Kyle Morales
Mrs. Sowa
English 10803
12 December 2008
English Final
The target audience for my advertisement is any business owner. Companies need customers to stay in business to generate revenue. People do not hear of a given product overnight. They just do not wake up one day and miraculously know that Verizon is a phone company. The way businesses reach customers are through advertisement. The argument that I present in essay four is that television is the best way to advertise a product.
When I was first brainstorming on where this advertisement should be, I first thought a billboard would be the best option. Since my target market was business owners, I thought a billboard saying that television is the best way to advertise a product in downtown Fort Worth or downtown Pittsburgh would be the best option. Then after creating my advertisement, I decided that there was too much information on it. A person driving by would not have enough time to read the billboard and comprehend the message. I then thought the next best option would be in a business magazine.
I decided the best vehicle for advertising to business owners would be in any business magazines. There are many business magazines. A few such examples include: BizJournals, Black Enterprise, Business 2.0, Business Week, Dismal Scientist, Dollars and Sense, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Financial Times, Forbes, Fortune, Harvard Business Review, Inc Magazine, Money Week, My Business Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal. My advertisement would be sized to fill an entire page. Unlike being on a billboard, the readers exposed to this advertisement would have as much time as they needed to totally comprehend it. That is why I chose to put it in a magazine.
Now let me describe the ad that would be in one of those magazines. Correctly using pathos, ethos, and logos makes any advertisement appealing, trustworthy, and effective to the intended audience. To give the visual effect that television is the most used media source, I made the picture of the television bigger than the other three sources (radio, computer, newsprint). I put the television in the center of the page with the other three below it. Under each of the different advertisements, I put the average amount of time each year that Americans spend using each source. I did this to bring out pathos for the ad. The emotion I wanted the customer to feel was the feeling that television is bigger and better than any other source. The statistical numbers for television are bigger than the numbers for the other three media sources. I used those statistical numbers to appear to ethos. I believe the best way for credibility is to use accurate statistical evidence. After I captured the reader’s attention with the big television and the statistical evidence, I would have at the bottom of the page in large, bold letters the words ‘Use Television To Advertise’. This appeals to logos because the facts are presented to the business owner and the only way to effectively advertise a product is to use television.
I wanted to highlight a few key elements in the advertisement. To make this possible I chose three different words or set of numbers and made them different colors. I made the words ‘most’ and ‘television’ in the color red instead of the traditional color black. Also, the statistic of 1,686 is in the color red. Therefore, at first glance the reader of this advertisement would know that television is the most viewed source by Americans without even to have to think about it.
In conclusion, the argument I presented in my paper was that Americans on average would be exposed to television for 1,686 hours each year. That was larger than any other source. Since Americans are exposed to this source the most, businesses should seek television to advertise their product. More people will become aware of their product and will probably use it. I did find it ironic that I was supporting television advertisement, yet I was putting my advertisement in a magazine. The reason for this was that I did not have the technological or financial resources to make a television advertisement possible. I also did not have the resources to make a radio advertisement or an internet advertisement. These three types of sources have more people exposed to them than magazines or news print. I concluded that placing the advertisement in a business magazine was the next best alternative. The best way to make an advertisement was to make the things you want in the advertisement standout amongst the rest of the information. Pathos, ethos, and logos are also essential for any advertisement to draw in the intended audience. I found that advertising in a magazine was the best way to tell business owners that television is the best way to advertise.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Advertisement
Tom Brady is argued to be one of if not the most successful athlete playing in the NFL today. He has led the New England Patriots in winning Super Bowl’s XXXVI, XXXVIII, and XXXIX. This advertisement is portraying the message that if you drink milk, then you too can be a winner and be as successful as Tom Brady.
The Got Milk? ads are an American advertisement campaign encouraging the purchase of cow’s milk. These ads are created by the advertising agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners for the California Milk Processor Board in 1993 and later licensed for use by milk processors and dairy farmers. The reason for these campaigns is for the past twenty years the sales nationwide of milk have not been that high (Gifford 1). The target person used to help them advertise milk is a person that can easily be recognized by the average American.
