The world we live in today has advertisements everywhere from Facebook to the outside of a bus driving by. Young women in particular can be very impressionable, and insecure. As young girls become women, advertisements that are aimed at their insecurities, such as the way you look, the clothes you wear and even the way you smell. The advertisements that are specifically aimed at women want them to feel insecure about themselves so they will purchase the makeup, shampoo, lotions etc. that the companies are trying to sell in order to make the customer feel good about themselves. The problem is that the product will not make them feel better about themselves because self-confidence comes from within. The women being portrayed on the advertisements have been airbrushed and are not a realistic portrait of the average woman in America. The problem with most ads today is that they are brain washing people into thinking they need to look a certain way and act a certain way.

A good example of an advertisement portraying an unrealistic body image of women is Victoria’s Secret: “The perfect Body.” It shows 10 different supermodels wearing their collection of bras and panties, they are of different ethnicity but the same in body figure. They say that these undergarments will be a perfect fit, perfect comfort and perfectly soft. As well as “giving you the perfect body.” What they want you to think is that once you “explore their collection, “and wear their product, you too will have the perfect body just like these Victoria’s Secret models. By looking at these women it can be assumed that they are a size zero to a size two, and according to WebMD the average size for a woman is a size twelve/ fourteen. So by Victoria secret advertising the perfect body, the consumer women and men, will think who ever wears this collection that they or the person they bought it for will have the perfect body.  Unfortunately many women suffer from self-esteem issues and the pressure society has put on them to look a certain way.

This advertisement by Aussie Bodies is portraying that by eating their low carbohydrate protein bar you are going to have better self-esteem, be skinny just like the model, and be happy on a beautiful beach. They show a petit woman at the beach in a bikini who is smiling and or laughing and having a good time. They have in big words “SELF ESTEEM” and then” powered by protein” then the picture of the protein bar. The picture of the protein bar has low carb and it has only so many carbs and it’s the chocolate one which screams eat me I am tasty because who doesn’t like chocolate.   They are portraying that you will have more self-esteem and look like a happy petit model after you eat their protein bar, and by being skinny and beautiful you will be happy. This company knows that so many women struggle with self-esteem and weight  problems and they are trying to use their weakness by saying they will help them to have better self-esteem with their protein bar by making them skinny. The problem with the ad is that they don’t tell you that you need to have a well-balanced diet with the protein bar to be successful in the weight loss and being happy. So many people including women suffer from the pressure society has put on people to worry about the way they look, act and feel. The sad fact is that the average weight and health of the average American is not what they are portraying in the ads. When we look at ads all the time we can’t stop to think what we look like and is it acceptable or close to those people in the ads.

In this Olay Definity eye illuminator advertisement they show an older model Lesley Lawson, who looks flawless and beautiful with her young looking skin. The writing on her picture says “Olay is my secret to brighter-looking eyes.”  There is also a slogan of “Because Younger looking eyes never go out of fashion,” beside her picture. This ad is saying that if you have wrinkles around your eyes you are not young and fruitful looking. The ad is telling you that with wrinkly eyes you are out of fashion and yesterday’s news. You need to buy this Olay Definity eye illuminator, and you will look young and in style. Olay is saying that your eyes will look flawless just like Lesley Lawson’s (In this picture) if you use their product. By saying “Because younger looking eyes never go out of fashion,” they are implying that older looking eyes are out of fashion and undesired by the people of today. This can cause women to look in the mirror and pick apart their imperfections, which makes them feel bad about themselves because they do not look like the flawless model in the ad. The issue with what Olay is trying to portray in this ad is that women that are of older age need to look younger to feel better about the way they look. That in turn starts the vicious cycle of pointing out ones imperfections and trying to find that miracle cure to fix what society and ads consider to be less than flawless. The thing is, people are not perfect, including the models in the ads and we just need to except the way people are and who they are.

