My choice in advertising

I was thumbing through our old issues of This Old House and came across this ad that stood out from the rest because it was so uniform, so sincere to it's history, and so green that it caught my attention even if I were not looking for an ad to write about.
Because I found the ad in the "This Old House" magazine, I am sure that it was geared towards men. It even has an older man out on the lawn looking proudly at his "tractor" after successfully mowing his luxourious lawn where every inch of the lot is pristine and perfect.

Elements

Proportion and clairity are used mainly in my advertisment that I have chosen. Proportion because t he order and the contrasting light and darkness are used in defining the product. Clairity because the ad is not complicated and the color contrasts are simple, easy to read and and the color all fits together in the ad.

Common Theme in Advertising

     The writer tells of a little boy eating his oatmeal for both breakfast and dinner but describes the add as able to appeal to a wide scope of audience.  Making them believe they are able to afford a breakfast of the rich, making the oatmeal sound as though it is devine and luxurious. The add also make it sound like you are not a good mother unless you are feeding your child this well rounded and nutritional meal. An ultimate satisfaction for all.  I can see this in many adds, making one feel richer and more kingly/queenly in their own home with shinney new floors, new kitchens, blah, blah blah. What appeals to me is having things paid for and well maintained.  My adds would probably not sell, but onto the day anyway.

Effective Advertising

I found the advertisment for John Deere lawnmowers in a magazine very effective.
The background was a lush, green lawn which had been blurred the further one was to look so that the focus was on the green and yellow mower itself.  The font was either green on a yellow background or yellow on a green background which I believe keeps in pace with those who are dedicated to the products history and the fact that those colors alone symbolize John Deere.

An ineffective add was for credit cards in a magazine. The back ground was a simple grey and the card was the only thing with color on it. The font was not large enough to really draw someone to read it.  I think I am just sick of credit cards any way and this add made me think of how people only focus on the credit card and not what it does to them if out of hand.

Peer Review Ranking

I received all reviews on time and feel that each of the participants should receive an eight. Ashley, Shane and Margaret all gave great insights and saw things differently. However, I felt that detail was a bit lacking. I know I am not a great writer a feel a bit more could have been encluded. Maybe because this was more difficult to put together they were hesitant on comments.

Thesis

My thesis is about dieting and exercise. Many products have flooded the market these days with so many obese folks desperate to find an easy way out. I have researched a few sites and they recommend nearly the same solution in nearly every case; eat less and move more.

Works Cited Page

Works Cited:

Ainsworth BE, et al. Compendium of physical activities: An update of activity codes and MET

        intensities. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2000; 32(supply):S498.

Mayo Clinic “Metabolism and weight loss: How you burn Calories.” Mayo Clinic. 6 Oct.

     2011. Web. 15 Oct. 2011

Mayo Clinic “Counting calories: Get back to weight-loss basics.” Mayo Clinic. 19 Dec 2009

     Web. 15 Oct. 2011

    

Mozaffarian, Dariush, et al. “Changes in Diet and Lifestyle and Long-term weight Gain in

     Women and men.” New England Journal of Medicine. 23 June 2011 Web. 14 Oct. 2011

United States.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Healthy Weight” 17 July 2011

     Web. 14 Oct. 2011

United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Obesity Trends” 12 July 2011

     Web. 15 Oct. 2011

Zeratsky, Katherine. “When you lose weight, where does the fat go?” Mayo Clinic. 19 March

      2011 Web. 15 Oct. 2011

An approach to style

Working from a suitable design, this comes to mind since I learn from sight. I need to see something before I can imagine it in my own mind. I need to read what is expected, practice what is worded and immitate before I can put my own pen into action.
I also need to make sure I do not overstate the subject matter, to keep from boring my readers but to make sure they know where I am coming from and the importance of the information I share.

Letter From Birmingham Jail

I believe he is addressing eight of his fellow clergymen who questioned his methods of protesting.
His letter is a well thought out plea for others to conjoin to his views of justice, with plain explanations and examples pulled in to help justify his thoughts and plea's.
His proof is in compliling court decisions, history, and his explanation to take a four-step approach  for any nonvciolent campaign.

