03.02 First Amendment Freedoms

  The Supreme Court vs. Davis has just shook the media and the court systems. This case shows that you have freedom of speech even when you are locked up in prison waiting to be put to death. Not only did Davis express his freedom of speech but the people that supported him with organized protests in front of the prison and around the world.

   Troy Davis was an African American man that was accused and convicted of killing a police officer in Savannah, Georgia in 1989. There was substantial evidence from witnesses and was convicted to die a few days ago. Thanks to the news media we found that many people expressed there freedom of his innocence. We have also dealt with cases just like this. Also about the same time he was put to death a white supremacist accused and convicted of the dragging death of a black man had people rally for him for his innocence before his death. Both of these men had people supporting them with freedom of speech and they also practiced it themselves.

   The protesters of Troy Davis case were allowed to rally outside and protest with picket signs and had megaphones chanting his innocence.  The same was with the white supremacist that was put to death. They had an established buffer zone and couldn't go on prison property or they would stay on prison property for some time. It was peaceful and didn't cause any violence and was well within the law. I believe that as long as they are calm and within the law they should be allowed to do this at anytime. With Troy Davis he was proclaiming his innocence to his death and even convinced the supreme court to review his case by freedom of speech.

   This rights are great for people that are actually innocent. Any type of support from people during rough times is good especially with freedom of speech because in America you have a lot of power in your voice to be heard. I believe if this kind of freedom of speech was removed in this case Troy Davis he would have not be given a chance to reclaim in innocence before his death. But Davis killed a police officer and I believe that if you kill a police officer or anyone you else you deserve to be punished. I think a lot of this case was surrounded by the fact that he was an African American and he wasn't getting a fair trial. Based on evidence and eye witness accounts he did it and was given a fair trial. You can not use the racist argument every time.
 

  Even in the court house you are given your freedom of speech to defend your innocence. In this case he was given it during his trial and was even allowed to express his innocence a second time when he asked the supreme court to review his case. You had people protesting outside for his innocence and the evidence just overwhelmed them. Freedom of speech is a right we are given to express ourselves and views. But unfortunately sometimes it isn't good enough and it falls short, hurting people that are innocent but luckily based on the evidence it looked like a guilty person was rightly punished for their wrong doing.

02.03 Broadcast—Radio

  The broadcast I heard is actually from a few weeks ago. It was from a segment of the MJ Morning show, a wildly popular morning show that recently ended after 18 years. During the segment they talked about a 19 year old student that drowned after smoking marijuana in a park with his friends. I had heard about the story already so I already knew what happened, but some things about what he said really disturbed me and some of the other students at the school.
  MJ usually says all of the right information and will let you know his opinion on the topic. For this particular topic he took his information out of context and started to poke fun at it. I learned that even when you think you are just poking fun and not hurting anyones feeling, that sometimes you might be without realizing it. I'm assuming he used the short story that was in the newspaper about the situation or the one that was on the internet.
  I usually would use this broadcast as a credible source, but sometimes their opinions might get in way. If the MJ Morning Show was still on the air I would continue to trust them as a credible news source because I know they did not mean in any harm in what they said.

4.03 Ethos and Credibility

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/pinellas/blind-vet-offered-spot-in-paralympics-022712

I read an article about a blind vet that has been offered a sot in the 2012 Paralympic games. I trust this article because this news source usually has all of the correct information. My swim coach was actually Brad's coach so I know that this information is correct. Also swim meet information is very easy and readily available to be found.

04.02 Logic and Fallacies

  Fallacies are used every day multiple times a day. I hear teachers using them, students using them, and even parents. A fallacy is an easy way to persuade someone to do something by using information that isn't reliable. Teachers use fallacies to say that everyone is doing a certain assignment or same amount of work in different classrooms and schools. Students use it to persuade their parents and peers. They use it on their parents by saying that everyone is doing something. I've even used it on them to get them to buy me Taylor Swift concert tickets by saying "everyone is going so I have to go!", not everyone was going of course, because that wouldn't be realistic, but it got my point across. Students use it on their peers in many ways. It can be from saying "you should vote for this team because they are for sure going to win" to more negative things like pressuring someone to drink or do drugs by saying "everyone here is doing it." Parents might use a fallacy to sway a kid into doing something they don't really want to, like eat a certain food, or go somewhere they don't want to.
  Fallacies can be both negative and positive but aren't giving the right information, whether you mean to or not. They're a bandwagon effect to get people to do things they don't want to by lying and saying that everyone is doing something.

04.01 Pathos in Journalistic Writing

As a kid, I always loathed wearing school uniforms. I thought they were boring, unflattering, and plain unnecessary. As I got older, I began to realize that school uniforms are actually very convenient and totally go along with my preppy style! Not only do we, as students, save money on constantly buying new clothes, but we also don’t have to worry about impressing anyone if we are all wearing the same thing. I know of many people who cannot afford to buy new clothes all the time. School uniforms help them to have something to wear, and not worry about whether they fit in or not.

As a student, I know at times money can get tight with all the school fees that we must pay, but uniforms make it much easier for us, and even easier for struggling families of other students. In the end, even if some people complain about uniforms, they are the better choice for us as students. I love the fact that everyone wears the same thing, so there is no competition among students for who looks the best. It is heartwarming to know that when I go to school, I am getting the same experience as the next student, because I do not have to try harder to impress anyone or look nicer than anyone. Also you won't be distracted by other people's outfit or sometimes even their dreaded wardrobe malfunctions, which we all know can gross us out.

Finally, I think uniforms are a great enforcement, and shouldn’t be removed from the school system. They are comfortable, affordable, and appropriate for a school setting. Uniform is an indicator of hard work and dedication, so I think it fits well with the school environment.

What are your thoughts on school uniforms?

Chloe

4.00 Introduction to Persuasion

  Advertisements can be found pretty much everywhere you look. Even if you're not "looking" persuasion advertisements are constantly playing on the radio. From ads that pop up when opening a page on the internet, to ones that play on a commercial on the t.v. or radio.

  I am on the internet so much and sometimes when I open up a web page an advertisement pops up. These usually do not persuade me to buy the product because I see them more of a pest rather than something that persuades me. I also see them on Tumblr blogs and even popular written blogs. I find these to be a pest as well because most of the time they are flashing and bouncing around. 

  Television advertisements usually capture my attention a little bit more. Most of the time ads on t.v. are very descriptive and usually show step by step why a product works well. Be it a vacuum that shows how well it picks up everything on the floor especially pesky dog hair, or a night cream that shows how well it works. Television is definitely at the advantage because it can capture you both visually and verbally.

  Radio advertisements are another type of ad that I just don't enjoy very much. Besides the fact that I really don't like the lengthy commercials interrupting the music on my drive, sometimes they are too over powering with their voices, and honestly annoying. Some of the commercials are screaming at you to buy the products or go to their office and this makes me not want to because they are being too pushy which can end up pushing people away in the end.

  What are your thoughts on advertisements?

Chloe