TOW #3: The Class of 2025, Jon Meacham

Jon Meacham wrote Time Magazine’s The Class of 2025, to question whether or not students are being prepared correctly for opportunities in the future. Jon Meacham wanted to shed light to the idea that students may not be properly prepared by universities for jobs in the future. Jon Meacham quoted businesses in saying that they had trouble finding employes qualified for open positions. This causes people to question the approach that universities are using to teach their students. Some argue that their should be set requirements of knowledge that each student should know; whereas others believe students should be taught skills that would prepare them for jobs. Jon Meacham does not take a side in this debate, but informs the reader of the two sides. 

Jon Meacham successfully provided insight on the debate of how students are being taught in college. He quoted employers and university alumni to counter both sides of the argument. He also informed the reader about the rising cost of college, and the hours spent studying in college going down. Today, the average student studies for 13 less hours than a student in 1961, and the price of college today for four years is almost as expensive as the average single family home. Providing these statistics causes the reader to buy more into the argument. The choice of providing statistics appeals to pathos because the reader feels connected to the argument because they can connect the price of college to their income. The reader now begins to see the importance and take a side in this debate as they will one day have to pay the rising cost of tuition for their children in the future. Jon Meacham successfully provided insight on whether or not the direction of college education is right for opportunities in the future, as well as manage to get the reader to see the importance of this debate.

Tow #2: A Simple Hit

A Simple Hit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlFl1OKRnEM

The Old Spice commercial consisting of Wes Welker in a snow globe instantly became a hit. So simple, yet so popular. The commercial is sixteen seconds and consists of Wes Welker sitting down in a locker room smelling deodorant; until the viewer finds out that he is really in a snow globe. What makes this commercial so popular is the rhetoric that is used by the creators/filmmakers. Old Spice has a clear target market of men, so they went at the one thing that all men have in common, sports. Using Wes Welker in the commercial allows the audience to connect to the deodorant because he is a favorite football player among many fans. Wes Welker makes the audience want to go out and buy the deodorant because a player that they look up to uses it. The use of Wes Welker helps the audience remember the commercial and in the creators’ hope, buy the deodorant.
The speaker, Old Spice, affectively achieved their purpose of reaching their target audience of men, with a commercial that they would not forget. The simple commercial is much more thought out than what meets the eye. It seems so simple, yet deep thought went into picking the team that would be represented in the commercial. In order to use a snow globe, the team of best fit would have to be the Denver Broncos because they play in  the mile high city. Using this team allows the makers of the commercial to put Wes Welker in a snow globe rather than just a locker room, because of the physical appearance of Denver. The ending of the commercial adds the final touch of humor that allows it to be so successful. Old Spice made a hit in this commercial, and it will not be forgotten when men are making the decision of which deodorant to purchase.

IRB Intro: The Accidental Billionaires

I have selected to read The Accidental Billionaires written by Ben Mezrich as my independent reading book for the first quarter. The Accidental Billionaires is about the lives of Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin, and the founding of Facebook. I have selected to read this book because I am interested in reading a nonfiction book that is a story rather than an essay. I am also interested to see how the book differs from the movie, The Social Network. From reading the first chapter, the formation of the relationship between Mark and Eduardo already differs from the movie. By reading this book I will explore how a real event is turned into an intriguing story rather than just an informative essay.  The Accidental Billionaires will help me with nonfiction writing by teaching me new styles of writing, as well as hopefully inspire me with the story behind the founding of Facebook.

TOW #1: It’s Time to Pay College Athletes, Sean Gregory

Should College Athletes be Paid?

“Should college athletes be paid?” That is the question presented by Sean Gregory in his Time magazine article It’s Time to Pay College Athletes. Gregory shares his opinion and gets the reader to pick a side in the most controversy topic in all of college sports. Top SEC (South Eastern Conference) and other major college football schools make hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue each season. This revenue is made because of their student-athletes’ success on the football field, and yet the players make no salary in return. Gregory states his side and belief of the need for salaries, and he does a good job in showing the counter-argument to his claim. Gregory informs the reader that other college fans believe that a four-year scholarship is more than enough for a salary. He then disputes the counter-argument by sharing factual information to disprove it. This controversy recently came to light as the Texas A&M quarterback, Johnny Manziel was accused of taking money for autographs and had the chance to face suspension from the NCAA officials. Gregory used this event to support his claim for the need of salaries for NCAA players. He used factual information to prove his point and raise awareness of others.

            Sean Gregory wrote It’s Time to Pay College Athletes to raise awareness of the controversy of whether or not college athletes should be paid and to provide his opinion. Gregory used his style to do well in supporting his argument by providing a counter-argument and then disputing it with factual information. Not only did Gregory share his opinion on the topic, but he also provided a solution on how colleges could pursue giving their athletes a salary.  Sean Gregory did a great job of achieving his purpose by sharing his opinion on the situation. He informed all sports fans alike of why he believes college athletes should be paid.