List of the Three

Post hoc fallacy: When the moon is full the kids are going to be crazy. Many teachers believe that when the moon gets to it's full cycle, it is an instant thought pattern that the kids in class are going to be unruly and have behavior issues.

Rationalization: I would have so much more money in savings if stores did not have such great sales. This goes to show a person with lack of self control. Just because there is a sale does not mean they must attend it. Rationalization is one of the more abused excuses, in my opinion, than so many other excuses because no one wants to own their behavior, and lack of behavior.

Slippery Slope: If we grant gay marriages, it won't be long before incest, beasteality and child marriages are granted. This is just how some things could become in the world of "everything is okay" and so if one thing is allowed, then why shouldn't other things in this same area be accepted?

My persuasive topic

I had a hard time thinking about what topic to try and persuade others about until I over heard a discussion with some other ladies about weight. They were each discusted with the way they have bloomed out over the years and were sharing how each one was going to get their desire into action. Ah-ha! I had my topic to research! I must say that there is so much on the internet and in books, I am going to have a tough time narrowing down my materials! So far I have learned enough that I am having that desire to jump into action, starting with the 150 minutes of exercising recommened on the government health site. That will hopefully entice me into going for the calorie reductions, but after I have a super moist, dark fudge brownie!

Persuading folks

I do end up having to make my case (I think it is a mom/marriage/grandma thing) most of the time. I guess some of the people around me do not think I know what I am talking about and so I have to have some back up to my reasoning and topics. For instance, "You don't want to be with a man who does not work" seems to come to mind! Now several years later and a broken heart and many jobs lasting 2 or 4 days, I am right. So now when I get to talk to other people able what kind of person to find, this topic will be one of the top 10 in a list of who to choose to be with as a life partner. The other part is "you don't want to eat 8 cookies before you go to bed or you will be sick", again, trying to have the person recall the last time we changed bed sheets in the middle of the night  to remove "tossed cookies" was just enough of a reminder with proof that it was an unwise decision and to steer clear of it. Some times I hate being right, and sometimes it would be great if they would just listen in the first place!

Muddiest area

I know my muddiest part is going to be the first paragraph, in making sure that I get the thesis correct. I am never really sure where to start on these things, sometimes I believe I can just jot and go on, but then when I read it back to myself it does not sound correct. I have to also come up with some sort of subject that will be able to fill all the required things listed on the assignment sheet. I am sure something will pop in my head soon.
The high fiving is another subject, I can end any story and be very glad it is over with. In conclusions, a person can just recount what they have already talked about and be done. That is what I look forward to is being done with something, correct and on time.

Garden of eden, bread

The writer of "A morsel from the Garden of Eden" does provide an insightful introduction that grabs the readers attention while sticking to the basics of the storty at hand.

The sensory details are very funny, I was well able to visualize, and relate to all the things happening in the story (one particular person comes to mind with this story).

The old man's conversations which are included help add to the story in very good detail, placing a person at the scene.

A person reading this story can see how the writer's life is impacted with this event; I think we all have someone like the old man in the story placed in our lives.

The conclusion is great, I can picture a stubborn person ignore all dangers to get what they hoped for!

E. B. White essay

The writer does provide somewhat of an introduction that is attention grabbing, but I believe the first paragraph is too long for an opening.

White does focus on the major points of the essay that are relevant but does cover a few areas that are about his life story too.

His descriptions of the lake and all it entails are very deep to read, nearly pulling the reader into the environment itself.

He has no quotes or speeches, but does relate his experience to when he was growing up and with an eerie feeling he felt as though time had not elapsed.

In the way White had described family vacations, I could relate to wanting the same experiences for my children when we visit old familiar spots.

He kept his essay to the point and did not add fillers to his story. He tied the people and places together that were relevant to the essay.

I smiled at the ending where this father could relate to the physical pain of pulling up cold britches. It was a good way to conclude this story of reliving a family tradition.

Investigation questions of Sadaris

The begining paragraph is not grabbing at me, but because of my relating to the subject of entering school at an older age, it caused me to read on.

The writer does focus on a few events and does not try to relive his entire life on paper.

