boots and bandanas), while others were just trying to take in as much Texas as they could in a small amount of time. I could feel of air of much excitement as the tourist looked and experienced Billy Bob’s Texas. I could feel the workers had an emotion of drive, they were getting their job done and in a timely fashion. The emotion overall was joyful and relaxing.
The second time I observed this location was very similar to the last. This time I decided to appear at about 11:30 am on Saturday, January 31, 2009. Everything was almost identical except there happened to be many more visitors. The same people (mostly tourist) were in Billy Bob’s as well as the same events were taking place. Today I felt like I was people watching more than paying attention to the small details due to a larger crowd.
My third observation took place later that night (about 9:15pm). This observation was more of what I am used to due to the fact that most Fridays or Saturdays one can find me in this location. As I walked to the ticket booth, I noticed a totally different atmosphere. People were in very long lines and silence just wasn’t an option. Billy Bob’s Texas was unbelievably crowded. Almost every step I took there was a person directly in front of me and the hardwood floors were covered in all sorts of boots (well at least mainly). It had such a “bar-like” feeling to it. It was smoky, loud, and the wardrobe of everyone was very similar: boots, hats, and jeans. The details were almost invisible due to the loud and large crowd. The bars were no longer wiped down but surrounded by glasses clinking, people ordering, and many socializing. Trash cans were filling up and the ashtrays were now full of cigarette butts but most of all, the dance floor was no longer bare. The stage was occupied with a band called, “Cross Canadian Ragweed,” and the bathroom had a long wait. This atmosphere had taken a complete 360 compared to what I had observed earlier that morning. The main individuals were now cowboy ready to swing around on the dance floor instead of tourist. Girls were strutting and showing off their good aspects, some were stumbling, and some completely sober. Billy Bob’s was full of bartenders, security, tourist, and dances of all sizes and shapes. From cocky cowboys to shy girls just waiting for a boy to ask them to dance, I observed many types of individuals. The main activities were dancing, drinking, singing, and flirting. Others were preparing drinks or checking ID’s. Lots of social-life activities were taking place. People were eating, just people watching for the night (especially men looking for a potential girlfriend), and simply raising their glasses for a drink. Many of the same events took place. One would walk in, find a table or friends, buy a drink or two, and then walk towards the door where many had to throw away what was left of their drink and head for the parking lot. The goal of the individuals at Billy Bob’s was to have a good, country time, learn how to dance, and experience Texas. Many seemed to be that their goal was to get a lot less sober or find a potential girlfriend, and to feel country or be a cowboy for those couple of remaining hours. Emotions ran high here. Many were happy and laid back. Others were upset (most likely due to a boyfriend/girlfriend) and some were just glad to be taking in Texas.

2-2-09 in class-arguments of Fact

As I observed Billy Bob's Texas and there were a few arguments of fact. I saw many drinking, and many may argue that drinking is either for fun/socializing while others may see it as poison going into the body. Also, along with drinking, there are many that think one drink wont impair their ability to drive while others argue that one should never step one foot into a vehicle even if they just consumed one sip. There is a restaurant at Billy Bob's some may argue that the prices are an argument that are presented on the menu. Another argument I see is many think there is a certain technique to dancing, others feel its just for fun and that it does not matter what techniques one uses.

2-2-09 Homework

My first two observations at Billy Bob's Texas were quit different than what I had normally experienced. These two observations took place in the morning and early afternoon. Billy Bob's was a totally different atmosphere at these times versus what goes on during the night life. The third obsercation took place on Saturday night and this is what I am used to. It was very hard trying to observe at this time and not get caught up in the concert or step foot on the dance floor. Many were probably wondering what I was doing sitting at a table with a pencil and small black notebook. My friends thought it was a little awkward but they also know how dedicated I am about school work and knew that I didnt really care what they were thinking about my creepiness. Overall, I had a very fun time getting to see the different people involved at different times, and the separate events that took place from morning and afternoon versus the night life. Im also really happy with my decision to observe Billy Bob's because I thought I knew a ton about Billy Bob's but found out that I only knew very little before this observation.

1-28-09 Homework

After a long thought process, the public space that I chose to analyze is Billy Bob's Texas. I feel like I have a very strong connection to this honky tonk. I go to the stockyards very frequently because country dancing is one of my favorite hobbies. I can usually be found there on the weekends but I am excited to observe what all goes on during the weekdays. I want to analyze Billy Bob's to see the things that I have been overlooking, I want to see the minut details that have just always passed me by. I plan to observe Billy Bob's on Friday at about 1:00pm. I wish I could be there when it opens (which is at 11:00am) but I have class. I also am going to observe Billy Bob's early Saturday (to see if weekends differ from weekdays) and then again that night when Cross Canadian Ragweed is playing. Hopefully I can make one more observation Sunday afternoon following church. I have a pretty good idea of this space, but its the observation of the nightlife. This space is full of cowboy boots, pearl snap shirts, starched jeans, and cowboy hats. The atmosphere is very loud with a majority of the music being texas country with a bit of line dancing songs on the side. Many sounds that I hear are clinks from glasses and bottles, spurs spinning against the hardwood floors, and boots sliding as people dance to their favorite songs. This space is very large, but always crowded. To me, one can always tell tourist from the locals which I believe is an interesting observation. I am not really sure what I will expect to discover. I am pretty familiar with the place but since I will be observing I know there will be many things that will catch my eye that, otherwise, I would have never discovered. I think I will discover the spaces in Billy Bob's itself in more detail, such as the pool table area or the small barbeque restaurant off to the side or maybe the wall of fame. I cannot wait to see whats in store for me to learn about this place I believe I am so familiar with!

