CCM Blog Response

The short story I chose to read in College Composition at Miami, is called "Residence Halls" by Kelley McCormick. This story analyzes the effectiveness of the visual and textual rhetoric in a Miami University brochure to persuade people to living in residence halls. She talks about how the brochure uses ethos, pathos, and logos to sell the idea of on-campus living. Also, she examines the truths in the brochure as well as its fallacies. McCormick explains that the brochure makes living in a residence hall a "utopia" and that everything is perfect inside and outside of the hall. She uses her experience of three months to prove that the brochure is mostly false. 

My experience in dorm life is just like McCormick explains in this reading. I find that she is completely correct because my dorm is fifteen minutes away, the food is okay, and the rooms are overcrowded and sometimes stressful. Other than the fact that the residence halls are kept under police supervision and are very safe, the dorms are not that great of a place to live. I'm glad that it is only for one year. 

Staples' Public Space

It was shocking to read about how this very intelligent man, who happens to be African American can change how people act just by walking by. It is almost disgustful to me, to hear about how people can do such a thing when a person different from then strolls by. It is amazing how all black people are put into the stereotype as a harmful thug. I feel bad that Staples' and many others have to go through this every time they walk through the city at night. I can't imagine how this would feel every time you go out. 

Personally, I do not think there was ever a time I have been able to alter public space. Being a five foot seven inch, 140 pound white kid, it is tough to intimidate anyone. Yet, I think it would be a fun experience, but for only one time. Therefore, I cannot think of any time where I changed the actions of a group people, let alone one person in a public space. I think that society in general needs to do a better job with stereotypes and prejudices because no one needs to go through life being labeled so negatively. 

I think of myself as being a person who does not stereotype against certain people and I feel that I am rather accepting. Although, I still cannot say that if I was walking alone at night in the city, that my actions would not change if I noticed a "suspicious" character near. I also feel that most people would do the same, and put their guard up if in a similar situation. I know that reading this story, will help me to not stereotype people as thugs and I will try to act the same around every type of person. 

Sequence IV Project

1. Photo Essay 2. Graphic story 3. Webpage 4. Wiki 5. Movie

1. Hockey 2. music 3. movies 4. A fictional story 5. comics

1. I do not really understand what to write about. 2. how much detail is needed?