TOW #28 (Documentary analysis)- "Food, Inc."

            When most Americans go to the grocery store or a restaurant to get food, they likely don’t think about the origins of the product they are about to consume. Most believe that it comes from small, healthy family farms like the ones depicted on food companies’ labels and packaging. Yet, when looking deeper into so-called farms, this is found to be brutally false, and despite what people think, the way we eat has changed more in the past 50 years, than in the previous 10 thousand. In the 2008 documentary, Food, Inc., producer Robert Kenner and health and food experts Eric Schlosser and Michael Pollen explore the American food industry that has turned into nothing but factories and industrial plants. Together, Kenner, Schlosser, and Pollen explore the different aspects of the food industry and the ways they have changed as a result of a growing population, more advanced technology, and a society run by capitalist greed. Within the past 50 years, a small number of large private corporations have essentially taken over the industry and have found ways to produce the largest amount of product, in the shortest amount of time, and at the lowest price. Using assembly lines, almost like that in car manufacturing, companies have been able to take over the industry and drive smaller, family-run farms out of business, or force them to sign contracts that require them to adhere to everything the company says. And despite the growing concerns of these food monopolies, there ability to exert their power upon the government has allowed them to influence the FDA and USDA to meet their needs. Since the producers recognize much of the government is under the influence of such corporate power, Kenner produced Food, Inc. show consumers what is really happening and get them to take direct action.

            Using relevant statistics, relatable anecdotes, and exposing images, Food, Inc. exposes the actions that take place within the American food industry, and private corporations inhumane and unhealthy treatment of animals, poor handling of consumer health, exploitation of workers and smaller businesses, and the destruction of the environment.

            Throughout the documentary, Kenner backs up nearly every point he makes with relevant statistics. It would be easy for him to tell a story about the food industry, but it would be difficult to get American consumers to buy into it without facts to back it up, and Kenner effectively uses statistics to do just that. The statistics used are not only inarguable, but help connect viewers to the situation. As I said before, American consumers do not think before they buy food at the supermarket, but if they were to watch this documentary prior to shopping, they almost certainly would. The reason that almost all foods are available year round and are exponentially bigger than they were 50 years ago is because of genetic modification. Kenner states that between 60-70% of foods sold in American stores are genetically modified in some way. This means that potentially harmful chemicals are going into a majority of the foods we eat.

            Additionally, Kenner is able to expose the food industry and influence the audience with the use of relatable anecdotes. When discussing the potential negative health affects the modern food industry can create among consumers, Kenner interviews a woman who began an advocate for change after her son died from E. coli. Her son had contracted E. coli from a hamburger that should have been recalled immediately, but was delayed for some time due to the inefficiencies of the FDA and USDA. Ultimately, this had a large impact on viewers, especially those who are responsible for feeding and protecting their children. With over 73,000 annual cases of E. coli in the US, it is obvious that change needs to take place within the food industry and the government, and now consumers are more likely to take action since it can affect them personally.

            Even with the multitude of statistics and anecdotes, Food, Inc. would not have been such a successful documentary if it Kenner was not able to get photo and video evidence of the atrocities made by corporations upon animals and workers. Throughout the documentary, Kenner displays images of the dirty, cramped conditions animals are forced to live in, along with several acts of abuse upon animals that were filmed with hidden cameras. In addition to the poor conditions of the animals, the documentary displays the conditions minimum wage workers are forced to work in inside the “food factories.” To a typical viewer who is used to seeing pictures of beautiful, small family farms, the images and video are horrific. Once seeing them, it hard to resist supporting Kenner’s stance on the problems America faces in the food industry.

