Diversity on Campus

In response to "Making a Visual Argument"

The most appealing visual argument featured in the collection is probably the creation by Melanie Frost. It was a poster depicting several hands of different colors all coming together to form a tree. Clearly the image is protraying a message of unity amongst students on campus. It speaks the loudest in comparison to the other poster designs because it's extremely creative and represents a message of strength in diversity. It looks as if it took a great deal of time and effort to create and it gets its message across very clearly. When most people think of trees they think of sturdiness and power. With the hands grasping one another to create such a model, Frost is clearly emphasizing how important strength in diversity really is. The picture also speaks that diversity is natural, and should be natural on a college campus, with the illustration of leaves and trees.

The least appealing visual argumment is the creation by Hannah Leimback called "Identities Are Infinite." This design is less appealing than all the others because it strikes me as something that has been done before. I feel like the aim is appropriate being that Leimback is clearly trying to get across that a college campus is full of different types of people, however, the design looks much like something that would be found in a teen magazine. Something more creative could have been done with the idea.

In response to "Cartoonists Take On Affirmation Action"

In the "It's GOT to Be the Shoes" cartoon, the central message is that some people are admitted into college on the basis of the institution's racial preferences. If certain applicants meet the particular preferences they can easily enroll, to the disgust of other applicants, unfortunately.

In the "Supreme Irony" cartoon, it is illustrated that even the Supreme Court is not even racially diverse and yet they are speaking and discussing the issue of racial diversity in schools. It seems a little ironic that such a predominantly white group of officials, with only one person that is not white, would even take into their hands the issue of diversity.

In the "Daniel Lives on Detroit's Eastside..." cartoon, the main character is depicted as a young man from the slums of a dangerous city, yet he still manages to overcome the odds and get into college. This young man is a person of color and with the decision by the Supreme Court on increase diversity in schools, he is able to rise above his circumstances and achieve higher education.

In the "Admissions" cartoon, it is illustrated that those who are admitted into school are admitted because of some circumstance or status that would make the intitution look good. From being the child of an alum to being an athlete to being a minority all are let in except one young man with no such status. He blames the Supreme Court ruling for increasing diversity for his rejection because if the school were not trying to reach a certain standard by admitting certain students he would have gotten in.

In the "Pricey" cartoon, it's a clear illustration that college is expensive. If one does not have the means to pay for all of this education, it is likely that he/she will be left behind.

The most effective cartoon is definitely the "Daniel Lives on Detroits Eastside..." because it shows that students from different backgrounds, with possibly not the most affording means, have the opportunity to get into college and make something more of themselves.

The least effective cartoon is the "Pricey" cartoon because it can be somewhat vague in answering to the Sumpreme Court Affirmative Action decision. The cartoon focuses largely on how expensive college is, but does not zero in much on the actual issue of diversity on campus. The other cartoons make a little more sense with regards to responding to the issue.

RAV4 Commercial

The RAV4 commercial, endorsed by Toyota, is a humorous ad to emphasize how important having the newest model is. In the commercial, a man and a woman who each want to own the car for his/herself fight and put one another in danger in order to better their own chances of attaining the vehicle. Being that the commercial takes place within an upper class suburban neighborhood and two middle aged adults play the main characters, Toyota is clearly targeting a particular audience: somewhat young, but established, middle to upper class adults. The commercial uses a pathos appeal by making the ad funny, but the goal of the advertisement is clearly to convince viewers that the car is worth having and they should consider buying. Aside from convincing an audience, Toyota is also trying to inform viewers that the model is available. The advertisement is credible being that Toyota, a well known and trusted company, endorsed the ad and has made several others.

Questions:

Who created this visual text? Who distributed it?

Toyota created and distributed the commercial.

What role is played by the words that accompany the visual text? How do they clarify, reinforce, blur, or contradict the image’s message?

The words “RAV4. A car to make your own.” are displayed across the screen at the commercial’s end. The role of the words is to convey a message of owning the vehicle. They clarify the actual commercial by indicating that the characters are going above and beyond to make the car their own. Ultimately, the message of the words is to illustrate how important actually owning the car is. They help the commercial to convince the audience.

What does the visual text assume about its viewers and about what they know and agree with?

Toyota clearly assumes that viewers are more attracted to a powerful, affordable, shiny, decent sized vehicle. Based off of previous sales of older models of the RAV4, they most likely used buyer reports and feedback to create a commercial that emphasized the clean and new look of the model, the size and power that could be exerted from such a car, and the affordability.

What argumentative purpose does the visual text convey? What is it designed to convey?

The commercial conveys informative and convincing arguments. The whole point of the ad is to inform the audience that the new RAV4 is available for purchase and it is worth having.

Is any information (such as a name, face, or scene) highlighted or stressed to attract your attention?

Yes, the very first glimpse of the commercial focuses on a beautiful RAV4 sitting on the drive way outside of a large house. It’s shining and is clearly brand new. Throughout the minute long commercial the camera focuses back in on the model periodically, clearly indicating a positive image of the car and showing how Toyota is trying to encourage drill the image into viewers’ minds.

UNCW Drainage Outline

Thesis: The drainage system here at UNCW continues to be a problem when it rains for students, faculty members, and vehicle operators. Alternatives to rectify this issue are available and should be implemented on this campus to make rainy days more convenient and manageable.

Introduction: Introduce issue of drainage problems here at UNCW and explain that there are alternatives to the current issue of flooding on campus.

I.                    The problem of drainage at UNCW in detail

A.      www.uncwil.edu/ba/safety/documents/hazard_assessment.pdf : use source as support for UNCW problem of flooding and drainage

B.      Discuss problems students face on campus with ineffective drainage system

1.       Deep flooding

2.       Water damage

3.       Inconvenience to cars

C.      Why issue should be rectified

II.                  Alternatives at other schools

A.      ehs.unc.edu/environmental/stormwater/water.shtml: discuss drainage system at UNC Chapel Hill

B.      onnidan1.com/forum/index.php?topic=34207.30: discuss drainage system at UNC Charlotte

C.      Why UNCW is less effective compared to other schools

1.       How other schools’ systems could be implemented in Wilmington

2.       Problems other schools face with their systems?

III.                Improvements for UNCW

A.      Higher elevation buildings

1.       New buildings to be built should be considered at higher elevations: www.wwaytv3.com/uncw_breaks...new_psych_building/04/2010

2.       Install more drainage systems around campus

3.       Focus largely on drainage around academic buildings

a.       Use examples of other schools and effective drainage systems

IV.                How to Implement Drainage Systems

A.      Cost and process to install drainage systems on campus

B.      Process of building more elevated buildings

C.      Difficulty to implement such projects?

V.                  Conclusion: Restate thesis of UNCW drainage problem and include that there are alternatives. Shed light on the fact that these alternatives are not extremely difficult to implement and give examples of how UNCW campus would be improved