Denzel Washington delivered a very powerful and motivational speech for the students of the University of Pennsylvania. He utilized logos, personal anecdotes and humor to appeal to the audience’s emotions, as well as good organization in order to preview his speech and give the audience an idea of what is to come. He also addressed his audience throughout the speech and invited them to fail through his use of rhetoric. His main point was that failure is necessary in order to learn and succeed.

The one area which Denzel Washington could have improved in was eye contact with the audience. Towards the end of the speech, he read almost directly off of his paper. Otherwise, his speech was very well performed and delivered well overall. He spoke fluidly, and conversationally while using hand gestures to emphasize his main points. He kept his speech extremely engaging and not monotonous at all.

Denzel started his speech by describing famous people who have failed prior to succeeding. He described how Thomas Edison conducted 1000 failed experiments but nobody knows that that because the 1001 experiment created the lightbulb. He talked about how Reggie Jackson struck out 2600 times in his baseball career but nobody remembered the strike-outs. People only remembered the home runs. Denzel then went on to describe how every failure is one step closer to success both in the cases of famous people like Thomas Edison or even his own self.

He appealed to his audience’s emotions extremely well by taking into consideration their age and the point they are at in their lives. As young adults, it is sometimes very hard to wrap your head around the fact that you will fail and that no matter how much training or schooling you have gone through, you will still lose, suck, or embarrass yourself at something. He gave anecdotal evidence of the many times he has failed through his acting career and used a sense of humor to keep the audience members engaged and interested. Denzel also talked about the story of ghosts representing unfulfilled potential, ideas never acted upon and talents never used. He went on and asked the audience members how many ghosts will be around them once their time comes? This was not only a call for action but a way of appealing to their emotions and their hopes for the future. Denzel was ultimately encouraging the recent graduates to always maximize their potential and never give up on anything they are passionate about. He wanted the graduates to do something with their dreams and talents throughout their lives instead of bringing empty aspirations to the graves with them.

Furthermore, Denzel Washington’s preview was very effective in his speech; “You have to take risks and I want to talk to you about why that’s so important. I have three reasons.” He laid out his reasons really clearly throughout his speech and expanded on why he chose those reasons to talk about. By using anecdotal evidence of those reasons, his argument was effective and appealing.

For my paradigm shift essay, I would like to explore the change in patient engagement in healthcare. There has been a huge decrease in physician centered models and an increase in patient-centered care. Healthcare providers have been trying to focus their attention more on the relationships they have with their patients and their patients’ satisfaction and overall outcome as opposed to the institutional needs of a healthcare system.

There are many reasons why this paradigm shift has occurred. First off, less people are becoming general practitioners and more people are specializing in certain branches of medicine. When a person has a problem or an illness now, they oftentimes have to consult a multitude of doctors as opposed to just one (Bardes). This in turn doesn’t allow for any kind of patient-provider relationship to form, detracting away from the effectiveness of the treatment or course of action. After all, the three things patients want from their healthcare providers are a personal relationship, communication, and empathy (Rickert). While this is only one of the reasons this shift has taken place, there are many other contributing factors as well: some indirect, some direct.  

My goal is to address the following questions in my essay:

• How has technology played a role in this paradigm shift?
• How has the lack of primary care physicians led to a decrease in quality of care and relationships between patients and providers?
• How have Urgent Cares impacted the paradigm shift?
• How has the implementation of HCAHPS affected the way hospitals approach healthcare and patient centration?

Preparing for the speech was successful and right up my alley. However, public speaking and delivery have always gotten the best of me.

I think that in terms of my outline and structure, I did a decent job organizing my speech in an understandable way; I started off discussing civicness first and and then broke it down into rhetorical features and ideologies, tying everything together. My transitions and preview were pretty good so I think that helped my audience stick with me even when I lost my words or circled around too much.  

