TOW #28: Documentary

Usain Bolt: The Fastest Man Alive


Usain Bolt, arguably one of the best athletes of all time, grew up in Jamaica, where he still lives and trains intensely pursuing his career as a world class sprinter. Usain Bolt stood out from the start, his lean, towering 6'5 body was unusual for a sprinter. He showed his strength and potential during the 2002 World Junior Championships and won the 200m dash setting a new junior world record. As his fame began to increase, he moved to Kingston, Jamaica, away from his family to get the ultimate training from Jamaican Olympic Coach, Glen Mills. As time and training went on, Usain Bolt became the fastest man in the world. This documentary films Usain Bolt's journey up until the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Beijing, China, is where Usain Bolt began his Olympic gold medal streak. He won the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m, and continued to win most of those events throughout world class events and continuing on into the 2012 Olympic Games. However, the World Championships in 2011 was a little different. Usain Bolt false started in the 100m, immediately disqualifying him  from the race and any contention in medaling. His teammate and biggest rival, Yohan Blake, went on to become the 100m World Champion that year. Frustrated, Bolt came back to win the 200m dash and set the world record with his 4x100m relay team. Usain Bolt will forever go down in history as one of the greatest athletes that have ever lived, and his career isn't even over.

Usain Bolt: The Fastest Man Alive was created to show and describe the intense journey of the fastest sprinter alive. The documentary uses many different strategies to add effect, including the cinematography and sound of the film. Starting with the cinematography, the camera placement throughout the documentary adds emphasis on the more important points making them more interesting. For instance, while Bolt was training, the camera angle up close on his face and body watching his every breath was very effecting because it showed the audience how hard Bolt's training is and how hard he really works. Every part of cinematography plays a role in this documentary, the different lighting during one of Bolt's races adds intensity and the brighter colors change the tone as well. Overall, cinematography helps show and describe Usain Bolt's journey of being the fastest man alive.

In addition to cinematography, the movie's sound plays a key role in the effect of the film. Throughout the documentary, the sound is changing with volume and music. The music that plays throughout the film matches each scene accurately adding an exciting effect in order to keep the audience engaged. The sound, specifically, adds the most effect. For example, while showing Bolt's 100m dash, the entire film goes silent, until he crosses the finish line and the crowd roars as Bolt wins. It adds a really awesome and emphasized intensity to the race and documentary, and helps the audience really feel the emotions and atmosphere of that moment.

In a documentary, or any type of film, the elements, devices, and strategies are very important for delivering a purpose and keeping the audience engaged. Usain Bolt: The Fastest Man Alive successfully uses many, including sound and cinematography. Both devices and strategies helped show and describe Bolt's intense journey leading up to the 2012 London Olympic Games.

TOW #27: TOW Reflection

         Looking back on my very first TOW response reminds me how much my writing has improved over the course of the year. I thoroughly recall not even knowing what a rhetorical device was when I was composing my first TOW. My analysis consisted of a quote and a few words trying to define the significance of my evidence. As I have re read a lot of my TOWS, I realize my progress lies in my analysis of each TOW and devices I chose to use. In the beginning, I really struggled with finding the author's purpose of a certain essay or writing piece. As the year went on though, I challenged myself with harder readings and began to improve my adequateness. My TOWS became more sophisticated throughout the year and I began to sound like a student trying to master the rigorous AP English course and its criteria. I mastered analyzing difficult texts and finding their real meaning. In the beginning of the year, I would stare at an essay or excerpt for hours and not be able to analyze it. Now I am more confident and have more patience to define key words and terms and find the author's purpose. Of course, just because I have improved and mastered certain things doesn't mean there aren't others I still need to improve. Although I have been more adequate, it still isn't 100%. I think the analysis essays will always be my weakness because even though finding the purpose has gotten easier, it's still hard. In addition, I would like to continue to improve my vocabulary. Every AP English test I've gotten there is at least 3 words I am unfamiliar with, and I believe that it would really help me with finding answers and analyzing texts if my vocabulary was varied. Overall, TOWS helped me practice analyzing different forms of literary elements; books, essays, poems, pictures, videos, etc. I personally think that if an essay were assigned to us for each TOW it would be different. Part of my problems with TOWS was finding the write piece of writing to analyze. Also, if the class had the same TOW I could help get more feedback from classmates because they're familiar with the same texts. I like being able to analyze commercials and pictures so I think a few "free choice TOWS" is still good, but it would've helped to have certain essays assigned to us to analyze. I guess overall I did benefit from TOWS because without them I wouldn't have the weeks of practice under my belt before the AP exam. 

TOW #5: iPhone or Android: Which Smartphone Should You Buy?

iPhone or Android: Which Smartphone Should You Buy?
By: Sam Costello


            The controversy between the iPhone and the Android is a popular one in today's society. Each phone has their strengths and their weaknesses, so audience members ask, which phone is truly the better phone to purchase? Sam Costello, author of iPhone or Android: Which Smartphone Should You Buy? develops 13 different arguments involving an Android and iPhone, but supports each one with different evidence and a different standpoint for each phone. Majority of his arguments for why the iPhone is the better phone, but he does develop a perspective for androids as well. For instance, argument one is considering the phone's hardware. Costello goes into detail how Apple has tight control over software managing of an iPhone, while Androids tend to freeze up and overheat more often. On the other hand, argument number twelve, "User Maintenance: Storage and Battery", supports the Android. Many of his arguments also develop a tie between the two phones, making it complicated for the audience to develop a really strong choice on which phone to choose. Costello's choice in listing arguments for each phone I believe is ineffective, because there is no solidified answer Costello delivers to his audience on which phone to buy.

           Although including arguments for each phone gives the audience a larger perspective on the matter, it doesn't help an argument. On the other hand, some people do prefer to make decisions on their own after the negatives and positives are given and Costello's open argument helps some readers base their choice on their own opinion rather than just Costello's.  I believe as a reader, Costello effectively delivers strengths and weaknesses of each phone helping a reader decide which phone would be best suited for them.

 It's important to take note that when an essay is written about an argument such as this one, it's crucial that one takes into consideration other sources and opinions from other people. Both phones can be argued as great, and both phones can be argued as bad. Sam Costello's opinion is just one of many, and by delivering both perspectives, it's important a reader looks into other sources as well to confirm his decision.          

TOW #24: Rosie the Riveter

          The famous Rosie the Riveter picture, is a cultural icon of the United States. It was made to represent the American women who worked in factories during World War II. During World War II, many women took upon new jobs in order to replace the men serving in the military. Rosie the Riveter represents a women's power and strength, and promotes feminism. During World War II, campaigns used Rosie to convince and recruit females for working in munition and industry. According to history.com,  it stressed the patriotic need for women to enter the work force. Rhetorically, the picture is makes a powerful statement to the audience whether it's women during World War II, or women living in today's society. The arrangement of the picture helps portray the message. The big words "We Can Do It!" draw the audiences attention and also promotes a feeling of hope and encouragement. Rosie is dressed in patriotic colors, therefore defending the fact that the picture was made to stress the "patriotic need" for women to work in factories and industry during the war. Not only is Rosie wearing read white and blue, but she is also holding up her arm to show her muscle. That is very important in the way this picture is arranged, for it exemplifies a women's strength and appeals to other women's emotions giving them pride and determination. The War World II time period was a large step in feminism due to new employment opportunities that weren't originally available to women prior to the war. As well as the arrangement, there is a demanding yet tone of determination that the picture portrays. It's demanding because it is trying to recruit women into the work force, yet determining because its saying "We Can Do It!" and the muscle shows that women are strong and enough and powerful enough. Rosie the Riveter has been an influential icon throughout the years strongly portrays feminism and the growth of women's rights.

