#3: Rhetorical Analysis

Writing a rhetorical analysis is a daunting task. Sophomore year of high school, our teacher hammered us with ethos, pathos, logos, and (it felt like) hundreds of rhetorical strategies and devices. We wrote a timed rhetorical analysis paper almost every week, and talked about them. At first, writing these were very stressful and difficult, but as time went on, I gained an interest in these strategies and how they were implied to enhance the writer's message. Seeing how rhetorical strategies are used to influence how an audience views a subject is fascinating. Rhetorical strategies are necessary to successfully being able to prove your argument, and by analyzing great speakers, it's a great way to learn about what strategies can be used and how to use them.

#2: Mindful Writing -- Being mindful of your Audience

Mindful Writing

    Mindful Writing, written by Brian Jackson, is an intriguing book that teaches its readers how to write. Oftentimes I find reading about writing a chore; however, in his book, Jackson introduces writing in an interesting manner. Throughout its pages, Jackson constantly emphasizes the importance of truly understanding who your audience is. I have read several other books on how to write well, and none of them conveyed this message as strongly as Mindful Writing does. 

     Understanding who the audience is directs the path a writer's message will take. If an audience is not understood, then it is hard to convey a message that will influence the way in which they think.This book has helped me realize that before writing, understand the audience, and then shaping your message will come much more easily.

#1: A Double-Edged Sword

     Phones, computers, ipods, ipads. The American culture seems to be addicted to technology; however, the frequent use of it seems to be cautioned seldom. David A. Bednar, of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, spoke on the effects of technology through two speeches: "Things as They Really Are," and "Sweep the Earth as With a Flood." While both of these speeches embody the use of technology, they focus on the two different groups affected by it -- the user, and the bystander.
     In Bednar's first address -- "Things as They Really Are" -- he focuses on how the use of technology can blind the user from seeing reality. Stating that Lucifer wants us to "disconnect gradually and physically from things as they really are," Bednar highlights technology as one of the major ways Lucifer pulls us from reality. A study done by a Ph.D. graduate student from Stanford University concluded that of online gamers, approximately 40% of men, and 53% of women regarded their online friends equal to, or even preferred their online friends to their friends in reality (Bednar, David A. "Things"). This is just one example of the many ways in which technology is replacing real life experiences with virtual ones.
     Years after giving this speech, Bednar revisits the topic of using technology in his address "Sweep the Earth as With a Flood." Rather than speaking of the affect technology has on the user, he speaks of how to combat the common detrimental use of technology by flooding social media sites with positive messages. Bednar states that modern technology and inventions "have enabled and accelerated the work of salvation," and goes on to outline how to keep social media posts positive by making them authentic and consistent, using edifying and uplifting messages, respecting intellectual property, and being wise and vigilant (Bednar, David A. "Flood"). While in his first address, Bednar focuses solely on the positive and negative effects of technology on the life of the user, he broadens the view through his second speech by envisioning how social media posts by one person have a significant impact on all who see them.
     Technology is a major part of today's society and can be used for many things, good or bad. Technology is a double-edged sword affecting those who use it, and the internet bystanders receiving the messages.

Bednar, David A. "Flood the Earth Through Social Media." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-      Day. Provo. Aug. 2015. Web. 2 Sept. 2015. <https://www.lds.org/liahona/2015/08/youth/flood-the-  earth-through-social-media?lang=eng>.
Bednar, David A. "Things as They Really Are." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day. Provo.  June 2010. Web. 1 Sept. 2015. <https://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/06/things-as-they-really-are?  lang=eng>.