After reading other definitions of rhetoric:

 No, my own definition of rhetoric has not changed. Each blog post that I read related to mine in many ways. But one big difference was the examples others used over mine. I read one that referred to a persuasive speech. And I thought to myself that that was clever, and rhetoric as a definition almost became clearer to me. As a conclusion of thoughts, I have found a solid definition of rhetoric to be the specific and unique techniques an author uses, and weaves into their work to create a thoughtful base of understanding between the author and the audience. Done in many ways, rhetoric is commonly, always seen as persuasion. Even through a narrative, whoever is writing the text is trying to accomplish a common base of understanding in the way of simply trying to persuade them to think or see or relate to a certain situation in the same way. No person can put the same words together and create the same personality over again. But rhetoric takes those who can put tone into their piece, and they use other strategies combined, such as describing a smell, or descriptively describing a scene or time they remember, to help the reader connect to their unique thought, message, or experience.

Definition of Rhetoric

I think to think and act rhetorically means to question what you hear, speak or write. It is questioning your own work. And putting a thoughtful question back toward what you write. Question the purpose, the audience, the tone you put into it. Being rhetoric in writing makes a creative atmosphere, and welcomes the reader into your thought buy intriguing descriptions. Rhetoric is the act of questioning your own work, to make it better. Thinking rhetorically is important, especially as an audience reading someone’s work. You must try to find the deeper meaning, to closely relate better understand the authors point of view. 

The actual definition is simply just the personality you put into a piece. Effectively persuading or convincing the audience. But in general, it is the art of writing. The execution of putting your own spin on the piece. And all of the components you bring together, and put into it. Those are the things that make it unique to you as an author. Another definition states that rhetoric is writing to persuade. And I agree, in many cases. Whether you are writing a narrative, explaining your point or actually trying to persuade; ultimately you are trying to deliver a common thought to the reader. 

Literacy Narrative (in class lab/ prewrite)

1.      “Lydia waited, cramped on the top shelf of the linen closet.” P. 130 paragraph 9

2.       “When we asked if she got hungry or thirsty, she said that she didn't remember feeling that way.” P. 130 paragraph 9

3.       “ But the wood had swollen from the water,” P.130 paragraph 10  Rushing like the Colorado river” P. 129 paragraph 6

4.       How my parents taught me to read at a young age, how relatable Tumblr can be, and my brain does not stay on topic well or work with my hand. I've always been bad at writing, writing is overwhelming.

5.       Purpose: I want to tell a significant story, that readers will want to read more of. Not be boring or something that no one can relate too.

6.       It wound not take much explain for certain narratives so I feel like it would be hard to draw out the story into a longer narrative. But a story would be easier to write about than explain just HOW hard it is for me to write. And most audiences would be better intrigued by a narrative story.

7.       I think I would take an appreciative and affectionate stance towards my parents and what they have done to help me along the years, to describe my tone in this narrative. I would like my readers to see that I am not a complainer, but simply that I appreciate what I can do. And what I have accomplished.

8.      My narrative will be in print. I may feel the need to put in illustrations at certain points, but I do not think it will be a key in the story I put across.

9.       What do I see? I see my little feet, socks, wiggling and the end of my bed. I see my dad, looking down at me as I read him green eggs and ham. I see yellow pages, a green cover, and black ink. I see the foot of my bed. And his giant feet. I see my kindergarten classroom bookshelf, sandbox. The mini desks and chairs, but this time my mom, my curly haired teacher, Miss Anderson.

10.   I hear laughing children. I hear chirping silence at home, before bed. Or the sound of cars driving by on the couch, reading.

11.   Smell? Finger paint. Dad’s cologne.

12.   How do you feel? Proud. On top of the world. Ready for anything back then. But now, when I read or write, I’m scared.

