Assignment 11

Is the composer respectful of the audience, treating them as intelligent, thoughtful people?
I don't believe that Stein does this in her article. Almost the whole time, reading this article was definitely a struggle to understand: big words, complicated sentences, and unexplained thoughts. Now she does treat us as intellectual people, but I do believe that she set her bar too high to include a younger audience.

What does the composer assume the audience knows or believes?
Like stated above, Stein assumes that the audience has a rather vast vocabulary when she was writing her article. Another thing that isn't very clear: what the ad is about. When Stein describes the article, she doesn't help the reader to know that the ad is about a home computer. To have this assumption can hurt her articles overall purpose.

Does the composer seem open to multiple perspectives?
The article doesnt really have its own perspective due to the nature of it being so informational. With it being this way, it leaves a lot of room for interpretation for the reader while still getting the amount of information needed.

If the composer keeps these three things in mind, then their all over controlling purpose will have that much more of an impact. Keeping in mind who your audience is is one of the most important things to keep in mind because in the end, they are the ones who are reading your article.

Group Work: Reflection

Working with a group of people that you barely know is always going to be a little difficult, thats a fact, but it also can be very easy too. At some points it was a little difficult to keep a discussion moving simply for the fact that some people just didn't know what to say or were just the quiet type. When we got a discussion rolling though, thats when things became interesting. Our groups ideas and interpretations, although very very different, all tied back together in the end and also made us all sort of end on the same page (idea wise) on how we felt about the topic. We talked about how the Ad didn't make sense in the beginning the most. This idea or thought surprised me because I remember someone asking, "Would anyone have guessed that this was a computer commercial in the first 50 seconds?" After thinking about it, I laughed when I realized that the Ad had nothing to do with computers until the last 5 or so seconds.

Assignment 10

How is someone supposed to know that the ad is about a commercial in the beginning?
Does watching the ad after reading Stein's article help clear up some confusion?

Stein uses the commercial's free interpretation that it gives to analyze and interpret the Macintosh 1984 Super Bowl Ad. The Ad was only aired one time during the Super Bowl and although it was short, it left a lasting impression. The commercial, to some, was very confusing. Stein uses her article to take this ad that was so simple, and go into as much detail as possible for viewers who were confused. Although Stein's interpretation is very long and thorough, it makes the ad easier to understand and also helps viewers and readers to come up with all kinds of interpretations of their own.

One thing that I feel that pulled Stein to writing her article: the Ad's simplicity. The ad is only one minute in length but left probably one hundred questions. For a writer, this type of topic is like candy: free to go in any which direction they chose. Stein sounds like the kind of person that would go for something like this so that she can do something that has such free interpretation.

Assignment 9

Going back through my article, I found many different mistakes. I knew what I wanted to focus on and I did that pretty well, but one thing I failed to do was to add reasons or proof as to why I felt the way that I did. I talk a bunch about what the author maybe did wrong in their choices but dont really back it up with proof. For example, in my essay talking about Susan Orlean's "Life Like", my main focus throughout my writing was that she misused her quotes. This is a good point and argument but without giving more reasons as to why I felt that way, then I don't think my purpose is going to be as strong as it should.

Assignment 8

I found it interesting that some of the students thought about Orleans writings the way that they did. Having read over her article a few times before reading how my class felt, I don't think that I would have thought about half of the same things.
The fact that I make such an emphasis about Orlean's use of quotes is one of my most interesting things about my writing. After reading about what other students have been writing on, not very may people have decided to focus on that, which makes me feel a little unique.
Going into more depth with some of my arguments is going to need to happen. Although I feel like I have a good start to a strong argument or interpretation, it is still in need to get stronger.
My first essay was a hot mess to be quite honest. After reading it, I wasnt really sure if I had thought about who my audience might be. Now with this being said my later revised drafts of my essay, I felt like my audience were just like me. Being someone who has never heard of taxidermy and didn't have an opinion on the subject.
The tone of my writings have been a little straight forward at times but also allowing there to be room for other opinions and thoughts. I think it is important to get your point across right away rather than just beat around the bush.