In terms of content, I could have spoken about less rhetorical features/ideologies but delved deeper into them and analyzed them more meticulously. I found it difficult to capture my audience with the video ad since I was unable to show them the full ad and really point out specific moments of it that I was referring to throughout my speech. If I could go back, I would probably pick a poster in order to give my audience a better idea of what I am talking about in my speech.

When it came down to the actual delivery, I definitely could have improved in that aspect of the presentation. I was extremely nervous and lost my train of thought a couple of times, forgetting some key points I had gone over in my outline. I think if I had spent more time rehearsing in front of a larger crowd instead of by myself or solely with another person, my delivery would have been more fluid, conversational in nature, and my nerves would have gone down.

Overall, I think for my first extemporaneous speech, I did a decent job explaining my content, speaking in the allotted time, and organizing my speech in order to help my audience understand what I was talking about. My nerves were the one thing that hindered my message and caused me to repeat myself and speak less fluidly than I would have liked. However, that is something I can work on. Atleast now I know what area I have to focus more on when it’s time for my next speech or oral presentation.

I. Introduction

Discuss ideology of the Marine Corps→ A fighting spirit which extends past their military service…A determination and willingness to give everything up to serve their country and help others.

Underlying goal:  Ad is aimed towards women…Marines are looking to recruit women after years of sexist and misogynistic attitudes.

II. Thesis

This ad uses rhetorical features such as pathos, the commonplace of poverty in the U.S, and nationalistic and militaristic ideologies to convey to the intended audience (women) that they have what it takes to be a Marine and are able to make a difference in any setting whether it’s on the battlefield or in an everyday life situation.

Transition: Civic engagement is viewed from a nationalistic/militaristic perspective throughout this ad. Most of the ideologies are centered around military service and how it can benefit a variety of people and communities.

III. Civicness and engagement

A.) Ad shows woman giving back to her community even after military service

B.) Service for the U.S and the common good of the general population

C.) Becoming a Marine is a civic duty…giving back to your community

D.) A way to express your love and loyalty to this country

           1.) “The fighting spirit that needs to be fed”

Transition: Rhetorical features throughout the ad help better convey the message that military service is a civic duty and that women should consider giving back to their communities through service.

IV. Rhetorical features

A.) A chronological progression…Starts off as something small and turns into something bigger (at first there is a little girl fighting bullies and eventually it shows her becoming a Marine)

          1.) Small difference in small community→ huge difference on a much larger scale

B.) Uses pathos to encourage women to join

          2.) “It consumes fear, self-doubt, and weakness…it stands ready to protect those in danger”

C.) Visual effects→ dark through the tough times like standing up to the bully and fighting in the war but gets lighter towards the end when the woman helps the homeless man

V. Commonplaces and ideologies

A.) Those who are strong emotionally, physically, and mentally join the Marines

B.) People honor and respect people in the Marines

C.) Commonplace that bullying is bad and people shouldn’t be bystanders

D.) Commonplace that homelessness and poverty are prevalent issues in the U.S

VI. Conclusion

This ad encourages women to join the Marine Corps through the ideology that military service is a civic duty in the U.S and can be the gateway to helping/protecting others regardless of the setting.

The original artifact I will be using for my speech is the newest Marine ad which aims to recruit women. This ad can definitely be seen as a civic engagement artifact since it includes women and shows them that they can become a part of something much bigger than themselves. Regardless of sex, gender, race, ethnicity, a Marine is someone who is strong morally, emotionally, and physically. Marines are people who are patriotic, stay loyal to both their country and their peers, and ultimately work to protect others in the face of great danger.

The second artifact I will be using is an ad from the Suffragette Movement. The Suffragette Movement was a period of time between 1848 and 1920 in which women were denied one of the most fundamental and basic rights of a U.S citizen: the right to vote.

Although these two artifacts may seem different in many regards, they have similarities too. Both ads are centered around women and their civic duties as Americans. Women have the right to join the Marines, go to war, and fight for their country. Women also have the right to vote: the civic duty which not only has an impact in the political world but can also have the power to change the future of the U.S both socially and economically.

“Equal Suffrage”, My Paisley World

Both artifacts are aimed towards women, for women. They encourage civic engagement for the betterment of the country and use patriotism as their commonplaces in order to persuade women to engage in the acts portrayed. With the help of some other rhetorical devices, the messages in both artifacts become extremely clear and effective.

Bibliography:

History.com Staff. “The Fight for Women’s Suffrage.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2009, www.history.com/topics/womens-history/the-fight-for-womens-suffrage.

James Clark on May 12, 2017, and James Clark. “New USMC Recruiting Commercial Spotlights Women For The First Time.” Task & Purpose, 12 May 2017, taskandpurpose.com/new-usmc-recruiting-commercial-spotlights-women-first-time/.

I have always been passionate about fitness and have recently started training for triathlons.

Triathlon is unlike any other sport as it requires skills for three sports and integrates them into one event. It is physically challenging training for this sport, fueling your body with the proper foods, budgeting for equipment, but above all, getting started and involved with it in the first place.

I want to inspire those who are considering learning a new sport, passionate about fitness, or simply looking to break out of their comfort zones. My hope is to encourage people to “tri” it out and separate from their fears of “never being able to do it”.

There is a lot that goes into triathlon that many people are not familiar with. I would love to discuss training programs, nutrition, racing, and more. I would also love to share my own personal stories and hopefully show others that while starting may be daunting, it’s not about how you start or how you finish, it’s about the journey you experience along the way.

Triathlon blog inspirations: Cody Beals, Miranda Tomenson

Life Goals Blog has definitely taught me a thing or two about personal growth, wellness, and career. I loved the blogposts and found them to be genuine and inspiring. Although this blog was geared to people in their 20’s trying to figure out how to be successful in all aspects of life, a similar blog can be created for college students who are still trying to figure themselves out too. College students are faced with a multitude of decisions they have to make: choosing a major, getting involved with clubs/extracurriculars, forming relationships with others, becoming independent, and finding what they are passionate about. I think it would be interesting to document personal experiences and give others an inside view of my own life. My end goal is to tell others the story of how I eventually found my way both around campus and (hopefully) in college-life and beyond.

Twenge’s article “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation” discusses the many ways in which people today are harmed by the overuse of technology. Coming from somebody who has lost a close friend to depression, I truly believe that people must educate themselves and understand how crucial moderation is. Moderation, above all things, is what keeps technology from backfiring in ways that not only may affect somebody individually, but may also greatly affect those around them.

Although many people bring up the fact that interpersonal communication has nearly been wiped by the use of cellphones, they often times avoid the more serious and profound effects the abuse of cellphone use can bring, specifically to teenagers. When used excessively, smartphones can root a multitude of problems ranging from depression to a lack of independence.

Depression is not a mental health disorder that discriminates and therefore, it should not be overlooked. When reading about the use of social media, I found the correlation between social media use and depression completely startling. Twenge’s article states, “Eighth-graders who are heavy users of social media increase their risk of depression by 27 percent, while those who play sports, go to religious services, or even do homework more than the average teen cut their risk significantly.” Furthermore, “Teens who spend three hours a day or more on electronic devices are 35 percent more likely to have a risk factor for suicide, such as making a suicide plan.” These statistics should be enough to demonstrate the severe consequences which may arise from the abuse of technology. These statistics may also explain why Steve Job’s limited his own kids’ use of the devices he brought into the world.

Another thing that truly interested me was the idea that teenagers today have less responsibility and grow up at a much slower pace than their predecessors. Since our society today places a higher value on higher education than on early work history, many parents let their children stay home and study as opposed to encouraging them to work a part-time job. Although this arrangement was supposed to be beneficial, it often times backfired. Many kids who didn’t work and stayed at home to “study” didn’t actually put in the effort to do so, or they didn’t have enough substance to keep themselves busy. Situations like these led to leisure time, excessive cellphone use, and feelings of distress and loneliness. This original idea was supposed to be rewarding, but, in turn, a vicious cycle was induced. By replacing work experience for higher education, a change occurred in the values of American culture which impacted our generation and will impact those to come.

Bibilography

Twenge, Jean M. “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 4 Aug. 2017, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/09/has-the-smartphone-destroyed-a-generation/534198/.

Over time, the definitions or connotations of certain words may undergo changes. These modifications may take place for a variety of reasons; some of them are due to geographical differences, new innovations, or societal and environmental changes. The term “rhetoric” can be viewed as the paragon of semantic change and etymology development.

Although many orators and lecturers discussed the use of rhetoric and its direct definition, Isocrates was one of the most influential orators in classic rhetorics. Isocrates viewed rhetoric as a skill which “could come only with natural talent and the practical experience of worldly affairs that trained orators to understand public issues and the psychology of the people whom they had to persuade for the common good.” In other words, it was not used to increase one’s own power ruthlessly, but rather used as a tool by “properly gifted and trained men with developed consciences” to persuade and ultimately lead to human betterment (Thomas R. Martin).

The general idea of rhetoric hasn’t changed a great amount throughout the years, but, its application has. Andrea Lunsford, Professor of English at Stanford University, says, “we have seen a severe degradation of language, partly due to higher education’s shifting focus from the rhetorical (production of discourse) to the literary (consumption of discourse). It used to be that oral, visual, and written discourses were central to the university, but we became preoccupied with form rather than substance, with drills and corrections rather than meaning making” (Stewart, Mary). The rhetoric we encounter on a daily basis in the 21st century is also through a different medium. Since many people habitually use technology, specifically social media, to express their opinions, it would only be right to shift the educational values and allow students to present their ideas through a similar form. Instead of having them solely write essays, Lunsford argues that students should conduct research and write, but also consider ways in which they are going to present the information gathered. This way, students become more aware of the way language can be used to manipulate people, and learn rhetorical strategies appropriate to oral and multimedia deliveries of research today.

In the ancient times, rhetoric was mainly used for interpersonal communication and oratory, but, in today’s day and age, rhetoric must also be used through social media and the internet on top of the other two channels. As we continue to adapt rhetoric to our current world, we set a precedent for future generations to do the same. Although the definition of the word “rhetoric” may always have slight variations and ways of application, the root of the word will invariably remain as the enhancement of communication and creation of effective arguments.

Bibliography

“Ancient Greece.” Ancient Greece | CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking,

courses.lumenlearning.com/vccs-cst100-17fa/chapter/ancient-greece/. Accessed 28 Aug. 2017.

Edwards, Mike. “The Theory and Practice of Life: Isocrates and the Philosophers.” Notre

Dame Philosophical Reviews , 2012, ndpr.nd.edu/news/the-theory-and-practice-of-life-isocrates-and-the-philosophers/. Accessed 28 Aug. 2017.

Martin, Thomas R. . “An Overview of Classical Greek History from Mycenae to

Alexander: Isocrates on Rhetoric .” Perseus Digital Library www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0009%3Achapter%3D15%3Asection%3D18. Accessed 28 Aug. 2017.

Nordquist, Richard. “Here’s the Definition and Examples of Semantic Change (or Shift).”

ThoughtCo, www.thoughtco.com/semantic-change-words-1692078. Accessed 28 Aug. 2017.

“Semantic Change.” Universitat Duisburg-Essen: Studying the History of English,

www.uni-due.de/SHE/HE_Change_Semantic.htm. Accessed 28 Aug. 2017.

Stewart, Mary. “21st Century Rhetoric: Reflections on Andrea Lunsford’s Talk.” The

Wheel, 5 Feb. 2013, wheel.ucdavis.edu/2013/02/21st-century-rhetoric-reflections-on-andrea-lunsfords-talk/. Accessed 28 Aug. 2017.

Zazulak, Steffanie, et al. “How the English language has changed over the decades.”

Resources for English Language Learners and Teachers | Pearson English, 18 Apr. 2017, www.english.com/blog/english-language-has-changed. Accessed 28 Aug. 2017.

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