The target market for this particular Got Milk? ad is to sports fans but more specifically football fans. This ad came at the height of Brady’s fame following his third Super Bowl win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Therefore, he is a highly recognized figure in our society. Since he is so highly recognized to this target market, this ad probably did not get overlooked by the readers of the magazine he was in.
The creator of this ad put a milk mustache on Brady meaning that he just took a sip of this advertised produce. He is also resting it on his leg on top of a bag of ice. Just seeing the ice underneath the milk instantly made me carve a nice cold glass of milk. So the propaganda did work on me. Furthermore, the print underneath the words “Got Milk?” read that milk gives you nine essential nutrients that your active body needs. If the ice cold glass of milk did not convince you to get the produce then that statistic promoting a healthy lifestyle probably did. Brady is also wearing shoulder pads showing the fact that he just got done playing a game or got done with practice or he is about to play a game or start a practice. So the ad is also saying that Tom Brady drinks milk as a post game or possibly pregame drink. The game of football is also viewed as a tough manly sport. The message of this advertisement is if you drink milk, you will also be tough and more of a man.
Color is not a big part of this advertisement. It seems to be in a dark locker room. However, the white milk did stand out. Positioning is also not a factor. He is sitting in the center of the ad on a stool with the glass of milk on his left knee. The expression on his face is that of an ideal “game face.” He looks serious and tough. When I first took a look at the ad I instantly noticed the milk mustache. I was then lured to look at the glass of milk. I think the white in the picture stood out the most and it caught my eye. I next noticed the phrase Got Milk? and then the nutrient facts about milk. Then after that I came to realize that Tom Brady is the one behind the milk mustache.
Overall this was a very effective advertisement. I now have that idea that if I continue to drink milk then I can be a stud like Tom Brady. Besides just being a stud, the nutrient facts are also convincing to drink a nice ice cold glass of milk. Another effective use of this advertisement is including a milk mustache on Brady. I assume that many people will drink a glass of milk just so they can copy Brady. I know next time when I venture into the BLUU right after I get my card swiped I will immediately head to the section with milk and pore myself a refreshing glass of milk.
The Got Milk? ads are an American advertisement campaign encouraging the purchase of cow’s milk. These ads are created by the advertising agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners for the California Milk Processor Board in 1993 and later licensed for use by milk processors and dairy farmers. The reason for these campaigns is for the past twenty years the sales nationwide of milk have not been that high (Gifford 1). The target person used to help them advertise milk is a person that can easily be recognized by the average American.
The target market for this particular Got Milk? ad is to sports fans but more specifically football fans. This ad came at the height of Brady’s fame following his third Super Bowl win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Therefore, he is a highly recognized figure in our society. Since he is so highly recognized to this target market, this ad probably did not get overlooked by the readers of the magazine he was in.
The creator of this ad put a milk mustache on Brady meaning that he just took a sip of this advertised produce. He is also resting it on his leg on top of a bag of ice. Just seeing the ice underneath the milk instantly made me carve a nice cold glass of milk. So the propaganda did work on me. Furthermore, the print underneath the words “Got Milk?” read that milk gives you nine essential nutrients that your active body needs. If the ice cold glass of milk did not convince you to get the produce then that statistic promoting a healthy lifestyle probably did. Brady is also wearing shoulder pads showing the fact that he just got done playing a game or got done with practice or he is about to play a game or start a practice. So the ad is also saying that Tom Brady drinks milk as a post game or possibly pregame drink. The game of football is also viewed as a tough manly sport. The message of this advertisement is if you drink milk, you will also be tough and more of a man.
Color is not a big part of this advertisement. It seems to be in a dark locker room. However, the white milk did stand out. Positioning is also not a factor. He is sitting in the center of the ad on a stool with the glass of milk on his left knee. The expression on his face is that of an ideal “game face.” He looks serious and tough. When I first took a look at the ad I instantly noticed the milk mustache. I was then lured to look at the glass of milk. I think the white in the picture stood out the most and it caught my eye. I next noticed the phrase Got Milk? and then the nutrient facts about milk. Then after that I came to realize that Tom Brady is the one behind the milk mustache.
Overall this was a very effective advertisement. I now have that idea that if I continue to drink milk then I can be a stud like Tom Brady. Besides just being a stud, the nutrient facts are also convincing to drink a nice ice cold glass of milk. Another effective use of this advertisement is including a milk mustache on Brady. I assume that many people will drink a glass of milk just so they can copy Brady. I know next time when I venture into the BLUU right after I get my card swiped I will immediately head to the section with milk and pore myself a refreshing glass of milk.
Reference for image: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2241/2405012399_1487d23aa8.jpg
Reference for cited source in my second paragraph: Gifford, Amy. "Got Milk?" Wikipedia. 28 Nov. 2008. .
Monday, November 24, 2008
Plans to revise my first two essays
Essay 1
- In the first paragraph I mention that the only thing to do is eat and go to school. Later I mention shopping. This contradicts the fact that there are only two things to do. There for, I need to include from the beginning that shopping is also an activity in Flower Mound
- In the first sentence of paragraph two, I use the phrase "accumulate some slumbe." I need to take that out and add a less awkward phrase like "went to bed."
- In the forth paragrah, I have two main ideas in it. As a result, it is a very long paragraph. I need to break it up into two.
- In paragraph five, I need to specify like bring up a specific turn of events that lead to my change in becoming a more greatful employee. Also in this paragrah, clearify who "there" is in sentence six. I need to go deeper in this paragraph. Talk more about how this changed me.
- In paragraph six I switched tenses way too much. Clear that up.
- Paragraph eight I need to get a better centralized main idea. Have one main idea and expand on it.
- Overall, better organization is needed.
Essay 2
- Paragrah two clearify what I am talking about.
- Paragraph four is extremely long, shorten it or break up into two seperate ones. Make a point how soccer is cheaper to play therefor more people can play it.
- Do not bounce around from topic to topic.
- Clear up controlling idea. Focus on a few sports.
- Put more of me in the paper
- Also touch on a common theme throughout the paper to tie all my points together
Monday, November 17, 2008
Kyle Morales
Ms. Sowa
English 10803
16 November 2008
Commercials: The best way to advertise
After taking a tough test at school or needing something to do to relax, watching television is the best way to find that comfort zone. On average, Americans spend four and a half hours a day watching television (Avery 1). While viewing the assortment of channels there are always commercials inserted in a show to interrupt ones favorite program. I always hate when a commercial is used to keep you in suspense of what will happen next. Despite our hate for these interruptions, we still stay and watch these commercials as they are a source of entertainment. The people behind making and paying for these sometime comical commercials are using their money wisely. Advertising on television is the best way to advertise a product versus other forms of media.
Attracting customers is always a tough proposition. Businesses need customers in order to stay around and generate a profit. In order to attract these customers, advertising is essential. Most entrepreneurs do not even think about advertising on television. They think it will cost too much (Sanders 1). It has been estimated that producing and paying to air a thirty second commercial on national television is $350,000. This price seems like a price only big businesses like Verizon or Dr. Pepper can afford. But to produce a decent commercial can cost as little as $1,000. The price of a commercial varies. It all depends on the number of viewers that are expected to watch the program. For instance to advertise during the Super Bowl will cost a lot more than advertising on the local news. To advertise during the 2005 Super Bowl, a thirty second commercial cost $2.4 million. To advertise on a less-watched program only cost about $100,000 (Sanders 1). The standard half-hour show contains about twenty two minutes of programming and eight minutes of commercials. These eight minutes of commercials are divided up where six minutes are dedicated to national advertising and two minutes are for the local business. That way the hometown guy has a chance to advertise their product. The small to medium sized businesses might prefer to advertise locally than nationally. A thirty second commercial in a medium-sized market is $5 per 1,000 viewers meaning it is possible to pay less than $100 per commercial slot locally (Sanders 1). A medium sized market is defined as a city with less than one million people like Charlotte, North Carolina or Nashville, Tennessee. It can be even cheaper to advertise during off hour programs.