TOW #27- TOW Reflection

       Throughout this school year, my writing and ability to analyze a text and then argue the purpose has progressed tremendously. As I read through my old TOWs (#'s 3, 13, 23), I realized specific improvements in several aspects of my writing. With regards to the introduction, I feel that I have progressed because I now have the ability to effectively hook a reader into my essay and get them to listen to what I have to say. In TOWs 3 and 13, my introduction consisted of a short summarization of the text, which is useful, but also very boring to the reader. In contrast, by the end of the year when I wrote TOW 23, I began with an interesting hook that was both relevant to the text, but also connected to the reader and grabbed their attention. Another aspect of my writing is the analysis of author's purpose and their use of rhetorical devices to achieve it. After going back to read TOW 3, my analysis was sort of confusing and did not effectively achieve the purpose that the author argued in their essay. Then, after reading my recent TOWs, I realized that my analysis was inadequate because I simply chose devices that stood out to me first, rather than thoroughly analyzing the text and choosing ones that have the greatest impact on the argument. As of right now, I certainly have not mastered this ability, but I am far better at it than I was prior to our Analysis unit.
      Up to this point in APELC, I feel that I have mastered forming thesis statements and topic sentences. In my writing, I can now effectively write an effective and clear thesis that provides a strong argument. In addition, my topic sentences almost always provide a solid transition between points and effectively relate my evidence back to the overall argument and thesis.
      Obviously I am not a perfect writer, as there are multiple aspects that a must improve on. To strive to improve on these aspects I will continue to practice my writing and analysis over the summer by doing informal versions of a TOW. Whenever I come across an interesting article or visual, I will analyze the devices used by the author and maybe write a few sentences about them.
       Given the purpose of the TOWs, I feel that I benefited greatly as I was able to practice my writing and also broaden my horizons in terms of the texts I read, in preparation for the AP exam. Although, I probably could have gotten even more out of them if I took it a little more serious and didn't do it last minute. Perhaps, if more TOWs were graded as assessments, I would have spent more time practicing and becoming a better writer.

TOW #26 (visual text)- We Can Do It!

Reading/writing goals- Choose a piece of propaganda that attempts to persuade viewer's opinions. Write using mature prose, develop thorough analysis that connects back to the purpose of the image and my thesis.

The first half of the 20^th century was a very tough time for a vast majority of Americans, especially for the middle and lower classes. Between WWI, the Great Depression, and WWII, millions of Americans struggled to get by, or even survive, if they were sent to fight in Europe or the Pacific. During the Great Depression, unemployment reached as high as 25% and could have grown even larger if it weren’t for WWII. At the beginning of the war, a large portion of working class men were drafted into the army, and those who weren’t, worked in factories where the demand for labor was huge. In order to feed the US Army and its allies, US industries were forced to produce trillions of dollars in equipment and goods, with a limited work force. This meant workers were asked to work long hours completing physically demanding tasks, usually for minimal wages, leading to great unrest among working class Americans. In response to workers’ anger and unrest, the US War Production Coordinating Committee released this poster as an inspirational message aimed to boost factory workers’ morale.

            As one of the most famous pieces of propaganda in American history, this poster had a large positive impact on US industries, leading to a successful Allies defeat of the Axis Powers. In addition to the effectiveness of the motivational message at the stop saying, “We can do it,” this poster achieves its purpose of boosting morale primarily because of the image of the strong women. WWII was one of the first periods in American history where women were commonly found working in large industries, breaking the typical gender roles for females as they were often viewed as weaker than men. Although, with such a large number of men going to war, it was necessary for women to fill their positions in factories. By portraying a woman in this poster, the War Production Committee effectively appeals to women, convincing them that they have the might to perform such jobs historically held by men. Also, it was empowering for men because it created a sense of competition. Men, believing that they were stronger and more apt for labor than women, saw that a larger number of women were joining the work force and felt it necessary to continue to exert their dominance. This led men to work harder and longer, proving their capabilities and leading to the success of US industries and the army in their war effort.

            Ultimately, the “We Can Do It!” poster is perhaps the most recognized piece of propaganda of the 20^th century for good reason. With its effective message and image, the War Production Committee successful achieved its purpose of boosting workers morale and creating a large work force to complete the work necessary to support the war. Believe it or not, the poster was so effective, it became the center of the feminist movement of the 1980’s, when the woman became known as “Rosie the Riveter.”

TOW #24 (written text)- "The Age of Mechanical Reproduction"

Reading/writing goals- Choose a difficult text about a topic I am not very familiar with. Make good transition and topic sentences, and connect each point back to the purpose.

       Millions of young families in America share similar goals and routines they wish to attain: get married, have children, and raise a family. For many people, child birth is easy and often unwanted. But other families, who struggle to reproduce, recognize that childbirth is not necessary given to all and struggle to fit the cultural norms of American society. Infertility is a growing problem for families in America due to both genetic and environmental factors. To make up for this, scientists and health officials have spent millions of dollars developing medical technology to allow infertile adults to have children. In the article, "The Age of Mechanical Reproduction," Paul Ford discusses the topic of infertility, which plagues many families, and offers up a solution to the problem, in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Using personal anecdotes and appropriate humor, Ford effectively analyzes the struggle young couples go through to give birth to their own child.

     As an introduction to the article, Paul Ford effectively grabs the readers attention with an anecdote of his own struggle with infertility. Leading up to his description of in-vitro fertilization, Ford describes the process he and his wife went through to achieve successful reproduction. Although, the process he described was clearly long, slow, and painful both emotionally and physically. Adding to the despair, their friends would tell them stories of celebrations and parties for their child's Christening, first birthday, etc. Ultimately, the personal anecdotes are the sole reason Ford is able to achieve his purpose, as it creates a deep connection between him and the audience. Because of the emotion he expresses in his writing and stories surrounding him and his wife's struggle, readers feel sympathy and are more likely to agree with the text that follows.

      Despite being such a difficult topic for Ford to discuss, as he personally suffers from infertility, he does not come across the reader as depressed and saddened by their situation. Intertwined within the anecdotes and discussion of "mechanical reproduction," Ford uses humor to lighten the mood of his article. Why would someone even think about reading the article, let along agree with what is said, if it is just sad and depressing? The positive aspects of his life that are highlighting through humor tell the audience that processes like in-vitro fertilization, though painfully long and sometimes unsuccessful, can in fact allow couples to reproduce and have a child of their own.

     Though it may not be "natural," fertilization can hypothetically be possible for all people. Through processes such as in-vitro fertilization, families have finally attained lifelong goals and wishes to have a child and can now fit in with societal norms in America. Though discussing a topic that is depressing for many, Ford effectively analyzes the struggle of infertility with his use of gripping anecdotes and appropriate humor.

IRB Post #4- "Black Hawk Down"

This marking period, I will read Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden. The book, which is a war story of when 100 American soldiers were killed in Somalia when their helicopter was shot down, is a topic that interests me and a genre that I have not read in the past. Also, I thought it would be a good opportunity to do a little "cross-course" learning and read something that relates to APELC and APUSH. The reason I chose this book is because I have watched the movie and liked it very much, so I look forward to seeing how the book differs from the movie.

TOW #23 (Written text)- "Babies cry at night to prevent siblings, scientist suggests"

Reading/ Writing Goals- Read an article on a topic that does not particularly interest me, but might be a topic that may show up on the exam. Choose rhetorical devices that are essential to the author's argument/purpose.

            Around the world, people invest hundreds of billions of dollars annually on scientific research in various fields, but what for? Whether people feel that it is necessary to invest so much money in science or not, scientists’ main goal is to find answers to the many questions people have regarding the natural world. Nowadays, you can find scientific research that has been conducted on nearly every topic known to man, even those that seem to have no use or importance. Recently, a neuroscience writer named Laura Sanders wrote an article published Science News analyzing the behaviors of babies. Using hypothetical reasoning and specific diction, Sanders argues that babies likely cry at night not because they are hungry or are looking for comfort from their parents, but to prevent their mothers from conceiving another child.