Marking Period 4: IRB Intro Post

The Last Lecture
Randy Pausch

        The Last Lecture is about  a man named Randy Pausch, who was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He had a family at home, specifically a wife and three children. Randy was unfortunately diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which has a very low survival rate. Throughout the book he wanted to give a "last lecture" to his audience because it may very well be, his last lecture. The book is broken up into 6 different sections, some telling about his dreams as a child and, some how he met his wife, and others telling about his lessons he has learned throughout his life and dealing with cancer. My brother recently read this book, and I also saw a talk he hosted. Reading this book will inspire me to live my life to the fullest, for there may not always be tomorrow. I'm excited to read Randy Pausch's last lecture and I'm excited for the inspiration it's going to give me.

TOW #23: IRB

The Diary of Anne Frank begins on her 13th birthday, beginning with a normal teenage life. Descriptions of boys and crushes, her girl friends, and her school, which happened to be an all Jewish school due to anti-Semitic laws. Anne had an older sister Margot as well. The Frank family had moved to the Netherlands in result of World War II beginning in Germany. But, unfortunately, Germany invaded the Netherlands forcing the Frank family into hiding. Anne's diary helps historians and other philosophers to understand the harsh living the Frank's had to experience. Beginning her diary, Anne writes about her 13th birthday party describing her loving classmates, friends, and family. She continues to describe a boy named Hello, who she believes she loved. Throughout the beginning of the book, Anne uses vivid imagery and first person to achieve her purpose of delivering the real harshness of life in that time. Her details of each event help a reader develop an emotional appeal to what Anne and her family had to go through. Because Anne uses first person, it also appeals to the reader. It feels as though they are experiencing everything themselves, as if they wrote the diary. The audience could be historians, philosophers, or any teenage reader who is curious about The Diary of Anne Frank and the context it entails. I easily flipped through the first part of the book because of the details provided by Anne Frank. The most intense part so far, was when Margot, Anne's older sister, informed Anne what was happening when Germany was invading the Netherlands. The girls started packing thingsup and knew that their lives were going to change. After being put in hiding, it even took Anne a little time to take in what had happened and how she would be living her life for who knows how long. Anne Frank succeeds in appealing to the reader's emotions, once again with first person. So, as a reader, I believed Anne has achieved her purpose of providing a detailed description of her life during World War II and what it was like to be in hiding, and what it was like to be Jewish during this time as well.

TOW #22: Article

"Why does lactic acid build up in muscles? And why does it cause soreness?"
By: Steven M. Roth

     Every athlete knows the feeling of lactic build up in their legs, it isn't the most enjoyable thing. As a runner and soccer player myself, I always wonder why I feel lactic acid in my legs and what I can do to maybe prevent it. This article, "Why does lactic acid build up in muscles? And why does it cause soreness?" is mainly about what lactic acid actually is, and why it may happen. Author Steven M. Roth states that when oxygen is limited to the body, in converts substances into lactate, causing the burning sensation and numbness lactic acid causes. It also includes glucose breakdown, but the article also states that the building of lactate is actually the body's protection from permanent damage during extreme exertion of the muscles. In terms of devices used by Steven M. Roth, the article is introduced with a description of himself, "a professor in the department of kinesiology at the University of Maryland, explains." By establishing who he is to the audience, he appeals to ethos and convinces the audience that he is a credible source for the topic. Leading into the article itself, Steven M. Roth includes facts throughout the whole piece of writing to explain what lactate is and how it effects the human body. By using facts, he also establishes logos because his reasons can be backed up with accurate data. The audience can be any athlete, or someone who has experienced lactic acid through exercise. This article explains in detail what lactic build up is. As part of the audience myself, I thought Steven M. Roth was effective. I believe as part of the audience, Steven M. Roth proves his purpose with facts that appeal to both ethos and logos. Also, since the article is from scientificamerican.com, a reader can assume that this article is credible because the website is categorized as a website with research and accurate facts.