The primary audiences from my e-portfolio are potential employers or graduate school admissions committees. Secondary audiences could include anyone who searches my name on the internet, including friends, family, potential employers, colleges, or professors. I tailored my portfolio to these audiences by maintaining a relatively formal tone throughout the portfolio and choosing simple layouts and colors for every page.
While the question of the day served the function of taking attendance at the beginning of class, it served many other purposes. At the beginning of the semester, the question of the day helped us to learn each other’s name in probably the least awkward way of any class I have ever been in. In addition, the question of the day allowed us to share small parts of our lives with the rest of the class, providing us with a better picture of what each of our classmates care about.
This exercise also allowed us to practice a quick form of public speaking, telling a short story or trying to find an effective way to pitch our blog to the rest of the class. Due to the brief amount of time we had to share, it was necessary to take an idea we wanted to convey and condense it down into a short message that the class would understand and appreciate. This is a valuable rhetorical skill because often people will lose interest if you do not clearly and concisely convey your message in a compelling form.
Question of the day also serves as a good method of encouraging class participation right from the beginning of class. It encourages (most) people to pay attention to the question, think of a response, and carefully listen to others’ responses. I think that by getting people to contribute verbally right from the beginning of class, people are more likely to contribute during the rest of the class.
Personally, the question of the day forced me to think about aspects of my own life that in the business of life I often did not consider. I think that by considering some of the parts of our life that are important to us, this helps to provide direction for how we can potentially pursue a path in life that allows us to incorporate these ideas and values into our civic lives. Listening to what classmates cared about gave me a better idea of the diverse background they each came from and expanded my view of the audience I needed to cater my message towards. I never would have realized many of these different backgrounds if it was not for the question of the day.
All
Brian
Matt
Tom
Time Log:
3/29/18 All — 1 hour
3/29/18 Tom — 15 minutes
I attended a deliberation on free speech on college campuses. Overall, I felt the group running the event did a great job of reaching out to different members of the community and fostering a constructive debate on the difficult tradeoffs between upholding the first amendment and protecting the local communities while trying to manage significant financial liabilities that arise from controversial speakers. The introductions to each section were informative and set a firm foundation for each approach. The group was split between some people reading the introductions in a very rigid way, either memorized or reading off their paper, and others who successfully delivered their introduction in a conversational manner. The conversational deliveries were certainly more effective in making the audience feel at ease with the situation.
While I thought the deliberation went very well overall, I want to detail a few drawbacks to the group’s presentation since these issues can be easily avoided during our upcoming deliberation. At the beginning, the leaders asked if anybody wanted to introduce themselves and then proceeded to grill them with questions one by one. Less than a third of the people in attendance introduced themselves, leaving the six or so of us who did as the few who contributed most to the conversation for the rest of the event.
The group leaders did not seem like they were all on the same page about the legal framework and precedent for their issue. For example, when I asked for clarification as to whether a college could deny a speaker based on the content of their message, I got conflicting answers. One student who had done his due diligence and researched the legal aspects of the issue responded that colleges can not deny speakers based on their content, but they can deny speakers based on security concerns. The issue was that later on, other presenters began questioning more on whether or not speakers should be denied based on content. I think a better dialogue would avoid questioning the Supreme Court’s rulings on free speech and instead focus more on the balance between free speech, financial burden, and concern for the students’ and community’s well-being.
Additionally, one student presenter was clearly in favor of one side of the debate and made no effort to maintain neutrality. In fact, the would frequently intervene in other group members’ approaches and get into arguments with the guests who came to deliberate. While he was not especially disrespectful, this was not appropriate given the guidelines of the event and the intended nature of a deliberation.
As a participator, I felt like I was able to contribute my ideas when I wanted. I tried to pose thought-provoking questions to the group when I felt some of their proposed solutions were flawed. Everyone was respectful to one another, and while at the end everyone agreed that smaller dialogues like the one we were at are constructive, some held the view that we were only able to have a quality discussion because the group was relatively well-educated. Unfortunately, I think this view is flawed, as discounting the opinions and experiences of Americans who have never attained a higher level education is ignoring more than half the people in our country. We did agree, however, that by taking courses like CAS as college students and developing our communication skills, we can most effectively win a war of ideas and combat hateful speech without resorting to violence or censorship.
This I Believe
On my fifth birthday, I received my first set of Legos. I still remember the excitement that I felt as those 130 pieces of colored plastic banged together in the small box that I was unwrapping. To my delight, the last piece of paper dropped to the floor revealing my next building project – a bright red firehouse. Unable to contain my enthusiasm to get started, I quickly cleared a spot on my building table – cardboard, popsicle sticks, glue, and scissors went flying in all directions. I opened all the packaging and began anxiously paging through the direction booklet. It all seemed pretty straightforward – numbered directions with detailed diagrams. I set to work.
Halfway through my project, I glanced up to compare my progress to the photo on the front of the box. Everything looked good, so I continued my way through the direction booklet. Before long, I had reached the last page and had securely pressed the last Lego into its designated place. Realizing that my firehouse mirrored that on the packaging, I felt successful. I proudly positioned it on the mantle for all to see, and there it sat.
Several weeks later, my Mom asked if I wanted to play with my new Lego set. At first, I was puzzled by her question. How was I supposed to play with a house assembled of plastic blocks? Would she expect me to play with an assembled gingerbread house? She then clarified by saying that I could take it apart and rebuild it.
I had already proven that I could follow the directions once. A second attempt would be absurd. In retrospect, simply copying someone else’s design had stifled my creativity and enjoyment. At that the moment I realized, I believe in creating my own directions.
Over the years I’ve gained an appreciation for turning my conceived ideas into reality. As an aviation enthusiast, I have constructed home-built model airplanes that defy the force of gravity. I have celebrated each success and embraced each disappointment, realizing the importance of failure as a learning tool. While following directions stifles creative thinking, to me, the idea of producing flight connotes beauty, freedom, and hope. There is nothing more fulfilling than watching a concept of my imagination soar through the sky.
In many aspects of life, I encourage people to put aside the directions and allow intuition and imagination to take hold. Experimentation teaches critical thinking and enables creativity to flourish in a world whose rules on how to live life are not written in stone.
Building something with no reference beyond the guidance of your imagination carries the added benefit of making life far more interesting. It allows people to apply their dissimilar interests and experiences to create something that is beneficial to all and which never existed previously. I believe in creating my own directions.
Focus: I believe that following directions will lead you astray.
I will discuss my view that strictly following directions is often both uninteresting and unproductive. This can take the form of formal instructions or the things in life society tells us to do that may suppress or undermine the ways in which we would like to live and interact with the world otherwise. While I recognize the importance of specific guidelines and procedures in some contexts, I believe that in the long run such adherence to a script will be harmful and leaves people unprepared for a world in which success is not formulaic.
In all aspects of life, I encourage people to put aside the directions, allowing their intuition and imagination to take hold. This will teach critical thinking and creativity to take hold in a world whose rules on how to live life are not written in stone. This also makes life more interesting and allows people to apply their dissimilar interests and experiences to create something that is beneficial to all and which has never existed previously.
Story: I will explain how as a child when playing with K’nex and Legos I never once looked at directions as in my view doing so took all the fun out of the toys. In fact, I often preferred informal building toys such as cardboard, popsicle sticks and duck tape. I think such a sentiment has helped develop a mindset as I grow older that values not being beholden to a strict set of rules. In building and flying homebuilt model airplanes, I gained an appreciation for what I could do on my own and was forced to learn the underlying concepts rather than simply copy another’s design. As I grow older, I see more people who become frustrated when they follow the traditional directions of life as best they can and still do not see the success that is “promised” to them. We live in an economy in which uniquely useful ideas are rewarded and static designs are left behind. I encourage people to open their minds and write their own directions to their lives.
Passion Blog:
#1- I could talk about modern tech advancements that are under development and poised to dramatically influence the future. Such topics could include drone technology, 3d-printing, and nuclear fusion power plants. In each post, I would explain where the technology is in development, how it could impact society while also tying in any current events tied to the topic of the week.
#2- I could discuss the current state of artificial intelligence and the technical, philosophic and economic impact a computer with general artificial intelligence could have on our society. While such technology has been in the works for many years, most experts warn that the seemly slow progress could be deceiving. Once a computer is able to write its own code progress will be made at an exponential rate and may far exceed human capabilities.
Civic Issues:
#1- Campaign financing, lobbying, and voter fraud. I would discuss what is currently allowed for campaign finance and lobbying, how are laws abused and circumvented, and would be the implications of stricter campaign finance laws. I would also explain landmark judicial rulings on campaign finance such as Citizen’s United vs FCC.
