Tow #17: Smoking is Worse Than You Thought

This article was about how much harm tobacco actually causes. Researchers are discovering new things that can cause harm to smokers and nonsmokers who are exposed to the "toxic fumes." People who smoke are subject to cancers, chronic pulmonary diseases, and plus they cost a lot of money in medicare. The purpose of this editorial was clearly to cause awareness of tobacco and encourage people to cut down on smoking.

This editorial is always going to be in context because people are constantly smoking and although they are aware of the effects smoking can cause, they still continue to do it. However, the journalists on the New York Times editorial board decided to inform people that smoking gives only bad side effects.

The editorial board is composed of a variety of journalists who do research on a variety of different things. They are very credible and this article is very credible because as it's main rhetoric it uses irrefutable data to support it's claim of how harmful smoking really is. "Most shocking, the report finds that today’s smokers have a much higher risk for lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than smokers in 1964, despite smoking fewer cigarettes." This irrefutable data really hits close to home for a lot of people because a lot of people know someone who smokes and this appeals to their emotions because they do not want anything happening to their loved ones. Also the report states facts about the cost that smoking brings, "The report estimates that smoking costs the United States between $289 billion and $333 billion a year for medical care and lost productivity, well above the previous estimate of $193." This appeals to the logic of the audience because they understand that they do not want to pay taxes for smokers who have bad health. This makes the community more aware, once again, of how bad smoking really is. For ethos, the article talks about the law that Congress has passed to regulate tobacco products. This really makes the editorial credible because it really shows that smoking is bad.

I personally believe that the journalists of this editorial really achieved their purpose because they really drove home the point of how terrible smoking really is and the fact that there is new and more evidence about how harmful it really is just shows that something needs to be done to cut it down. 

Tow#16 : Gay-Baiting Before the Olympics

This article is about Russian President, Vladimir Putin's view on homosexuality. There is big controversy whether he is going to be a good host or a "homophobic scold." This controversy has come up because the Winter Olympics are approaching next month in Sochi. The purpose of this article is to show Putin's views.

The writers of this editorial are from the New York editorial board and they are very credible because the editorial board is composed of various journalists who have different areas of expertise.

This editorial has various rhetorical devices such as allusions to President Vladimir Putin and what he says which is very juxtaposing to each other, "You can feel relaxed and calm, but please, leave the children alone." This is what the President of Russia said in his speech directed at the Gay community and this shows juxtaposition because in the first part he is welcoming them and telling them to feel relaxed, but then he is telling them to be cautious and leave the children alone. This is terrible because he is not making the Gay community feel welcome, and while there are other customs and traditions in Russia, no one should be discriminated against and people should be free to be who they want. Also when he states "We do not have a ban on nontraditional sexual relationships, we have a ban on the propaganda of homosexuality and pedophilia," this is kind of ironic because he is saying that Russia does not have any laws against homosexuals, only the propaganda. This is ironic because if he states that he has no problems with homosexuals, then he should not have problems with the spread of homosexuality.

Honestly, after reading this editorial I was shocked. Both of my parents grew up in Russia and the values and morals my parents have are nothing like this. I did not even know Russia's take on homosexuality and it is completely disgusting to me. As for their purpose, the editors achieved it. They have proven to me how awful and disgusting Vladimir Putin really is. 

Tow #15: Zero Tolerance, Reconsidered

This editorial that I read was about schools all over the country rethinking this concept of "zero tolerance" where students are suspended, expelled, and even arrested for minor offenses such as cursing. I think that this is really relevant because this is actually happening in the country and it is relevant to me because I am still in high school.
The purpose of this article was to really harp on the fact that these harsh punishments bring no good and do not help change the aura of the school, but rather they cause delayed education for the offenders and also they cause them to have a permanent or juvenile record which hurts them in their future when they are trying to be successful.
This was written by the editors of the New York Times and they are very credible because the NYTimes editorial board is constructed of a wide variety of journalists.
I think that this editorial does use a nice variety of rhetorics such as unarguable data with providing facts of policies that congress has made about these laws in school. They provide a good cause and effect of what happens if these kids are suspended and expelled. They provide a research study which really shows the affect that these charges have on a student and it shows that they do not bring anything pleasant.
I really liked this editorial because it really got to the point and provided examples and had a lot of cause and effect reasoning which really helps you see the problem and what should be done about it.

