TOW #3-Pope appeals to immigrants to make their voices heard

On Sunday September 12, Jeff Gammage, Julia Terruso, Claudia Vargas and Regina Medina, all writers for The Philadelphia Inquirer, published an article about the message the Pope sent on his visit to Philadelphia. It is addressed in the article how the Pope views America's 'problem' with immigrants. He explains to the people of the Philadelphia metropolitan area his opinion on how to act on this topic during his visit to Independence Hall. The authors portray the Pope's view on why our country needs to accept immigrants by including examples of immigrants who have been helping our nation.

                The Pope’s father “emigrated as a child with his family from Italy to Argentina after Mussolini came to power,” so he knows first-hand what life is like as an immigrant. He speaks to the citizens and explains that it is not acceptable to force them away, but that we need to understand that immigrants can build “a beautiful life” (Strand). He explains that not all immigrants expect our government to save them and give them a new life. He also explains that those who have immigrated should not leave behind their culture. He explains the importance of holding onto your roots. Strand, a women from Poland who is now living in the United States, came alone at age 19 with only $5. “She landed in Baltimore, worked in a factory, got married, became a citizen.” By included this narration in the text that proves the Pope’s point, it validates his opinion and gives him more credibility. The mere fact that this opinion is the Pope’s opinion is extremely credible, since people have traveled extraordinary distances in order to hear what the Pope had to say. The authors were successful in portraying the Pope’s opinion by including narrations of people who went to see the Pope.  

TOW #2-9/11 Budweiser Commercial

Budweiser commercials are known for their signature Clydesdales. Though it is expected that Budweiser produce a jaw-dropping commercial each year, their 9/11 Tribute that aired February 3^rd, 2002 during Super Bowl XXXVI will not be forgotten. Budweiser only aired this commercial once, as they did not want to make a profit off of the commercial’s success. They also only included their logo once throughout the commercial at the very end. The genuine reason for this commercial was to remember the horrific terrorist attack and show the company’s support. In the ad, the horses take a long journey and end up standing in the snow with New York City’s skyline in the background. At once, the horses all lift their front leg up and bow their heads to the city.

What makes this commercial more significant and powerful is the lack of words. Although they didn’t include any dialogue the purpose is still reached. The audience, all Americans citizens, can all appreciate the silence in this commercial, as it can also translate to a moment of silence that you would experience if you were reflecting on a tragedy or praying for people you love. Both of which apply to 9/11. The commercial is an allusion, since it does not need to be described in order for the audience to understand and relate to the context of the commercial. Budweiser’s commercial was effective. Not only was it impactful to the audience, but it was also chilling and strong. All US citizens, old and young, should see this commercial because it also gives background on how the country was coping with the devastation. Not only were humans showing support, but also Clydesdales.

Non-fiction Introduction #1-The Other Wes Moore

This non-fiction book is about two people living in the same city with the same name: one who is in jail for murder, and one who lives a very successful life. The book was written by the successful Wes Moore and studies how two people can grow up to be so different even if they are from similar backgrounds.

TOW #1-Bionic Eyes, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy: 3 Cutting Edge Cures for Blindness

The news article, Bionic Eyes, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy: 3 Cutting Edge Cures for Blindness, was written by Alexandra Sifferlin and Alice Park. Both are writers for TIME Magazine who focus their non-fiction writing on public health issues and big ideas in medicine. In this issue geared towards the general public and those who are interested in the advancements of science, they focus their attention on different methods to cure blindness including Bionic Eyes, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy.

Sifferlin and Park confirm their credibility by not only working for one of the most commonly known news magazines in the world, but also by citing established scientists and researchers such as the director of the National Eye Institute at the National Institutes of Health, and a doctor at the University of Pennsylvania. This article was written during a time period where technology has been rapidly increasing, and is now being applied to the field of science. In order for the authors to achieve their purpose of making the public aware of the advancements in technology and its application to curing blindness, they incorporate the rhetorical devices of coherence personal examples. The authors’ coherence is displayed throughout the text when she explains each advancement. She follows the same order, “The Patient,” “The Treatment,” “How it works” and “What it’s like for (patient’s name).” This layout makes it easier to comprehend each eye treatment, and how each treatment differs from the other. In addition, including personal examples and excerpts from each person that explain how their treatment has greatly improved their life accomplishes her purpose in a more relatable way. These personal cases illustrates how successful these treatments already are, and with the improvement of technology, how successful they can be.