The message in all of these advertisements is that people are not perfect but we have a way to make you perfect. The products they are trying to sell to help women achieve that perfect look or body are actually lies and miss direction of what is true happiness. The way society is going we are all going to have to starve ourselves and where a gallon and a half of make up to be considered attractive. Most people put a lot of judgment in appearance and make decisions on those judgements and the old saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” comes to mind. However, these advertisers want only one thing, and that is to make money, even if it means making average women feel inferior to airbrushed, flawless looking supermodels in ads that are full of empty promises. As people get older they age, so does their skin, and that is okay! It’s as if they are constantly telling you that it is not okay to look older, or be bigger than the models. It’s almost as if they don’t want you to realize that it’s okay to grow old and not look like you just walked out of a model shoot. They are bombarding women and men with ads trying to sell something to make the consumer think they are making a good choice by buying their product. The problem with society today is that we have become a people of speediness. We want results on the spot and we want things fixed right now. If we all just took the time to educate ourselves on a healthy diet and living then I personally think we would have no need for these products or mind washing ads.  

Working in groups to analyze and then present our findings to the class has helped me out by opening my eyes to what types of procedures I should follow to help me organize three different commercials to work together. I also have a better idea of how to attack this paper and present my commercials with enough detail that I will let the readers know what I am talking about. Having three other minds helping me dissect this one commercial has given me four points of view that I can now use to help me in my third paper. When we had to present it also taught me about the presentation and organization I will need to be successful in my third paper. When I watched my fellow class mates present their commercials and analysis of it I found myself learning more about the organization of it all for this paper I am working on. The presentations also helped me in trying to make a decision on what type of commercial rather than what the commercial is trying to sell. What I mean is what the commercial is conveying, manliness, and sexiness, what women really want that kind of stuff rather than if the commercial is selling the same type of product.

                                The difference in writing the first paper compared to the 2^nd paper.

The first paper we were challenged to write was a narrative peace about a writing experience we had encountered at some point in our lives. I found it a little easy to come up with an idea to write about and could probably fill a couple of pages. The format and lay-out was pretty easy to follow since it was like telling a story and I am pretty good at telling stories. The only thing that I had a problem with and as always its grammar and spelling but nun the less I liked writing the first paper.I think i like being more descriptive and being able to use my own knowledge of the facts rather than having to look them up and cite them and make sure they are accurate. After all that you have to make sure its in the right format as well. I don't like to write that much so the less rules and restraints the better for me. I also liked the narrative over the argumentative because it brought me back to that hell hole they called great lakes naval station. I enjoyed the bad and the good memories that writing that peace brought along with it. The second paper was an argument paper where we had to choose two relative topics and tell the reader which one you thought would be the better choice and why. With this paper I found myself not as enthused about it, not sure if it’s due to it being later in the quarter or that I had less free range and had to follow a few guide lines. Once again it’s pretty easy for me to come up with a subject to write about but having to follow the few guidelines I felt less enthused about it. Although I liked the subjects and had a personal connection with the peace it’s just something about the narrative I liked the best so far. T he argumentative paper made me feel like a robot because of the material and the way I had to present it. Yes the narrative has some guidelines but it doesn't feel as restrictive as the second paper did. I guess i just like to be able to write the way I talk. I am one who doesn't like to write a whole lot so if i can find pleasure in writing a peace it goes by a lot faster and easier. when the subject I am writing about is one of particular interest and one i can relate to on a personal level it make writing a paper easier for me.

THINKING AOUT THE TEXT PAGE 175

1.       I would say her main insight is how we compare our dreams to the American dream and what it actually means. I think the last passage put it all together, she gave good examples of each character and the role they played in the show and how it depicts where we are now verses back then.

2.       She establishes her authority in the first paragraph where she talks about people always wanting and upgrade and how it’s a sickness. She also sheds light on how we as a nation are never happy with the simple things and we always want more than what we need.  

3.       Once again she appeals to readers in her first paragraph but also in her second and then last passage. She conveys to the simplest where having a car, a house and a job to pay for it all was the American dream but now we have super unattainable goals that we almost kill ourselves to reach them.