Tow #14

The editorial I just read was called "The New Year Within." It's context is very current because we just welcomed 2014 and wished a farwell to 2013. This editorial talks about the New Year and everyone's hopes for a change. However it distinctly points out that this new change that we all long for is something we can do everyday. I think the purpose of this really was to welcome the New Year and also encourage people to achieve the change they want and not waste a "new year."

The writers of this editorial are very credible because they are on the New York Times editorial board which consists of a variety of well-rounded journalists.

This editorial uses many rhetorical devices such as allusions and references to people such as Henry David Thoreau which makes this editorial seem credible. This editorial also uses symbolism to refer to the cold and dead winter not being a season for rebirth. However, then it talks about the symbolism of nature and how it will emerge from the cold for rebirth in the spring. This editorial really is kind of philosophical, welcoming the New Year and really encouraging people to initiate change while explaining how to welcome the new year. It says that there is no proper way and everyone does it in their own way.

I personally didn't really like this editorial all that much because I thought it could have more depth in really explaining how to initiate change in the New Year. I think these editors could have done better. 

Tow #13 :Sarah Palin Political Cartoon

This cartoon is due to the Republican elections going on in 2012, so it's not really recent, but I think it is pretty funny. Basically this cartoon is in favor of Republicans and it has Sarah Palin in it and someone handing a Fox Newspaper to her. It is really ironic because Fox News is really in favor of the Republicans. The purpose of this political cartoon was to create propaganda for the Republicans and to explain that Republicans basically paid off Fox News to be in such great favor of them.

The author is really credible because Adam Zyglis is a Pulitzer Prize Winner Cartoonist and he works for the Buffalo News of Buffalo, New York.

This cartoon uses a lot of rhetorics such as irony because it is really ironic how Fox News and Sarah Palin are replaced together since Fox News favors Republicans a lot. Also this cartoon uses propaganda to get people into the Republican party. This cartoon is also really amusing because Sarah Palin has become a Political laughing stock due to her various unintelligent comments.

I think that this political cartoon really achieved it's purpose because it explains why Fox News favors Republicans with the money signs and Sarah Palin signing the paper because she knows that Fox News is always in favor of Republicans. 

Tow #12: South Africa after Mandela

The Times Editorial board has composed an editorial about the legacy of Mandela and the effect of his passing on South Africa and what its going to be like. The editorial board consists of various journalists who write about a broad variety of topics. They are very credible and know a lot about their fields.
The purpose of this editorial was to idolize Mandela and to explain the legacy that he left on South Africa and to persuade the present leaders of South Africa to continue Mandela's legacy. This editorial was written in context of Mandela's death. It was a tragedy for many because Mandela helped the fall of apartheid peacefully and he stuck to his principles. He created many changes and reforms and transformed South Africa. His passing was really a huge tragedy.
This editorial calls for the leaders for South Africa to tend to the economical and racial problems going on. The editors want to call for a change in the crime rate and HIV infections. The editors just want to bring it to attention that Mandela has done a tremendous amount of work and the leaders of South Africa should continue that.
The editors use a lot of rhetorics such as comparisons, when they compare Mandela to other powerful leaders. The diction that they use is very powerful because all of the words praise Mandela. This editorial really appeals to emotions. The editorial also provides a lot of statistics.
Overall, I think that this editorial really did achieve it's purpose because it really showed people that something needs to be done now that Mandela has passed, it's leaders still need to continue making South Africa what he wanted it to be. This editorial was not only written for the people of the world, but for the African leaders who should continue Mandela's vision.

Tow #11:The Glass Castle

Jeannette Walls is riding in a taxi in New York City, and she looks out the window to see her mom dig through the trash. Suddenly she feels ashamed of her mom and she brings up memories of her parents and her childhood and how it affects her. She starts by talking about her childhood at age 3 and how difficult it was for her family. The purpose of this was to introduce herself and the book and her past and how it affects her today. Jeannette is very credible in doing so because she is writing about her own past.

Jeannette writes about her past in the beginning of the book in order to explain why her life is the way it is and how her past shaped her.

Jeannette writes for people who can relate to difficult childhoods and families. People who grow up in broken homes. She wants to share her story. In doing so, she uses many rhetorical devices. She uses a lot of imagery to show the audience what her life was really like. She also uses symbolism throughout the novel because the Glass Castle is really symbolic of what her father Rex wants for his family. One of the most important rhetorical devices she uses is irony because throughout the novel it seems as if the children are more mature than their parents.

Overall, I think this memoir is very descriptive and touching and I really think that Jeannette does a great job alluding to her past and tying it in with her present.