TOW #7: Visualization: Nike Commercial

"Greatness is not some rare DNA strand, it's not some precious thing. Greatness is no more unique to us than breathing. We're all capable of it. All of us." This commercial, displays an overweight boy running down a long path. The brand Nike, chooses to approach their advertisement with a deeper message to the audience. Any brand can create a commercial saying "buy our product" but what Nike really does, is appeal to the audience emotionally, which helps them achieve their purpose of motivating their audience, and saying, with Nike, you can find your greatness. Nike uses an overweight boy running a long road to prove that anything is possible, and for anyone, greatness can be found. The boy helps appeal to the audience's emotions, and forms a sense of motivation for an athlete, a person trying to lose weight, or just anybody in general. The man speaking in the commercial also creates a sense of seriousness, yet calmness. The voice is soothing to the ear, and transfers the message to the audience in a more meaningful way. With that voice, the audience really listens, and is motivated. Also, at the end of the video, when "Find Your Greatness" with the Nike swoosh shows up, it advertises the brand. So not only was the commercial meant to motivate the audience, it was also meant to attach them to the message, and realize that Nike could be a good choice for them. Also, the fact that it is Nike, automatically proves it's credibility because of how well known Nike is around the world. Being an athlete and being part of the audience that watches this commercial, I firmly believe Nike achieved their purpose. This commercial motivated me, inspired me, and also reminded me how awesome Nike is. I believe that if anybody wants to, they can become great.

TOW #6: Article: Teens and Sleep

I found this article interesting because junior year has taken quite a toll on my sleeping pattern...last year, I was so tired if I didn't go to bed before 10:30! This year, I'm happy with going to bed by 11:30! "Teens and Sleep" provides facts, consequences, solutions, and data about sleep and the lack of it. It starts off with facts, how sleep is obviously needed for the body to function properly, and the irregular pattern of a teenager's sleeping life. Followed by the facts, are the consequences. Lack of sleep limits a persons ability to learn and concentrate. It could also contribute to illness, and effect behavior. Some solutions include making sleep a priority, and sort of obvious things like get your homework done and stay on top of things. The poll data includes research with teenager's mood changes that come with the lack of sleep. The author of this article, reaches out to adolescents who are struggling with a sleep problem. Maybe parents, too, can read this to get more information to help their kid who barely sleeps anymore. The author uses facts and research to backup the purpose. The purpose of this article is clearly that sleep is important and is a necessity in ones life. The entire section with facts and data provides accurate examples to prove to the reader that the author is credible, and to prove that sleep is important. "Research shows that lack of sleep affects mood, and a depressed mood can lead to lack of sleep." It all sort of seems to be a cycle...lack of sleep can affect a mood, but yet being stressed out can also prevent sleep, which then follows in a circle. As a teenager myself, I believe the author achieved their purpose. I agree with majority of the things stated, and the facts and research really helped me understand the purpose with more depth. This article also taught me a lesson. I wasn't aware of some of the consequences lack of sleep could bring, so from now on, I am going to try extra hard to not procrastinate so I can get the sleep I need. After all, 5-6 hours a night isn't working out too well for me. 

TOW #5: Article: Benefits of Chocolate Milk After Your Workout

Benefits of Chocolate Milk After Your Workout
By: Jeff Bayer

After a long, hard workout in the gym, on the track, or on the field, athletes often wonder what the best food is to put in their mouth. Many people like to reward themselves on the sweet side; a candy, a cookie, or an ice cream cone. They feel as though they've earned it from burning calories, but then their peers tell them how they just ruined a solid workout with junk food. Obviously something healthy with protein is a good post-workout snack, but turns out, so is chocolate milk. Athletes can get their calcium, protein, and a little sugar! Benefits of Chocolate Milk After Your Workout by Jeff Bayer is an article strictly on why chocolate milk is a standard after workout treat! Through facts and cause & effect, Bayer lets readers know the benefits of drinking chocolate milk after a workout. He provides the protein content, carbohydrate content, and calcium content. Supporting himself with facts, Jeff Bayer is credible to the subject. For instance, "Also, a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that, when taken immediately after exercise, milk-based proteins promote greater muscle protein synthesis than soy-based proteins." or "A study by the International Journal of Sports Nutrition had subjects perform three interval-style, exhaustion workout sessions on separate days, and then monitored the recovery that was demonstrated. The subjects consumed either chocolate milk or a carbohydrate replacement fluid post-workout." Those facts lead into cause & effect, for the athletes who drank chocolate milk during the interval session showed enhanced performance showing that the carbs in the chocolate milk were doing a better job in recovery. Also, according to Bayer, "By drinking post-workout chocolate milk you will increase your daily calcium intake, and increase the likelihood of an optimal power stroke." Throughout the whole article, Bayer is stating the cause & effects of drinking chocolate milk after a workout and also incorporating facts. With these methods, he informs the audience -- whether its an athlete or any person who is curious after their daily exercise -- that chocolate milk is beneficial and should be consumed after workouts. I believe that Bayer achieved his purpose, he backed himself up with solid facts and proved the benefits to the human body after drinking chocolate milk after or during a workout.

Tow #4: Visualization: No-Smoking-Ad

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               Smoking is an addictive habit that for some people that isn't easy to break. Unfortunately for them, with smoking comes several consequences, one of them being lung cancer. Smoking should not be done, there are people everyday who suffer from lung cancer or gum disease because they didn't and don't want to quit smoking. Some of those people even being parents, or roll models for their children. Others being teachers you would never expect smoked. The purpose of this picture is to keep smokers aware that if they want lung cancer, then they should keep smoking. Who wants lung cancer? Exactly. This ad is ironic because literally, it's saying to keep smoking to get more information on lung cancer. But really, all it is portraying is a warning to smokers, that if they do not stop, lung cancer could be a consequence. Also sarcasm, which is a form of irony, could be perceived from this visual because it could be taken a little more harsh, but then again, that is what it is supposed to do. It is supposed to come across to smokers that they will get lung cancer if they do not quit. The Lung Association of British Colombia, the owner of this picture, clearly knows the impacts of lung cancer and the causes. Afterall, they are The Lung Association. By reaching out to smokers, I believe this visual achieves it's purpose because it lets smokers know that they're risk of lung cancer is very high. Everyday smokers need to be reminded the effects of smoking, their well being is at risk, and the consequences could be severe. This ad also could get to the heart of those dealing with a smoker, someone who wants their loved one to quit terribly, because they know what the outcomes could be.

Tow #3: IRB: A Memoir of Hope Solo with Ann Killion: Chapter 1: pgs. 8-20

        Many of us know Hope Solo as one of the best goal keepers in the world. She's an inspiration to any athlete, anywhere. But what many people don't know is her tough past, the past that molded her into the woman she is today. A Memoir of Hope, written by Hope Solo with the help of Ann Killion, reveals the other life Hope Solo once lived, along with her achievements, failures, both inside and out of the soccer world. Chapter one of the book is an introduction to Hope and her family and some of the hardships they were put through because of her father. It begins with a description of her first house with the smiley face fence, followed by the aspects of her family, half family, and most importantly her father. Hope Solo appealed to the audience's emotions by using anecdotes to achieve her purpose of describing her family, and that her dad is a difficult man who created many difficulties in her tough past.
A Memoir of Hope is a book meant for anyone, especially young athletes, who can immediately be inspired from Hope's story as a girl and as a soccer player. They can learn about Hope's past she went through, and even through all of the turmoil, she worked hard and achieved her dream. This chapter specifically, can reach out to readers who may also have had some rough patches within their family life. Hope splits up the memoir and the chapter with specific story to emphasize her puprose and point she is trying to achieve. For starters, the day her family found out Gerry Solo wasn't even the real name of her dad. He had also been stealing money from her grandparents and other places while also tearing apart Hope's family by having affairs other women. The reader cannot help but feel sorry for Hope, for she was only a confused 7 year old who wanted to spend time with her Dad, but was being tossed around in the wrath of lies he had created to keep their relationship on top. She was filled with anger, forced to spend time with a family she  didn't want to because her irresponsible father would only get himself into more trouble. For instance, a story she shared, when her and her brother, Marcus, were kidnapped by her father for several days. Eventually, her father had been caught and she had been picked up and put back into reality. Well, her family's reality. "I was mad at my mother for taking us home. Mad at my father for lying to us. Mad at myself for doing something wrong. I was mad at the world." (Solo, 20) That was a young girl, already angry at the world. I as a reader, believe Hope acheived her purpose. Through the stories she already was able to tell throughout chapter 1, the hardships her family faced were mainly caused by her father, and the rest of her family's mess was the reject to everything he had done. Secretly not paying mortgages, creating several identities, and kidnapping own children.