4.       I have never watched the show before but had a general idea that it was depicting how it was back in the 50’s and 60’s . The way she describes the characters and their roles it fits into what I was thinking of the show. I am also somewhat familiar with the way things where back then from old movies and such and it sounds about right. The American dream being sold away by cheap advertisements telling you what you should and do with your life

Health and mental disorders have been around since the dawn of man but man has only begun to understand what and how they are caused. That has caused human race to set out and search for the answers to the puzzles that cause people to get sick. Scientists and doctors over the years have discovered ways to combat these illnesses by using manufactured drugs in recommended doses to combat disease and mental disorders. The issue that arises when taking these medications is what side effects they come with and how much will it impair an individual.  Throughout the years people have used other means besides prescription pills to try and cure the same types of health and mental disorders. Marijuana has been one of those outlets to help treat many health and mental disorders people suffer from and have had great success. The issue that arises from taking medical marijuana is what sided effects it comes with and how much it impairs an individual. So should prescription pills and prescription marijuana be in the same category when it comes to punishment at the work place.

Medical prescriptions have generally been viewed as a harmless solution to a health or mental disorder. When a doctor prescribes a patient some sort of man-made product to combat the stress of everyday life, that so called patient is trusting that doctor to help and not further hurt or just put a band aid on the problem. This has been the problem for generations of people having to go through the health system and has somewhat brain washed people into thinking that prescription pills are the only answer to what the medical problem is and that it’s okay to do everyday activities while on these prescriptions. Doctors have been treating patients for decades from the common cold to cancer using modern technology and science. One of the innovations of the medical world was the discovery and then the manufacturing of prescription drugs.  Some of the early explorers in modernizing the natural properties found in nature where, Doctor pepper, Coca-Cola and anyone else who believed in there concoctions to help heal what ails you. Doctors have been pushing prescription pills since the 40’s to help the house wife with her daily chores around the house or to help relax her after the hard day of work.  This is where the problem starts because they make it seem okay to use these drugs for when and where ever you need to calm own or its directed you to take it a certain amount a day at certain time intervals.

Should prescription pills be viewed in the same category as medical marijuana in the work place? Medical prescriptions have generally consisted of little multi colored pills of some sort that a doctor prescribed to you to help with pain or some type of health disorder. Over the years people have become reliant on prescription pills and the side effects that come along with them. People take prescription pills before they go to work so they can deal with their anxiety or pain issues. It makes me wonder why people look so harshly at medical marijuana over prescription pills due to that medical marijuana does the same thing as the prescription pills.

                Medical marijuana has been legal since __________ and people have been using it way before that for its healing properties. 

Thinking about the text page 100.           

1.       Spriggs states many facts about why local farming and buying from those farms is a good idea and it will help out local economy. She makes her argument a little confusing those because she puts the opposition’s side in too but doesn't make it a 100% clear which is better due to the good examples of the good and wrong the both can cause.

2.       Spriggs tosses the other side’s story into by mentioning that the third world workers will suffer as well as the people across the United States who won’t be able to get cheaper produce or strawberries during the winter.

3.       I am not too sure how I feel the whole peace was a little confusing. She starts out with talking about how nice it is to get certain fruits and vegetables at different times of the year but then goes into why local farming is good. Throughout the peace she goes back and forth not really declaring which is the lesser of the two evils.

4.       The photos take your attention and focus it on what she is talking about. It also provides the visual to explain better what she is trying to say.

Thinking about the text on page 91

1.       The argument and the point that Mr. Herbert is trying to make is one of more schooling and stricter guidelines for the teachers.  He puts some blame on the teachers and their lake of interest of the children being taught. He talks about how the teachers should be observed before being granted teenier.  He then talks about how children are doing better with longer school days and less days off.

2.       His tone is one of blame and finger pointing towards the teachers and students. He talks about teacher quality over academic prowess and how the students need to be geared towards today’s technological advances and not the archaic ones we have been teaching.

3.       He starts off with a personal story that affected him and could have affected others in the same way.  He states facts that report the status of the education in America and that even though we make a little head way in math and English we shouldn't celebrate because it’s a drop in the bucket compared to what’s really going on.

4.       The first passage that comes to kind is the very first one that opens up the argument about the status of teacher and students in public schools. The second passage is at the end when he points out how effective the KIPP program is and how its turning troubled youths into better students.

5.       I believe that you, Mr. Herbert are somewhat right and wrong. Your argument about the teachers is good but I feel somewhat unfair because after their trial period a teacher could be fired for no reason and then have to start from scratch with negative reviews. I do believe though those teachers should be screened to see if they are still an affective teaching and learning tool for the kids they are going to be helping along in life. I also feel that you have to look at the kids; sure we should gear those towards success but why not let them choose. I am pretty sure that everything would balance out rather than force kids to learn what they don’t like.

                Mr. Herbert’s argument is one of telling the teachers to care more or they will lose their jobs. He also argues the point that if we force the kids into longer school days and the duration of school, shorter summer brakes, and the upgrading of the teaching module so it can help better prepare the young youths of today for the technological advances of tomorrow.  The facts that he spits out are ones of truth but he doesn't mention how if we maybe gear the youths towards their interests rather the interests that society puts on them we would see a change in the way teachers and students do in school.  

Things that interest me

S o I have a paper due, it’s a position paper about some of the things that interest me and that can be somewhat argumentative. Well some things that interest me are the recent legalization of marijuana, the way people treat each other, where we have come as a civilization, why do plants do the mysterious things they do. I have a lot of other interests but I think these have enough topics around the base subject that I can find something to write 1200 to 1500 words on.

My response to the “N” word

Watching the five minute video about Tim wise and the “n” word and  yes the derogatory word used back in the day to classify African Americans and still used today by all sorts of people and races. He talks about how, when to use the word and if indeed is okay to use. I like how he states the fact that for one, black and white people would have to take separate conversations and he being white would have no part or interest in what the African Americans decided to do with the word. He takes a type of position of its wrong to use the word no matter who you are but being of that decent you should be able to decide on what words to use and not use. He also goes on talking about the red neck issue where being called a red neck is not as degrading as the “N” word due to the fact that it was never in the same group as the “N” word.  He mentions how if a Jewish man where to tell jokes about red necks such as Jeff Foxworthy they wouldn't be as funny, but if he tells Jewish jokes they would be funnier. Tim wise seems to find that no one should actually use any degrading or hurtful slurs towards anyone in the spoken word. He talks about how if someone is being quoted in text, it should be alright but when spoken it takes on another character which shouldn't be accepted.  I was skeptical at first because I have noticed that today people think that it is acceptable to use the “N” word and others of the same character. I don’t find it acceptable at all; a word that is not uplifting or positive should not be used as such. I find it socially unacceptable to use such words and if they must be spoken due so in the comfort of friends and not around strangers. I really enjoyed Tim wises video and the position he takes on the “N” word and pretty much all other degrading words.

The message on the video pertained to the average working class and how they can help make the change Obama is talking about.  The actors and song writers in the video are well known for being advocates for the less fortunate. It also takes all different types of people and unites us as one and that if we all come together and work towards one goal we can accomplish it. The relationship between the famous people who watch them was also touched on. People see the celebrities they like and relate to them. The video made his speech into a song to help people further relate to what he is trying to accomplish. The video helps break down the visual message of people coming together to accomplish a goal. The goal was accomplished because he became our first African American president.

Sidney sterling

                                                                THINK ABOUT YOUR WRITING

I recently had to write a paper on the effects of medical marijuana for my life science class. I feel that I did my research very thoroughly on both sides of the subject. I first considered the negative aspects of cannabis and what the draw backs where from using it not only health wise but also the way it effects a person’s social abilities. Then I spoke about the positive aspects of cannabis and what they could do for a person’s health and social abilities. I found myself taking the position of the advocate for medical marijuana due to the facts that I found and how the government has been with holding the true facts if medical cannabis. I responded to what the beliefs and urban myths about cannabis over the years and how they have found most to be just that, urban myths or lies. I presented a clear reason why the topic matters, because if we can use an alternate source of healing that doesn’t cause so many side effects. My authoritative tone was one of siding with the medical marijuana advocates and what they stood for. I also believed it appealed to readers since I live in Washington State where it is legal now not just for medical patients. I feel I could have maybe done more on the negative side of it but all in all it was a good paper.

Sidney sterling

YES WE CAN

The yes we can video is a compelling peace of work.  It takes the simple words of a man running for president and turns it into an emotional, moving peace to convey his point and position on the matter of change in the government. It wasn't only for change but for something that has never happened before, an African American president. To help support the position of what Mr. Obama is saying they add in a plethora of famous people singing to his speech and you have a powder keg of emotional and strong messages being sent by the actors, singers and other famous people included in the video.  The message that the people singing the song put out is that they agree with Obama and what he stands for and that they are going to vote for him. They capture a lot of different aspects with the video and touch on a lot of people’s responses to people they like in the media and that are famous. If I had the position to create something like this I don’t think I would change a thing. They have a strong point and message they put out and he was elected president of the United States, so I wouldn't change a thing about the video.

-As a Group discussion

Facebook as a media can be helpful at times, you can find long lost friends and connect to far away family members, chat with people who have common interests or even you can “Make A Page” to advertise a company that you want to start up and gain publicity, also to network with other business owners. Facebook as a media can be irritating at times when it comes fact checking some people are not very diligent and miss-information can be spread. Other times people on Facebook social media can over share about their personal life. When you tend to overs-hare it is open to the public and outside people can feel like that have a right to give an opinion about your personal situations that were made public. Another way Facebook social media can become irritating is when certain people start bullying each other or start making fake profiles to possibly harass other Facebook users. Another way Facebook can becoming a deterring social network site is when people learned about the privacy changes that seem to happen every so often, if you do not update your profile, outsiders can view your personal information and gain insight knowledge about your life.

                                                                     Taking a position



taking a position on something means to take a side or fight for what you think is right. Take for instants being vegan or eat meat like we where told we should, both have huge argumentative sides and a lot of facts to back it up but all in all you have to take which side or if you agree with both. I take the position of agreeing with both sides. I believe you can benefit from  a well balanced diet and as long as you portion control and live a active lifestyle you should be good. Another position i stand strong on is good communication. it doesn't have to be with a person you are in a relationship with, it could be your neighbor, they guy or gal you meet in class. As long as you can communicate well to and with others you'll get far in my book. my wife and I take positions on different things on a regular basis whether its how to do the dishes all the way to raising kids. The key to her and my relationship has been the ability to communicate our positions on topics or subjects of debate and listen then reply. It takes awhile to be able to reach a certain point to respect other people and work through the problems rather than just stand firm on what position you are taking in the argument.

1. "Micheal Jackson was fascinated by celebrity tragedy. He had a statue of Marilyn Monroe in his home and studied the sad Hollywood exile of Charlie Chaplin" pg #102 Paragraph #2

2. I was looking on the web site itgetbetter.org and out of the stories i was glancing through the one about these five immagrents coming out to there parents cought my attention. The one with the young lady with the purple hair and her mother and they were of asian descent. They talked about her growing up and how her mother new and that when they moved to the states that she really new. When her daughter came out her mom wondered why it took so long and she said she felt it was more  accepted here and that she would be able to find a place if her mom through her out. Herr mom  laughed and smiled looked at her daughter and started crying. i thought that was a great moment between mom and daughter.
3. "Micheal Jackson was fascinated by celebrity tragedy. He had a statue of Marilyn Monroe in his home and studied the sad Hollywood exile of Charlie Chaplin" pg #102 Paragraph #2. This narrative shows how detailed micheal was on the inside and why his death might be considered a tragic one like the celebrities he followed.
4. I have a good writing experience about the navy, and when I was in boot camp.

                                 DID READINGS OTHERS ANSWERS ON RHETORIC HELP?After reading a couple of my class mates answers to the reading on rhetoric i feel i have a better understanding and that people kind of had the same feelings about the word and its meaning as well.

