Adam Kowalski English 207 Blog

I think that given the amount of confusion I was experiencing in the early stages of my paper that I ended up writing a great analysis. I was able to process in my head what a rhetorical analysis really is which allowed me to derive more questions which would help with analyzing the various aspects of the assignment. While my PSA was very much common sense and was easy to understand; I think my analysis met the proper criteria as well as disected the authors purpose for presenting the PSA in the style that they did.

I was particularly fond of the feedback that I received due to the fact that it was all positive. However because my draft was not complete and I feel like many students do not fully understand what a Rhetorical Analysis truly is; I am leery. I feel as though I am on the right track with my analysis but we have really not seen too many examples of what it is we are supposed to be doing.

During today’s class I am going to: research what a rhetorical analysis is, find sources to support my analysis and the original author’s intended meaning, and continue to develop my paper.

WHAT IS A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS!!! How can you write an analysis without making it sound like a summary? I am struggling with writing this while still adhearing to the criteria. I feel like what my understanding of the assignment is not what the assignment is actually supposed to be. Thus my essay is not complete. My thesis also “doesnt clearly connect to my PSA” but it is about my PSA so I am not really sure what to do about that situation.

Understanding of author’s purpose, audience, evidence of clear thesis, creativity, evidence of PSA analysis, clear themes, application.

I have chosen the School Bus Safety video because of its strong message and ability to reach a broad audience. That audience being anyone who has the ability to drive an automobile. The effects of the video also provide the opportunity for in-depth analysis of the reasoning why the author chose to advertise this problem the way he/she did. This video also appeals to the wide range of criteria developed for this assignment.

My 2009 Spring Break was very relaxing. I went home to Indiana on Friday afternoon, shortly after paying a $100 fine for my first parking ticket. I also got into an automobile accident while in Indiana (not my car or my fault); but it was nice to see my family and friends. I came back to Bowling Green on Monday night and worked Tuesday-Friday. I did not go to the beach or do anything crazy but I did stay here and make money and relax every evening.

I have only had experience with portfolios in Eng 111 & 112. The concept of portfolios doesnt seem too challenging because all I had to do for those classes was put all the papers I wrote into one folder. I think that a portfolio should adapt some sort of theme or message that the author is trying to convey to their readers; and each paper or project would represent an aspect of that theme.

I see this assignment relating to literacy through the use of technology. A common literacy among students is the use and knowledge of technology; which all of us are using some aspect of in our PSA. 

Alcohol consumption is also a literacy that many college students are familiar with and this PSA allows us to educate our peers about the negative consequences of its misuse.

So far the PSA assignment has been fun and adventurous. We are halfway done with the assignment; needing only to film the second half of the video. I think more time to complete this assignment as well as having a longer time limit on the video would have made it more fun as well as allowed the groups to be more creative.

I feel that a computer, laptop, electronic learning device, whatever you like to call it is important to have as a college student. Having the ability to access credible information in a short period of time has benefitted college students all over the world. Computers also allow people to produce papers and take notes much faster than if they were to do so by hand. Computers do come with some setbacks just as any new media device does; computers can be distracting (i.e, AIM, Facebook, the internet) and can cause problems such as losing documents and not functioning properly.

Dear Grandpa,
         I would like to tell you about why I need a computer for college. When I was in grade school each classroom only had two computers split between 25 students. When it was time to write a paper I had to wait my turn for a 40minute shift on the computer which is not enough time to conduct adequate research. We also didnt have a computer at home which forced me to go to the library if I needed access to external research or a word processor. I know things were different for you growing up, and no disrespect but using textbooks and encyclopedias are very tedius to use when researching a topic. The internet allows for much faster research from multiple sources in a short period of time which will imrove the quality of my work.