Journal 4: Analysis Paper

For my analysis paper I choose to analyze a speech given by presidential candidate Barack Obama.  I know I haven’t been too involved in the presidential race, or any politics for that matter, and I decided this would be a good way to sort of “be educated” about the candidate I am leaning towards for this 2008 election.  The speech I am going to analyze was one from back in 2007, Obama’s presidential announcement speech.  After reading it the first time through I noticed a lot of good rhetoric that Obama used to try and persuade to his listeners that he was ready for this position as the President of the United States.  I learned a lot about how and why Obama decided to run for presidency as well as some background information on him.  A lot of why I am leaning towards Obama for the upcoming election is because he was the senator of my home state, Illinois, and I really think that he did a good job keeping Illinois in order.  I also noticed that Obama told it how it was and stated a lot of issues he knew that needed to change in America and he said that if he was president, the only way he could keep his work in changing all these issues for the good of America, was if and only if America played their part in bettering the country as well.  Then he went on to list many of the ways American citizens could do to help each situation.  I really liked this article because it helped me to realize why I would for Obama for president, and what Obama was offering for America. 

Journal 3: Logical Fallacy

I think that the Proactiv solution commercials are a big logical fallacy.  They are the longest commercials that go on and on about how Proactiv clears up your acne in just two weeks!  Then, they bring in like famous actors and singers to testify that Proactiv really does work.  One, these people are use to being televised and it makes it very easy for them to lie, and two, even if it does work for some people it is not going to work for everyone!  Everyone has all different kinds of skin types; one acne treatment won’t work for everyone.  However, these proactive creators or founders are bound determined that proactive will work for everyone, curing all their problems.  This commercial or advertisement is a logical fallacy, I myself would categorize it as hasty generalization.  

Journal 2: Residence Halls

There’s no way you can say that this essay was not convincing, she had some very strong views.  For instance, her opinion on the size of the room and personalizing the room to your likeness was indeed a major fallacy included in the brochure.  Sure you can personalize your stuff in your dorm room, but you have no control over what your roommate brings into the room, whether you like in or not.  You can also say goodbye to personal space because you and your roommate will have to share that.   There is also truth in the fact that it doesn’t matter where you live, whether it be on or off campus, you are still going to have to do a ton of walking.  In my opinion this campus is a pretty big campus and the buildings are scattered throughout it, you can’t live near every building.  When it comes to living in dorms, I support the fact that living in dorms does not reduce the amount of walking you will have to go through.

            However, I think McCormick could have extended the fallacy of sharing one bathroom between some thirty girls on your dorm floor.  This is one of the more major reasons as to why upperclassmen decide to live off campus.  There is hair everywhere, you have to carry all your bath stuff with you as opposed to leaving it in the shower, and you have nasty cheap curtains separating the showers.  Also, another one of her “fallacies” I was disappointed with was the dining hall foods, I particularly like the food here, and think that they give you plenty of options.  If you lived off campus you would have to cook or make all your meals, which time consuming and is a lot of work as well.   Lastly, I would just like to mention the fact that she also didn’t mention the fact that you have to carry all of your laundry and detergents all the way to the basement (which is especially a pain if you live on the third floor) just to do your laundry.  These are just some of the ideas I think Kelley McCormick could have went into more detail on to make her essay stronger.