 Most of my life I have had my mother and sister to thank for my vocabulary        but unfortunately I don't remember all the meanings to the vast data base of words they picked up from the library of books they read. I have used the word rhetorical and have said don't ask rhetorical questions but I don't think I fully understood until now what it actually means to be rhetorical and how to use it in everyday life to help you succeed in putting forth the message you would like people to receive from you.

How narration affects writing

Narration is an effective way to tell a story, at least which that is what I thought until Eng. 101. Narration can help someone tell a story about someone, something and even events in time. The way you narrate a story can both give it the power and appeal to the audience you are trying to bring in and share what you have to say. Sometimes the best way to narrate isn't by writing down a few words or speaking them. You can also effectively bring life to your peace with video or radio and pictures; they say a picture is worth a thousand words.

The way narration can help an author with what they are trying to get across is by capturing the reader’s imagination. It is one thing to be able to write but you also need to keep your audience entertained. Think about history class for a second, most people don’t like history but if a certain event is told or narrated in the right format you can still draw in those who dislike the writings. Authors and writers face the same obstacles except authors are held to someone a higher degree and need to be careful of what they put out for people to experience. The one thing they both need to ask themselves though is; are they being rhetoric in there writing or just being one sided. With narration, they can both make life a little easier for the everyday writer and the acclaimed author. People can understand what they are trying to put out there a little better and they can draw in new people to read and experience what they what to convey to the public.

hello

Sidney Sterling

                Hi my name is Sidney sterling but a lot of people call me Sid, my family calls me Sam because I am named after my dad and it stands for same as me. I was born in San Diego California and then moved to Okinawa japan. Yes I was a navy brat, my dad was a core men and my mom a dental tech. After a brief stay in japan we moved the great state of Washington. I went to jenny wright elementary, then Brownsville. Junior high was spent at ridge top and highs cool was at Olympic. After high school I spent some time working at taco bell which I neither loved nor hated. Then it was off to start my navy career in the year 2002. I spent some time in the great likes due to the fact that my school was in the same place as boot camp. I was sent to may port Florida for my first duty station which I loved but the bugs and other animals started to bother me. I spent two years in sunny Florida before I was shipped off to Ingleside Texas which would be the last two years I would spend in the navy, let’s just say I wasn't cut out to be on a small boat with 50-60 other men. Once I got out with an honorable discharge I spent some time doing odd jobs for contractors in the shipyard. After a year of being out of the navy I received a job in the shipyard as a pipe fitter. I did that for about four years when I decided I wasn't liking my job and the toxic environment. I currently go to school using my M.G.I. bill that the navy was so kind to bestow upon me. I am not sure what I want to go for so I am just getting the prerequisites out of the way.

differences in writing today

Prof. Author’s                                                                           Everyday authors

Can claim their peace’s	Can write what they want on the internet
Work has been published	Available to readers around the world
Struggle to come up with original peace of work.	More for the digital age, work together
Use what they see fit to put in their peace	Use multiple sources to get info then regurgitate it to make it their own.
Must be published to be recognized as an author	Need to consider who and why they are reading it

Formal writing                                                                                   general writing

Has structure and guidelines	Say what’s on your mind
Structured towards a certain audience	Uses pictures or graphs to get a point across
Not part of the social media	Now includes sounds and videos
	Very collaborative

1.       The differences in the styles and the ways you can get information out to the public are different as once I thought they were one in the same. I thought that if you put your name on a well put together piece of writing no matter what it was on or how long a thought you were the author of that piece.

2.       When I started to run out of ideas I turned to the book to help re-boot my memory for some of the differences in how people are authors and formal writing.

3.       I think it’s important to have the boundaries and the rules to keep things in order. All though I am not against the free speech of other people but we need to have a little order to prevent chaos. It’s one thing to create and be recognized for it and another to share what someone else has done. When you take someone else’s work or creation and put a little twist or spin on it you should at least give the person who inspired you the credit they deserve.

4.       When you can recognize you are using someone else’s work and give them the deserved credit you can save yourself a lot of pain and suffering. They call it plagiarism and if you don’t recognize and give the deserved credits you can get in big trouble.