TOW #2: Is Coffee Bad for You? Actually, Drinking Coffee May Be Good for You: January W. Payne

Is Coffee Bad for You? Actually, Drinking Coffee May Be Good For You
By: January W. Payne



         Addressing both the benefits and side effects of drinking coffee, this article written by January W. Payne explains that for some people, a moderate amount of coffee a day isn't so bad for you. Under the circumstances though, decaffinated may be the better decision. Approaching those who enjoy including a up or two of coffee in their daily routine, Payne was able to achieve her purpose that it is okay to drink coffee if it's a moderate amount of caffeine. But if someone is consuming a ridiculous amout, it could lead to insomnia, nausea, muscle tremors, or even an irregular/fast heartbeat. Also, a person with diabetes should probably switch to decaffeinated. On the plus side, coffee consumption can also prevent skin cancer and decrease the risks of strokes. Proved by research, coffee drinking may also offer a protective effect against Alzheimer's. Paranoid coffee drinkers, for whom this article is meant for, can now either relax a little bit about their daily habbit, or have to face a new challenge of breaking it.
January W. Payne is a writer for US.NEWS. and has already published several different articles. Proving that she is credible through her valid points, she appeals to both logos and ethos. (ethos because she proves that as an author/speaker, she is both credible and trustworthy.) She appeals to logos because behind her reasoning, she has facts. Each argument she proposes is backed up with research. For example, she mentions a review from Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism relating to diabetes and also a review published in Neurological Research about the protective effects coffee may have against Alzheimer's disease.  By appealing to logos, Payne is able to achieve her purpose offering clear and rational ideas. As a daughter of a coffee drinker and just as a regular reader, I believe that Payne acheived her purpose. She reaches out to coffee drinkers and displays that coffee drinking can be beneficial but also have side effects. 

TOW: New Research Reveals That If You Really Want That PR, You Have to Train Your Brain - Hard ---- By: Alex Hutchinson

This article, out of Runner's World Magazine, is about mental fatigue. Alex Hutchinson, the author, a runner himself, has gone through a series of exercises and training techniques to help prevent his brain from becoming so easily fatigued while running. "There's been a revolution in running science the last few years." (pg 72) Many people usually focus on the fatigue of muscles, heart, legs, etc., but this article focuses on the mental aspect of running. Studies show that "mental fatigue can negatively affect physical performance" (pg 73). The author, Alex, not only has gone through the tests himself, as explained in the article. As an original 1500 runner, Alex experiences mental fatigue in longer races such as the 5,000. He could not sustain the focus needed to keep a steady pace for that distance, therefore effecting is overall performance. He always knew he had more in him during the races too because at the end his finishes included too much energy he could have used during the race instead. Alex worked with one of the researchesrs mentioned, Samuele Marcora, who worked with him through exercises to challenge and work the brain to help resist fatigue. The article goes from explaining the effects of mental fatigue, to a problem-solving solution. Alex was trying to prepare for a marathon, so working with an expert on how to fix his mentality while running long distances was a must for a 26.2 mile race.  Although his muscles gave out by the end of his marathon, he ran more smoothly and consistantly through the middle miles than he had ever done before. His purpose, is to inform other runners that workouts and races don't always just involve the body. A lot of it has to do with the brain. Being a runner myself, I believe Hutchinson achieved his purpose. I learned alot about the way the mind works, and also can now take it into consideration that when I want to give up during a workout to keep going, because a lot of it is all in my brain. Alex Hutchinson was able to appeal to his audience mainly through pathos. By including himself and his personal expereinces within the article to reach a purpose, the idea was easily understood. Runners can connect to his personal experiences because most runners experience the same things. Even as Alex was explaining his muscle fatigue during his last miles of his marathon, I felt his pain. I could embrace the feeling of soreness by the end of the race, and how you just wish your legs could feel fresh. This article could be seen as a confidence booster, advice giver, and just a story to all runners out there in the world.