1-26-09 Homework

As I think of the communities of which I am a member of, I cannot narrow it down to just one. I believe that I am a member of my hometown: Jacksboro, TX. When Jacksboro comes to mind I think of spaces such as the Tiger Stadium. This is by far one of the favorite local spaces in the community. Everyone in this small town waits for Friday nights to come around during football season, mostly due to the fact that there is not much to do in this community. Also, another favorite space is City Drug. This place is an old-fashioned soda fountain where several gather for lunch. Herd's Hamburgers is another local space where people love to gather and is known around the US for the great taste. When I think of the TCU community a few local spaces seem to ring a bell. Places such as Fuzzy's Tacos, Snookies, and the Aardvark are the hot places for TCU students to come together. When many think of TCU, they think of these three places almost automatically. As a member of the city of Fort Worth my mind turns to the historic stockyards. Places such as Billy Bobs, The White Elephant, PR's, The Longhorn saloon, and Lonesome Dove are places people do not want to miss out on. These places also remind me of home, especially since my heart is in the country. These are a few communities that I am a member of and the local spaces that I connect with.

1-21-09 homework

The sample argument that I chose for this week is a youtube video of President Obama joking how McCain called him "that one" during a debate. The rhetorical appeal that drew me towards this argument was an emotional appeal or "appeals to pathos." Pathos include powerful tools for influencing what people think and believe, it has a lot to do with emotion. A subtopic that I chose to connect to my argument was :Humor. This youtube video was from the Alfred E. Smith memorial dinner and it took an argument and turned it into humor even though it was a very controversial subject. Many were mad about McCain calling President Obama, "That One," but President Obama used the term in a form of humor to deal with a sensitive issue. This quote was aimed at a particular target at first but was then turned into well humor. Many people get by with saying hurtful things but it seems that as long as they turn them into humor that everything is ok. An example of this is a Tv show called King of Queens where everything is a joke, and usually insulting but people avoid it due to the fact its humor. Out of all of the rhetorical appeals I connected with the emotional or pathos appeal due to the fact that emotion always pulls me to one side or the other.

Chapter 1 (1-14-09)

As I read through the pages of chapter one I found myself very confused. I did not realize that everything was an argument! There were many different categories and subcategories of arguments which I could not differentiate. This chapter was very overpowering to my eyes, it did not waste anytime getting into the materials. I loved the pictures and examples throughout the chapter due to the fact that they were, indeed, helpful. Persuasion versus argument is a topic I have yet to distinguish but I did like the connection in the forensic argument (past) and how it related things to the present. This chapter is very updated which made it more easy to relate to the hot topics in society.
For some reason, I do not see everything as an argument. The book was thorough about explaining each individual argument but the reason I believe that I didnt understand the difference is due to me not seeing an argument in every single item in this world. Alot of the information about all the individual arguments I saw as rather facts or stories. I know deep down that one can make up an argument over everything but is it really worth it? Im the kind of person where I would rather accept a fact and move on instead of sit and think of an argument that could be made of a situation. Also, I didnt agree with the stasis or categorizing arguments.

Post 1 (1-12-08)

My name is Lacy Pankey and I am from the small town of Jacksboro, TX. I am currently a senior at TCU and will graduate this May with a major in Biology and minor in chemistry and nutrition. I plan to attend medical school and pursue a career in medicine. I am taking english 20803 as a requirement but I hope to better myself in this subject considering it is my weakness when it comes to school. I believe english is very important in everyday life and plan to take myself to the next level to help me in my later career. I believe communication and understanding others is a huge quality to have and hopefully taking this class will better my knowledge in these areas. I love emailing, texting, and facebooking. I also take time before bed to write about my thoughts and the current day in a journal. My strongest area is not writing (nor english in itself) but hopefully that will change after this class. I was doubted before about my writing and have yet to overcome that which I believe is a huge problem in why I am not confident in my work. I believe that I am a member of my hometown: Jacksboro, TX. This is a very special place to me due to the fact that it is where I spent 18 years of my life before moving to Fort Worth to attend college. Also, my entire family is from Jacksboro which places emphasis on why this town is so important to me. Everyone knows everyone in my hometown which places importance on the person I am and the connection I have with the town. I also see myself as a member of Texas Christian University. Now that I am a senior I have much more of a connection to this school then I did one year ago due to the fact that I have made this MY school and MY home. The first argument I believe I am addressing is that of an invitationa argument. I am not trying to win someone over another person but am inviting others to explore who I am. This includes exploring how I introduce myself, introduces others to what taste I have by the choice of my background, and shows other my writing style. I am informing my peers of the person I am. These choices enables people to see that I am a blog author with a bit of strong but reserve style. This shows that I am willing to participate in class and express to others my thoughts and experiences. I also envision an argument of the past (forensic arguments) because I expressed actions in the past that may influence my present times. I grew up in a small town and will that leave me to turn to live in a small town when I begin my career?
I, Lacy Pankey, have read and understood the content of the syllabus of 20803.