Assignment 7

Orlean has a way with quotes throughout her article. She uses a with array of quotes throughout her article to help shape exactly what taxidermy is and what it is for some people. Now although I don't agree that all of the quotes used should have been in her article, as said in Assignment 6:Choices, I do think that by adding in a good amount of quotes has helped build her ethos.
Orlean does a very clever thing in her article: she doesn't make us feel like we have to choose one opinion over the other. She goes through her entire article making us feel like we can form our own opinion because she is very open to both sides of taxidermy in her writing. As a reader it makes things more enjoyable because no matter what opinion we form, we can still relate to the writer and make connections. For Orlean to do this was a very good move.

Assignment 6 :Choices

Orlean uses a ton of quotes throughout her article from people at the taxidermy convention. She had some really good places that she added them in, but at some times the quotes she chose hurt her stance in a way. In the beginning she comes off as someone who has no side to whether or not she supports or doesn't support taxidermy. This was really nice as the reader because it allowed us to make our own decision. Later on through her article she has some quotes that completely turned me off of the subject. "I am in need of several pair of frozen goat feet (Orlean)!" That sounds absolutely repulsive to me and doesn't make me want to read about the topic any further. If her main purpose was to be open minded, then her quotes clearly weren't working for her.

Assignment 6

Susan Orlean, in the beginning of her article, is very uninformed in her topic. She sounds as though she is learning just as much about the topic as we are as we read through her writings. Her tone, not to be mistaken for confused, was very light and joyful about the subject. She made things interesting throughout her article by adding various interesting quotes from people at the convention.
Orlean comes off as very open minded and I feel like that is the same thing that she wants her readers to feel as they go through her article. As said previously, she appears to just be learning about the topic herself and enjoying it. This being said, she most likely wants her readers to have the same fascination as she does.

Assignment 5

I think that Susan Orlean wrote this article for many reasons. Being someone who had never really had any formal education on taxidermy, I think she just enjoyed the learning experience and just let her curiosity take the lead. Another thing that she does is take both sides of taxidermy. My take on the subject is that it is nasty and uncomfortable. Now I know that I'm not the only one who thinks that way, but Orlean takes that into consideration and also talks about the subject to appeal to the negative and positive audience members.
As stated previously, I think Susan Orlean wanted her readers to learn something. In other words, I think she wanted her audience to be accepting to a new feeling towards the topic. Many people get negative thoughts right away just by hearing the word 'taxidermy'. One thing that makes me believe that this is her goal: she never favors one opinion over the other.

Assignment 4: choices

Sedaris had many writerly choices in his writing but one thing that he did that stood out to me was the fact that he was so blunt. This type of writerly choice, if not used correctly, could really hurt a writer. The way he built his article seemed to really help him out with having his audience connect. He could have beat around the bush and sugar coated everything to make airlines not seem so bad, but instead just spat out the truth. This writerly choice he made was very effective I think and one of the most important things he does.

Assignment 4

A lot of the things in Sedaris' article don't relate to me much but still do in a way. I have only flown 3 times total in my life so I have not fully experienced flying as much as others have. I have on the other hand heard a lot of stories from my friends when they come back from trips to give me details about the experience on planes which kind of makes me relate to Sedaris in a way.

He didn't seem to shy in his article to say how he really felt. He was very straight forward with his writing. At first, the way he was writing turned me off but then it was kind of helpful that he wasn't beating around the bush. A lot of writings that I've read have always been very filled with stupid none sense that didn't have any relevance to the story, which is why his writing was kind of refreshing.

I believe that Sedaris wrote this article because as we all know, everyone judges everyone. Whether we admit it or not we do it, and sometimes we don't think about why we judge or look into it or even think about it for that matter. As a result from judging someone, it sometimes makes it easier to push blame onto that person. Sedaris shows a lot in his article that we should not blame others for events that happened and that things sometimes happen for a reason. "We are forever blaming the airline industry for turning us into monsters….But what if this is who we truly are" (277).

