Week 2 Blog Post

Part A:

The issue I chose from my week 1 blog is the issue of the war going on. My connection to this issue would be that I live in the United States, and the United States is participating in the war. This war is also being paid for using our tax money. I am also connected to the issue, because I know people who are fighting in this war. The research question I came up with is: Would ending the war benefit the US citizens, or should we continue with the war? One broadened question I came up with is: Is the US government thinking about what's best for US citizens in continuing with the war? Another broadened question I came up with is: Would continuing with the war better the US? A narrowed question I came up with is: Since June 7, 2011 when the US went to war with Afghanistan, has the war been worth it, or has it gone on too long? Another narrowed question I came up with is: Should US tax dollars be used to continue the war in Afghanistan that's been going on since 2007?

Part B:

A summary I learned from the podcast was how communication is important. I also learned the definitions of logos, pathos, and ethos. Another thing I learned was that using bullets and text usually clogs up your brain, so if you do a presentation, you should use pictures and visuals. The last thing I learned was that you should practice speeches before you present.

I chose prompt B. An example I found of a powerful emotional argument that's made visually is a video that asks the viewer to donate money to starving children in the world. The link for the video is www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKxTSxsiOZc. The argument works, because it appeals it your emotions. The image appeals to your emotions, because they are images of sad, sick, malnourished children. The words also appeal to your emotions, because it tells you statistics of starving children in different countries and around the world and then tells you that you can help by donating money. The image itself doesn't make a claim, but it does draw you in to consider the verbal claim. The pictures make you consider the verbal claim that you should donate money to help the children. The emotion that the argument generates is sadness and pity. Sadness and pity work to persuade you, because it makes you feel sorry for the children which makes you more willing to donate money to help them.