13.   What do you taste? Bugles that my dad used to stick on my fingers before bed. Goats’ milk.

14.   Each person: ME about 4-5 years old. Shortish brown hair, blue eyes and bangs. Very sassy, but still young and sweet. My mom dressed me girl, and I could care less. Although one particular pink cowboy booted outfit made me feel a little overconfident, you could often find me in plastic “high” heels and a bedazzled skirt. I was confident with myself. My parents were good to me. Pushed me to do better, also teaching me to be humble, but proud of anything I accomplished.    My mother: Darker brown hair than I. She is now shorter than I am, but obviously did not used to be. She has skinny gymnast legs, and a huge smile that sticks to her face. She has always been so outgoing, and is a huge people pleaser. She had braces around the time I was in my young years of elementary school, if I remember correctly.  My Dad: you can often catch him on a business trip of some sort. He does a lot of presentations for the plumbing products he sells and promotes for the other big named companies. He works long hard days when he is in town. He commutes to Seattle. Most people say I look most like my dad. Our body (mostly leg) frame is basically identical. And I know I get my math and sports skills from him. He has brown hair, and is about 6’3” in his 50’s. He has a very distinctive cologne scent. Sometimes I pet or kiss my cat and I can smell it from him touching them. He often mumbles, and jokes around with me and the rest of my family a lot. But stays serious at the same time. Usually either wearing a stern face, or a sincere smile or laugh. No in between. Same with me..

15.   Father: ‘calls mom on phone’ asks, “Did you run to Costco for me and pick up the socks I needed?”

Mother: “Oh shoot! No, I forgot. But I didn't really have time today. I will do it tomorrow.”

Father: “Oh my god (a little bit over drastically) Forget it!!”

Mother: ”Um I said I would do it when I could, you don’t have to overreact…”

Father: “I said forget it!! I will do it myself!! With the time I don’t have…”

Mother:” Ugh! Whatever!”

Father: *hangs up*

16.   What happened; my dad expects everything to happen with ease, and throws attitude about something he really probably cares less about, but nobody can get away without getting a little bit of shit for it. While my mom, gets defensive and doesn't take his jokes or crap that he gives her.

17.   No matter how different or challenging life is now, it once was good. And there are great memories waiting to be appreciated. Someone can shine bright and then fade. Especially at a skill such as reading or writing. This story matters to me because it makes me happy to think that I once was really good at something and once had a really happy and amazing relationship with my parents. Along with the fact that they used to teach me skills, vs. getting taught them in school now. Memories like so are priceless.

Lydia's Story

1.      1..Brideau’s main point in this story is to show people how in the face of adversity, nothing can break you down. Brave people show a hard face in bad times such as Lydia faced with that storm. She did anything she could to seek higher ground. She had to save herself. People can bear through many tough situations, and not appreciate how sad, difficult or scary it really was until they actually have the chance to reflect on it. As in the moment; nothing was sought after more than simply surviving the rushing water.

2.     2.  Her story was mostly in third person. This allowed me to better relate and see what she was describing through my eyes. When she explained the size of the linen closet she hid in, I pictured myself cramped in there watching the water rush up higher and higher around me. Just like she experienced herself.

3.       3.She used phrases such as “rocking tables” to picture that they would be a dangerous get away. And she also uses key words to describe how scared someone on their own would be. She explained how the situation was. How fast the water was rising/ flooding through the door. How she was desperate to survive, to escape the water. The author put them into the face of the situation to show or make them relate to the scary; dangerous situation she was in.

4.     4 I think the audience of this story is anyone who couldn’t see how people affected by hurricanes actually had to react. This was a huge disaster, and Lydia’s story could be one that many people could relate too. Anyone from healthcare workers, seeing how bad or how hard it was to escape the situation. Or general people, to relate to the sad fact that many people were trapped. When really nobody could help. 

Rhetorical Situations- Narratives

We all agreed that bravery and determination are the most things in the face of adversary and that this is indicated at the end of the story. Also we agreed that the point of view was first person narrative which let readers become emotionally connected and also allowed for Brideau’s commentary. I wrote that her use of surrealism and simple terms allowed her to bring emotion and life to the story. Other group members also added that her inclusion of details that brought out the humanity of the story made it seem more life-like. All of us put that the audience consisted of health care workers. As for how Brideau worked to sway them to her side, some of us put that she tried to make Lydia as relatable as possible by mentioning how much of a compassionate nurse she was, and other put that she used very personal and emotional words and phrases to appeal the pathos of the readers. Despite our differences in what we wrote, we all agreed with each other on our points on Brideau's persuasion techniques.

