Taylor Swift

After reading the article on Taylor Swift last week I feel that my opinion of her and her music has not changed. I really like Taylor Swift both as a person and as an artist. I know that her music is simple, sweet, and "tired", but that's what I like about it. Anyone who thinks they could do better than Taylor is just kidding themselves. Taylor was not handed a music career on a silver platter. Sure, she came from a wealthy family that supported her, but she worked very hard to get to where she is today. She made something out of herself just like we all are trying to do.
I like Taylor's music because it reminds me of old times back in high school, and about all of the fun and innocent times I had with my friends. I like remembering these things, and thus I like Taylor's music. When music creates memories or triggers emotion in a person, it doesn't matter who the artist is or the level of aristry of the musician. Music is about passion and allowing yourself to connect with others through a common emotion. I think Taylor, Lady Gaga and Beyonce equally do this well.
As far as the charts I think they definitely added to the argument of the author. It was a very clever strategy to incorporate imagery to support the point of view. It made it almost impossible for the reader to overlook. The charts definitely got my attention, and I can honestly say when I heard a Taylor Swift song after seeing the chart I did start counting the Trucks and the Tears...

Pathos, Logos & Ethos

I think that the use and need of rhetoric often depends on the type of essay one is writing. When I read pursuasive papers or personal narratives, I like to see both an equal balance of emotional and logical appeal (logos, pathos). However, when I read a research paper I like to see the authors argument mainly supported by facts, or logos. Personally, I feel I really relate to authors who focus more on the emotional rhetoric like in the article "a president like my father". This type of writing captivates my attention and allows me to easily identify with or against the author. I think that in both my "Into the Wild" and "American Literature" essays I focused on a balance of the three: pathos, logos and ethos. I tried to accomplish this in my papers by addressing the naysayers, choosing certain diction, and using quotes that support my argument and show my purpose. I think that a balance of all will also have a greater appeal to a wider audience of readers.

Chris McCandless

I don't believe my opinion of Chris has changed since writing my essay, or after being 2/3 of the way through the novel. I am a fairly stubborn person and when I make a judgment about something I tend to stick with it. I truly believe, or rather want to believe that Chris was a good person, whose intentions were not to die in the wild. Chris was a romantic who had dreams and ambitions different than his peers. So who is to say that he was crazy to follow them, when we ourselves are following our own dreams? I think Chris was different, which is why no one really knows the reasoning behind his actions. Nevertheless I think for now I will always see Chris in a positive light-- as someone to be admired for his bravery, determination, and goals. Perhaps if I read this novel again when I am older, or even as we begin to analyze it more in class, my opinion will change.