TOW #7- Visual Texts-Secondhand Smoking.

"Secondhand Smoking" is a visual advertisment for The German Childhood Cancer Foundation of the German Leukemia Research Assistance. DKKS is a non-profit organization that is committed to the fight against cancer in childhood and adolescence and trying to help those affected in dealing with the disease. This visual text depicts a child leaning up against his smoking father saying "I'd love to quit smoking. But my dad wont let me.". This ad's main audience is most evidently parents who smoke. The DKKS main purpose in publishing this ad was to perpetuate the fact that secondhand kills others and especially children of smokers. The most evident rhetorical device that the DKKS uses is an appeal to pathos. By choosing a saddened young child as the focal point for their ad and stating that 'Secondhand smoking is Firsthand killing". The DKKS make audiences feel sadden and even angry that a young child who doesn't smoke at all is being killed by secondhand smoking from his father. I think that the DKKS are successful and effective in their purpose to make people aware of the dangerous effects of secondhand smoking. By utilizing the portrait of a young vulnerable child they were able to evoke sadness from audience and bring awareness to the secondhand smoking effects. Overall the DKKS published an compelling advertisement that brings to light the issue of secondhand smoking.

TOW #6- Nonfiction Piece- The Plot to Change Catholicism

"The Plot to Change Catholicism" by Ross Douthat is about Pope Francis's agenda to let divorced Catholics remarry without having their first marriage annulled. The article analyzes Francis's argument and whether or not this policy will be put into action. The author Ross Douthat is a conservative American author, blogger and New York Times columnist. Douthat is the youngest regular op-ed writer in the paper's history and studied at Harvard University. His main purpose in writing this editorial is to examine the the validity of the marriage policy and whether or not it will be put into place. His main audience is Catholic people in particular divorced members of the Catholic Church. Most effectively Douthat utilizes an appeal to logos in order to fully examine the effectiveness of the marriage policy. While trying to analyze whether or not the marriage policy will be put into order Douthat explains the ethical difficulties that Pope Francis will face in order to have this doctrine put in place "At the same time, though, the pope is supposed to have no power to change Catholic doctrine. This rule has no official enforcement mechanism, but custom, modesty, fear of God and fear of schism all restrain popes who might find a doctrinal rewrite tempting." (6). By using logos Douthat effectively examine the change in doctrine and whether or not it is even possible. Logically explaining the Pope's ability to change church doctrine and the effect his new age Catholicism will have on the church not only connect him with his audience but fully help in completely his purpose. Thus making his article a concrete and thought provoking piece.

TOW # 5- Nonfiction Piece- Indifference Kills

Indifference Kills is by Roger Cohen,  a journalist and author. He is a columnist for The New York Times and International New York Times. He has worked as a foreign correspondent in fifteen different countries. In his piece Indifference Kills he address the similarities between the Post-World War II Jewish refugee crisis and The current Syrian Refugee. He also outlines the lack of support by many European countries that again mirrors the response of Post-War Europe to the Jews. Cohen's main audience in this piece European countries and European citizens as he directly calls them to action to help the Syrian refugees. His purpose for writing this essay was to show that history is repeating itself and in a deadly way. In order to illustrate his purpose Cohen uses comparisons between the Jewish Refugee Crisis and the Syrian Refugee Crisis. 

Cohen poignantly illustrates this comparisons when he states "Nobody saw the Jews. Nobody wanted to see them. Indifference kills. As Syria demonstrates." (Cohen 17). Cohen also in his piece highlights the mutual contempt shown to the Jewish and Syrians refugees by their European neighbors. By comparing the two refugee crises Cohen effectively demonstrates how history has begun again. Showing the scarcely similar treatments of both immigrants shows how the European nations and citizens must change how these people are treated or there will be long lasting consequences. Overall Indifference Kills is an emotionally charged and reflective look on the Syrian Refugee Crisis.

TOW #4- IRB- The Glass Castle

The Glass Castle is a memoir about the unusual life of the author, Jeannette Walls and the troubles her family went through while she was younger. Even through the dysfunctional circumstance Jeannette and her siblings always found the light in the tunnel and did not let their past determine their future. The author Jeannette Walls is an American writer and journalist widely known as former gossip columnist for MSNBC.com. The memoir The Glass Castle stayed on the New York Times Best Seller list for 100 weeks. The purpose of Walls's memoir was to not only inform other of her childhood but to encourage other to follow their dreams and not let their past's define them.Her main audience I believe is people who are trying to find inspiration in their lives.The rhetoric term most utilized by Walls thus far is Imagery. In The Glass Castle, the author was very descriptive while explaining very emotional parts of her story. These being of how her parents once neglected to save her after she fell out of their family car and when her family would spend many nights in the Arizona desert while trying to find another place to live. She used this to to successfully pull the reader in so that they could more easily relate to the hardships her family had been through. I believe that Walls was successful in using Imagery to describe her story. It better connected with her audience and adds the much needed shock value to better illustrate her traumatic childhood. Overall I am very much liking The Glass Castle and I am very glad that I chose this to be my Independent Reading Book.