Crayon

Well the first thing easily noticed is that there are a few colors being used. Luke started with a maroon heading, followed by an orange, purple, then again maroon body paragraphs. The way he wrote this was very punctual, with a heading, and three separate body paragraphs. The line spacing is very equal making it easy too read. It is almost as if he wrote it on a separate paper and copied it over because there are no cross outs or mess ups, except for the last word. But you can't blame him, I'm sure all of us were tired of writing with these crayons. I mean there wasn't anything spectacular but I did notice that he purposely did not write near the crease of the paper so it wouldn't look messed up. Here is Luke's assignment:

Luke Verrilo
Professor Lay
WSC 2
28 January 2011
    In her poem "Tell All The Truth," Emily Dickinson urges readers to tell the truth entirely, though she also stresses the importance of telling it slant. in some instances, one can skew the truth to protect children's  innocence, for example, however that is not always the case. As Dickinson states, the "truth must dazzle gradually," implying that there are sometimes the truth, unslanted, must come out and be told as it is. Though we're taught to always tell the truth, we're also shielded from it.
   In today's violent world, the true truth is hidden from us more than we may realize. When we read about war in the papers, victories are headlines while tragic losses are hidden among obituaries. When we're young, issues like divorce or murder or the passing of loved ones are sugarcoated. Stories are created and explanations given to sotten the hurt. However, as we age and become more aware of our world and learn to separate truth from "explanation kind," we gradually learn of more dark aspects of life. As Dickinson writes, it's better to take the truth little by little rather than all at once when you're young so as to avoid "every man be blind."
   I agree with Dickinson's stance on telling the truth, but telling it slant. It's not a lie, however, but it protects children from the truth until they're ready to gasp the entirety of it. The only time that slanting the truth isn't acceptable is when the media or people in general do it so they can push their own agenda. Slanting the truth on issues of war or death are done to ease the pain, not for personal gain. Dickinson supports shielding people from the world's horrors, as I do. Sometimes, it's best not to know the complexity within the darkness of the world around us.


This writing assignment interacts with the writing space and mind. There is a limited amount of space for the writer which effects what can be said. If the writer runs out of space, how will anyone be able to read what needs to be said? The mind is an endless space for writing, which can't be placed on a piece of paper. The fact that this assignment was in crayon helped the mind use more space on the paper by using different colors, and allowing the writer to write any way they wanted. This is true because this piece is made with 3 different colors, and other crayon assignments were made in all shapes and sizes.

In The Dark

Well there are plenty of times where I am embarresed with my communication. When i speak sometimes i tend to stutter or mumble and I sound kinf of dumb. My friends usually make fun of me because it really does sound funny. but the MOST embarresing is the fact theat i can't speak spanish to others. I am Puerto Rican and i spent my entire summer there last summerfor soccer. Alot of the players spoke only spanish which was very frustrating. Not only with regular conversation, but when on the feild. Communication is very important on the feild and when there is no talk or understanding between the players you most likely will lose. When were not on the feild and i was in the community trying to order food somtimes was difficult. i speak a little spanish, but not fluent so understanding others speak it is difficult. Why this is so embarresingto me is because my mom speaks fluent along with hersisters and their mom. Alot of my friends also make fun of me because i cannot speak spanish.

Sample S

I did the same thing with my visual presentation which is why I agree with Sample S. The cliche pictures are very important to help with the message. Sample S says, "without them it is difficult to portray a clear concise message." I can agree with this because my visual presentation has very cliche pictures as well. Just as he/she used a rainbow to end the presentation to show rain, as I used pictures of people jumping to show jump. Both of our ending pictures tied in with the beginning of each presentation.

"Like You Know"

I found it rather amusing the way Taylor Mali recited his poem out loud. His arm gestures, volume, and facial expressions made it easier to understand what he was saying. It said more to me than the poem in just words. He acted out the poem instead of just reading off of paper. The poem in just words I found rather intimidating. All these words appearing as his voice spoke them, kind of made it a little difficult for me to understand because i was so focused on the words instead of actually listening.

