Analyzing My Audience

In this blog post I will be ansering the six bulleted questions in the "Identifying Your Audience" section in Student's Guide page 41.

Screenshot from my computer, 10/13/15

• Who am I writing for? What are the audience's beliefs and assumptions?

I'm writing for new and incoming students in the computer science major. The audience is actually lacking beliefs and assumptions about the specific rhetoric of a computer science speech/text. This makes it all the more important for me to do a good job on this analysis!

• What position will they take on this issue? How will I need to respond to this position?

The students are likely to take the side of the original speaker on this issue. Of course computer science students have an interest in computer science education and see value in it. There does not need to be a specific response to this position because the position is already perfectly in line with the point the speaker is trying to make.

• What will they want to know?

The students will want to know what the speaker does to effectively argue his point. These students will spend many of their coming years constructing similar arguments and will want to know how to do so in the best way possible

• How might they react to my argument?

The students are likely to be very receptive to the arguments I give in my analysis, especially since they don't have previous experience with this specific type of rhetoric.

• How am I trying to relate or connect with my audience?

I'm trying to relate with my audience through our common interest of computer science. Professional interests are a great medium for connection.

• Are there specific words, ideas, or modes of presentation that will help me relate to them in this way?

Ideas such as computer science education and exposure to all areas of computer science will help me relate to computer science students. Most people in the major will have an interest in exploring all elements of the field, and I will be able to relate to the audience in that way.

More Development

After reading a few of my peers posts, I realized that it's important to connect with the audience through informal words or phrases or examples. However, there is a fine line with this strategy. If I become too informal, I could lose credibility, and the overall effectiveness of my analysis is compromised.

Another thing I need to keep in mind is the dominant demographic within the major of computer science. While I should not alienate any demographics in any way, it may be wise to ensure I appeal to the dominant group in some way.

EDIT:

After reading Lawrence's and Hallye's blog post, I learned new things about the how I should approach addressing my audience. Hallye had a great point in saying it is not my job to evaluate the "correctness" of the author's main point. It is, however, my job to analyze how the speaker constructed the argument and how effective it was or was not.

Also, the way Hallye phrased the final question was great. She said it is important to do what you can to connect to the audience, without coming off as too unprofessional. I will take all of these points into account when writing my rhetorical analysis.

Cluster of "Computer Science is for Everyone"

In this blog post I will be sharing the cluster I made for Project 2. I will also briefly explain how I organized my cluster.

Screenshot from my computer, 10/13/15

In my cluster, I broke up key information into three branches. They are rhetorical strategies, rhetorical situation, and cultural context. Within each of these branches, I included lots of detail on specific elements of these branches.

Analyzing Rhetorical Strategies in Computer Science is for Everyone

In this blog post I will be analyzing rhetorical strategies in the TEDx talk "Computer Science is for Everyone". Specifically, I will be addressing the speaker's appeals to credibility, emotion, and logic.

Screenshot from my computer, 10/4/2015

Appeals to Credibility or Character

• Which items on the bulleted list of "Appeals to Credibility and Character (Ethos)" on page 182 can you recognize in your text?

One item that is immediatley used by the speaker, Hadi Partovi, is a personal story. Partovi actually opens up his talk by retelling aspects of his childhood where he was able to learn computer science while his native country of Iran was at war. Another appeal to credibility comes when Partovi lists his own accomplishments in the technology industry as a computer scientist.

• How and why would the author(s) use these strategies?

Partovi most likely used these stories to give the audience a couple reasons to trust him and what he has to say. If Partovi jumped right into the core of his argument, fewer people would engage with what he had to say and Partovi's goal as a speaker would not be achieved.

• How do these strategies affect the audience’s perception of the author's/authors' credibility and character?

These strategies garner respect from the audience and allow Partovi to speak with authority in regards to education in computer science.

• How does the use of these strategies impact the effectiveness of the text’s overall message?

The use of these strategies is paramount in increasing the effectiveness of the text's overall message. It's the difference between some random man with a microphone preaching nonsense and an accomplished computer scientist giving an intellectual talk on education.

• Does/do the author(s) seem to have any biases or assumptions that might impact their credibility?

The author could very well have bias towards his topic. A computer scientist is much more likely to promote their field in education than any other person. I would not say this hurts his credibility, but this potential bias prevents Partovi from having the utmost credibility.

Appeals to Emotion

• Which items on the bulleted list of "Appeals to Emotion (Pathos)" on pages 182-3 can you recognize in your text?

Once again, Partovi's usage of personal stories provide an emotional appeal to his talk. Specifically, Partovi tells the story of him and his whole family suffering through a war that took place very close to their home. Partovi and his family were at constant risk of being bombed when he was a child.

• What emotional responses is the author attempting to create?

The author is attempting to create a sense of discomfort in the audience. If successful in taking the audience out of their comfort zone, Partovi can more easily connect with the audience and instill his ideals in the audience.

• What is the actual result?

I believe this strategy works like I forementioned, but not exactly. This story also just makes the audience sad and upset, which could actually hurt the overall persuasiveness of the talk.

• Are these emotions effective or ineffective for this particular audience and rhetorical situation?

Some of these emotions, like discomfort and curiousity are effective, while sadness and anger are ineffective for this particular audience and rhetorical situation.

• How do these emotional appeals affect the credibility of the author(s) or the logic of the text?

These emotional appeals definitely give credibility to the author. Knowing the speaker has gone through hardship adds a certain appeal and credibility to what they have to say.

Appeals to Logic

• Which items on the bulleted list of "Appeals to Logic or Rational Decision Making (Logos)" on page 183 can you recognize in your text?

The organization of the talk was excellent. Beginning by building his credibility, then laying out all the facts, and finishing with his ultimate message was very effective in persuading the audience. Also, use of relevent statistics and graphs contributed greatly to the talks logical appeal.

• What response is the author attempting to create by employing these strategies?

The author is attempting to create an intellectual stimulation by employing these strategies. Partovi wants the reader to be able to take what he is saying and convince themselves of the things Partovi is saying.

• What is the actual result?

For the most part, I believe this to be the actual result. The audience at a TEDx talk would definitely respond to concrete facts and a clear organization of thoughts.

• Are these strategies effective or ineffective for this particular audience and rhetorical situation?

These strategies are very effective for this particular audience and rhetorical situation.

EDIT:

After reading Lawrence's and Chloe's posts, I realize that my text is unique in a lot of ways, but similar in many others. For example, Lawrence's text contains personal stories as a way of giving the author credibility, just like in my text. Also, a clear organization of thoughts seems to be universal in effective pieces of rhetoric.

Where my text differs is in the logical appeal. Neither Lawrence's nor Chloe's texts utilized statistics or graphs in their logical appeal. Stats and graphs were very important to the overall effectiveness of my text. Without them, it's much harder to believe in what the speaker has to say.

Analyzing Message in Computer Science is for Everyone

In this post I will be analyzing the overall message in the TEDx Talk, "Computer Science is for Everyone"

Screenshot from my computer, 10/4/2015

Does the author:

1. Express an idea or opinion?
2. Respond to a particular occasion?
3. Inform the reader about a misunderstood topic?
4. Analyze, synthesize, or interpret?
5. Reflect on their topic?
6. Advocate for change?
7. Move the readers to feel a certain way?

From these bulleted points, numbers 1, 6, and 7 are most relevant to my text. Partovi's TEDx Talk focuses on expressing his opinions on computer science education and how we should improve it. Partovi is definitely expressing his ideas and opinions on tha matter, advocating for a change in the way we educate, and moving the audience to feel excitement for computer science.

Of the bulleted points, numbers 2 and 4 are irrelevant to my text. There is no single occasion that Partovi is covering. The growth of computer science has been a long process. There was no big bang of technology that caused it. Also, there's no interpretation or analysis from Partovi in this piece. He's moreso stating his opinion and plans for action to improve our education system the best way he knows how.

I don't believe there are any layers to the message Partovi is portraying. I could be missing something, but in this kind of public speech act it is generally straightforward and clear what the speaker is trying to convey.

Analyzing My Own Assumptions

Screenshot from my computer, 10/4/2015

1. What cultural or social values, beliefs, etc., do we share with the society or culture in which the text was written? Why have they endured?

I also believe in the importance of a well-rounded, pragmatic education. Specifically, I believe a basic understanding of computer science is important for a student to have. These social values have endured because I understand that being proficient in only one specific realm is not an optimal way to educate oneself.

2. What cultural or social values, beliefs, etc., do we not share? Why not?

I don't disagree with much of the cultural beliefs illustrated in this TEDx talk by Patrovi. I suppose if there's one aspect I don't agree with, it's that the method by which Patrovi suggests (the Hour of Code) we learn computer science. It doesn't seem like one hour of coding will be the best way to introduce computer science to the largest percentage of people.

3. If the text is written in a culture distant or different from our own, what social values, beliefs, etf., connect to or reflect our own culture? What social values, beliefs, etc., can we not see in our own culture?

The text is written in a culture nearly identical to my own. Education is important. Strengthening our future generation and the middle class is important. There are no relevant cultural differences between my own culture and the culture in which the text was written.

4. If the text is written in our culture but in a different historical time, how have the social value, beliefs, etc., developed or changed over time?

My text was written in my culture in the current time. Since this question doesn't really apply to my text I'll discuss how the culture as a whole has changed over time anyways. In the past 10 years, there's been a surge in computer science education as a result of the tech industry blowing up in popularity. More and more companies need computer scientists and we need effective education systems to foster our future workforces.

EDIT:

After reading Alex's and Bri's posts, I learned that many of my classmates' texts were written in either a different culture or time period. For example, Alex's text is a few years old, and therefore doesn't account for many significant events that have occurred in relation to his topic. Also, Bri's text is about New York City, a very different place from Tucson. This made me think about how important culture and time period can be when evaluating a piece of rhetoric. One tiny change in either of these factors can drastically change the way the text functions.

Analyzing My Text's Cultural Setting

In this blog post I'll be analzying the cultural setting of my text, "Computer Science is for Everyone". Specifically I'll talk about when and where this text is published and how this affects the rhetoric of the text.

Screenshot from my computer, 10/4/2015

1. What values, ideas, norms, beliefs, even laws of the culture play an important role in the text?

This TEDx talk was given in the United States, specifically Seattle, Washington. This plays a key role in how the audience is likely to react to a speech on computer science education. In the United States, almost everyone goes through over a decade of education. The audience is likely to be very attentive towards suggestions for improving education. If the talk were given in a country where education is less engrained in society then the audience might not have been receptive to Partovi's ideas.

2. Does the text address these cultural values, belifes, etc., direclty (by directly mentioning and responding to them) or indirectly (by presenting a scenario or narrative that addresses them)?

The text indirectly addresses the audience's interest in education by giving examples of local students and their experiences with insufficient education. Partovi presents two children, one of which goes to a school miles from where the TEDx talk was given. The child, Rahel, goes to a school that just recently implemented computer science education. This concrete example, presented with a picture of the child, gives the audience a real connection to the ideas presented by Partovi.

3. What is the relationship of the text to the values, beliefs, etc.? Is it critical of these aspects of the culture? Is it supportive? Does it seek to modify these aspects of the culture in a certain way?

The text is an address of the beliefs and values of the audience, as well as the current state of our education system. At times, Partovi is critical of our education system and demands very specific changes to the system. However, Partovi also acknowledges the advances that our eduacation system has been able to make in implementing more computer science education. Partovi absolutely is aiming to modify the lack of computer science education in our society.

Cultural Analysis of Computer Science is for Everyone

In this blog post I will be analyzing my text on computer science education for cultural messages. Specifically, I will be answering questions listed for "5." in Writing Public Lives page 83.

Screenshot from my computer, 10/3/2015

Looking through the text, a few cultural keywords that show up throughout are "evolve", "seed", and "education".

"Evolve" is a keyword as it is used to describe the field of computer science and how it is changing our world. One of the many aspects of our world computer science is influencing is our public education systems.

"Seed" is a keyword as it is used to describe how the Hour of Code program (an hour long interactive seminar on computer science) impacts students around the world. Partovi mentioned "planting the seed" in young students several times throughout his text to emphasize the type of education he believes needs to be implemented.

"Education" is the ultimate keyword for this text. Partovi's entire speech is on the importance of our public education system. The way we think about education defines our culture in a very definitive way, and Partovi's constant use of the word education never let's us forget what we're talking about and how important it is.

How do these keywords help support the argument that the author is making? 

These keywords support the argument the author is making by expressing exactly how Partovi feels and thinks about education in regards to computer science. Specifically, the words "evolve" and "seed" help the audience gainer a better understanding of exactly how Partovi wants computer science to be taught in schools

Why might an audience be more likely to support this argument if it is connected to these values?

An audience will likely support an argument connected to the education because most people value an optimal education system. Partovi's speech asserts that education needs to be constnatly evolving and growing as computer science does in order to give our future generations the best chance at success.