Analysis of "There Are No New Social Networks" by Molly McHugh
Social media has become routine worldwide. It connects those in North America to those in Eastern Asia, those in South America to those in Southern Africa, and those in Eastern Europe to those in the Middle East. Social media knows no limits. Because social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat have so successfully connected the globe, new social apps find it difficult to infiltrate their niche. McHugh uses parallelism and ethos to convince the audience of this ever-present issue. By framing the introductory paragraph so symmetrically, McHugh entrances the audience from the moment she presents the main idea. She leads with "Your iPhone used to be a digital laboratory — a place for experiments in the form of apps. Try this, sure. Download that, why not? Somewhere along the line, that interest in dabbling wore off." McHugh introduces a command-response idea with "Try this, sure. Download that, why not?" Additionally, she concludes the opening paragraph with similar structure to the first sentence, inserting a dash here and there as well. To create an effective argument, McHugh mentions reputable sources. She states, "According to a 2017 Pew report, more and more adults are using social networks, and though user growth is comparatively slowing for major social networks, it’s still growing." Pew research is widely known as well as widely drawn upon. Additionally, citing a 2017 report supports the topic's relevance. As another source, McHugh includes opinions from experts in the field: "Product Hunt’s social editor and writer, Niv Dror, says there’s something else keeping this market stagnant." By voicing others' sentiments, McHugh shows that her opinion is shared, and that what she's saying has backing. Reports, research, and reputable individuals strengthen McHugh's argument about the absence of recent social media apps. While the vacancy of new apps is a real phenomenon, it does not alter most people's daily ritual. McHugh successfully spreads awareness of the increasing trend, while maintaining a nonchalant tone, careful not to over-dramatize the situation. Because the topic is relatable, the audience is previously intrigued. McHugh holds their attention to entertain and educate, overall, providing a captivating article.
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Analysis of "Buying the Farm" by Alyssa Bereznak
Food is essential for mankind. However, with the growing population taking over more and more land, less is available for agricultural production. Bereznak investigates urban agricultural practices in Silicon Valley to raise awareness for the agricultural crisis and offers a healthy alternative to the problem. Bereznak's use of language, logos, and laudatory tone assist in providing insight into an increasingly problematic topic. Bereznak's use of diction portrays an image, rather than convinces the audience to take a side of the argument. She opens with: "The town of Kearny, New Jersey, is a small industrial desert, populated by warehouses, factories, and twisting freeways filled with hulking cargo trucks." "Populated" and "hulking" describe the city to be heavy industrialized with little natural elements. Instead of convincing the audience through her diction, she allows the words to paint a picture, ultimately manipulating the audience to see what she wants them to see. Overall in the agicultural debate, logic is essential. The argument that the world population is growing faster than a food population is unable to be countered. The root of urban farming is described when Bereznak says, "By the early 20th century, programs similar to Pingree’s began popping up at schools in urban areas, stoked by urban reformers who worried that kids would be ruined by growing up in industrial environments." The historical statement is factual, backing up her claim and argument with logic. Throughout the piece, Bereznak argues a call to action, praising the urban attempts to feed the population. By inserting statements that emphasize their organic and healthy processes, she implies the work the urban agricultural companies are doing serve the people, while offering a healthy and tasty alternative; "Fain has also coined the term “post-organic” to describe Bowery’s completely chemical-free produce and elevate its cachet in the competitive world of gourmet salad." Bereznak also mentions her tasting session of normally not-so-tasty food, and brags on the pure and delicious nature of the indoor alternative. Agriculture is mankind's attempt to feed a large population. Bereznak explains indoor, herbicide/pesticide free options are tasty, easy to care for, healthy, and an overall helpful practice when facing the problematic population increase. Although mostly fact-based, Bereznak skillfully educates the audience of the agriculture problems, and convinces them that alternatives, like the one explored, are practical. Analysis of "'1984' in 2017" by Rob Harvilla
