Post 12

According to Wardle (citing Wenger), what are the three ways that newcomers try to belong in a new community?
According to Wardle, citing Wenger, the three ways that newcomers try to belong in a new community are engagement, imagination, and alignment.

Give a specific example to illustrate each "mode of belonging." Then try to apply these terms to the discourse community you've chosen to study for Project 4.
Each mode of belonging is distinctly different than the others. Engagement is a mode of belonging because each individual in the community must interact with one another in order for the group to successfully grow, develop, and prosper. Imagination is necessary for newcomers to a community because they need to add something to the group in order to prove their value and worth to the community. Using the individual's imagination will allow them to develop new ideas, activites, etc. for the community. Alignment is a mode of belonging because the individual must fit in with the community. In order to fit in, they must abide by the community's regulations, customes, etc. just as the pther members of the community do.
My discourse community, my Fraternity Tau Kappa Epsilon, exemplifies these three modes of belonging. Each member of Tau Kappa Epsilon must constantly be engaged with not only the other members of the Fraternity, but also the surrounding communityy in order to grow, develop and prosper. