Post Secret Extra Credit

In the post secret card with the picture of the tsunami and space there is a pretty significant message conveyed to viewers. Its claim is very apparent in that society is more worried about a Star Wars movie rather than feeling sympathy and trying to help certain tragedies such as the tsunami victims. This author could be someone that is of a younger age most likely. For that fact alone it's apparent that the youth today is worried about the wrong things. The audience for this post secret card is a very broad audience. I think the card is directed at the same kind of people as the creator of the card because it sounds like a wake up call. It's telling people that they need to wake up and see the problem with societies priorities. The visual component of this card is a ying and yang type of picture. On one hand the top part is black and ominous and the bottom is blue. It shows the right and wrong with societies reactions. We know that one is wrong but still it happens throughout the world. In the end, society cares more about the Star Wars movie rather than the tsunami because it's out of sight out of mind. It's sad but this card conveys that ugly truth.

Food ICW

These images tell me that all of the world cultures have a different outlook on food. Whether it be the portions, the types, or how they eat it, everyone is different. The images show that one could go only several miles away and experience a completely different life style of food. This is easily seen when showing the difference between the American culture of food and the African culture of food. In one we see the massive amounts of food and the fact that they are all mass produced packaged food. While in the other we see that everything is down to its raw form and in much smaller portions.

Paper Concerns

Are my points about her argument being weak valid to the reader's of my paper?
Is my thesis paragraph strong?
How could I make my conclusion a bit stronger?
More or less quoting?

Rhetorical Paragraph:Thesis Paragraph

Lichtenberg believes that altruism in a pure sense almost always has ulterior motives but that doesn’t always mean there is a negative twist on that unselfish act. She goes on to explain that achieving a “warm glow” once we do good isn’t the only desire intended. Altruism cannot be truly achieved without desiring the good of others for its own sake. While Lichtenberg uses concrete language to convey the theories of reciprocal altruism and kin selection her own true motive behind altruism’s validity starts to become unveiled. She explains that reciprocal altruism means one is seeking “that the favor will be returned” and kin selection is a genuine sacrifice for another who does not share the same genes, both eventually conveying flaws to altruism. However, Lichtenberg goes on to use these points as a catapult to show her main thesis that even though altruism has its motives that individuals might realize or might not realize, “there might be no single real reason-actions can have multiple motives”.  

Rhetorical Outline

Title: Rhetorical Analysis of Judith Lichtenberg’s Is Pure Altruism Possible?

Thesis: Using life examples and effective connections to the audience, Lichtenberg conveys her argument on the good and evil of true altruism, whether being pure and whole-hearted or if in fact it is for the gain of the individual.

I.                   Lichtenberg believes that altruism in a pure sense almost always has ulterior motives but that doesn’t always mean there is a negative twist on that unselfish act.  

a.       Are we always looking for that “warm glow” after a heroic or unselfish act?

b.      Using the two scientific theories of reciprocal altruism and kin selection she explains the pros and cons to each, always returning to the belief that attaining true altruism isn’t possible.

II.                She explains that people never intentionally act to benefit others through a view known as egoism.

a.       As people always think twice, true altruism is disputed because as Lichtenberg puts it, “We know that even when we appear to act unselfishly, other reasons for our behavior often rear their heads.”

b.      Her pathos appeal throughout the theory behind egoism develops rapidly due to her knowledge of the science behind egoism and through the knowledge of scientists stated. (Butler, Kant, Freud)

III.             On the other hand, Lichtenberg counters these ulterior motives in altruistic acts using true life examples and basic logical reasoning.

a.       Virginia Tech professor Librescu saved all his students’ lives by blocking the door to his classroom, in doing so sacrificing his own life (51).

b.       She goes on to give the reader an opposite outlook, that in fact there are examples of people desiring the good of others for its own sake, not just for one’s own fulfillment.

C.  Her kairos in this piece is very well crafted and is a pro, con structure to convey the validity of true altruism.

            a. Nice guys don’t always finish last/nor do they always finish first (53).

b. She expounds that altruism should not be confused with flat out sacrifice but that     altruism is still possible and real.

Conclusion: There are always going to be ulterior motives in altruism but that doesn’t always mean the desire is for the gain or prosperity of that individual. Even in questioning one’s own altruism the increase in altruism throughout the world is critical and possible.

ICWA

Lichtenberg

Using life examples and effective connections to the audience, Lichtenberg conveys her argument on the good and evil of true altruism, whether being pure and whole-hearted or if in fact it is for the gain of the individual.