But why would someone choose to advertise on television then advertise else were? Millions of people daily drive past billboards on their way to work. Also going to work, the radio might be on and commercials flood the air waves. Even sporting events have advertising. A penalty at a Dallas Desperadoes indoor football game is not a penalty. It is a Boothe Eye Care and Laser Center penalty. In college football it is not just the Fiesta Bowl or the Cotton Bowl. It is the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and the AT&T Cotton Bowl. The reason is television still remains the dominant medium in most households (Avery 1). Ever since the emergence of cable television, the cost of production has decreased. Also businesses are now able to reach a smaller more targeted market making advertising on television a good option for small to medium-sized markets. However, it can be argued that internet is the best option mainly because it is a service that “never sleeps,” targets the right buyer, and you get fast results (Chan 1). But when advertising on the internet, it is hard to find an internet company that will give you quality advertising on their web page without being concerned about taking your money (Hanson 1). This concern is not evident when advertising on television. You know how your advertisement will look to the public, how many times it will be shown, how long it will be, and when it will be shown. It is a more organized method than the internet. You know exactly where your money is going. Another disadvantage for advertising on the internet is it is hard for local companies to advertise locally (Hanson 1). This is not the case on television.
Another option businesses can turn to advertise is the newspaper. When I open the newspaper, surrounding the articles is just a huge clutter of a bunch of advertisements put together. Therefore your advertisement won’t stick out amongst the other competing advertisements. On television, during your thirty second commercial spot, there are no competitors. It is just your product and the viewer. All you have to do is use that spot in a way that you think will be best fit for the company. Also with newspaper advertisements, the photo productivity is also poor. Therefore, the chance to get creative and catchy with a product is limited. The life span of you advertisement is short. I know that I do not save newspapers. I just skim it, read articles that are interesting to me then I throw it out. Newspapers are also a source that is highly visible everywhere. This is a disadvantage because competitors can quickly react to you products price and do price comparisons (Pleshette 1). Another form of advertisement that I stumble upon that is of paper is direct mail advertisement. From observing my mother, when this type of advertisement comes, she sometimes does not even open it. She would immediately throw it away. I also assume that her actions with direct mail advertisement are the same with other people. The yellow pages is a another advertisement businesses can use. Like the newspaper, ads in the yellow pages are also cluttered. The ads of a business are placed right next to its competitors (Pleshette 1). Another disadvantage similarity with newspapers is they have limited creativity. They have to follow a pre-determined format.
Advertising on the radio is also a source someone could use. It too has many disadvantages. The radio is a background medium. Most listeners are doing other activities when listening to the radio. As a result, the advertiser has to work extra hard to get the listeners attention (Pleshette 1). Radio listeners are also spread out amongst a variety of stations. You may have to broadcast the advertisement simultaneously on several stations to reach your target audience (Pleshette 1). Like the newspaper, Ad clutter is also high causing your ad to not stick out and distinguish itself (Brassil 1). Radio ads are also limited. On television, your message can be conveyed with sight, sound, and motion. On the radio, the advertisements are only audio messages. It might take as much as six times for someone to listen to the ad to before the message sinks in (Bassil 1).
Advertising on television is the best way to advertise a product rather then choosing a different source. It is the most looked at form of media in America. The average person views four and a half hours of television. Of that four hours and thirty minutes, about 45 of those minutes is spent watching commercials.
Ms. Sowa
English 10803
16 November 2008
Commercials: The best way to advertise
After taking a tough test at school or needing something to do to relax, watching television is the best way to find that comfort zone. On average, Americans spend four and a half hours a day watching television (Avery 1). While viewing the assortment of channels there are always commercials inserted in a show to interrupt ones favorite program. I always hate when a commercial is used to keep you in suspense of what will happen next. Despite our hate for these interruptions, we still stay and watch these commercials as they are a source of entertainment. The people behind making and paying for these sometime comical commercials are using their money wisely. Advertising on television is the best way to advertise a product versus other forms of media.
Attracting customers is always a tough proposition. Businesses need customers in order to stay around and generate a profit. In order to attract these customers, advertising is essential. Most entrepreneurs do not even think about advertising on television. They think it will cost too much (Sanders 1). It has been estimated that producing and paying to air a thirty second commercial on national television is $350,000. This price seems like a price only big businesses like Verizon or Dr. Pepper can afford. But to produce a decent commercial can cost as little as $1,000. The price of a commercial varies. It all depends on the number of viewers that are expected to watch the program. For instance to advertise during the Super Bowl will cost a lot more than advertising on the local news. To advertise during the 2005 Super Bowl, a thirty second commercial cost $2.4 million. To advertise on a less-watched program only cost about $100,000 (Sanders 1). The standard half-hour show contains about twenty two minutes of programming and eight minutes of commercials. These eight minutes of commercials are divided up where six minutes are dedicated to national advertising and two minutes are for the local business. That way the hometown guy has a chance to advertise their product. The small to medium sized businesses might prefer to advertise locally than nationally. A thirty second commercial in a medium-sized market is $5 per 1,000 viewers meaning it is possible to pay less than $100 per commercial slot locally (Sanders 1). A medium sized market is defined as a city with less than one million people like Charlotte, North Carolina or Nashville, Tennessee. It can be even cheaper to advertise during off hour programs.
But why would someone choose to advertise on television then advertise else were? Millions of people daily drive past billboards on their way to work. Also going to work, the radio might be on and commercials flood the air waves. Even sporting events have advertising. A penalty at a Dallas Desperadoes indoor football game is not a penalty. It is a Boothe Eye Care and Laser Center penalty. In college football it is not just the Fiesta Bowl or the Cotton Bowl. It is the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and the AT&T Cotton Bowl. The reason is television still remains the dominant medium in most households (Avery 1). Ever since the emergence of cable television, the cost of production has decreased. Also businesses are now able to reach a smaller more targeted market making advertising on television a good option for small to medium-sized markets. However, it can be argued that internet is the best option mainly because it is a service that “never sleeps,” targets the right buyer, and you get fast results (Chan 1). But when advertising on the internet, it is hard to find an internet company that will give you quality advertising on their web page without being concerned about taking your money (Hanson 1). This concern is not evident when advertising on television. You know how your advertisement will look to the public, how many times it will be shown, how long it will be, and when it will be shown. It is a more organized method than the internet. You know exactly where your money is going. Another disadvantage for advertising on the internet is it is hard for local companies to advertise locally (Hanson 1). This is not the case on television.
Another option businesses can turn to advertise is the newspaper. When I open the newspaper, surrounding the articles is just a huge clutter of a bunch of advertisements put together. Therefore your advertisement won’t stick out amongst the other competing advertisements. On television, during your thirty second commercial spot, there are no competitors. It is just your product and the viewer. All you have to do is use that spot in a way that you think will be best fit for the company. Also with newspaper advertisements, the photo productivity is also poor. Therefore, the chance to get creative and catchy with a product is limited. The life span of you advertisement is short. I know that I do not save newspapers. I just skim it, read articles that are interesting to me then I throw it out. Newspapers are also a source that is highly visible everywhere. This is a disadvantage because competitors can quickly react to you products price and do price comparisons (Pleshette 1). Another form of advertisement that I stumble upon that is of paper is direct mail advertisement. From observing my mother, when this type of advertisement comes, she sometimes does not even open it. She would immediately throw it away. I also assume that her actions with direct mail advertisement are the same with other people. The yellow pages is a another advertisement businesses can use. Like the newspaper, ads in the yellow pages are also cluttered. The ads of a business are placed right next to its competitors (Pleshette 1). Another disadvantage similarity with newspapers is they have limited creativity. They have to follow a pre-determined format.
Advertising on the radio is also a source someone could use. It too has many disadvantages. The radio is a background medium. Most listeners are doing other activities when listening to the radio. As a result, the advertiser has to work extra hard to get the listeners attention (Pleshette 1). Radio listeners are also spread out amongst a variety of stations. You may have to broadcast the advertisement simultaneously on several stations to reach your target audience (Pleshette 1). Like the newspaper, Ad clutter is also high causing your ad to not stick out and distinguish itself (Brassil 1). Radio ads are also limited. On television, your message can be conveyed with sight, sound, and motion. On the radio, the advertisements are only audio messages. It might take as much as six times for someone to listen to the ad to before the message sinks in (Bassil 1).
Advertising on television is the best way to advertise a product rather then choosing a different source. It is the most looked at form of media in America. The average person views four and a half hours of television. Of that four hours and thirty minutes, about 45 of those minutes is spent watching commercials.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Reading Response 4
Reading Response 4
In the argumentative essay "Putting a Price on Nature," by Mangu-Ward, Joh, Quarmby, and Drenner, the central claim is that we should save the wildlife instead of drilling and ruining it for oil exploration and extraction. "Oil is not a renewable resource and will disappear in the future (B67)," is one of the claims set forth on why drilling should be abandoned. Some very good points are scattered throughout the entire essay. The essay further argues that since oil will be gone, we should use our money and resources to find other alternative energies. Primary research is evident throughout the essay. Most of the primary research is accumulated through interviews. From personal experience, Kathy Svitil states, "If we required automobile owners to replace their used tires with ones as efficient as the tires that originally came on the car, we would save more oil than there is in the Arctic refuge (B66)." Through research and firsthand experience, she has become very knowledgeable on the topic of oil and is used as a subject matter expert in the essay on what might happen if drilling persists. Statistical information is also used in aiding the pro nature argument the authors have on the issue. "They estimate that there is a 95% chance that we could extract and use 4.3 billion barrels of oil…Americans use 16 million barrels of oil per day (B66)." The authors argue that a lot of oil is consumed. Therefore, mass quantities of oil drilling needs to take place. This then affects the wildlife. This is an example of secondary factual research conducted for the better good of the essay.
A specific example of drilling mishaps was even used to support the writers’ claim against drilling. The claim was secondary research that was factual statistical evidence about the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska. "The Exxon Valdez was an oil freighter in the ocean that wrecked of the coast of Alaska, spilling 11 million gallons of oil into the ocean (B64)." This statistic gives a real world example of the dangers of oil drilling. A specific example is a good way to support one’s argument. Examples help the reader relate to the issue and gain a better understanding for the position. Illustrations allow readers to see firsthand the effect an actual event had on the world. The event helps place the problem in perspective and form better understanding of the author’s position.
I believe that statistical, factual research is the best, quantifiable research available to us in analyzing a paper. Numbers are always the convincing factor for me. Numbers gives more credit to the writer in a way that shows that they have done their research and they know something about what they are talking about and have research to back up their position.
Personally, I am pretty easy to convince about a topic that I am not too knowledgeable about. I have not done much research on the effects of drilling on wildlife. Therefore, I was easily swayed to be against drilling. If I have a great understanding for a topic then it is harder to reverse my opinion. I think this can be said about anyone. I know when I read a paper I try to read it with an open mind. Then I decide if I am for the argument or against it. Once I start reading something that is against my prior values or beliefs, I do not dismiss the paper. By looking at all sides of an issue, I gain a total understanding of the issue and can discuss it intelligently.
In the argumentative essay "Putting a Price on Nature," by Mangu-Ward, Joh, Quarmby, and Drenner, the central claim is that we should save the wildlife instead of drilling and ruining it for oil exploration and extraction. "Oil is not a renewable resource and will disappear in the future (B67)," is one of the claims set forth on why drilling should be abandoned. Some very good points are scattered throughout the entire essay. The essay further argues that since oil will be gone, we should use our money and resources to find other alternative energies. Primary research is evident throughout the essay. Most of the primary research is accumulated through interviews. From personal experience, Kathy Svitil states, "If we required automobile owners to replace their used tires with ones as efficient as the tires that originally came on the car, we would save more oil than there is in the Arctic refuge (B66)." Through research and firsthand experience, she has become very knowledgeable on the topic of oil and is used as a subject matter expert in the essay on what might happen if drilling persists. Statistical information is also used in aiding the pro nature argument the authors have on the issue. "They estimate that there is a 95% chance that we could extract and use 4.3 billion barrels of oil…Americans use 16 million barrels of oil per day (B66)." The authors argue that a lot of oil is consumed. Therefore, mass quantities of oil drilling needs to take place. This then affects the wildlife. This is an example of secondary factual research conducted for the better good of the essay.
A specific example of drilling mishaps was even used to support the writers’ claim against drilling. The claim was secondary research that was factual statistical evidence about the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska. "The Exxon Valdez was an oil freighter in the ocean that wrecked of the coast of Alaska, spilling 11 million gallons of oil into the ocean (B64)." This statistic gives a real world example of the dangers of oil drilling. A specific example is a good way to support one’s argument. Examples help the reader relate to the issue and gain a better understanding for the position. Illustrations allow readers to see firsthand the effect an actual event had on the world. The event helps place the problem in perspective and form better understanding of the author’s position.
I believe that statistical, factual research is the best, quantifiable research available to us in analyzing a paper. Numbers are always the convincing factor for me. Numbers gives more credit to the writer in a way that shows that they have done their research and they know something about what they are talking about and have research to back up their position.
Personally, I am pretty easy to convince about a topic that I am not too knowledgeable about. I have not done much research on the effects of drilling on wildlife. Therefore, I was easily swayed to be against drilling. If I have a great understanding for a topic then it is harder to reverse my opinion. I think this can be said about anyone. I know when I read a paper I try to read it with an open mind. Then I decide if I am for the argument or against it. Once I start reading something that is against my prior values or beliefs, I do not dismiss the paper. By looking at all sides of an issue, I gain a total understanding of the issue and can discuss it intelligently.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Reading Response 3
Both the authors Katz and Anderson do a very good job in enacting what I learned in chapter ten about ethnography. They are able to look deep into the background of their studied group and firsthand view the subculture. Researching the background and a firsthand observation will help one get a better understanding of a subculture.
Katz does a great job in describing the sub culture of the geek. She lets the reader get an in-depth look on the busy working life style of the geek; “He was playing, working, networking, visiting, strategizing-all without skipping a function, getting confused, or stopping to think.” This statement about Jesse is effective about giving incite to the culture because it allows us to get in the shoes of the nerd. It gives us their perspective of their working conditions. Another way she gives the reader insight to the subculture is she writes citing the equipment that they use; “Jesse’s computer was a Pentium II 300, Asus P2B (Intel with BX chipset) motherboard; a Matrix Millenium II AGP; 160 MB SDRAM with a 15.5 GB total hard-drive space.” This equipment label defines what this subculture has to deal with. Their lingo is also embedded in the story; “My hard drive is grungy.” This is terminology that only people associated as a geek would use. This again puts the reader into the shoes of the geek. Katz also gives an in-depth look at the prior history of the subculture. She specifically takes two of the people associated with the culture and looks into their background of their early life. It is discovered that both the kids grew up with outcast like childhoods. This allows the reader cope with and understands the perception the geek has on situations.
Tammy Anderson uses her first hand experience with the company Mary Kay to discover this unique subculture. An effective way Anderson does in describing the culture is giving the background and observing an actual meeting of the subculture. Through the background, the reader can then get the understanding of why the women act the way they do. If it was not known that a Mary Kay consultant has a sales pitch of “…women to set their own hours, be their own bosses, and have better opportunities than they would find somewhere else in the work force, which seemed to be designed by men for men” then it would be unknown why the women that are Mary Kay consultants act the way they do. I false label or view of this subculture would have been present if the background information was not evident. The firsthand account of one of the meetings too was beneficial in learning about the subculture. “All of them wore nice dresses and skirts, and I would learn that this is something Mary Kay Ash insists upon, believing women should always present themselves in the most feminine, professional manner possible.” The appearance of a subculture reveals the makeup of it. All the women were at the meeting to look their best showing that all the women in this subculture had a lot of pride in it. They took it seriously and believed in the Mary Kay way. The Mary Kay way, however, was not something Anderson wanted to follow. Her research and observations of the subculture helped guided her in making an educated decision of not to join. The last sentence clearly states her conclusion of the company; “Yet this wonderful benefit package can only be obtained by selling it, one bottle at a time, to other women who need a dream.”
The kind of research that I can do to give similar research for my paper is to get a background of the terminology and lifestyle of my subculture. Research for an ethnography paper can only give the writer a feeling of what to expect before observing and almost being a part of the subculture. My topic that I am projected to study about is a University of Texas football fan. What I can do before I go and observe this group is research potential traditions the subculture might have or pregame tailgating destinations the fans will at. That way I will be able to focus more on the little things and get a better feeling for the subculture then trying to understand the subculture with no knowledge.
Katz does a great job in describing the sub culture of the geek. She lets the reader get an in-depth look on the busy working life style of the geek; “He was playing, working, networking, visiting, strategizing-all without skipping a function, getting confused, or stopping to think.” This statement about Jesse is effective about giving incite to the culture because it allows us to get in the shoes of the nerd. It gives us their perspective of their working conditions. Another way she gives the reader insight to the subculture is she writes citing the equipment that they use; “Jesse’s computer was a Pentium II 300, Asus P2B (Intel with BX chipset) motherboard; a Matrix Millenium II AGP; 160 MB SDRAM with a 15.5 GB total hard-drive space.” This equipment label defines what this subculture has to deal with. Their lingo is also embedded in the story; “My hard drive is grungy.” This is terminology that only people associated as a geek would use. This again puts the reader into the shoes of the geek. Katz also gives an in-depth look at the prior history of the subculture. She specifically takes two of the people associated with the culture and looks into their background of their early life. It is discovered that both the kids grew up with outcast like childhoods. This allows the reader cope with and understands the perception the geek has on situations.
Tammy Anderson uses her first hand experience with the company Mary Kay to discover this unique subculture. An effective way Anderson does in describing the culture is giving the background and observing an actual meeting of the subculture. Through the background, the reader can then get the understanding of why the women act the way they do. If it was not known that a Mary Kay consultant has a sales pitch of “…women to set their own hours, be their own bosses, and have better opportunities than they would find somewhere else in the work force, which seemed to be designed by men for men” then it would be unknown why the women that are Mary Kay consultants act the way they do. I false label or view of this subculture would have been present if the background information was not evident. The firsthand account of one of the meetings too was beneficial in learning about the subculture. “All of them wore nice dresses and skirts, and I would learn that this is something Mary Kay Ash insists upon, believing women should always present themselves in the most feminine, professional manner possible.” The appearance of a subculture reveals the makeup of it. All the women were at the meeting to look their best showing that all the women in this subculture had a lot of pride in it. They took it seriously and believed in the Mary Kay way. The Mary Kay way, however, was not something Anderson wanted to follow. Her research and observations of the subculture helped guided her in making an educated decision of not to join. The last sentence clearly states her conclusion of the company; “Yet this wonderful benefit package can only be obtained by selling it, one bottle at a time, to other women who need a dream.”
The kind of research that I can do to give similar research for my paper is to get a background of the terminology and lifestyle of my subculture. Research for an ethnography paper can only give the writer a feeling of what to expect before observing and almost being a part of the subculture. My topic that I am projected to study about is a University of Texas football fan. What I can do before I go and observe this group is research potential traditions the subculture might have or pregame tailgating destinations the fans will at. That way I will be able to focus more on the little things and get a better feeling for the subculture then trying to understand the subculture with no knowledge.
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