The Curious Case of David Russell

In Class Free Write

2010-11-30T14:07:00.000-06:00

As this semester comes to a close I like to look back on whether or not I have met my goals I set for myself coming into the semester. I then like to see why I didn't meet goals and how to address this going forward. At this point most of all my semester goals have been accomplished, however there is one I did not complete. After I look at this, I then begin to plan for the upcoming semester. I like to set pretty high goals for myself because nothing in life is easy so I don't want aim low but rather shoot high. The next semester looks to be challenging and also rewarding.

With all that send it is very important that I stay focused on finishing this semester and not look to far ahead.

In Class Writing: What did I learn from last night's reading

2010-11-16T14:08:00.000-06:00

Last night's reading talked about visual arguments. One thing I learned is that modern history the two biggest visual arguments were the JFK vs Nixon debate and the invention of computers. As I read I kept thinking of how visual arguments use pathos which is one of the most effective tools you can use in making an argument. I think the reading from last night is essential to my group because two of our arguments will use visual elements. As they say a picture is worth a thousand words. Therefore we must be very precise in what our message is and get our audience to get the message we are trying to send through our visual argument.

Unit 3 Proposal

2010-11-14T17:20:00.000-06:00

My team and I came up with a great topic and some great ways to make an argument for it. The issue we chose to enter the conversation of is the NFL fining players for helmet to helmet hits. Our stance on the conversation is that the NFL is becoming soft and needs to go back to its roots of good hard hitting football. Our primary audience's are Roger Goodell, the NFL's Commissioner, NFL fans and the NFL players themselves. In addressing these different audiences we have three different ways to reach them. We will write a formal letter to the Mr. Goodell expressing why the fines are excessive and some other preventative measures in addressing player safety. We want this letter to be formal and informative because he is the commissioner. NFL fans, we think we can reach with a billboard ad showing our stance on the fines we feel are making the NFL soft. Finally in addressing the NFL players we will make modified jerseys showing what the league will turn into if we keep fining players for playing good hard nose football.
The only thing I see being a problem for my group is that we have some grand ideas but I'm not sure if we can accomplish all of them. The team gets along great and given enough time and effort we will be very successful.

In Class Free Write: Thoughts on last nights reading

2010-11-11T14:07:00.000-06:00

I did not learn anything from last night's reading because I did not do the reading for today's class. I guess you could say I'm a little out of sync because it has been a prolonged period since our last out of class reading assignment. Heck I almost forgot we had a blog post due today because it has been weeks since we have done that also. This exercise will put me in permanent remembrance that reading's before class are back in session.

Group Project Post

2010-11-10T21:03:00.001-06:00

I think a fitting title for me would be the COO (Chief Operating Officer) or Mr. BossMan because that's pretty cool. If you walked into a office and on the desk you saw a name plate that said Mr. BossMan you would know that this guy is kind of a big deal. I think the role I will play in the group is the organizer and person keeping up with deadlines. Some of the responsibilities associated with this is looking ahead and knowing what is due and when. Keeping the team updated and aware of deadlines is a crucial factor in achieving team success. Missed deadlines equals bad grades and I will have no part of that. The role of organizer is a role I take very seriously and think is very important. Because as a group we need to choose a topic to make an argument out of, ideas and personalities will be everywhere. As the organizer I will allow all ideas to be expressed but keep the team focused on the bigger picture and keep us on task. We not only want to meet deadlines but also want the best finished product when turning things in. One with out the other not effective so therefore I feel it is very important for me to fulfill my duty to the team to help us reach our goal.

My group members are Austin P and Will R.

In Class Free Write: Group Work Ideals

2010-11-09T14:44:00.000-06:00

An ideal group work situation would be one that every members a) was invested in the project b) showed up to EVERY meeting c) came prepared, offered suggestions and was attentive and d) worked well with others. If I hade a group that all members did these four things I would be happy : ).

In Class Free Write: Argument Analysis Hang ups

2010-10-21T14:07:00.000-05:00

One of the biggest difficulties for me was taking an interview and analysing it. I am a visual person and using this form of source was difficult for me. After some time, thought and consultation with Professor Irvin and seeing how others were able to use this source successfully really helped me out.

At first it was also difficult of separating myself from the actually topic that I am analyzing. Because the topic I picked was important to me I flirted with crossing this line occasionally. I do like the fact that we are looking at arguments objectively and this made it possible for me to better conduct my primary source analyses.

Unit 2 Proposal Post

2010-10-03T14:52:00.000-05:00

The topic I am picking for Unit 2 is the passing of the Health Care Reform Bill. I found this event not only interesting but profound as American because it is something that has been proposed and pushed by several different administrations. It struck me as intriguing as to why this administration was able to have this pass so early in this presidents tenure. I plan to search many avenues for primary sources. Various news reports and transcripts from Congress members, newspaper articles immediately following its passing and the statements given by the President and Speaker of the House before and after the passing of the bill. I will also use the media as a primary source such as CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and other media outlets.

In Class Free Write: First Paragraph of Public Space Essay

2010-09-21T15:15:00.000-05:00

Why did I choose this space? What about it appeals to me? Did I second guess myself after visiting the space? I chose this space for a few different reasons. The first of which is because I have never physically been into this space. I don't even recall ever being close to the space before however I had made assumptions about the space based on things I had heard and the social status of it. The second reason is because I read a book about Neiman Marcus and then observed that space and was blown away. Because this two places are often brought up in the same circles I thought it would be beneficial to explore it. This space appealed to me because of the name. Nordstroms when spoken gives off this prestige and makes you think that either you can not afford it and only those living in the lap of luxury indulge there. This made me wonder if this was fact and what makes it the name brand that it is.

In Class Free Write: Previous In Class Workshop's

2010-09-21T14:30:00.000-05:00

My experience with in class workshops haven't been bad but I feel they are ineffective. First off I am being critiqued by my peers who most of which have no experience or knowledge to critique an essay. Other than smoothness to read and some other minor details nothing substantial really comes from these workshops. I would much rather meet with the Writing Center or professor for this assigned workshop time. Also I notice that when you are not an expert in a given field it is harder to look at things objectively. As my peers review my essay it could be many reasons why they find fault or praise my essay all of which could hurt or help me. Because of this I feel it is best to seek professional counsel.

In Class Free Write: Observation Review

2010-09-16T15:14:00.000-05:00

I liked the feedback that I received the biggest thing I see I need to address is detail. From the moment I step into the parking lot until the moment I leave the store I should write down EVERYTHING in great detail. Then after the observation go back and attribute those things to either logos, pathos or ethos. After this I should think on why these appeals are used and why they work and don't work. This kind of detailed paper will not only help write the paper but also help with the content of the paper making it easier to understand and let readers go away with the feeling like they were in the space with me.

Identifying these details will also help with me looking at the societal framework and whether this is true of the actual space or merely a misguided assumption. In order to do this I at least need four to six more visits to the public space. You only get better with practice so the more I practice taking notes and practice analyzing the space the better.

In Class Free Write: Observation Notes

2010-09-16T14:15:00.000-05:00

The observation was weird. It was weird because I am having a conflicting time using my observation skills with what we discussed in class about logos, ethos and pathos. So I'm like going back in forth like this isn't important but wait yes it is, because it appeals to ethos and so forth. Its really surprising how much internal conflict you can have when going through changing the way you see things.

Although I practically beat myself up internally, I did see some of what I thought I would. I expected the clothes and for it to be upscale, nice. However i am noticing subtle differences as time moves along. Having only been once I need to make a few more visits before I can make ant definitive statements.

Everyone seems friendly and happy to be in this space from the employees to the customers. I enjoyed being in the space and its easy going atmosphere.

Ethical, Logical and Emotional Appeals of Public Space

2010-09-16T00:21:00.000-05:00

The free writes and class discussions about logos, ethos and pathos have really got me thinking about how to approach my public space for observation. At the beginning of the assignment I thought I would go to the space look around, observe the people and then start guessing why the people are attracted to the space and how the space tries to attract them. Then as I became more acquainted with ethos the question arose, what makes people even travel to this space to begin with? Ethos establishes credibility and because my public space is a retail store what distinguishes this space from other major retail stores? So a little research about this space could give some reasons for this space is sought out by millions of customers annually.

The logos argument this space makes should be an interesting one. Because this is an upscale department store you can expect higher prices. I want to see what makes these higher prices still attractive to customers of the space and the logical approach taken to justify this. Maybe some sort of advertisement will show some sort of connection between the two.

Pathos is something I am not sure how I will see once I go to the space. I feel like a trip to the space would be the best if not the only way to see the pathos argument of a space. You have to go to the space to see and feel the emotions given off by the decorations of the store, employees, fixtures etc. I feel this will be my most difficult argument to find but utilizing the five senses exercise we did in class I feel will help tremendously.