CR's

Is true altruism possible? By Judith Lichtenberg

In “Is true altruism possible?” by Judith Lichtenberg there is a strong argument on the belief of true altruism being possible. Her argument is between altruism being pure and whole-hearted or if it is in fact for the gain of that individual. To support her argument she uses numerous examples of altruism like the Virginia Tech professor and the New York City sub way saving. But also she uses these arguments to not confuse altruism with sacrificing one’s own interest for others. By using these examples she is also tending to lean towards a very strong pathos appeal. When she uses diction like “sacrifice” and “selfish” the pathos appeal was clearly apparent. Also when she talks about egoism she is using an ethos appeal. She is showing her knowledge of the psychological path of altruism versus just examples.  

Lady Power by Nancy Bauer

In “Lady Power” by Nancy Bauer her main argument is on the timeless topic of feminism. She uses Lady Gaga to describe how feminism is used today in a negative way and in a strong way. The best line Bauer uses to describe her stand point is “if there’s anything that feminism has bequeathed to young women of means, it’s that power is their birthright”. Her pathos appeal was construed to me as being very harsh because she gets into very gritty examples of the “hook up-culture”. Her ethos appeal was harder for me to decipher. Since I already know she is an associate professor and her knowledge is significant on feministic topics I knew she was very credible. She uses examples like Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir to convey her credibility.

WA #1

Goodman claims that surrogacy is becoming its own market and is starting to cross the boundary of selling ourselves into slavery and selling our children as well. Her reasons are valid in my eyes. Her best point is that you never see a rich woman become a surrogate for a poor family. It can start to be construed as slavery in everyone’s eyes. Goodman says that it is becoming an international business and that people are looking for the “best deals”.

            Goodman makes her appeal to pathos when she talks about what women that completed surrogacy did with the money afterwards. One used the money to buy a heart operation for her son and the other raised a dowry for her daughter. These appeals function as a way of showing two sides of the surrogacy argument. On one hand it makes money for women to better themselves and their own family and on the other hand it is turning to much into an industry between different countries societies.

            The additional focus I chose is, “What motivated the writer to produce this piece”. Goodman’s motivation comes from the increasing popularity in surrogacy and the abuse of the whole process involved. This strengthens my perspective of Goodman’s argument because I tend to agree with her motivation behind the piece. It seems to me that the system of surrogacy is being abused for financial gain but there are also people that use it for its rightful purposes so it becomes a tough topic.

            The thing that strikes me as disturbing is the fact that international this is becoming an economic gain. For instance, Goodman says 45 women in India will earn $5000 to $7000 dollars for delivery. It is becoming a way of supplementing income and I found that to be quite disturbing that people can’t just get jobs and work in some other way.  

Beecher Background

I learned that Beecher was a huge advocate of education for women and strongly believed that women were intellectually capable. She was also an advocate for women to be teachers and mothers. In her writing I didn't get the sense that she believed in women as teachers but that women were housekeepers and meant to take care of their respected homes. Learning more about Beecher helped me to understand where she is coming from about woman's role in society through her eyes.

SWA #4

     In Catherine E. Beecher’s “On the Preservation of a Good Temper in A Housekeeper”, there is a continuous theme of happiness and a certain sunshine around every good housekeeper. To be a good housekeeper one must be gentle and cheerful but always know that every mood will result from her system and neatness. The audience should understand that a housekeeper sets the vibe for everyone present and such little things like tone of voice and the way the mistress enters the room play a part in a good housekeeper. An “equable and cheerful temper” is so important because the housekeeper is like the circle of sunshine, keeping everything happy and going the right way.

            First off a woman that is in charge of a large household should regard her duties as dignified, important, and difficult. She should always make everything very important, even small tasks. Also always be prepared for mistakes or interference with plans that are made. Something always comes up and can ruin the plans that were made. In accordance with the rule before, always make plans to best fit your guests and their character. A very important rule is that system, economy, and neatness go so far as long as they promote comfort. Also when it comes to comfort your tone of voice is very important thing to keep in mind. No matter what, make allowances for bad behavior and immature minds because plans will be interfered with otherwise. The most important rule of them all that Beecher speaks of is the Heavenly Father being in your right mind to help secure a good-natured and cheerful temper.

            Throughout the whole chapter I feel like Beecher is making assumptions. She believes that every woman should be a stay at home “housekeeper” and not own a job. She believes her happiness is not important but that of others is what is more important. She complicates her definitions of woman and housekeeper because they sound like they go hand in hand. She thinks that happiness should come from making others happy not from making yourself happy, in terms of a woman and housekeeper.