The detail and sensory descriptions do help to really dislike the French teacher, and to sympathize with the abused students.

The writer has given very good quotes from the teacher to help the reader feel his pain in this class.

With giving some flash-backs into his New York trip, some people may be able to understand some of the things the writer tells about remembering when.

The writer reveals that he is now understanding more than he first thought possible and how this class has taught him how to study an hear the language.

The writer's last sentence is a good conclusion since he can now use French to tell the teacher his wishes.

Gale

Sam got in her car. She drove to the mall. She went to the shoe store. She bought a pair of boots. She bought a shoeshine kit. Sam went to the food court. She bought a burrito. The burrito had onions and peppers on it. Sam ate the burrito. Sam saw a cute boy. He was at the pretzel stand. The boy looked at Sam. Sam blushed. The boy walked over to Sam. Sam said hi. The boy wrinkled up his nose. Sam was confused. Sam said hi again. The boy gagged. The boy walked away. Sam was shocked. Sam realized she had bad breath. Sam ran to the bathroom. Sam cried. She put on her new boots. She shined her new boots. Sam walked out of the bathroom. Sam was confident. Sam found the boy. Sam told him he needed manners. Sam kicked him. She used her new boots. The boy fell to the ground. Sam walked away. Sam walked out of the mall.

Sam go in her car and drove to the mall.  She bought a pair of boots at the shoe store alng with a shoeshine kit.  Same then went to the food court and bought a burrito with onions and peppers on it, then she ate it. She saw a cute boy at the pretzel stand and he looked at her so she blushed. He walked over to Sam and she said hi. He wrinkled up his nose, confusing Sam so she said hi again and he gagged. The boy walked away and Sam was shocked realizing she had bad breath. She ran to the bathroom and cried. She put on her new boots and shined them, then walked out of the bathroom confidently.  Sam found the boy and told him he needed manners while kicking him with her new boots. The boy fell to the ground as Sam walked away and out of the mall.

 

Gale

My strengths and weaknesses

    After reading the fascinating section II in the Elements of Style, I see I have more than one area that can be considered my weak spot in writing. That being said, I will only focus on the harder point for this blog.
    I believe that rule number 20 is a good place for me to analyze since many of my sentences have the appearance of misleading a reader in what I hope to make clear. Rule 20 is "Keeping related words together."
Though some of the examples in the book are clear with where the mistakes are, much of my writing is less obvious and therefore, take vast amounts of reading to make sure they are direct in their description and direction. It is easy to mess up keeping words together since any one sentence can be reworded in another way and mean entirely something else.
    Because of having to mull over my sentences numerous times, I am strong in keeping needless words out most of my sentences (rule # 17). I read them over several times out loud to listen for those shortcuts and will in the future, make sure that I listen for keeping my related words together.

Self assessment

My writing assignment is to summarize the essay "On keeping a notebook" by Joan Didion.
I am describing in a summary over a woman who analizes why she  keeps a notebook.
Thesis is over her sharing her experiences and thoughts over keeping a notebook.
The audience for this wirtten work is my teacher and fellow classmates.
I've read the material and then jotted down notes about the points I feel describe the essay.
I've made 2 drafts.
I have put in about 6 hours on this summary.
So far no outside assistance.
Not sure how to record revisions, just making sure things make sense.
Watching the quotes as best as possible.
Concerns ar that it is correct.
Because I keep a notebook, gives different insight to why people keep one.

The pressures associated with college

         I have now attended 3 separate universities in the last 16 years. Yes, sixteen years is how long I have been pursuing a degree and in this pursuit I have encountered a vast sum of pressures.
    In the beginning was the pressure to just dip my feet in the proverbial college water to see if it was something I dared to pursuit. Was it something I could handle? If my high school grades were any reflection on how I could perform in college, I was going to be in trouble.
     To fix this pressure, I took only classes that I knew would be fairly simple and easy to pass with a perfect A as my grade. I never sat down with any counselor or advisor to help me figure things out. I assume they assumed I was old enough to know what I was doing and knew what I was after. I did not.
     After a while, classmates would ask why I was not taking English or Math or any of the core classes. Heck, I did not know that there was some certain order these things were to be taken in, and the word "core", to me, that was the center of an apple, not some set schedule a person was to follow.
     Then the pressure was to start these "core" classes and get my path going on towards something I could get a degree in. After that was the pressure to decide what that path was going to be. What was I interested in enough to pay thousands of dollars to learn even more about, and then use once I learned it?
     I suffered a lay off and two pregnancies, that put pressure to have to pay for school on a very limited income.  All I can say is THANK GOD for Pell Grants! To this day I remain debt free only because of the governments help.
     The pressure I am facing today is my family asking when will I be done with all these classes.  They do not like all the time I am spending away from them, and now that I have four grand babies, my time is even more precious to divide between all of them.
     I think I will be one of the only persons who will have earned a 4 year degree in the short time of twenty years!

Gale R.
   

Difficult classes by Gale R.

  My most difficult class had to be physics. The teacher admitted to us that she would rather be teaching a math class than to be teaching physics.
  I recall on my first day being excited about learning "science" and all the experiments we would be doing as a class. I was disappointed to learn that most of the hands on meant opening books and playing with models.
   She was right on time every day, with one minute to spare. Our class had to wait to start though, until she unloaded her things, made excuses as to why she was just coming in the door, blah, blah, blah. The 3 hour class felt more like 5 because of her disorganization and monotone voice, but even more because of her disinterest and underlying disappointment she was not teaching math.
   One day during the first several weeks a student told all of us about a web site the teacher was using for the tests and the quizzes and how we could look things up, cheat in other words. I could not bring my self to even type in the site, my conscious, my religion, prevented me from cheating. My grade really could have used help, but not in that way. I would not have felt like it was me earning that grade. What if we would have gotten caught? Doesn't matter, wrong is wrong and I am glad I listened to myself.
   She quit teaching after that semester, I don't even remember her name, but I remember she did not have the drive or enthusiasm to make the class worth its while. I almost felt sorry for her.

Gale S-R.

Notebooks

  I truly believe in keeping notebooks as Didion did, not so much to keep in touch but to keep as reminders of that precise moment. I feel they are a way of keeping your own history not only for yourself but to share with those who will come after you.
   When I was much younger, I began a notebook as a way to share my experiences and feelings with my first child due to some hard issues. I wanted my child to understand why I made some of the decisions I had and to clarify these affects on their life.  This would give me more than my memory to use as a tool. It gave me more than word-of-mouth to rely on for their questions that were sure to come in the future.
    With the news of each new pregnancy, I began that child's own notebook. In these I would add all sorts of information such as the prices of things, the happenings of the rest of the family, what they were up to, their hurts and praises, their ups and downs, their dreams and their disappointments. Just yesterday I was honored to write about my newest grand baby (yes I keep a notebook on my grand babies, too) and all the minutes leading up to, during, and after his birth.
    Notebooks do not necessarily have to come in paper form. The social media tools of today enable people to share nearly anything that can be photographed, written, sung, drawn, and so many other forms of keeping in touch and informed or sharing a persons individual life. Blogging certainly comes in to play with keeping a notebook as so many have a desire to share their lives, to be heard, to stand apart. People have always wanted to share their ideas throughout history, and social media gives instant gratification today like never before.
    Some day my family will sit down to read the things I have written and hopefully be able to see just how special they were, to see how they have made an impact in others lives, and to see how they came to be the wonderful people they now are.

The beginning of the semester.

   I am a non-traditional student who has taken more than 12 years to get a Bachelors degree in Business, with probably another 5 to go at the rate I am able to take classes.
   I have four beautiful children and four adorable grandchildren, and I love to spoil each and every one of them in the things that are special to them.
   One child loves noodle dishes. That being the case, I fix either tuna and noodles, chicken and noodles or fried Chinese noodles for her. Another child loves meat dishes, still another loves deserts. That being said, I love to go out of my way to make my family feel special. This includes my most excellent husband, who loves anything cooked on the grill!
    I am excited about a job interview coming up in the next few days and have hopes to enjoy a better paying job with many more benefits than I am able to with my current employer. I will let you know if I am successful in my endeavors.