#2- Domestic/foreign Surveillance and the Patriot Act- Why has domestic and foreign Surveillance introduced, how have such programs evolved, what are the benefits of surveillance and how does excessive surveillance undermine civil liberties?
Blog improvements for next semester:
This semester I would like to plan out the general topics of my blog posts early in the semester so that I can ensure that my posts are reasonably organized. I will also aim to start out with a broad overview of the topic I am discussing in each post, as I understand many people will not be familiar with the subjects I plan to discuss. Depending on the topics I choose, I will attempt to connect what I am talking about with people’s everyday lives so that the material I present will be both more interesting and relatable to readers.
https://youtu.be/2VreARZEPCg
Preparation:
I finished my outline on Saturday, providing me three days to prepare my speech delivery. Over this period, I made minor revisions to the outline in order to more smoothly transition between ideas and convey a vision of the future of drone technology. I practiced by simulating the actual speech. I stood up, displayed my PowerPoint, and recorded myself so that I could see exactly how the presentation went and made changes accordingly. Over the course of the three days, I had to prepare, I delivered my presentation several times a day.
I attempted to engage the audience by referencing the recent hurricanes that have devastated parts of the United States and which have dominated news headlines over the past few weeks. These emotional events were fresh on everyone’s mind and connected drone use in medical situations to an ongoing issue. Additionally, I attempted to use ethos when I asked the audience to imagine coming upon an accident on the highway and feeling powerless until drone technology assisted. Such a scenario draws on the common feeling of wanting to help others who are in immediate need and displayed the capabilities of drone technology in easing human suffering. It would have helped if I practiced delivering the speech in front of other people, as the dynamic is different.
While I cited experts in the field to show the credibility of the information, I did not effectively communicate my personal expertise in speaking of drone technology. I have extensive experience working with drones and designing aerial technology for common applications, yet I never built this credibility in my talk. If I did the talk again in the future, I would mention the work I have done in the field at least briefly, to show that even in instances where I am not directly conveying information from researchers with Ph.D.’s, I still am knowledgeable on the subject matter and have firsthand experience.
Delivery:
I could have done a better job of connecting with the audience and conveying my message with more enthusiasm. I think this was lacking because, with the short timeline for development, I focused primarily on conveying the information on my outline to the audience. If I had additional time, my speech would have been more effective if I varied my eye contact with the audience more.
During the speech, I think I was primarily focusing on delivering all the content as opposed to focusing on my storytelling and engagement. Several times throughout the video I turn to face the screen. This is something I did not realize I was doing during the presentation, and it is frustrating to see as this did not help me with delivering the content. Rather, each time I turn I am losing the engagement with the audience. This issue is the largest one I noticed, and I will definitely be mindful to avoid turning to face the screen next time I present.
Now that I have torn myself to shreds… I will say, I am proud that I was able to run through the presentation relatively smoothly and comfortably. I genuinely think I informed the audience on a topic that they may not have been previously aware of. Drone technology certainly will touch the lives of everyone in the near future. I only wish I did a better job of conveying my enthusiasm for the topic, as I plan to be one of the people on the front lines in the future pushing drone technology forward.
Thesis: With the rise of the information age, government infringement of individuals security has become an increasingly relevant issue.
Topic: Internet connectivity and electronic device use have increased dramatically over the past 2 decades. Usage of these new technologies allows users to share intimate details of their lives with others and allow vast amounts of information to be available at a moment’s notice. This rise in technology usage coincided with the call to increase national security in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, resulting in United States intelligence agencies seeking to collect, store, and analyze vast amounts of data on people both domestically and abroad. This information provides tremendous insight into the thoughts and patterns in people’s actions and has the potential to stop terror attacks before they happen, but such capabilities come at a significant cost. That cost is security. The fourth amendment of the United States Bill of Rights states, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” In the 21st Century, information sent through private internet connections could be considered private property that is subject to constitutional protections against searches without a warrant. To accomplish this, the government has sidestepped the spirit of the protection and set up secret courts to approve requests. In addition, blanket warrants to search hundreds of millions of Americans and billions in the world have been issued. If this information was stolen for by an actor with evil intents in mind, the potential for blackmail and profound insights obtained would violate the most fundamental sense of privacy individuals possess and have the right to.
Rhetorical Choices: