Rhetoric and Civic Life | Kaitlyn Harries

As you reach for that granola bar in your backpack, do you ever look at what ingredients are used to make that bar? Or what about those strawberries you bought from the store? It's fruit so it has to be good for you right? If only that were the case. Looking at labels as you walk through the store, food located in all sections, from snacks to fruits and vegetables are being genetically modified, but it was not always this way. For my paradigm shift essay, I am going to focus on the rise of genetically modified food from 1940 to present day. Specifically, at this point my thesis is the rise in the use of genetic modification can be traced back from the 1940's to present day and has come about as a result of the green revolution and eventual FDA approval. I plan on focusing my essay on the causes of utilizing genetic modifications of food, what genetic modification entails, and the effects that genetic modification has had on both human health and society as a whole. Pho...

Picture this, you are sitting in your dorm consumed with boredom. What do you do? Do you pick up a book? Call a friend? Go for a run? Or rather grab your laptop and binge watch Netflix? Today many of us find ourselves entertained by technology, whether it be television, video games, computers, or phones. But, have you ever wondered what people did to pass the time just a mere hundred years ago? Back in the early 1900's people didn't have the technological advancements we have today, so what did they do? People spent their free time playing sports, similarly to the entertainment we have now, only the industry has grown greatly since the early twentieth century. Children used to play many games that they made up, which is still similar to children today, however today's kids also rely heavily on ipads and televisions to hold their attention instead.  As a potential paradigm shift, I would analyze the difference in which sources of entertainment have changed from the ea...

Have you ever heard the expression the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing? Have you ever thought of how this saying applies to speaking? I know it seems like it would be a stretch, but surprisingly it's not. Think about it this way, your right hand in this case is the speech itself and the left is your body language. Still seem unclear? Allow me to explain. Body language is a powerful tool when speaking as it can either add to the speech and reaffirm what the speaker is conveying, or completely contradict the speaker. Body language encompasses one's gestures, posture, and facial expressions. While some aspects of body language can be controlled and strategically used, others occur without any means of control. Take President Nixon's famous speech in which he proclaims that he is not a crook. His words are conveying one thing, but his body language conveys another. As he says these words, his head nods, contradicting himself. Body language can be controlled...

Photo Credits: Number 10 Have you ever had a conversation with someone where you go in set in your ways, but when you walk away you find yourself questioning all of your opinions? It's not like you agree with the person, but suddenly their thoughts don't seem as wrong. This eloquent use of language in order to persuade someone is known as rhetoric, and after reading about it, rhetoric shows up everyday. I had never fully understood the extensiveness of rhetoric or its actual meaning before reading the Crowley and Hawhee article, "Ancient Rhetoric". During ancient times, rhetoric was used to figure out the best possible solution for a given issue. Whether it was policy making or solving a dispute between two people, rhetoric was seen as a tool. Through the centuries, it seems that rhetoric has taken on a whole new meaning. Today, rhetoric is usually associated with lying and deceit. Think about politicians. They tend to make many promises, convincing people t...

This past Monday was the anniversary of the 9/11 attack, a heart-breaking emotional event for so many families. Thinking back to 2002 during the Super Bowl, there was an ad, only ever aired once to bring about a sense of nationalism to help heal the hurting city. This ad was the Budweiser 9/11 tribute and that is what I am going to use for my civic artifact. The tribute depicts the iconic Budweiser clydesdales making their way to New York City and at the end, showing their respect by bowing towards the city skyline. It has no voice over, only music, sending a powerful message to the viewers. As far as my speech goes, I am thinking about developing a hook in which I begin by describing in detail the horses leaving, similar to that of a narrative playing into the audience's senses. Then I will pan out to the tribute and transition into how it is considered civic. In my speech I am going to focus on the overall theme of nationalism and unity that the tribute draws on. For my main ...

What is it that drives you? What motivates you? What is it that you are passionate about? This is what I have been to consider with regards to writing a blog dedicated to my passion. After careful thought and consideration, I narrowed my categories down to two potential topics. However, this process continues until only one topic remains. Throughout the week, I evaluated what my passions are, if there was enough material to write about, would these topics interest the readers (my classmates) and most importantly, did the topic interest me. After much debate and narrowing my choices, I concluded, the two topics I am passionate about are tennis and baking. While both topics may appear broad, they can easily be made specific. This is where I would like your advice and input. Should I decide to make my blog about tennis, the blog will focus on the various aspects of the game, evaluate and consider effective playing strategies, include personal stories from the campus t...