This paper will definitely be a fun and exciting challenge and I am anxious to see how all the elements blend together.

In Class Free Write: Logos Argument

2010-09-14T14:10:00.000-05:00

The logos artifact I brought in is some statistics from the Rock the Vote campaign. It entails some so facts about youth voting as well as some myths and truths. I like it because I am actually working on a project to get more students registered to vote and not only did it help me with that, but it also worked well to bring in today. These statistics show it is possible to make a difference with your vote and backs it up with hard evidence which is helping me with my project I am working on. It is common for people to have misconceptions when they don't know the truth on a subject which is what makes logos such a strong argument. For instance when companies are trying to compete with one another they will use their sales vs competitions to their advantage. This is particularly used in elections and political campaigns.

Unit 1 Proposal

2010-09-09T08:04:00.002-05:00

The public space I have chosen to observe is Nordstrom. The reason I chose this space is because I have never been to this space before and have no preconceived notions about the space so this will be a true observation. This space appeals to me because it is a premier store in the fashion industry. I have been in Neiman Marcus, Saks 5th Avenue and want to see how it compares. I also like to expand my horizons and because this space is new to me I will be able to expand my horizons and learn something at the same time.

I'm not exactly sure what to expect. I know it is a high end store so I will probably see high quality merchandise. The store will be well kept, clean, low smooth playing music, very conservative. I think I will find a middle aged sales force between 30 to 45 with a lot of experience with a high level of expertise and knowledgeable of their merchandise. The target audience will be high middle to upper class, very conservative and have a pretty good fashion IQ with a good amount of disposable income.

I don’t think my preconceived notions will get in the way of observation because I have not been involved with this space so I am keeping an open mind. I am very much looking forward to this assignment.

In Class Free Write: Ethos Argument

2010-09-07T14:09:00.000-05:00

The article I brought to class to describe ethos is was my resume. Ethos shows credibility or lack there of and kind of falls under the "your first impression is your last impression" kind of deal. Resumes are very important and significant especially in the world of business in which I dwell. Besides the obvious employers look at your resume this document fully describes or should describe your body of work in whatever field you are seeking employment. That is one of the things I have learned recently that you change and present your resume differently to different people instead of a one size fits all. So now when presenting different resumes to different people you have to ask yourself what exactly does this person need to see to show I am qualified for this position which shows credibility. For instance if you have had a 4.0 since middle school but have never been involved in any group organizations and the position calls for a social outgoing person your high gpa doesn't show your credibility to fit the position. That is why I chose this artifact.

In Class Free Write: Pathos and Public Space

2010-09-02T14:42:00.000-05:00

I think that using pathos can help me better understand what about it attracts people to the space. Normally people don't pick a place or space that makes them sad or angry to visit to often of free choice so maybe if I can see what types of emotional appeals this place has while I observe the space I can better understand and appreciate the space. I think I should also look at the emotional appeal it gives off to society and people who are not familiar with the public space. Why does this space give off theses emotions and are they accurate to describe the space or false claims and assumptions.

In Class Free Write: Pathos Argument

2010-09-02T14:10:00.000-05:00

The article I brought in today was an advertisement from the USA Today for the Double Tree hotel. In bold letters it says "Our Version Of A Family Share Plan". I picked this object because it evokes a lot of emotions and gives off a positive vibe. The first you notice is the beautiful ocean backdrop and the two trees blocking it. The title made me think of a family and how wonderful it is and my own personal family memories. The ad looks comforting and inviting which is something that you can expect when you stay at a Double Tree hotel. It also has some smaller text speaking towards family time in a caring and warm place like Double Tree which ads to the message. I also like the main heading because family share plan is mostly associated with cell phone providers and the convince of the whole family have the same source of communication. I like that this add shows that the whole family can enjoy the same sorts of comfort and relaxation from the same source which is Double Tree.

BP Blog

2010-08-31T21:04:00.004-05:00

Everything is a argument and if you have a large family you would know this is true. So the first thing I noticed is the spokesperson and three immediate arguments which are she is a woman, she is black and she is not the CEO. Now you might ask how are those things arguments those things just show BP doesn't show favoritism to employees and if this is your reaction you are wrong, very very wrong but it is not your fault let me explain.

So the first thing is she is a woman. This is an argument because in society men are typically seen as the face of organizations not that this is right or wrong but that is the social norm so putting Iris Cross in one of its first commercials after the horrible situation BP has caused makes a statement. So do I personally feel this argument is affective not exactly although I don't necessarily believe that it makes the argument weak either I just don't think that the average person will even catch this point of showing a feminine which is often associated with nurturing and caring will make much of a difference on the perception of BP.

The second argument she is black. Now this raises all kinds of arguments, debates and discussions. The first of which is is she just a paid actor or does she really work for BP because if she is just a paid actor that could be a sign saying BP is only putting people in ads to make it seem that they are about diversity but don't have any diversity in there workplace so the fact she works for them is a major plus. This brings in an emotional appeal/argument for this advertisement. Usually when someone speaks of the Gulf region immediately people think of New Orleans and it just so "happens" half way through the ad she informs us that she is from New Orleans which makes viewers connect with her and says she can identify with the audience she is presenting to. I think its kind of funny actually that she says that because it makes it seem like the focus is in New Orleans which really stirs up emotions in people especially Americans because of how Hurricane Katrina was handled and the way African Americans were portrayed during this tragedy. I think of all the arguments made this one draws directly from a very relevant American tragedy and I think the message that they are helping New Orleans gives the company a better perception from the American public because that is such a touchy issue. Make no mistake this was definitely planned and well thought out like most commercials and business strategies are but I say that to say they probably didn't just pick her by luck of the draw. I don't think everyone will get this argument or realize that they are doing this but this for sure will gain them some points especially from the minority groups and those who thought the Hurricane Katrina incident was handled wrong.

Now to me this is the most interesting argument I found in the commercial she is not the CEO. Well David you just established that they picked her because of race and because she is a woman and the perception of nurturing and all that and you are correct. But lets think about this for a minute shall we. The spokeswoman's job title is BP Community Outreach which means she is responsible for cleaning up a mess that was made BUT she did not make the mess. She probably either worked in another department at BP or didn't get hired until after the oil spill which means she had nothing to do with the company until after the spill. Steve Jobs is the CEO of Apple and any new product that comes out he introduces it. That's important because not only is he the CEO of Apple but HE IS APPLE. There aren't too many people who don't know who he is, similarly to Bill Gates and Microsoft or Jerry Jones and the Cowboys. They represent their companies in everything they do. Now when most companies go bankrupt, file chapter 11, have a recall the CEO or someone from the Board of Directors issues a statement. Toyota didn't have a local car salesman apologize to the world for having to recall most of their models did they? The first line in the ad is BP is taking total responsibility for the clean up and why isn't the head honcho issuing the statement? The answer is because BP's CEO didn't and doesn't seem to care much about Americans. That's a harsh statement that's the way it is. While oil was still gushing out in the Gulf around day 60 or 70 the CEO of BP was on vacation on a private yacht on a private island. Now if your company was the source of the worst oil spill in US history would you be on a yacht for a week, highly doubt it. Not to mention in an interview he said he didn't understand why they referring to Americans were complaining and whining so much. I wonder why? To top it off they asked him to resign by October and hired whats that an American to be their CEO what a coincidence. However they gave the current CEO one of the highest pay outs that any CEO has ever received which causes me to believe that BP doesn't think what he did was wrong but is trying to save face. I think if people are aware of this they will lose this argument as well.
Another argument I noticed that BP is trying to make is the restoring the community which in itself is a huge debacle because the word community can be defined numerous different ways.They already inserted the whole New Orleans comment so does this only mean they will receive help. BP tries to define communities by stating "Gulf Communities". The only thing stated in restoring the gulf was that BP will keep gulf residents informed. But what are we keeping them informed about? What other things and projects are in motion to restore this community? I hear some numbers being thrown out but exactly where is this money going besides those with businesses that were affected by the oil spill. Just throwing money at a situation has NEVER fixed anything look at the the stimulus package implemented by our federal government after the fall of Wall Street.

The third argument I picked up was restoring the environment, another objective BP is trying to complete. The commercial states that BP will be in the gulf until there is no more oil left. The first line of the ad points out the fact that no oil has been leaking for weeks and this automatically earns them points in a lot of people's books. One of the major concerns of this whole disaster is that the company seemed to have no solution or control over anything regarding the situation and henceforth oil poured out for an excess of 80 days. This argument offers assurance that the worst is over and only good things lie ahead for BP and the gulf community. I find this a strong way of starting an argument and ad for BP because it is not shying away from the issue at hand and only talk about community but assure us that the root of the problem has been solved.

A logical argument is definitely being made because a lot facts and numbers are being thrown out to show and rate results being made from their efforts. 20 billion for this, 375 million paid out to that what does it all mean. The message is unclear because are these claims made to businesses or residents or both. Most commercials are directed to consumers however in the commercial BP only names businesses as the primary job description for the spokesperson to listen to there complaints. So this leaves a grey area on the whole topic which cant be answered.

I'm not one to badmouth companies but in my opinion BP needs to step it up and stop marketing to us and actually show they are actually apologetic starting with the current CEO not the new American one to make a statement. It comes off more sincere. Think if Bill Clinton when he was caught having extra marital affairs had the speaker of the House of a Congressman apologize for his actions we still wouldn't think of him favorably. I think good things are being done but more bad than good so that would mean BP has lost the argument, maybe next time.

In Class Free Write: Public Spacing Selection

2010-08-31T14:59:00.000-05:00

While reading through the public space paper rubric my first inclination was to write about a basketball court. The primary reason this space came to me was because I can directly identify with this space from growing up and actively on the court daily in my neighborhood and the different things I observed and learned while there. I did however think that this may be difficult because I am so personally connected to this space it will be very hard to be an objective observer.

As the class discussion went on I started thinking, hmm maybe I should find a space that I know about what am not acquainted with something like a museum or Saks Fifth Avenue. Because the in the essay I will have to talk about the public spaces societal framework and its place in culture I think that would be good because I can speak on its perception in society and then comment on the space after further observation and analysis. This would make for a great paper but also be a great learning experience so I think that is the route I will go.

So now picking a public space that is the question. Well I know that I need to pick a area that a lot of people congregate to but also something with a visual argument. The picking of this space is crucial to the success of this assignment.

In Class: First Week of School

2010-08-26T14:23:00.000-05:00

My first week of school hasnt given me a clear indication of how my semester will go. I am only taking to classes in my major and of the others are TCU core which means you dont want to be there but you have to be. Most time when beginning a new semester there is a lot of anxiety, excitement and build up of emotions however this time around I cant say that is true anymore. I dont feel like I'm really in school and I have no idea why that is. Maybe it will get better as time goes on.

This first week has told me that I will be doing alot of long reading because 4 out of my 5 classes assigned at least a chapter to read on the first day for homework. I'm happy the weekend is coming up so I can sort through all the class requirements and get a handle on the reading for each of therm. This first week also presented a challenge because I dont have ANY of my books so I am already behind given each class has issued out a substanial amount of reading.

This week has made me appreciate summer and I will take advantage of that next summer for sure.

My Intro Blog

2010-08-24T22:56:00.000-05:00

Hello World,

My name is David Russell I'm a Accounting and Finance double major in my junior year at TCU.

I was born and raised in Detroit, MI and not a day goes by that I don't think about home. It is ALOT different than Fort Worth and the South in general but so far so good since I've been at TCU. I'm a huge sports buff and with the exception of baseball I know a little something about all sports. Business, economics, politics and music are also big interest of mine so I can pretty much talk to anyone about anything. I am very open minded and interested in others thoughts, feelings and opinions so please feel free to share opinions, comments and questions on anything you see posted on my blog.

I'm taking this course because the Neeley school demands it and TCU wont let me graduate so that's all I needed to hear and I signed up the next day. I expect to become a better writer obviously because it is an English class and I'm sure I'll gain some skills to help me in my professional life down the road. This Everything is an Arguement theme is kind of interesting to me so I'm sure I'll learn more about that although I'm exactly sure what I'll learn.

I like writing because it is a form of expression and because I'm outgoing I do alot of expressing. I indulge in alot of different types of writing but ever since I got my Blackberry, emailing is my new best friend and primarly my writing platform.

I wouldn't say everything is any areguement but I would say everthing brings up discussions that lead to arguements or differences in peoples perception of things.Since we are all different naturally everyone has a different outlook from which arguements arise. What my blog says about me is that I'm interesting individual as we all are but my open mindedness should contribute alot to our class so I guess I have no excuse to not participate. I would say it shows I have a wide range of interest but mostly fun and practical.

I David Russell have read, understand and adhere to the guidelines listed in the syllabus for English 20803. My blog url is thecuriouscaseofvictordavidrussell@blogspot.com