Writing Paper #3 Reflection Paper

            For the synthesis paper, I think the paper worked well with the purpose statement that was written. I think that the purpose statement had many key ideas that needed to be hit by the synthesis paper. The paper overviewed all the ideas that were needed and went into depth for each part of the purpose statement. I used all the authors that I wanted to use to create the argument on the best way to prepare and prosper in the new workforce. I made a point in the purpose statement to cover all the argumentative techniques for the paper. In the paper, I didn’t use the words logos, ethos, and pathos, but I did use the techniques without outwardly saying that this is using logos… I wanted to use a pyramid style argument, but I am not sure if that was completed in the paper. I thought that was a good structure to use to make my argument, but I lost sight of the style while I was writing my paper.

Synthesis Paper

What I care about

I care a lot about family and friends. There are two types of family that mean the world to me. My immediate actual family being my mom, dad, brother, and extended family as well. My other family is my cross country team. They are family. I care about them because we all love to run competitively. Running is important to me. College running is very important to me especially right now. I have tons of goals that I want to accomplish by the time I graduate in 3 years. Schooling is another thing I really care about. I hate Gen Eds but my major classes are a blast. I know for a fact that i chose the right major. I love my subject so far and the professors make it fantastic. I also am a giant blackhawks and bears fan. I love both football and hockey and I wish i could play both those sports and still run for Lewis. I try and watch every game of these two teams especially, but also every game in the NHL and NFL. My topic i think will be collegiate athletics.

There are many people that are affected b collegiate athletes. The athletes themselves, the athletes family, the athletes friends, the coaching staff, the people in charge of the coaching staff, the family of all those people, and the fans of sports. If college athletics went away, there would be many jobs lost along with many upset people throughout the country. Schools would lose students if athletics were to stop being allowed as well. Some of the big time football players are only there because of football and same with basketball or any other major sport. In fact, high school students are affected by college athletics. Scholarship offers separate the better athletes from the normal athletes. Having the scholarship over their head makes for a better effort in practice and performance.

Purpose Statement for Synthesis Paper

            My argument on what Sennett is trying to get across is at the common student in college or thinking about going to college. With using synthesized articles from Sennett, Huws, Judy and D’Amico, Blinder, and Friedman, I created an argument for the best way to prepare for the working life. This argumentative paper will explain what is changing the workforce of the new times and how to keep ahead of the curve. This offers insight on how people are losing their jobs; as well as, the best education background taken from college. The audience is going to look at different phrases and facts given by some of the most intelligent people in this field. I analyzed statements and put it in terms of my overall argument. I used Logos primarily in the argument with ethos used to backup the credibility of the sources I quoted. Pathos was hardly used expect for the fact that uneducated and unprepared workers were losing their jobs because they were not ahead of the curve and advancing themselves in their career. My arguments base portrayed a pyramid style argument. I started with a very basic argument that everybody can relate to using different quotes and sources. The next argument was more of a revelation and helped develop my argument almost all the way. The last example was a specific argument that not many can relate to; however, they can follow the example and see the underlying, nonvisible affects.

Wartime Poster Statement of Purpose and Design Plan

Wartime Poster Analysis

Closing Comments

I think the photo essay completed the task of being able to persuade the athletic administration that athletics are essential. The arguments were sound and clear on what was I trying to emphasize. The argument had three main points that would directly speak to those involved in the athletic program. My goal is easily understood and the topics stayed on focus. The subject was strongly discussed using captions and pictures.

Photo Essay with Narrative in Slides

Purpose Statement and Design Plan

College athletics is essential to a university

-Statement ofPurpose-

I am an athlete for Lewis on the track and cross-coutry team. Collegiate athletics is essential to universities and college throughout. I want to explain some aspects and facts of college athletics that the average student may not know. I would be informing the students and student-athletes attending any university. I will explain the parts of collegiate athletics to my audience through blog, verbal, and visual presentations in the classroom. The difference in the approaches allow for an effective way to teach the students about collegiate athletics and the importance of it.

-Design Plan-

Strategies: The way I want to portray my topic is through seriousness and ideas that are important and accurate. I want people to be interested in my topic but also know how serious it is. I want to show pictures of Lewis University gear that catch the logical side of my audience so that then they can understand the importance of the topic as I do. I will talk about my topic with a mellow tone, but there will be a hint of seriousness with the topics. My audience is important and the way I show my side will be important. I will use ethos, pathos, and logos to capture my audience’s attention.

Ethos is important. I will show them the jobs that are involved with the topic. The pictures of all the job titles will be a revelation.

Pathos is the least effective role in my argument. I will use pictures of the jobs and explain what were to happen if the job is terminated. The toll it would take on the families that are involved in athletics.

Logos will be used primarily. I will explain the financial part of athletics, the enrollment side of athletics, and any other areas that are directly effected by the topic.

Medium: For the medium, I decided that a typical slide show with more focus on the narrative would be more important than a childlike slideshow. Speaking to intelligent advisors and people involved in athletics want to hear more facts than anything. Sports are a numbers game. The people within sports deal almost completely with numbers. The upper level management in the athletics department do not want cheesy pictures; therefore, facts and information will be an effective approach.

Arrangement: I will have eight to ten slides in PowerPoint. I will arrange the slides from least severe and effective to the most relevant topic in the argument. I will mix the type of pictures being used to change with the topics being talked about. The text is going to be more effective on my audience than the pictures themselves. Therefore, there will be more focus on the narrative and captions. I do this so the focus is more on the text, but the pictures add effect to each point made.

Testing: To make sure the approach is effective with my specific audience and to make sure the points got across, I will hold questions after my presentation and ask others what they thought about it as well. Knowing the effectiveness will allow for more persuasion and parts that can be improved. 

IN CLASS Design Plan Draft:

Claims?
Pictures?
Order?

My argument is that collegiate athletics is essential to any university. I'm still working on exactly how to word it. With that there are still claims that can be made, because the entirety of the argument isn't going to change.
My first claim would be it brings in students that may have never came to university without athletics. This will be hard to show in pictures. But a re-wording of the claim may make it easier. I could word it as: Athletics brings more students to the university. This is my most important argument. I like to end strong, so I will have this last. I could move it up front if needed. I would show this by walking in the REC building and taking pictures of different team pictures that were taken in the past and this year to show the consistency of the argument.
My second claim is that it is advertising. The Lewis logo or BedCheck Charlie may not be as well known; however, the fighting irishman for Notre Dame is known throughout the country. With more advertising, the more the name gets out and people want the apparel. This brings in money as well which is put right back into the university. Notre Dame wouldn't be as famous without there football team and other successful athletics. This claim can be made somewhere in the middle. It is not as important as the first claim, but it still serves a purpose.
My third claim is that athletics brings jobs. This sounds silly at first until you think about all the jobs it really brings in. I know for Lewis Cross Country and Track, there are three full-time coaches on salary. Along side that, there are other volunteer coaches and others that are always helping out. This is one team out of the many sports we have here. Then you have an athletic director and others that overlook the coaches. NCAA compliance people are also paid for this reason. These are just some of the jobs offered throughout a smaller school. There are thousands of schools in USA and that means thousands more jobs that are in place. Without the athletic department, all those people wouldn't be in the dream job, or, with this economy, even have a job. This picture can go last or first because of the logos that goes into it. I can even look up actual facts for the amount of schools with athletics. That stat alone could be mind changing.

Purpose Statement

Zak Arcara’s Purpose Statement: College athletics is essential to any university

            I am an athlete for Lewis on the track and cross-coutry team. Collegiate athletics is essential to universities and college throughout. I want to explain some aspects and facts of college athletics that the average student may not know. I would be informing the students and student-athletes attending any university. I will explain the parts of collegiate athletics to my audience through blog, verbal, and visual presentations in the classroom. The difference in the approaches allow for an effective way to teach the students about collegiate athletics and the importance of it.