When "Lydia's Story" and Chapter 2 are put side by side it becomes apparent the relationship between the two. Most of the rhetorical strategies mentioned in chapter 2 appear in Lydia's story. It is very clear Brideau knows exactly who she is writing to in the way she tailors each sentence to best relate to and persuade the health care workers reading. Also, the way Brideau ties a relatively minor story back to a larger context, the support of Katrina survivors, is a masterful use of rhetoric. Chapter 2 and Lydia's Story also makes us realize the use of rhetoric in our own writing, especially our own bias. Many of the elements we incorporate into our writing subconsciously become clear, such as the way we change our writing styles and tones to better fit our expected audience.

Some of the stories that we all hear on a day-to-day basis include drama between people, various tasks and commonly occurring events during the day, tragedies to those we knew, and stories about unusual things we have previously done. These various types of narratives all include one recurring motif, the emotions of various people in differing situations. These narratives interest us because we relate to the people in them and learn new information that might help us in future situations.

Those around the same age as us and those with a sense of humor and those who were not afraid to expose their emotions were the most powerful to us. Short concise videos also increased the overall impact of the videos because they didn't water down the person's point. Longer videos which included the person narrating their own story were also very powerful in the way that they made us relate to the speaker.

In a History textbook, narrating is kept in a very neutral tone which makes the story telling uninteresting but also unoffensive or controversial. If a History narrative was presented in the form a a video game or movie, it would become much more interesting but at the same time might not get the main concept of what it is trying to teach across as well. A narrative such as a YouTube video is very visually interesting but if the narratives medium was changed to a text based format it would lose much of its appeal. A history textbook and a Youtube video are similar in that they both can convey a message but while a History Textbook tends to be lengthy and very explanatory a YouTube video is far more concise but at the sacrifice of depth.

Chapter 2 Prompt pg. 23

The writing I have done this week includes a lot of conversation over text. My friends and I also use twitter as an outlet to talk or post something about the way things are going, or people relating to another about something else going on. Often times while I’m texting I often keep an ultimate purpose of talking to that person otherwise I feel it becoming a waste of time. I often think to myself ‘I could be doing homework’ if I am talking to someone without delivering an intended message. Or informing someone of something that they need to know.

  Formal writing I have been doing on a daily basis includes blog posts from this class, to pretty informal Precalc note taking. While I take notes I write a lot of little phrases that really would only be helpful or able to understand by me. Responding to prompts or summarizing a body of text requires my whole head to be a part of the thought otherwise it doesn’t all come together.

 At work I am required to half write; half memorize the food that I am serving to the customers at an event. For example I often work weddings. My boss gives me a table assignment, which includes multiple tables. I must look at the tables, look at the people sitting at them, figure out what they have chosen to eat, and efficiently serve them the correct food when the time comes. I don’t consider this note taking, but the amount of writing is similar to that. This type of writing gives me the most motivation because it needs to be done in order for me to do my job properly. I do not mind spending time on things that help me out in the long run. That being said, I struggle to find motivation for formal writing because I feel like I have to do it. Not because I’m getting any better by doing so.

Is Everyone an Author?

Personally I think that everyone is not an author. People create ideas and express thoughts every day. But what is the usual intent of that? To communicate. Effective authors dedicate time to create something of interest for any audience that is fitting at that time. Authors help deliver a message that is being hunted down. Philosophies are examples of this; as a reader may want to expand their mind to other thoughts. Every single day, people talk and explain things verbally. Writing is just another physical expression of that,except it's on paper. But in my mind, talking does not translate to you being an author. Feeling emotions, expressing them, or talking about them does not make you into someone who can successfully “move” a reader. An author can create a pathway of understanding by thoughtfully creating and or recreating ideas to broaden someone’s understanding on a topic. Young minds are being forced into this electronic ruled world; as there really is no other direction to go. It is so woven into what we do on a daily basis, that one could believe it has always been a part of our lives. It is now normal to create an in class blog and be challenged to put a real purpose and voice into your writing, when all it has ever been, is a way of translating thoughts into words.