Category: Rhetoric

Pepsi — a famous soda company — released a controversial advertisement back in 2017. The commercial featured celebrity and media personality, Kendall Jenner. The commercial depicted a big peace protest in the middle of the streets. The protest consisted of a diverse crowd holding up signs with messages such as “peace,” “join the conversation,” and displaying police officers near the end of the commercial. However, the message of the commercial was still unclear due to the lack of meaning and rationalization. Ultimately, the rhetoric in the ad was unsuccessful because the content of the ad failed to relate to the viewers emotionally (pathos), the logic doesn’t make any sense (logos), and the company Pepsi failed to efficiently portray Jenner in a meaningful manner (ethos). The commercial was removed by Pepsi followed by an apology to the public regarding the content of their ad.

This Pepsi Commercial was released in April 2017, which was relevant to the #BlackLivesMatter protests at that time, and the police brutality incidents in areas like Baltimore and Louisiana. The commercial tries to mimic a Black Lives Matter protest involving Ieshia Evans. Ieshia Evans approached an armed police officer in Baton Rouge but was arrested by officers wearing riot gear. A photo of Evans being arrested became viral on the internet and sparked outrage on social media. However, in the Pepsi commercial, Kendall Jenner who is a white female born into wealth by her celebrity parents approaches a non-intimidating male officer (who is neither armed nor wearing any riot gear) and hands him a can of Pepsi, which somehow ends up making everyone cheer.

The reasoning behind this Pepsi commercial is unclear. The ad depicts a protest, and although there are peace signs, it’s not clear what is being protested. At the end of the commercial, Kendall Jenner (a model and media celebrity) is seen handing a can of Pepsi to a police officer; this results in the protesters all cheering. There is no significant meaning to this interaction between Jenner and the officer, nor does the ad explain the relationship between Pepsi and peace. This lack of coherence in the commercial makes the audience skeptical about buying Pepsi because the company does not successfully bridge the gap between how peace and Pepsi relate to one another. The commercial fails to brand Pepsi in a way that makes their soda significant to the concept of peace, in fact, the commercial leaves the audience confused about the message rather than persuaded.

The main character in this commercial is Kendall Jenner. Kendall Jenner is a model and a media personality, known for her role in the reality television show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” She is also the daughter of Kris Jenner (Kris Kardashian) and Caitlyn Jenner (previously known as Bruce Jenner). As a result of both her TV appearance and her famous parents, Kendall Jenner is a celebrity, which may bring a lot of credibility to an advertisement due to her influence. Kendall Jenner is no doubt a role model for young adults and hopefully seeing their role model on screen promoting peace will persuade them to buy Pepsi. However, given the context of the ad — which consists of a peace protest involving a variety of multi-ethnic protesters, and police officers — Kendall Jenner’s background as a white female born into a family of wealth doesn’t really make sense in the commercial. Although Jenner does have a huge following, her background as a white celebrity doesn’t do the protest justice especially if the Pepsi commercial is indirectly referring to the #BlackLivesMatter protest.

The commercial starts out by showing a man playing a cello, and a woman being frustrated while studying photographs. Both of them end up joining a gigantic protest taking place on the street. Simultaneously, Jenner is seen doing a photoshoot in which she draws her attention towards the protest. In the video, she makes eye contact with the man with the cello and gets persuaded to join the protest, and rips off her wig in the process. This scene including Jenner and the two other individuals joining a huge protest can elicit a feeling of unity. Accompanied by messages like “Peace,” and the peace sign, the use of positive feelings may appeal to the emotions of the viewer. However, without any explanation or clarification to suggest what the peace protest is about, the ad only leaves the audience feeling puzzled rather than a feeling of unity or peace.

Furthermore, the commercial does not explicitly clarify who the target audience is or explain what the peace protests are about. It almost seems like Pepsi is hesitant to do an actual commercial depicting real-world events regarding police brutality. As a result, they choose to do a vague commercial about “peace,” and “harmony.“ Audiences (especially those involved in the police brutality protests) gave backlash to Pepsi because the company was not correctly portraying the actual situation and making light of a serious matter. At one point, Kendall Jenner ends up ripping off her wig and making a black woman hold it, and then attending a protest about peace (protests which are based on the #BlackLivesMatter protests). Although Pepsi might not have been aware of this scene, it did spark some outrage as it could have been misinterpreted as white privilege. Additionally, it is important to note that Pepsi is a soft-drink company. The idea of achieving world peace simply by making people drink Pepsi is ridiculous and has no correlation to reality. The idea that drinking Pepsi would somehow solve conflicts, makes the drink unattractive to potential buyers and is simply false advertising.

The 2017 Pepsi Commercial was unsuccessful. There is no clear goal or message in the ad campaign, nor does it portray any meaning to the audience. Rather, the ad campaign leaves the audience confused. Pepsi fails to make it clear what the protest is about which forces the viewer to assume that the protest is referring to the #BlackLivesMatter protests that had recently occurred when the ad was released. The ad campaign is poorly thought out and fails to use rhetorical tools like ethos, pathos, and logos. Despite, being released during a period where there was a lot of visibility around multiple cases of police brutality, Pepsi was unable to capitalize on a perfect opportunity to send an actual meaningful message about unity. Instead, Pepsi does the exact opposite by making light of a serious issue and inaccurately portraying the situation. Pepsi could have found more effective ways in selling Kendall Jenner (a highly influential media personality, that could’ve propelled the campaign in a positive direction) to the audience. Overall, the ad campaign ended up being a total failure and often joked about: “Pepsi soda, the ultimate peace negotiator.”

