Public Writing Journal: February 2012

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Analyzing Comics

The comic book that I am analyzing is Ultimate Spiderman: El Capítulo Final. Needless to say, the comic is in Spanish. I am able to speak a small amount of Spanish, however not enough to completely understand the dialect. The cover is interesting with a large picture of Spiderman that appeals to the audience in a good way. Each page has roughly half a dozen “slides” if you will. Each slide has some sort of dialect ranging from just a word or two all the way to multiple sentences. Whenever there is a sound there is a word to describe it, which is onomatopoeia. The pictures are very detailed and include expressions on people’s faces, details in the clothes, writing on signs. One thing that comics in general have that most other forms of writing do not have is direct conversation. The style of writing is in speech bubbles so everything being said is in conversation between characters. There is not really a narrator. Because I cannot analyze the dialogue due to the foreign language I will analyze the dialogue of Lynda Berry’s comic now that I have analyzed the pictures of Spiderman. Berry’s comic is a bit different than Spiderman in that the writing has two forms. There is a story at the top of each page and then speech bubbles below which is the conversation between various characters. The speech bubbles almost are examples of the writing above. For example, on the first page the narrator explains how all houses smell different from one another regardless of whether the same air fresheners were used. The speech bubbles say, “What kind is that again?” “Fresh evergreen glen.” “Yeah. At the Bidman’s they got the same kind but here it smells like a fresh, um, bus bathroom.” So as one can see, the speech bubbles basically support the text above. Similarly to Spiderman, this comic also has explanation of noises. For example, on page 514 it says, “Breathing through my mouth” next to the boy so that the reader can picture the boy breathing while his mother talks. These captions represent the thinking of the characters.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Southeastern Conference Domination

I am unsure how to upload a copy of my brochure. I have a hard copy as well as a copy in Microsoft Word saved to my computer.

The Banning of Contraceptives

The Banning of Contraceptives is Unconstitutional and Ironically Benefits Religion

In 1776 our founding fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence, marking the start of this nation. They founded this country on a few critical ideas, one of which was separation of church and state. Although for some reason, so many people that claim to be “proud Americans” want to dictate the laws in this country based on their personal religious beliefs. A prime example of this is the latest hot topic being discussed in the current political debates: contraceptives. Certain religious leaders and republican candidate, Rick Santorum, have expressed a great concern for President Obama’s plan to require employers to include birth control in their health care to employees. It would allow women to access birth control more cheaply. This idea is a wonderful idea and must be implemented immediately.

Many republicans oppose this idea because of their religious beliefs. What they are failing to realize is that religious beliefs cannot have any basis for our laws. The First Amendment prevents any establishment of religion. To outlaw contraceptives because the Catholic Church does not approve of them would be a direct violation of the United States Constitution, the document that our country was founded on.

There are many reasons to be in favor or contraceptives, including the “morning after pill.” One major reason is this: it will decrease abortions. One of the issues that republicans feel strongest about is abortion. Well what do you think might help prevent abortions? Correct, birth control helps prevent pregnancy which, in turn, prevents more abortions. If females have cheaper and easier access to these pills then the rate of pregnancy would see an impressive drop which would lead to a major drop in abortions. For some reason, this does not make sense to many of these “genius” republican candidates.

There is a major misconception about the “morning after pill.” This pill is not anything similar to an abortion. According to Plan B One-Step, the makers of the pill, “Plan B One-Step® is one pill that has a higher dose of levonorgestrel, a hormone found in many birth control pills that healthcare professionals have been prescribing for more than 35 years. Plan B One-Step® works in a similar way to prevent pregnancy. Plan B One-Step® will not affect an existing pregnancy.” The Mayo Clinic supports this, saying this exact same thing as well. Simply put, the pill does not kill a baby or end a pregnancy, it simply does what birth control does, it prevents conception. The pill is just a higher dosage of birth control medicine and prevents pregnancy, nothing less and nothing more. This major myth that most people believe to be true is the reason for many people’s objection. So, if the “morning after pill” is no different than any other form of birth control pill or condom then why object? There simply is no reason that does not conflict with our country’s Constitution.

Another reason why contraceptives should most certainly be readily available to females is because we cannot dictate what other people chose to do with their body. A woman owns her body and no one else does (although some extreme conservatives wish they could still own people). We cannot control what a woman choses to do, and why should we? If a woman choses to use birth control how are we effected? We are not. This country was founded on the idea of equality and freedom. By stripping a woman’s right to medicine (as birth control is a form of medicine) this is stripping away a freedom. Many of the people that want to outlaw birth control are the same people that want to own guns because it is a right granted to them as a United States’ citizen. This is complete hypocrisy because you cannot advocate for some freedoms but advocate against others. These people claim to be “proud Americans” yet they want to abort the most important idea that this country was founded on. Taking away a woman’s right whether it is birth control, abortions, voting, etc. is no different than taking away rights from black people or gay people. Sadly, they have successfully (for now) taken rights away from the homosexuals in this country.