Assignment 3

I believe that Sedaris wrote this text to shed a little light for people to realize that a lot more goes on around us than we care to realize. Also to let out an opinion of his that he gets frustrated with airplanes. He seems to have a very distinct question he wants to raise thought reading his article, why do people behave the way they do when impatient? Also I think he wanted people the relate and think back to a time they may have experienced a situation similar to his, which could add a negative or comical opinion on the reader.

Sedaris' "Standing By"

David Sedaris' story talks about his experience waiting for a delayed flight and describes multiple conversations and actions that happened. He first talks about the emotions that grow in the airplane, waiting for the flight. He describes how people's patience is growing thin and how the employees don't even want to work anymore. A bald man said "none of them want to work….All of all any of them care about is their next goddamn coffee break" (227) I believe he is trying to show us that we should have more patience

Assignment 2

          Up until this moment, writing was something that had been taught to students step by step with each detail explained to them. When looking deeper into this class, one will see that this is not the case. English 101 tries to make a student look into deeper details of their writings instead of just a paper to turn in for a grade. This course challenges students to push themselves outside of their comfort zones and work hard to achieve a paper that is much more thorough and detailed to hand in as a final draft. As stated before, most assignments before now had many details and step by step instructions while English 101 allows there to be more freedom in a student’s interpretation of the assignment by limiting the direction to a simple assignment. By doing so, this allows a student to take the assignment in any which direction they so choose. Now, this course can be difficult to some and easy to others, it just depends on if a student likes a challenge or can work hard to push themselves to increase their current knowledge. By taking this course, a student can do just that.

            Throughout high school, English papers were just assignments that were needed to complete the course. With this impression crammed into my mind, and I’m sure others too, it made it difficult to try and enjoy writing papers and to challenge myself. Now if someone were to be asked, “How would you write a paper or essay?” most would say the typical answer being a five paragraph paper. Up until about my sophomore year of high school would I have used that same answer because that is just what was pushed into my head year after year. After that, my teachers started pulling away from that format and asking students to focus on more of the arguments or points of a story rather than meeting the length requirements. By adopting this idea and using it for the rest of my English essay assignments, it began to push my mind to focus on more detailed elements of my papers which I feel prepared me for taking a class such as English 101.

            With every new class, a student is bound to have a concern or two and after looking over the Student’s Guide, the class started to look a bit overwhelming. The biggest concern, at least for me, is the working portfolio and the final portfolio. At a first glance, these two assignments can seem like an impossible task and a task that serves no purpose for a student later on in life when actually, this is one of the things that a student will need later on down the road. Another element that I feel will strongly affect the way a student works in the class is the student guide. Class goals, past student opinions, and rules and expectations will help students keep everything in check and help them as they progress through this class. 

MY Weekend

Introduction

    

Since conception my parents thought they were going to have a little baby Dakota. Not the case. Instead on October 7, 1993 I was born. Seven pounds two ounces and twenty-one inches long. I’m not sure why, but my parents decided to name me Cody instead and it turns out I have the most boring and common whole name ever, Cody Lee Anderson. How simplistic can things get really?

I was born in Virginia Beach, VA at 7:35am and continued to live there until I was about 12. Then two months into my 7th grade year my parents decided to move to good ole Menomonie, WI. Personally, I wasn’t a huge fan of moving at all. From my perspective, the two places were complete opposites! Warm weather and the beach to cold weather and cows. My older siblings really didn’t mind moving at all and being the youngest of 6, I couldn’t really complain or I would never hear the end of things.

Since living in Wisconsin I have begun singing and performing. After school I would always try to use up my free time by doing musicals and productions. I was never satisfied with only doing one show at a time so I always tried to do at least two and a time. That’s one thing that I love about being at Milwaukee. Not only does the bigger city setting give more opportunities performance wise but it has also given me the kick start I wanted with my major. Last semester alone I did four shows total. This summer was actually what made me finalize my decision to become a Musical Theater major. KIDS from Wisconsin was probably the most fun thing I have ever done performance wise in my life thus far and has led me to have the future goal to be on Broadway someday.