Introduction

This paper will give a rhetorical analysis, of both the music video and the lyrics, looking for the four main rhetorical appeals of logos, ethos, pathos, and kairos. The main plot in “If I Were A Boy” is the complications of relationships and the inequality between the sexes. Men were the money-makers and seen as the powerful ones, whereas women were meant to stay at home and were seen as the vulnerable ones. Beyoncé’s main point is that if she was a boy she would treat the women better because she “knows how it hurts”. The purpose of the music video is to inform and persuade men to treat women better.

Logos

Logos is defined as “a rhetorical device that includes any content in an argument that is meant to appeal to logic”. Gender roles and inequality of the sexes are a big problem in the United States. Beyoncé executed stereotypical gender roles by working as a police officer, meanwhile, her man was at home waiting for her to come home. She clearly states, “Cause I know that she’ll be faithful, Waiting for me to come home, to come home”. Men were always seen as strong and were always considered the primary breadwinner, whereas women were seen as weak and were told to stay at home and take care of the house. Beyoncé brought light to stereotypical gender roles and gender inequality in the music video, so people could understand that this is a big problem. In the intro, she states, “I’d roll out of bed in the morning, And thrown on what I wanted and go” which is okay for men to do because no one will care, but if a woman were to throw on anything she would be labeled as “trashy” or “ghetto”. It is not fair that men are able to wear whatever they want with no issues, but women can’t do the same. In lines 7-9 she states, “I’d kick it with who I wanted, And I never get confronted for it, Cause they stick up for me” meaning a man can talk to anybody he wants with no issue, whereas if a woman were to talk to whoever she wanted she would be called a “hoe”.

Ethos

Ethos “refers to any element of an argument that is meant to appeal to an audience’s ethics or ethical responsibilities”. Throughout the song, you can hear her repeat the phrase “If I were a boy” because she is stating what she would do if the roles were reversed and she is actually putting herself into a man’s shoes. Towards the end of the song she states, “It’s a little too late for you to come back, Say it’s just a mistake, Think I’d forgive you like that If you thought I would wait for you, You thought wrong” meaning it’s too late for you to come back and make it up, she’s tired of waiting and ready to move on. Finally at the end of the song she expresses, “But you’re just a boy, And you don’t understand, How it feels to love a girl someday, You’ll wish you were a better man, You don’t listen to her, You don’t care how it hurts Until you lose the one you wanted, Cause you’ve taken her for granted, And everything you had got destroyed” with “you” being the man in this case. She is speaking directly to men because they don’t understand how the women are feeling and they don’t care until they lose the woman.

Pathos

Pathos, “or the emotional appeal, means to persuade an audience by appealing to their emotions”. Beyoncé uses pathos throughout her song by using descriptive phrases. When she expresses, “I’d listen to her, cause I know how it hurts,” Beyoncé is saying she knows what it feels like to be hurt, and that if she was a boy, she would treat her woman better because she could understand where she is coming from. This pulls at the listener’s heart you obviously hear the emotional pain she is going through. Anyone who has been in a situation like this could relate to Beyoncé and the emotional rollercoaster she is going through.

Kairos

Kairos “refers to the time and/or place – well-timed moment for decision or action”. “If I Were A Boy” was released on October 13, 2008, and it was good timing because people started forgetting that gender roles and gender inequality still exist. In 2008, nobody really cared about gender roles and gender inequality because that’s just how it was and the way of life. The men went out and worked while the women stayed at home and took care of the house and kids. The song being released during this time was a good reminder to everyone that these problems still exist and that we need to fix them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, all four main rhetorical appeals were evident in “If I Were A Boy” by Beyoncé. The main rhetorical appeal the music video and textual lyrics had all throughout was pathos. In every scene and behind every lyric there was some form of strong emotion and you could hear it in her voice. It is not a surprise that stereotypical gender roles and gender inequality were and still are a big problem in the United States. The music video portrayed the emotions women go through when dealing with heartbreak. In the beginning, she was just taking the pain and heartbreak but by the end of the song she was advocating that women should stand up for themselves.

The piece “YouTube: The Flattening of Politics”, written by Steve Grove talks about how he used to serve as YouTube’s News and Political Director, providing effective ethos while he saw things a little bit differently. Grove found that YouTube is changing the way that politics are happening (188). They are doing this in a few ways, such as the ease that YouTube presents, as well as the popularity that YouTube shares with the world (Grove 190). This essay will discuss different ways that Grove was effective with his paper, as well as ways I believe he could have been a bit stronger. By the end of this paper, you will be able to see the effectiveness and strength of this paper, as well as the work that Grove’s paper needed to make it more thorough and precise.

One way that Grove made this paper strong is by telling the story from his own point of view. The reason why this helps his paper is because it is more personal, like he is right there talking to you giving good pathos into his paper. This also helps make the piece more of a story instead of just shoving facts at you and telling you why YouTube is the way that it currently is. This helps to not only strengthen the paper but it also helps to strengthen his argument, knowing that Grove worked at YouTube. Even though the first person is not always the best method to write an effective paper, it was very effective in this piece and overall helped the paper to persuade the reader better through its more personal narrative.

Another thing that Grove uses to strengthen his argument is to cite a lot of different facts throughout the whole paper providing effective Logos. Facts help to strengthen an argument because they cannot be changed, and they will always continue to be the way they are. An example of this in the paper would be when the author tells about how sixteen one-time presidential candidates had YouTube channels of their own with seven announcing their candidacies on YouTube (Grove 188). This shows how YouTube could potentially affect votes for presidential office, strengthening Grove’s argument. Another example of facts in Grove’s paper is when he states that news companies such as The Associated Press, The New York Times, the BBC, CBS, and the Wall Street Journal have all launched YouTube channels (Grove 189). This shows that big companies who usually do not use websites like YouTube are using it to gain new viewers differently from where they currently broadcast their news. These are two great facts that the author uses to strengthen his paper from the very first sentence to his concluding paragraph.

There are not many downfalls to Grove’s piece. For instance, he could have improved his speech consistency. What I mean by this is that his writing changes throughout the speech where it could remain the same to keep the speech flowing better and stay entertaining. The way that he changes his speech is by talking in the first person point of view then moving on to the second person and back and forth. I really enjoyed when he was talking in first person because I felt like he was right next to me telling me about his story, whereas later he went into second person which was distracting and not as personal as it was. If he remained using the first person throughout the speech, it would make the speech more entertaining as well as strengthen the argument he was trying to make for YouTube being used in news as well as in politics.

All in all, this piece was wonderful and showed the strong argument to be made for YouTube’s effectiveness in the news. This is not something that is thought about very often which made it a very interesting topic. There were a few things that I would want to change to make his speech and argument stronger overall. This argument is compelling and done right so that he can be informative as well as change the way people think. Groves show that the internet will continue to evolve to make news more reliable, as well as give people better ease of access viewing.

Newt Gingrich argues the importance of freedom of speech in contemporary America. Gingrich talks about how the anti-Trump coalition has stripped away Americans’ right to freedom of speech little by little over the years. He predicts a horrible result of the left wing’s tendency to restrict American rights to freedom of speech, and this result is eventually America will resemble the totalitarian society in Orwell’s 1984. Americans will no longer have the right to free speech if Americans subscribe to the values of the leftist wing. However, Gingrich discusses how Trump’s rhetoric is influencing Americans to acknowledge the importance of the individual’s right to freedom of speech and expression in America. Gingrich thinks Trump’s honest and not politically correct rhetoric is a great example for Americans. Without having restrictions on speech, Americans can freely participate in discourse to solve contemporary societal issues. Since the leftist party is taking Americans’ right to free speech away, organizations such as Fire are fighting for free speech on college campuses in America. The understanding of the complexities and problems of free speech in America allows for a closer analysis of free speech laws in other countries such as Canada. Among American issues with free speech, Trump defends Americans’ right to freedom of speech.

Trump’s signature honest language allows him to defend the First Amendment and reverse the restrictions of leftist thinking. He does not practice political correctness. Instead, Trump calls out failures of past Republicans when dealing with Islamic terrorism in the Middle East. With his crass language, he persuaded politicians to focus on the Radical Islamic Terrorism happening in the United Kingdom. He also speaks his mind about how only legal immigrants should be in America to ensure the safety of Americans. In response, the politically correct elite claim Trump is a xenophobe that offends people of Hispanic, Islamic, and Latin American origin. Gingrich claims the origin of the political correctness of elites’ and college campuses in America is the practice and rhetoric of thinking ideologically.

The elite and news media have dominated American discourse with their ideologies, and these ideologies have veiled the important facts in American societal issues. This modern elitist preference of ideology over facts has been revealed in Americans’ misunderstanding of threats from Islamic terrorists. For two decades elites have failed to acknowledge the religious motivation of foreign terrorists. They hide the facts to keep Americans feeding into their ideologies. The ideologies set in place by elites suggest it was racist to analyze and point out the actual religious motivation of the people who were attacking America. Trump continues to defend the First Amendment by going against the ideologies of elite groups.

By going against the ideologies of the elites, Trump inspires the freedom of speech of all Americans without the ideological control of elite groups. Gingrich claims it is essential for Americans to deliberate differences for America to continue to progress. Americans are afraid to speak their minds in the workplace and in academic institutions because of the current politically correct climate. Gingrich shows this truth with statistics and surveys. Political correctness seems to go against the freedoms Americans have in the American system. Discussing different viewpoints freely helps Americans debate honestly and without barriers. Open dialogue is crucial for civil discourse, and it also fights off tyranny.

Tyranny is a scary possibility for America, but if the elite keep choosing the ideas they want to dominate American discourse, it is a possibility. Every American must be able to have their own ideas for the First Amendment to stay effective. Politically correct rhetoric has been controlling young students’ minds since the 1980s on college campuses. The politically correct rhetoric exists because it’s a form of control of elite groups. For example, instead of promoting freedom of speech, the academic elite pushes the philosophy of a French rhetorician, named Jean- Francois Lyotard, onto college students. This philosophy says racist, honest language is just too hurtful for Americans to hear, steals humanity from those victimized by the language, and this language should not be debated in regular American discourse because it offends so many Americans. This idea is basically what colleges call censorship, and it is stopping the debate and maybe overcoming these racial differences. Not only is censorship stunting discourse, but it also allows for violence in contemporary American society. This French philosophy allows for the violent silencing of honest speakers coming to college campuses by labeling them offensive and bad for the humanity of Americans. This silencing demonstrates the mind control of the elite in America. This mind control resembles the elimination of free thought in Orwell’s 1984.

Not only are politically correct elites eliminating free thought, but they are also dangerously creating a space for violence. Politically correct elites have replaced Americans’ right to freedom of speech with their ideologies of what speech should be like in America. Elites have created a space in American society where it is acceptable to combat politically incorrect speech with violence. An extremist named Lennard is labeling Trump supporters as fascists and this is how she justifies her violent behavior towards his supporters. Gingrich encourages Americans to separate words and violence. Americans have the right to voice their opinion, and in no circumstance does their opinion justify violent attacks.

Trump is aware of the violent attacks happening in contemporary America. He plans to hold federal funding from schools that refuse to protect their controversial speakers from violence to further protect the First Amendment. Although protecting Americans’ right to freedom of speech is a tricky legislative issue, the Department of Justice has started to file court cases in which the rights of freedom of speech in students has been infringed. This allows the DOJ to deliberate issues with freedom of speech on college campuses, and influence colleges not to partake in restrictive speech. Gingrich argues that the First Amendment should be protected to ensure open civil dialogue among Americans.

On many college campuses today, freedom of speech is not allowed. Numerous administrative attempts to control ideas and speech on campus are common throughout academia today. However, universities exist to educate students. They also exist for students to discuss their genuine thoughts about certain ideas, and the deliberation of ideas becomes difficult when professors are punishing groups for their political or honest opinions. There shouldn’t be fear of expressing opinions. Fear stunts the opportunity of the innovation of new ideas, and by enforcing fear on students, faculty is unfortunately successful in stopping dialogue about certain important topics such as politics. However, the FIRE organization is working to defend the individual rights of students on college campuses. They are reversing restrictive speech policies on college campuses and spreading awareness about the lack of freedom of speech on many college campuses.

Similar to America, Canada faces restrictions on freedom of expression. But Americans do not face restrictions to the extent that Canadian’s face them. Canadians have the right to freedom of expression, but there are reasonable limitations placed on their freedoms. This means when an infringement happens, the Supreme Court decide whether the violation by the government or other institutions can be justified in a free and democratic society. Canadians are entitled to only certain fundamental freedoms, and the Supreme Court are there to decide whether the expression is justified. The fundamental freedoms they are entitled are “freedom of thought, beliefs, opinions, and expressions.” The freedom of the press and other methods of communication are also protected under Canada’s right to the individual’s right to the fundamental freedom of expression. The Supreme Court determine if certain expressions are justified or acceptable in Canada, but basically, Canadians have freedom of speech.

I think Americans should respect each other’s freedom of speech and not look for ways to retaliate with forms of violence. Trump’s honest defense for the First Amendment might be a step in the right direction for America because it does go against the elite who are trying to control American ideologies. Without the elite’s ideologies that disguise actual facts, Americans can think more genuinely, objectively, and be proud of their own ideas to share. To avoid, mind control, much like in Orwell’s 1984, I think freedom of speech is necessary and should be protected. I’d rather be able to discuss taboos and discuss actual racial issues in America than be afraid to talk about them because of the politically correct propaganda of the elite.

Works Cited

1. Ahmad, and Tariq. “Canada.” Limits on Freedom of Expression, 1 June 2019, www.loc.gov/law/help/freedom-expression/canada.php.
2. “Campus Rights: What We Defend.” FIRE, www.thefire.org/about-us/campus-rights/.

Rhetoric is commonly known as an occurrence in speeches and political writings, but it is actually so much more than that. Rhetoric can be seen anywhere and everywhere. Rhetoric has an enormous influence on everyday life. As I am writing this paper, this is a process of me using rhetoric to extort my ideas and opinions about rhetoric. Rhetoric can be found in legal discourse, stories, movies, and even music if you really want to find it. In a recent study, Torrey Shanks claims that rhetoric should be adopted in a more broad notion to include creative and effective speech and writing. I believe it should too.

This paper will be classified as a rhetorical narrative meant to entertain. A rhetorical narrative is known as a style of rhetoric that is told as if it is a story. According to The Living Handbook, “The study of narratives in rhetorical discourse takes as its object discourses that primarily serve argumentative functions in contrast to aesthetic or didactic functions.” A story meant to entertain means that this story is not written for any purpose rather than to pass time. I will be discussing and giving my interpretation on “The Cask of Amontadillo” by Edgar Allen Poe.

Any work of literacy, no matter how modern (e.g. movies, songs, legal system) that checks all the boxes to be known as rhetorical discourse should be known as rhetorical discourse. The narrative I choose to discuss is the short story “The Cask of Amontadillo” by Edgar Allen Poe. The reason I chose this short story is because a few semesters ago I took a literature class that dove deep into this short story and I really enjoyed it. It is not as old as the idea of rhetoric but it is also not considered a modern story. “The Cask of Amontadillo” was published in 1846 and it had a very gothic theme, Poe’s most frequent writing style. The short story was written in the first-person point of view and expresses the thoughts and feelings of the narrator.

“The Cask of Amontadillo” was a narrative story about revenge and this is clear at the very beginning of the text because the first sentence consists of “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.” but as you delve deeper into the story, one may see how sinister Montressor (who is also the narrator of the story) really is. Montressor claims he is going to plan his revenge because Fortunado (the antagonist if you view the story as the narrator in the first-person point of view) insults Montressor in some previous occasion. But what exactly did Fortunado say? The story states “It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my goodwill.” this can be interpreted as Fortunado questioning Montressor’s wine connoisseur skills as Montressor states “In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen, was a quack, but in the matter of old wines he was sincere. In this respect I did not differ from him materially; –I was skillful in the Italian vintages myself, and bought largely whenever I could.”

He takes the character of Fortunado in an already weak state, drunk and at a carnival. Montressor then reveals he knows Fortunado’s weakness and uses it to lead him to his death at the catacombs in the quote “He had a weak point –this Fortunato –although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine.”. Fortunado willingly goes into the catacombs to try an exquisite wine and prove that he is an expert in wines.

The imagery in the story makes the reader become tired and maybe even claustrophobic as they move deeper into the catacomb. Edgar Allen Poe described the journey into the depths of the catacomb in this short story with the quote “I took from their sconces two flambeaux, and giving one to Fortunato, bowed him through several suites of rooms to the archway that led into the vaults. I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious as he followed. We came at length to the foot of the descent, and stood together upon the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors.” This whole scene might make the reader feel itchy, disturbed or even visualize themselves in the story if they are really into it. Formating imagery in such a way is an incredible talent. Poe is able to put the reader in the situation with Montressor and Fortunado through the use of imagery.

Could there be a subtle second theme of terror? Does Edgar Allen Poe want to scare us? I personally don’t think it goes too deep but I do believe there is a moral to this story: do not be a greedy person. Although it may seem that Fortunado wanted to help his friend Montressor confirm it was real amontadillo (a type of wine) and Montressor wouldn’t get scammed, I believe he just wanted more to drink. Fortunado was already drunk before his interactions with Montressor as states in the story as “He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much. ” I don’t believe Fortunado would’ve died by poisoning if he wasn’t already drunk. No one in their right state of mind would go deep into a catacomb to taste some wine and then take a swig from some cup you are given that turned out to be poison.

A second moral is to not be prideful, as it could be your undoing. Fortunado was drunk and incapacitated, but we can’t just assume he went into the catacombs because he is a drunk idiot. We can also assume his pride wanted to deny Montressor the idea that Montressor had quite possibly found the most exquisite, and rare to find wine. Or maybe even take the wine for himself to show off how he got a rare liquor. This is shown in the text as “How?’ said he. ‘Amontillado, A pipe? Impossible! And in the middle of the carnival!’ “I have my doubts,’ I replied; ‘and I was silly enough to pay the full Amontillado price without consulting you in the matter. You were not to be found, and I was fearful of losing a bargain.’ ‘Amontillado!’ ‘I have my doubts.’ ‘Amontillado!’ ‘And I must satisfy them.’ ‘Amontillado!’ ‘As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchresi.” and the repetition of the word “amontillado” emphasizes how rare this wine is.

In conclusion, “Cask of Amontadillo” by Edgar Allen Poe is a classic short story that many scholars are made to read. It is very intricate and the language, although not modern, is easy to understand. He captivates an evil and twisted theme that fits with his usual dark and gothic style. Some readers might even feel uncomfortable if they are easily disturbed. Edgar Allen Poe and his poetry and stories certainly aren’t for everyone. I do enjoy reading his work and find it quite fun to decipher his stories and find a deeper meaning to things.

There is no safe level of smoking. Tobacco smoking among adolescent Australians is at an all-time high. Nearly 40 000 Queensland secondary school students are classified as current smokers (Epidemiology and Health Information Branch, 1992). Research evidence indicates that if these students continue this poor life choice into their adult life, up to 10 000 of them will die from smoking-related illnesses (Epidemiology and Health Information Branch, 1992). The only way to avoid detrimental health effects linked with tobacco smoking is to sidestep cigarettes as a whole. Perceived behavioral control from the theory of planned behavior aims at the belief that one has, and can exercise, control over performing the behavior, this applies fittingly within the solution to reducing tobacco smoking among the young Australian population.

Fatalities and illnesses regarding tobacco smoking among young Australians, have become an epidemic within Australia. “In 2014/2015, one in seven (14%) Australians aged 15 years and over smoked daily” (Heart Foundation, 2019) Smoking is the largest single preventable cause of death and disease in Australia. “Smoking kills almost 18,800 Australians every year” (Heart Foundation, 2019). It is estimated that seven in ten deaths from drug-related causes (tobacco, alcohol, and drug use) are due to cigarette smoking. Young Australian smokers are equivalent to an estimated 14,503 Australian schoolchildren who progressed from experimental to established smoking behavior in 2017 (Heart Foundation, 2019). There are many factors that can lead to smoking onset, for example, weight control. However, the myth of this is that smoking does not lead to weight loss. It can slow down the metabolism and prevent weight gain, however, this can take up to a few years and should be no reason as to why smoking onset occurs. Smoking during adolescence or childhood causes respiratory and asthma-related symptoms including shortness of breath, coughing, phlegm, and wheezing. Smoking impedes lung development and causes the early beginning of lung capacity to decrease during late youth and early adulthood. Youngsters who smoke have an expanded danger of growing early indications of coronary illness (Cancer Council Victoria, 2016).

The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TBP) can pose successfully in assuming a variety of social cues, however, it hasn’t been successful in envisaging the epidemic of smoking. Marieke Hiemstra’s article, titled, ‘Smoking-specific communication and children’s smoking onset: An extension of the theory of planned behavior’ aimed to test whether parental smoking-specific communication and parental smoking related to smoking cognitions derived from the Theory of Planned Behaviour in association with smoking onset during preadolescence. The TPB is designed to predict and interpret human behavior in specific situations. With respect to smoking, the TPB posits that smoking cognitions (i.e. attitudes, self-efficacy, and social norms) predict the intention to start smoking. In turn, the intention to start smoking predicts actual smoking onset. Assumptions regarding potential results of smoking lead to positive or negative frames of mind towards smoking, convictions about the regularising smoking beliefs of significant others lead to social standards, and convictions about the presence of variables that may encourage or avoid smoking lead to refusal self-viability of smoking (Hiemstra, Otten, Van Schayck, & Engels, 2012).

Hiemstra’s aim throughout the study was to assess whether “distal smoking-specific maternal communication (i.e. frequency and quality of communication) and parental smoking is important in shaping children’s smoking cognition” (Hiemstra, et., al, 2012). The study predicted that the links present in past adolescent literature would similarly align with preadolescents also. This link to previous adolescent literature relates to the commencement of smoking as a child and smoking-explicit correspondence relates indirectly to smoking commencement through smoking cognitions (Hiemstra, et., al, 2012). In relation to parental smoking, it was predicted that this would create a link to child smoking onset directly and indirectly by smoking reasoning (Hiemstra, et., al, 2012). Researchers tested for contrasting effects on incidence and quality of communication between adolescents and mothers. Through the TPB and the behaviors connected to adolescent smoking with “smoking – specific parenting practices and corrected for data collection method (phone vs. questionnaire)” (Hiemstra, et., al, 2012). Some parents may overemphasize their parenting skills to conform to the norm of being a ‘good’ parent. Therefore, it is vital to study how children perceive their parents, and parenting practices.

In sum, the current findings suggest that during preadolescence, smoking-specific communication between parents and parents’ own smoking behavior contribute to the formation of smoking cognitions prior to smoking onset (Hiemstra, et., al, 2012). At this young age, only pro-smoking attitudes were associated with smoking onset. However, several studies have shown that also self-efficacy and social norms are associated with smoking onset later in life. Present findings suggest that cognitions that increase the likelihood of smoking onset in adolescence may already take place years before actual smoking onset. Therefore, prevention programs, such as Smoke-free Kids aimed at families with children in primary school are important in stimulating communication about smoking.

Introduction

Clarence Jones, a close advisor to Martin Luther King Jr., delivered a powerful and insightful speech titled “Behind the Dream.” This speech sheds light on the behind-the-scenes efforts and struggles that paved the way for King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. In this rhetorical analysis essay, we will explore the persuasive techniques employed by Jones to convey his message effectively. By examining the rhetorical strategies such as ethos, pathos, and logos, as well as the use of vivid language and storytelling, we will uncover the profound impact of Jones’ speech and its significance in the civil rights movement.

Establishing Ethos

In his speech, Clarence Jones establishes his credibility and ethos by referencing his personal involvement as a speechwriter and advisor to Martin Luther King Jr. He shares intimate details of the collaboration behind the scenes, including the arduous process of crafting the “I Have a Dream” speech. This firsthand experience lends credibility to Jones’ insights and underscores his authority on the subject matter. By grounding himself in his connection to King and the civil rights movement, Jones establishes himself as a trusted and knowledgeable speaker.

Appealing to Pathos

Jones masterfully employs pathos, appealing to the emotions of his audience to create a profound impact. He uses vivid language and storytelling techniques to evoke empathy and sympathy. For example, he vividly describes the brutal reality of racial discrimination and the sacrifices made by civil rights activists. By recounting the struggles and dangers they faced, Jones taps into the emotions of his listeners, igniting their passion and motivating them to take action. Through his heartfelt storytelling, he encourages his audience to empathize with the plight of those fighting for equality.

Employing Logos and Reasoning

Jones employs logos and reasoning to strengthen his argument and persuade his audience. He presents a logical sequence of events and facts, providing historical context and framing the significance of the civil rights movement. He highlights the societal and legal obstacles faced by African Americans, illustrating the need for the movement and its goals. By presenting facts and evidence, Jones builds a logical foundation for his argument and reinforces the importance of continued activism and progress.

Use of Vivid Language and Imagery

Throughout his speech, Jones employs vivid language and imagery to engage his audience and paint a vivid picture of the struggle for civil rights. He uses metaphors and powerful phrases to evoke strong mental images, such as referring to segregation as “a dark cloud of humiliation” and describing the civil rights movement as “a fierce storm against the walls of oppression.” These rhetorical devices create a lasting impact, ensuring that his message resonates with his audience and remains etched in their minds.

Conclusion

In “Behind the Dream,” Clarence Jones delivers a compelling and persuasive speech that sheds light on the untold stories and efforts behind Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Through his effective use of ethos, pathos, and logos, as well as vivid language and storytelling, Jones captivates his audience and inspires them to reflect on the struggles of the civil rights movement. His speech serves as a call to action, urging listeners to continue the fight for equality and justice.

Introduction

Clarence Jones, a close advisor to Martin Luther King Jr., delivered a powerful and insightful speech titled “Behind the Dream.” This speech sheds light on the behind-the-scenes efforts and struggles that paved the way for King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. In this rhetorical analysis essay, we will explore the persuasive techniques employed by Jones to convey his message effectively. By examining the rhetorical strategies such as ethos, pathos, and logos, as well as the use of vivid language and storytelling, we will uncover the profound impact of Jones’ speech and its significance in the civil rights movement.

Establishing Ethos

In his speech, Clarence Jones establishes his credibility and ethos by referencing his personal involvement as a speechwriter and advisor to Martin Luther King Jr. He shares intimate details of the collaboration behind the scenes, including the arduous process of crafting the “I Have a Dream” speech. This firsthand experience lends credibility to Jones’ insights and underscores his authority on the subject matter. By grounding himself in his connection to King and the civil rights movement, Jones establishes himself as a trusted and knowledgeable speaker.

Appealing to Pathos

Jones masterfully employs pathos, appealing to the emotions of his audience to create a profound impact. He uses vivid language and storytelling techniques to evoke empathy and sympathy. For example, he vividly describes the brutal reality of racial discrimination and the sacrifices made by civil rights activists. By recounting the struggles and dangers they faced, Jones taps into the emotions of his listeners, igniting their passion and motivating them to take action. Through his heartfelt storytelling, he encourages his audience to empathize with the plight of those fighting for equality.

Employing Logos and Reasoning

Jones employs logos and reasoning to strengthen his argument and persuade his audience. He presents a logical sequence of events and facts, providing historical context and framing the significance of the civil rights movement. He highlights the societal and legal obstacles faced by African Americans, illustrating the need for the movement and its goals. By presenting facts and evidence, Jones builds a logical foundation for his argument and reinforces the importance of continued activism and progress.

Use of Vivid Language and Imagery

Throughout his speech, Jones employs vivid language and imagery to engage his audience and paint a vivid picture of the struggle for civil rights. He uses metaphors and powerful phrases to evoke strong mental images, such as referring to segregation as “a dark cloud of humiliation” and describing the civil rights movement as “a fierce storm against the walls of oppression.” These rhetorical devices create a lasting impact, ensuring that his message resonates with his audience and remains etched in their minds.

Conclusion

In “Behind the Dream,” Clarence Jones delivers a compelling and persuasive speech that sheds light on the untold stories and efforts behind Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Through his effective use of ethos, pathos, and logos, as well as vivid language and storytelling, Jones captivates his audience and inspires them to reflect on the struggles of the civil rights movement. His speech serves as a call to action, urging listeners to continue the fight for equality and justice.

Despite people being generally intrigued by them, there remains some controversy on what criteria is considered of a serial killer. In their article “Paths to Destruction: The Lives and Crimes of Two Serial Killers” Doctors Barbara C. Wolf and Wendy A. Lavezzi appeal to the readers to consider what a serial killer looks and acts like. They discuss the media representation and how that affects people’s views on serial murderers. Also, Wolf and Lavezzi use ethos, logos, and facts to prove that no one should rely on what the entertainment industry has created as the main image of serial killers.

The ethos is applied indirectly in this article. Because both authors are doctors and have many years of experience in a medical examiner’s office, they are qualified to write it. Also, the article is considered scholarly on Academic Search Complete which means that other credible authors have reviewed the paper and approved it as quality material on the topic. It was also presented at a meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. Wolf and Lavezzi wrote the article for people who work in the field, but it can also gain attention from people who simply have an interest in learning about serial murderers. The persuasive impact of ethos is further reinforced in this rhetoric essay, as the authors’ expertise as doctors and their extensive experience in a medical examiner’s office lends credibility.

Today the entertainment industry paints a picture of how serial killers are all supposed to look, act, and what events led them to kill people. An increasing interest in learning about serial killers, cases, and the reasoning behind such horrible acts has arisen due to this. The doctors reference other well-respected people in the field, such as Dr. Robert Hare (Wolf and Lavezzi 202), that have put out work that carries a similar message to theirs. This works as an appeal because although they also give facts to support their theory, it strengthens the argument so that the reader knows that they are not the only ones who think this. They also use logos to prove to their audience that it’s impossible to give one clear representation of all serial killers because they come from all different walks of life and various backgrounds. They do this in the form of examining the cases of Gary Evans and Kendall Francois, both serial killers that do not fit the media’s portrayal. Serial killers are often shown as a “white male in his late 20s or 30s of middle-class origins who suffered abuse as a child” (Wolf and Lavezzi 199) in the entertainment industry, which is not consistent with Evans or Francois. By detailing the cases of each, Wolf and Lavezzi support their own theory that no one can, “further characterize and classify serial murderers” (Wolf and Lavezzi 202) because Evans and Francois belong on completely opposite ends of the spectrum.

Because of this factual evidence, the readers will acknowledge that although there may be similarities in the life stories of serial killers, not all of them will fall perfectly into line with the media portrayal presented. By analyzing Evans and Francois, they validate that every case approached by the Federal Bureau of Investigation brings unique details. There may be some similarities, but each case needs to be approached independently from the others. If the article had not used facts, the readers would not have been tempted to change their opinion. The audience, who may have begun reading the article with a generalized view of serial killers, are pushed to reconsider their beliefs because the doctors explain in the article that there is no simple explanation regarding serial murderers. The reader would acknowledge that, like in both cases discussed, all serial killers have different life experiences and motives that led them all to similar circumstances.

In the article, both doctors effectively argue and provide proof that the media’s mold of a serial killer cannot be used to determine a profile of those types of people. No one can offer a valid explanation of how year by year a serial killer is led to murder people because of the variety in the cases. Not all serial killers use the same methods, or even have the same motive. Although they might follow some of the “classic characteristics” (Wolf and Lavezzi 203), no one, not even professionals, can determine a profile of a serial killer that would accurately describe this diverse group.

Works Cited

1. Wolf, Barbara C., and Lavezzi, Wendy A. “Paths to Destruction: The Lives and Crimes of Two Serial Killers.” Journal of Forensic Sciences, vol. 52, no. 1, Jan. 2007, pp. 199–203. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2006.00319.x.

Introduction

Rugby union is played and loved by over 5 million individuals worldwide. My family and I enjoy rooting for our local and national teams. The game of rugby has a long and illustrious history that spans across several countries. William Webb Ellis is credited with inventing rugby in 1823, which has its own rules, and terminologies. There is a tale behind why he founded rugby and how he came up with the idea. William was a soccer player, but he was unfamiliar with the regulations. Rugby clothes nowadays often consist of short sleeves and short pants in team colors, long socks, and better-specialized footwear with studs.

Fans participate in the action by donning the colors of their favorite club where they may purchase official fan items like jerseys, scarves, socks, and wristbands (Beyer, 2022). Many stadium games plainly show which team the fans are supporting based on their apparel. Rugby teams begin in local areas and unite communities and the country. Our local club is the Auckland Blues, although we favor the Wellington Hurricanes and, like many Kiwis, support our national side, the powerful All Blacks.

Why I Chose Rugby

Age does not impede enjoying this exhilarating game, whether you wish to play casually or professionally. Even though rugby is a physical game, tackling is typically introduced to suitable age categories. Rugby may be introduced to younger players progressively through simplified and non-contact forms of the game. Even though males make up a great percentage of rugby players, more women are taking the sport. Rugby is a terrific sport for people of all ages and gender. It brings people together from all walks of life as players and fans.

Rugby promotes general fitness and physical strength because all the players are required to be in good shape to prevent injuries. According to the World Health Organization standards, the average individual should participate in moderate to light activity five days a week (Beyer, 2022). However, rising waistlines worldwide show that only some are achieving this aim because it is not only about staying slim. Lack of regular exercise is the fourth greatest cause of death worldwide (Beyer, 2022). Rugby is an excellent way to get away from the sofa and begin moving. It is a game that turns boys into men and teaches the art of protecting one another in the field.

The rugby game teaches discipline as it involves a high level of preparation, and involvement in appropriate training. A regular match schedule can help to develop crucial mental abilities such as discipline and self-control. Players understand the importance of setting objectives and how to create a plan for reaching those objectives. It is an essential lesson for academy athletes as they gain fundamental life skills that will serve them well in maturity on and off the field. Lastly, rugby builds friendships because of shared experiences on the field. Whenever you see other men putting in huge hits and scrummaging aggressively, and they step in to assist each other, it creates a long lasting relationship that flourishes beyond the rugby field.

Statement of Modes

I chose rugby as a focus for this anthology because the game is enjoyable. I will share my expertise and learn more about the game by conducting more studies through engagement in three rhetorical forms to achieve this purpose. The first is “Narration,” which tells the tale of how I got into the game, “Process Analysis,” which explains how to get in shape for the game; and “Cause & Effect,” which shows how playing rugby fosters friendship.

Becoming a Rugby Player (Narration)

I had aspired to be a rugby player early on in life as it was very popular among boys and men. When I am on the field and look around, I notice that people are chatting and cheering. It drives me to become more engaged in playing the sport (Jones et al., 2021). Whenever I hear others shout, I wonder what it would look like if I was the one doing the cheering. I opted to begin playing Rugby, and what draws me into it is seeing how we possess this strength in ourselves, particularly in me, and I am pretty surprised to have this aspect in sports.

I began playing rugby while still very young and it has taught me a lot throughout the years. I was in third grade when I participated in my maiden game, and it was both spectacular and terrifying. I was worried about being run over by the masculine players, but that was just a part of the adventure. Speaking from experience, being afraid gives me confidence and power. Playing Rugby has helped me improve my talents and taught me to trust my intuition.

Requirements of the Game (Process Analysis)

Rugby is divided into two forty-minute sessions, with certain injury time in between. However, comparing body fat levels is challenging due to the varied estimation errors associated with every approach. Researchers and coaches prefer to monitor the body weight and skin folds total rather than determining the percentage of body fat because of the constraints. Rugby players need leg strength to lift and jump in the lineout and, during the first push in the scrummage, to tackle and accelerate explosively.

The growth of vigorous leg power is essential for all rugby players. The forwards require power during scrummage and lineout scenarios (Robinson & Anderson, 2022). Lineouts require longer forwards because they can jump high, leading to competitive throw-ins. Back-line players must be able to sprint short distances and make and deflect tackles. The vertical leap test is one way to assess explosive leg strength. The test accuracy for the players is boosted since back-row forward players are supposed to jump during the lineout.

All Rugby players require some speed and strength, although the proportional significance of each component varies depending on the player’s playing position. Staying strong also minimizes the likelihood of injury and weariness (Hook & Brayley, 2020). Increasing one’s total muscular size may be highly useful because the large person usually overpowers the smaller guy during contact game. Rugby is a contact sport that consists of high-intensity periods of exercise such as sprinting and agility sports, as well as tackling, interspersed with brief periods of low-intensity activities (Hook & Brayley, 2020). Rugby players must have speed, flexibility, physical strength, and power to match the demands of the sport. Consequently, muscular power and strength are strongly related to performance, with elite athletes exhibiting the greatest muscle power levels.

Rugby Fosters Friendship (Cause & Effect)

I enjoy Rugby because no other game gives room to form such strong bonds with not only the teammates but opposition teams and all players in general. It is easy to make friendship with anyone wearing a rugby jersey even if they were not players. The colors bring back the memories of the beautiful game that everyone loves (Jones et al., 2021). It is hard to convey in words, but everyone who has ever played the game will understand. A real example of how powerful that link can be is when one of my college teammates requested me to preside at his wedding, which I gladly did.

It is more than a sport; it is a way of living. Every action undertaken outside the field is mirrored on it. It taught me accountability and responsibility and introduced me to lifetime brotherhood. Regardless of the game’s outcome, you stay with the opposing team, feast with them, and enjoy beers (Hook & Brayley, 2020). I realize that I will forever be looked after and have a sofa to sleep on wherever I travel in the region. The chance to keep playing this fantastic game that I have done since junior high is what motivates me each day.

Conclusion

In conclusion, researching this anthology paper enabled me to travel back to when I first began playing Rugby. Simultaneously, I looked for extra material that may be useful to someone who wants to take up Rugby as a sport. Extensive training is required to retain physical bulk and strength as a player. Rugby is a contact sport that, more than any other, instills discipline and fosters lifelong connections.

References

Beyer, G. (2022). The History of Rugby: The most brutal sport. Thecollector. Web.

Hook, J. & Brayley, D. (2020). Chasing a rugby dream. Polaris Publishing.

Jones, B., Hope, E., Hammond, A., Moran, J., Leeder, T., Mills, J., & Sandercock, G. (2021). Play more, enjoy more, keep playing; Rugby is a simple game. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 16(3), 636–645. Web.

Robinson, S. & Anderson, E. (2022). Bromance: Male friendship, love and sport. Palgrave Macmillan.