The idea of banning birth controls of any form is a terrible idea for political parties as well as any religion, or lack thereof. Giving women easier and cheaper access to birth control will reduce abortions and not take away anyone’s rights. Birth control is a wonderful thing and it is already too difficult for women to achieve. Would you be happy if your medical rights were taken away? What if someone said you could not go to the doctor? Or, what if doctors did not prescribe medicine to cure you because their religion did not condone that drug? Every woman should have the right to protect their body.

Works Cited

Mayo Clinic Staff. "Morning-after Pill." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation, 19 Aug. 2010. Web. 09 Feb. 2012. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/morning-after-pill/MY01190>.

Plan B One-Step. Advertisement. Plan B One-Step®: Home. Web. 09 Feb. 2012. <http://www.planbonestep.com/?utm_source=google>.

Vols' Summitt Continues Historical Run Despite Diagnosis

Vols’ Summitt Continues Historical Run Despite Diagnosis

Last August Hall of Fame women’s basketball coach, Pat Summitt, was diagnosed with early onset of Alzheimer’s.

By TANNER CABBAGE

February 20, 2012

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Lady Vols women’s head basketball coach Pat Summitt continued her run as the greatest basketball coach in history on Monday night when her team won in a dominating 91-54 performance over the nation’s seventh ranked team, Kentucky Wildcats. However this success did not fall in to her lap, it has been a long and challenging road for the storied coach to arrive at where she stands now.

Coach Summitt arrived at the University of Tennessee nearly four decades ago, beginning what would become a dynasty in the world of college basketball. No one knows the 4,700 square foot hardwood like Summitt does. In 38 seasons at the helm she has won an unthinkable 31 Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships, eight national titles, and 1,091 games, more than any coach in men or women’s college basketball history. However, it has not always been easy for the 59-year-old coach.

Summitt was raised in Clarksville, Tennessee with three older siblings and one younger. She played basketball at University of Tennessee at Martin however she had to pay her way through college unlike her older brothers who had received athletic scholarships. She arrived in Knoxville just before the 1974-75 season wanting to coach. At only 22 years of age she was given a position as a graduate assistant, earning $250 a month. After the head coach stepped down that season she was promoted to the same position. Coach Summitt was only a year older than some of her players. It was not a luxurious job by any stretch of the imagination. During a February 2009 interview with Time Magazine Summitt said, "I had to drive the van when I first started coaching. One time, for a road game, we actually slept in the other team's gym the night before. We had mats, we had our little sleeping bags.” Summitt continued to win games, however, while earning her masters degree as well. In the late 70’s Summitt and her team won the first SEC championship ever, which was truly the beginning of a dynasty.

Since that time, Pat Summitt has faced many challenges along the way. In 1980 she began a family, marrying her husband, R.B. Summitt. Ten years later she gave birth to her only child, Tyler. Tyler Summitt is a current walk-on for the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team. Although she was pregnant and then a mother Summitt continued to coach the Lady Vols. She won the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship in 1991 and three straight SEC Championships from 1993-95. The challenges, however, did not stop coming. In 2007 Summitt settled a divorce with her husband. How did she respond? Naturally, she won the 2007 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship as well as SEC Coach of the Year for the seventh time.

Just when it appeared she had battled through it all, the toughest challenge of all was delivered. In August of 2011 Pat Summitt was diagnosed with an early onset of Alzheimer’s, a disease that will certainly leave her with no recollection of any of her incredible feats that she has accomplished. Doctors are unaware of how much longer she might have to coach. When asked, Pat Summitt said she hoped to be able to coach for at least three more seasons. Unfortunately, it has taken a sudden turn for the worse and appears this season may very well be the final season for her storied career. Her determination to keep fighting is a result of her love and passion for the game and the University of Tennessee.

Through this success and love for the game, Summitt has become a hero and an idol for many people involved with women’s college basketball or athletics for that matter. Many people that know her have looked up to Summitt’s dedication. Kim Mulkey, coach of the top ranked Baylor Bears, said in a December 2011 New York Times article, “When you all let us out of here, I’m going to go out and watch her team play, because you never know how many games she’s got left in her to coach. She means to the women’s game what John Wooden means to the men’s game,” Mulkey said of Summitt. “Her presence on that floor and what she means to all of us, I don’t think that anybody will ever have that presence.”

Pat Summitt has given so much to her players and university. She has brought home 18 Final Four appearances, an astonishing 0.843 winning percentage, and eight national championships. She is a seven time National Coach of the Year and appeared in every NCAA tournament since it began. In 2000 she was named the Naismith Coach of the Century and inducted in to the Women’s College Basketball Hall of Fame. Summitt has helped an eye-popping 72% of her players win awards or positions such as Olympians, All-Americans, USA National Team members, All-SEC performers, Academic All-Americans, etc. Most importantly, Pat Summitt has a remarkable 100% graduation rate. She has never coached a player that did not graduate from college and that is more important than any award or wins.

No one is sure how much longer Coach Summitt will be on the 94x50 foot hardwood floor that has defined her life. She herself does not even know. But on Sunday afternoon the Lady Vols will take the court in Knoxville for the last time this season, and quite possibly the last time that Coach Pat Summitt ever coaches another game. It is quite ironic that the players, fans, and university that she has taken care of for almost four decades is now taking care of her.

Bibliography

Araton, Harvey. "Summitt Still Inspires, Often in Silence." Summitt Still Inspires, Often

in Silence 12 Dec. 2011, New York ed., D4 sec. New York Times. 11 Dec. 2011.

Web. 19 Feb. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/12/sports/ncaabasketball/pat-summitt-wins-and-inspires-while-fighting-alzheimers.html>.

Brady, Erik. "Summitt Determined to Face down Alzheimer's Challenge." USA Today.

23 Aug. 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.

<http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/womensbasketball/story/2011-08-23/Pat-Summitt-determined-to-face-down-Alzheimers-challenge/50114864/1>.

"Q&A: Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt." Interview by Sean Gregory. Time Magazine 2

Feb. 2009. Web. 18 Feb. 2012. <http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1876213,00.html>.

Study Abroad Rationale

1. The motivation in this type of communication situation is to appeal the decision of my study abroad application.

2. The goal is to get the audience/appeal board to feel bad that I was turned down and also feel that the original decision was unjust. I want them to feel that I am fully worthy of being accepted and that there is no doubt that I should be accepted.

3. I could write about the reasons why I am most certainly qualified to study abroad and explain how well I have done in school and possibly how I have traveled before. Any plausible story to help my case would be a good event or situation to talk about. I could also discuss how I have to have this opportunity otherwise I would be kicked out of the Honor’s program or any such program that I need it for.

4. The best possible outcome of this communication would be to have the decision reversed and be allowed to study abroad.

5. The worst possible outcome would be to irritate them to the point that I get denied again and am told I cannot reapply in the future.

6. This is definitely a worthwhile communication situation because studying abroad is super important to me. It is worth the trouble of trying to achieve. Overall it is most definitely worthwhile and I will need to write a very convincing appeal.

Brochure Critique

Camp Koinonia

Paige’s brochure is very appealing the eye. It has a very cute and happy young boy on the front that obviously has Down’s syndrome and it has a short description of the camp in large font to fill the space and easily be read. The brochure opens the wrong way but can obviously be fixed fairly easily. The back left flap does a nice job accepting who the camp is tailored to. The inside left flap gives a short and sweet run through of the activities the camp offers which of course is critical because it is one of the major factors when deciding about camps to attend. It gives a picture of a little boy having fun on a bike, which is very appealing. The middle explains to parents about the safety, the affordability, and the age range. This is a great place for this because these are factors that could make or break a parent choosing for their child to attend, so front and center is good placement. The right flap explains how to apply which is important. I like how it works left to right, from about the camp, to important things to know, and lastly how to apply. The back has contact information and location, which looks professional. Overall, this brochure is well done. It has lots of color and has appealing pictures of children with special needs having so much fun and it is heart-warming. The only suggestions I would have for the brochure is to obviously fix the way it opens so it opens from the left and lastly to possibly take a picture out or make the pictures smaller so you can fit a bit more text in there. The brochure has more pictures than text, which may be exactly what you want although for someone who knows nothing about the camp it has nothing in the brochure that stands out and makes it seem different than other camps. Overall, it is a very good job.

Higher Education, Even Higher Inspiration

Wow. My first reaction after reading Higher Education is that I wish I could be half the person that Coach was. This was incredibly inspiring, incredibly emotional and incredible fun to read. It was neat to read because I could relate a bit. I spent six years living in Columbus, Ohio and knew some folks from Holmes County and some folks from Canton and Cleveland. I also played basketball when I was younger so I could relate to this story from multiple aspects. I was completely captivated while reading this. Coach was an incredible person. He did what 99% of people could not even imagine having the guts to do. He risked his safety by doing what he did. He made the most improbable thing in the most improbable town come true. He turned the shy into outgoing, racists into loving folks, and doubters into believers. He won the state championship after the most improbable win one could imagine. With 37 seconds left and down by 7, most teams would not even continue trying. Not only did Coach not give up, most importantly he believed in his boys. Coach lived in his house alone but the irony there is that he lived with his family of a few hundred. He was surrounded by what became his family. A different race, a different religion, and a different set of values. It all came together and became a family because of his determination, perseverance, and genuine love to help others. Needless to say, I thought this story was amazing and extremely inspirational.