Blog Post #2

It is evident that BP is attempting to win over the residents affected by the Gulf oil spill using their ad "Making it Right: Communities". BP is doing this by using several different methods of argument that make the ad seem more sincere and thoughtful to the viewers.

One argument type, and possibly the most obvious, is the Rogerian Argument. A Rogerian argument is one that attempts to find common ground within opposing points of view. Within the first 20 seconds of the ad, the spokeswoman begins stating how it is "her job to listen to shrimpers, and fisherman, hotel and restaurant workers, and find ways to help." The fisherman, shrimpers, and workers are the ones who would have an opposite point of view of that of BP. Having someone in charge of listening to the people, helps in finding common ground with the two potentially opposing views which makes this a Rogerian Argument.

This ad also contains one of the more basic arguments, the Argument to Inform. An Argument to inform simply says or tells something, or creates awareness. In this ad, BP is creating awareness about their efforts to clean up and help the people affected by the spill. For example, they highlight their financial support by mentioning their "120,000 claims payments" as well as their "20 billion dollar claims fund" all designed to restore the economy in affected area.

An Argument about the Future, a debate about what will or should happen in the future, is also used in the BP ad. The entire theme of the ad is 'we will make it right', focusing on BP's efforts to restore the Gulf to what it used to be. In the ad, the spokeswoman states that "BP is going to be here [in the Gulf] until the oil is gone and the people and businesses are back to normal." BP is arguing that the future of the Gulf will be a positive one.

BP is also using an Argument to Convince. From the beginning it is quite obvious that BP is attempting to convince viewers that they have the Gulf situation under control. The very statement in the commercial states that "no oil has flowed into the Gulf for weeks", which helps convince viewers of BP's efforts.

A last argument used by BP is an Argument to Explore. Arguments to explore require exploration of some type, which is done by BP in their ad. They are exploring those affected by the oil and discovering what they can do to help recovery efforts. A quality of Arguments to Explore is that they can be personal. This ad attempts to reach the viewers on a personal level by having a woman from New Orleans be front and center of the ad. She has the ability to relate to the people of the Gulf on a personal level than that of a foreign BP executive.

Overall, the ad does a good job of using arguments to get their point across and to win the trust of the American people. If a viewer for to base their judgments on BP solely on this ad, then I believe they would be quite convinced of BP's efforts. However, the American media has played a large role in exposing many loop holes that BP has used throughout the entire Gulf Spill.

In Class: My Space

For essay one, I will hopefully be going to The Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. This space appealed to me because of how much I enjoy watching baseball. I have already been to the ballpark many times and know that is can offer a wide variety of observations. It will be interesting to go to there to observe people rather than the game. This space appealed to me because it is one of my favorite place to go and I think it will be an interesting public place to analyze.

In Class: The First Week of School

So far, my first week of school has been relatively normal. My classes are gradually getting more difficult as I prepare to enter the business school. This semester, my classes are particularly math-oriented so I can already tell I'm going to have a lot of homework. My professors all seem pretty cool, they are each really different though, especially when it comes to their teaching styles. One talks extremely fast, and is very hard to keep up with while others seems to drag on. I'm sure that's a pretty common thing though in college.

This is the first year that I have lived off campus, so driving to school every morning has been a little different, although I am not missing Bluu food at all. Also this week, my roommate and I have cooked out first meals. Although we are not too confident yet, I'm sure we'll get better as we go. We actually made Fettichini Alfredo for our very first meal and it tasted pretty good. Don't laugh, but we have yet to actually figure out to work our salt and pepper shakers.

Entry #1

My name is Holly and I am a Junior accounting major here at TCU. I am from a very small town just outside of Austin, Texas called Coupland. There, I live on a working 80+ acre farm. Each year, we plant, grow, and harvest corn, maze, and cotton. What makes home so special to me is that it has been in the family for five generations now. The soil we use today is the same soil my Great-Great Grandparents from Germany used to grow their crops. I really enjoy watching baseball. I'm a huge Rangers fan and usually go to more games than you can count on your hands and toes. I also really enjoy horseback riding when I have the time.

I have chosen to take this course because it is apart of the required core curriculum at TCU. From this class, I hope to become a better writer and most importantly, become more confident in my writing.

Currently, my writing is almost completely limited to what I write on social networking sites, such as Facebook, and texting. Overall, I feel as if my writing isn't as strong as it could be. Many times, I feel like I can think of something good to write, but have issues actually putting that thought onto paper. I believe this issue is the biggest challenge I face when trying to improve my writing.

This blog can be considered an informative argument because it can "inform members of an audience about something they didn't know." My entire introduction can be used to inform my classmates and my teacher about myself. Not only is my writing a way to inform people, but my background and the various gadgets on my blog can also be informative. My background is a bright pink, which could inform readers about my bubbly personality. The fish gadgets can argue that I'm a little silly, too. Hopefully the amount I have written, as well as the 'carefully planned layout' argues my active participation in the course, as well.

I have read, understand, and agree to the terms of the course syllabus.