Reflection

Part 1:

            It is very simple to describe my visual argument, just think of the word “jump.” Jump out of a plane, jump for a header, a jump shot, or jump with friends. Several pictures can show the physical action of jumping, but other pictures can show an argument that jumping can mean other things than the actually physical activity. Jump, as in take a risk or a big step in life, can be shown with pictures of getting married, having a baby, learning to drive, or buying your first car. The video actually starts out with just the physical activity to catch the eye of the viewer and let them understand what is being discussed. Midway through the video is when pictures of someone proposing and getting married come into play.

Part 2:

            An argument needs to have “truth value” according to Anthony J. Blair in “The Possibility and Actuality of Visual Arguments.” Truth-value is when an argument can be affirmed or rejected. Blair uses the argument that saying, “yuck” is not an argument because it cannot be nor affirmed or denied, but “this steak taste like shoe leather” can be affirmed and denied. This is shown within my visual argument when the pictures of physical jumping change to jumping as a different form. My visual argument just doesn’t say, “jump” physically, but it also says take a jump for marriage, or take a jump and have a baby. The two different views of jump can both be accepted or rejected as Blair mentions. (Blair)

Part 3:

            Just because the argument presented in my video is not verbal, it still is aloud to be argued. The way I use many pictures also can used to make an argument. “The concept of argument has two implications of importance to the present discussion.” (Blair) The reason for this visual argument is to prove that jump means more than to do a physical activity. This is shown within the production when pictures of non-physical jumping activities are being viewed. They can successfully be shown when a picture of a couple getting married appears. Getting married is a huge jump in someone’s life. You are no longer just dating, but now you are legally bound to one another until “death due us part,” that is a huge commitment right there. There are many risks that can be taken by getting married, which is why it is considered a “jump.”

Part 4:

            The thing about jump is that it is a very common physical activity. Therefore many viewers of this production may already know there will be pictures of people jumping in the air, because that is the most frequent use of the word jump. Pictures of athletes jumping and girls jump roping are expected to be in this visual argument. Although they are expected, they are necessary in supporting the argument to show the other side of the argument is different than actual jumping. Without these photos, this visual production would not be an argument because there would only be one implication of importance being discussed.

Part 5:

            In order for an argument to be logical the depicted elements need to be in spatially organized arrangements. (Kress) This means in a verbal argument, and even a visual argument. If we speak with a beginning, a middle, and an end, a visual argument needs this as well. In this visual argument “Jump” is ordered with in a certain way to be logical as well. It starts with the physical activity of jumping, then moves to taking jumps in life. The transition between the two helps understand the message because the viewer can clearly see the two sides of the argument.

Part 6:

            Visual productions can be very successful in making a logical argument. This can be proven true by watching my visual argument “Jump.” Viewing an argument can enhance the viewer’s perception of the argument being discussed with photos or videos on the topic. These images can do exactly what writing does, which is present an argument and explain, but with great visual detail. It is a perfect alternative to writing a paper because it has a better impact than a written argument. The images can put the person in the argument and see the experiences visually, rather than read or listen and try to picture what is being discussed. The visual production is perfect for arguments because they are easier to absorb than a verbal argument, plus it is more entertaining to watch a visual argument than read an argument. 

My Four Letter Word...

My word is JUMP. I argued that the word jump is not only a physical action, but that to jump can also mean to take a jump in life. Getting married having a baby or even buying a house can be a jump people take. I used iMovie to make this visual argument.

Just show me a picture, stop describing

"And the tree danced. No."

This right here is when the poet went against describing trees. Previous to this line the poet is seen describing trees, then once this line hits, he stops. He begins to go against and say "it is good sometimes for poetry to disenchant us." This here is when he says that poetry often lies to the readers.