            Everyone knows that newborn babies are often a hassle, as they constantly cry, wake up in the middle of night, and require constant attention. Typically, people believe this is so because they are so young and cannot care for themselves, but Sanders argues otherwise. According to Sanders, babies are so demanding, especially at night, in order to gain their mother’s attention and occupy her so she is unable to have any more children. In the article, she supports this claim by offering up multiple hypotheses and reasoning to back them up. Although, her main source of reasoning is that babies naturally know, through genetic evolution, that the more attention they receive from their parents, the more likely they are to survive. Therefore, if a mother was to have a second child, the first child would receive much less attention and care than they would as an only child. Though this hypothesis seems reasonably, it is ultimately ineffective because it lacks experimental evidence and results that are required in science to prove a claim to be true. So far, Sanders only has hypothetical evidence to base her reasoning off, and therefore can not successfully make the claim that babies cry at night to prevent having siblings.

            Likely because Sanders lacks such evidence to make her claim, she relies diction that characterizes babies as much smarter and more aware of their actions than they actually are. In the article, Sanders claims that babies desire to prevent another sibling is a “devious intention” and that babies are “nighttime nursing liaisons.” Sanders depicts babies as “devious” because her argument states that babies somehow have it programmed in their genome at birth to prevent their mother from having another child. Obviously a baby cannot prevent this from happening in a more direct manner, so they resort to other underhanded tactics, such as waking up and crying at night, to prevent sex. Also, Sanders argues that babies are liaisons determined to break up sexual relations between their mother and father. Once again, I believe this is unlikely because babies can simply not survive on their own and have no other way to get attention than to cry. Sanders cannot suggest that babies are this devious and smart to develop close liaisons with their mother solely to distract them.

In conclusion, I believe this article is a great example of the diversity within the field of science, yet Laura Sanders does not effectively achieve her purpose. She cannot rely on hypothetical evidence and such diction to claim that babies act the way they do to prevent the birth of siblings.

TOW #23 (Visual Text)- WWF Deforestation

Goals- Choose an image with a deeper meaning and/or an analogy or metaphor of some sort. Also, write so that the analysis flows together with mature syntax so it does not seem like a list of the necessary information.

Aside from pollution and global warming, one of the single most destructive human forces is deforestation. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), 15 square kilometers of rain forest are destroyed every minute to provide the world with wood and a variety of other resources available among the trees. Although, this process of deforestation comes at a huge cost. Without adequate space left in rain forests, thousands of species of animals are subject to habitat loss. Animals no longer have the space and resources needed to survive, therefore leading to the extinction of many species. The purpose of this image created by the WWF is to urge humans as a whole to limit the destruction of habitats across the world, specifically in rain forests, which they effectively achieve by portraying a well-known character in popular culture.

            The movie Tarzan is one of the most popular Disney movies of all-time and is easily identifiable as the main character, Tarzan, is usually depicted swinging from vines in the rain forest, which he calls home. In this WWF image, Tarzan is clearly picture swinging from a vine, although he has reached the end of the rainforest. Instead of safely reaching another tree, Tarzan appears to be falling onto land recently cleared by several large bulldozers. Despite being a cartoon, this depiction is very affective because people are more likely to care about the deforestation taking place when they see a character, that they all know and love, falling to his death as a result of human’s carelessness and destruction of rain forests. In addition, the WWF states at the bottom “15km² of rain forest disappears every minute,” which was likely added to back up the cartoon with fact and hint that Tarzan and animals living in the rain forests cannot bear the deforestation as it happens so quick and at such a large magnitude.

            Ultimately, I found this image to be very effective at getting people to care and realize the terrible effects deforestation has on the Earth and its inhabitants. I though it was creative and interesting that the WWF depicted Tarzan rather than a more realistic animal because Tarzan likely has much more cultural significance to viewers.