TOW #6 - visual text: credibility of presidential candidates

The presidential election has fueled the United States into one big argument. It has sparked conversations not only in this country, but across the world, causing controversy wherever it may go. The news is filled to the brink with political articles and conversations in this day always seem to come back to one topic: the 2016 presidential election. The candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, are two extremely strong forces with clashing views. The author has an obvious bias and the reader is able to clearly see which side the author has chosen, and that is the democratic side of Hillary Clinton.

            Within the cartoon, Donald Trump’s brain is presented at a size about a third of Clinton’s. This shows the viewpoint of the author, how they believe Trump’s intelligence level is incomparable to Clinton’s. This provokes a certain audience, one with the belief that Trump is the favored candidate. This political cartoon is propaganda and is being used to persuade the audience to change their viewpoint. On the brains of each of the candidates, there are pictures representing where their knowledge comes from and where their credibility resides. Trump has a Twitter logo on his brain and Clinton has a senate seal. The difference between this is obvious; Trump does not have the “brains” to be president because his only referral to being credible is a social media website.

            The author uses rhetorical devices such as comparison and imagery to portray their message. They compare the brain of Clinton to Trump using relative size. This comparison allows the author to clearly and effectively show their standpoint. The imagery used is shown in the candidate’s facial expressions. Trump, who is portrayed in an unattractive manner, is being demeaned in the cartoon whereas Clinton is smiling and is seemingly confident.

            The author’s purpose, to inform and persuade their audience of the lack in Trump’s credibility, is conveyed successfully. The author clearly takes one side of the argument and proves their case.

TOW #5 - article: "The Lives of a Cell"

            “Perspective is everything”. This common saying is a common theme of the Lewis Thomas’s short essay, “The Lives of a Cell”. The nature of man is analyzed in biological terms, showing how our smaller parts such as the mitochondria and chloroplasts are our everything. Our whole existence revolves around our smaller parts, the smaller units of our anatomy. We could not pursue our dreams and reach our potential without each microscopic piece of ourselves. This comparison is then made to Earth, the oceans, continents, countries and cities make up Earth and the way they are utilized. Earth is compared to a cell, a small unit of life in the midst of the universe.

            The author tries to open the reader’s eyes to a new perspective, one not often looked at. He tries to reach a general audience, one of average, functioning human beings. Lewis Thomas informs the audience of the smaller units of life and how they are compared to the grand scheme of life. The earth, a small planet in the infinite universe, is similar to a cell, an unimaginably tiny unit of life amidst surrounding functions within a human body.

            The message the author is trying to get across is that each small unit of life should not be looked past. Differentiation of cells should be appreciated; our whole lives revolve around the tiny lives of these living things. Lewis Thomas uses figurative language and comparisons to achieve this purpose. Thomas uses metaphors and similes to show how all life on Earth is connected just like all cells connect to make a functioning human. Thomas also uses comparisons to get his point across. His final words describe his realization that the earth can be compared to a cell. A living, thriving unit of life feeding off the resources around it.

            This comparison is successfully made. The author introduces the reader to a new perspective and uses specific rhetorical devices to clearly present his elaborate ideas.

TOW #4 - IRB: "Tuesdays with Morrie"

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom is a book about an individual journey through life. Morrie Shwartz taught an eager Mitch Albom at Brandeis University. Inspired by his outlook on life and his diverse ways of teaching, Albom visited Shwartz during not only his office hours but personal visits. Upon graduation, Albom promised Shwartz he would keep in touch. This promise was one Albom did not keep and he greatly regrets this.

Years later, a far older, wiser and ALS stricken man, Morrie Shwartz is interviewed and put on “Nightline”, a special on ABC. Albom, flipping through channels, sees this interview with his old professor. Overcome by regret for not keeping his promise, Albom is angry with himself for allowing himself to lose touch with one of his greatest influences who is now months away from death. Albom’s feelings were so powerful that he flew to Boston, Morrie’s hometown, and paid him a visit. These visits became regular and each Tuesday, Mitch traveled to see Morrie and discuss life lessons.

These life lessons opened Albom’s eyes to new perspectives. His money-driven life became sad, as if the true meaning of his life consisted of success. The life lessons that Morrie describes are not just relevant to Mitch, but to a broad audience of people struggling to see the good in life. Struggling to breathe, eat and go to the bathroom on his own, Morrie has a clear vision of what struggle and death look like. He uses lessons learned in his own life to aid and direct Mitch find a happier path in life, one focusing on non-materialistic things.

Mitch Albom describes his relationship with Morrie using anecdotes. Albom flashes back to times when he was still in college and saw Morrie as a teacher and not as a friend. Albom also uses figurative language to describe the weakness of Morrie. He compares Morrie to fragile things, to things full of struggle and death. This helps the reader understand Morrie’s true state of living.

I believe that Albom is successful in communicating his purpose. He clearly shows how his life has been pulled in a different direction because of Morrie’s wise words.