TOW #19: $10.10, Peter Coy

Writing/Reading Goals

-Have strong introductory sentences and transition sentences between paragraphs

-Have an extended conclusion “so what?”

-Read an essay with unfamiliar terms

-Provide more analysis that leads to more effects of the specific device

-When close reading try to find devices that I usually do not find

-Have conclusion flow with the rest of the essay

President Obama’s recent State of The Union Address has caused fierce debate after he proposed raising the minimum wage to $10.10. Many politicians have taken different sides of the debate without conducting sufficient research. Peter Coy, a writer for Bloomberg Business Week wrote “$10.10” to share his research and views on the proposed raise of minimum wage in the United States. Coy uses juxtaposition and quotes from others to prove how raising minimum wage may not be the solution of how to end poverty.

Peter Coy uses juxtaposition to help the reader understand the significance of an income. To create a juxtaposition, Coy provides examples of the average wage for jobs in the U.S, wages of unskilled workers in other countries, the poverty line, prices of goods, and Obama’s proposed minimum wage of $10.10.  The juxtaposition enables Coy to effectively prove the point that there is no way that one can survive off of minimum wage in the United States, especially if a Starbucks Frappuccino costs $5.93, only $1.32 more than the current minimum wage. This comparison allows the reader to understand how little people are currently making off of minimum wage. From Coy’s juxtaposition, the reader also learns how much smaller of an income a skilled American worker may make compared to an unskilled worker in Denmark who makes $20.88 an hour. By comparing this fact to the proposed minimum wage, the reader can understand why Coy believes that raising the minimum wage to $10.10 will not fix the economy if workers in other countries are making much more for unskilled work than skilled American workers are making. By providing all of these examples, Coy effectively shows the difficultly of living off of a minimum wage income, and how raising minimum wage will not be the solution.

Coy also quotes economists to show how raising the minimum wage will not be enough to fix the economy. Coy quotes Amy Glasmeier, a MIT professor who made a “living wage” calculator to determine the income needed for people to live efficiently. Glasmeier provides an example of a Mexican immigrant living in Minnesota who makes $8 an hour cleaning floors of a department store, and cares for her four children. Glasmeier’s calculator found that a parent living in the same town with three children needs a living wage of $33.28. With one less child, this is still no where near the current income of $8 or the proposed new minimum wage of $10.10. Clearly for the woman in the example, raising the minimum wage would not be nearly enough for her to live efficiently. Since this example is just one of many, the reader can see how many people are living off of much less money than they need.  Coy’s use of quotes with research that supports his claims not only shows how raising the minimum wage will not help the economy to the extent that is needed, but he also creates credibility for his argument.

As both parties debate whether or not minimum wage should be raised, Peter Coy takes a different approach to prove how even if the minimum wage is raised the problem of poverty will not be solved. Coy proves this through his use of juxtaposition and quotes. Coy exemplifies how many people have been loosely thinking about minimum wage, and suggests that the United States may even be a step behind other countries when it comes to the economy. 

IRB Intro #3: Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer

For my IRB for the third marking period I am reading Into the Wild, written by Jon Krakauer. It is about a man named Christopher Johnson McCandles who came from an affluent family, graduated from Emory University and then gave away everything he had to go into the Alaskan wilderness. His body was later found by moose hunters, shortly after Jon Krakauer was asked to write an article for Outside Magazine about the events. Krakauer was so fascinated by the story that he decided to do enough research to write a book. In the book I can expect to find uses of imagery and other forms of figurative language in order for me to connect and form emotions to the events in the story. I expect to learn about human instinct when put on the brink of death. As well as human emotion that causes someone to take such a dangerous risk as spending your whole life savings and traveling alone to the forests of Alaska.

TOW #18: The 80's called... they want their store back; Radioshack Commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5i91rOlFMY

As technology is improved and evolves products daily, the stores that supply the products need to evolve as well. Knowing the need for their advancement, Radioshack aired a commercial during the Super Bowl to show how they are evolving with the time. In their commercial, Radioshack uses sarcasm and symbolism to show how they are improving for the twenty-first century.

Not only is Radioshack faced with outdated stores, but they are also running business under an outdated name. This is why in their commercial they use sarcasm to make humor of their name. They use the common joke of “The 80’s called and they want their store back” to make joke of their name. Since it is known that their name is about a product, the radio, an outdated technology it is fitting that they use sarcasm to provide humor for their audience and themselves. By using sarcasm to make fun of their name, Radioshack makes the commercial memorable not only because of the humor that is in the commercial, but also because of the fact they are making fun of themselves. This shows that Radioshack acknowledges that they needed to improve for their customer, and now that they did, and the customer will know that they have the latest technology.

Radioshack also uses symbols of the 80’s to add to the humor and joke of the 80’s wanting their store back. The commercial has icons that almost anyone can relate to as 80’s entertainment. By having these icons walk into the store and take all of the technology that is also associated with the 80’s adds an element of humor, as well as shows how Radioshack is emptying out to update their stores to the current expectations. Radioshack then shows products by well-known brands such as Beats and Samsung to show the viewer that their stores have all of the most advanced products that they would want. 

Radioshack effectively uses their Super Bowl commercial to show how even with a name that is associated with an outdated product, they are updating all of their stores to be one of the most up to date stores with the most advanced products. They are able to show this in their commercial through their use of sarcasm and symbolism that also adds humor, making their commercial memorable to every viewer.

TOW #17: Chris Christie's Super Bowl: A Nightmare and a Lifeline, John Cassidy

One of the most popular current news stories is the George Washington Bridge lane closures. Almost all political reporters have an opinion on what should happen to Governor Chris Christie, of New Jersey, if it is found out that he knew about the lane closures. This is why John Cassidy, reporter for The New Yorker, wrote “Chris Christie’s Super Bowl: A Nightmare and a Lifeline” to provide his insight of why Chris Christie may no longer be governor if he is found responsible for the lane closures. Cassidy proves this point by referencing other reporters and by his use of figurative language.

To make his argument more effective, Cassidy provides quotes from other reporters that share the same views as him. Cassidy quotes the Daily News article “You’re Lying Gov”, “If the governor couldn’t refute Wildstein’s accusation, his governorship is over and he should prepare to face a federal criminal probe as a private citizen. Resignation would be a must. Otherwise, impeachment would be a snap.” By providing a quote from a recognizable source like the Daily News Cassidy gains credibility because the reader now understands that Cassidy’s stance on the situation is the same as others. Cassidy effectively creates credibility for his opinions on Chris Christie by referencing other well-known reporters/news sources with the same view.

Cassidy also uses metaphors to show the seriousness of Chris Christie losing his position as New Jersey’s governor. After the former Port Authority official shared evidence that helps prove that Christie knew about the lane closures, Cassidy states, “By Saturday morning, when Christie was preparing to head to Super Bowl Boulevard, formerly known as Times Square, for a public event with Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio, his political death notices were already being prepared.” By calling information that other officials that are responsible for the lane closures shared, “political death notices”, Cassidy is showing the severity of the information. If what the other officials shared about Chris Christie is true, Cassidy believes the governor will be out of a job and will not have a chance to run for president. Therefore, making the new information being provided about Christie’s knowledge, Chris Christie’s political death notices. 

During a time in which the governor of the state that hosts the super bowl is usually in the public’s eyes for being a great hostess, Chris Christie is seen as a possible liar who may be very soon out of a job. John Cassidy references other reporters/news sources and uses metaphors in his article to prove that if it is found that Chris Christie is found responsible for the George Washington Bridge Lane Closures, he will lose his position as New Jersey’s governor.