Recently, Donald Trump has fueled and increase in political tension globally. Public outrage combined with confident enthusiasm divides the United States and sparks debates internationally. Rob Harvilla compares the political climate/predicted future to George Orwell's famous dystopian novel, 1984. Harvilla passionately argues the transition of modern day into a dystopian future through charged language and logos. Harvilla begins the article by reviewing, for the audience, recent popular books. Coming in at number one is none other than . . . 1984: "Yes, George Orwell’s 1984, his vivid and colossally cynical 1949 novel about a bleak, totalitarian future, rocketed to no. 1 on Amazon’s best-seller list this week". Using "vivid" and "colossally cynical" are strategically inserted to describe 1984, but follow a sentence describing the terrible political climate, inferring them to refer to the 2016 presidential election. Harvilla writing "as you are unfortunately aware" expresses the passion behind the topic - combining literature with the "terrible political climate". Logic makes the comparison. Orwell's prediction of the boxes studying our every move is now a daily use of time - and willingly! The combination Harvilla used comparing the Ministry of Truth to the presidential campaign share dashing similarities. Throughout 1984 Orwell adds an emphasis to the obliteration of facts. Harvilla brilliantly transfers the destruction of the truth to the climate change issue when he states, "the fear that all climate-change evidence might vanish". Harvilla incorporates wit, facts, and clever language to passionately express the overlap between the dystopian novel, 1984, to today's divided and unfortunate political stance. The combination of literature and current events interests all, and appeals to solid liberals all over. Harvilla successfully argues the comparison while intriguing the audience with an unusual, modern-day comparison. Analysis of "Actually SpaceX, We Shouldn't Go to the Moon" by Claire McNear
Analysis of "No, Really: Root for Twenty One Pilots at the Grammys" by Rob Harvilla
2016 has been widely acknowledged as a great year for music, and this year's Grammys are expected to be an award show worth watching. Some artists, like Adele, are expected to win a lot; others not so much. Harvilla skilfully intertwines humor, characterizing language, and demonstrated credibility to eloquently argue why everyone needs to root for Twenty One Pilots at this year's Grammys. A humorous article grabs everyone's attention. Witty and sarcastic, Harvilla forces the audience to read the entire article - and enjoy it. Harvilla concludes the first paragraph with his claim that "If you’re into the Grammys for the shock value, for the chaos, for the universe-trolling delirium, these fellas are your new best friends". The interactive nature of the article encourages the audience to listen Harvilla's argument. His humor intrigues an audience from all genres and makes all ask "what's this guy going on about. The opening line to the piece "Beyoncé should win everything, but won’t; Adele will win everything, but shouldn’t. Thus concludes your radically condensed 2017 Grammys preview" introduces an idea that interests all music lovers - under the assumption those that listen to Beyonce and Adele will also be familiar with Twenty One Pilots. Harvilla cleverly injects Twenty One Pilots lyrics throughout his piece: "They are polarizing fellas" (referring to their song 'Polarize'). He follows this statement with: "to be sure, fearless and bonkers and gleefully Problematic, their strident Midwestern uncoolness fueling a rap-rock hybrid that desecrates traditional notions of “rap” and “rock” in equal, gargantuan measure". Harvilla's choice of descriptive words to characterize the group, like "fearless and bonkers" and a band that "desecrates traditional notions", would make any Twenty One Pilots fan prideful. After fluidly analyzing Twenty One Pilots music and comparing their style to other Grammy nominees, Harvilla convinces the audience of his eligibility to speak on the topic. The in depth discussion of the artistic development in the 'Ride' and 'Stressed Out' music videos demonstrate Harvilla's expertise. Inserted facts identify Harvilla as an experienced follower in the field: "their fourth album, 2015’s Blurryface, debuted at no. 1 on Billboard’s album chart and lurks in the top 20 to this day. This past summer, joining a cohort that includes Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and nobody else in the rock category, they snuck two songs — “Ride” and the dreamy Suicide Squad–soundtrack jam “Heathens” — into the Hot 100’s top five simultaneously." The combination of appeals strengthen his eligibility and allow Harvilla to venture into such a disputed topic. Harvilla's unique voice contributed to the attractiveness of the article. Humor held the audience's attention, while descriptive language allowed him to indisputably express his opinion on Twenty One Pilots. Harvilla earns credibility throughout the article to gain the audience's respect. Overall, "No, Really: Root for Twenty One Pilots at the Grammys" effectively entertains the audience and argues for a band in a way that does not feel argumentative. Analysis of "Fear and Recreation" by Molly McHugh
With the transition of national leadership, climate change introduces a whole new controversy all across the United States. National Parks are directly endangered as they no longer serve as a political priority. McHugh argues that national parks are threatened and those who have the power to speak up choose not to through repeated themes and phrases and consistent appeals to logos. McHugh powerfully restates the idea that those who are able to protest stay silent. "Accounts . . . are failing to say much at all", "many of those who could speak up are not", and "some of my favorite accounts haven't commented on what might happen to the outdoors" are examples drawn from various parts of the article restating a similar idea. Each quote transforms her claims so it flows with the theme of the paragraph, skillfully demonstrating that the same concept can apply in multiple scenarios. The insertion of tweets and Instagram posts along with the presentation of facts throughout the article appeal to the audience's logic. The tweets back up her claims about the importance of maintaining a national park: "If you've ever seen . . .you know why the national parks matter" as stated by @rangeremily from Yosemite National Park. McHugh utilizes the proliferation of national parks on social media to demonstrate the voice from those who care, and later contrasts this to the lack of voice from the general public. Through interviews, McHugh gathers more presentable views to the audience by speaking with those invested in the parks. Emily Nyod, one of those interviewed, says, "I need to be able to communicate to visitors why climate change threatens Yosemite, because I want them to leave with a passion for protecting the place they just fell in love with.” McHugh feeds off of these opinions to make her argument: a large number of people are passionate about protecting the national parks, yet few are willing to express themselves. The argument for national parks is thoroughly convincing (how could you not love the images of the gorgeous landscape?). Repetition of claims encourages the audience to comprehend the significance of the claims, while exemplary evidence supports her inference of a supportive public. With slight political edge, McHugh manages to follow her own advice to speak up on behalf of the endangered national parks. Analysis of "NFL Championship Weekend Recap: The Falcons Have Ascended to a Higher Plane" by Robert Mays
On Sunday, January 23, 2017, the Atlanta Falcons win the game that allows them to pack their things and ready themselves for the trek to Houston, Texas for the 51st Super Bowl. Mays discusses the mindset and the actions of the players in the playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. Mays's use of imagery, use of elevated language, and appeals to ethos convince the audience why the Falcons dominated the way they did. Throughout the article, Mays describes simple tasks in a fashion that connects the audience to the each play of the game: "I’ve seen old men feeding pigeons in the park who look more frantic". Even the players' mental state is acknowledged in a manner unlike most game analyses: "Ryan's quiet optimism developed into a full-throated war". Mays twists Ryan's state-of-mind into a character, egging him on and feeding into his determination, leading him to a state of "full-throated war". The elevated language does not appear polysyllabic or advanced to the point of misunderstanding, but the description throughout the piece appears dissimilar to that of comparable sports columns. "Before digging into the defensive looks they’d just seen, Ryan made a proclamation to his offensive coordinator that, in hindsight, was prescient" is an example of the carefully constructed sentence, deliberately inserting "digging", "proclamation", and "prescient" to clarify and exaggerate the meaning of the sentence. Player statistics are strategically placed throughout the article, establishing the credibility of the author. The player statistics and season standings suggest to the audience that Mays has been following the conference throughout the pre and post season, and is qualified to present an analysis of the game. After reviewing Jones's season ratings, Mays gives an opinion about him as a team member, saying, "Nursing a sprained toe that’s lingered for weeks, Jones was the best player on the field". Mays took the game analysis to a whole new level with an in depth evaluation of each section of the game, and a fully developed argument on how the Atlanta Falcons emerged as a Super Bowl team. The language used to convey his message flowed extraordinarily, as Mays painted a beautiful portrait of the road to the championship. |
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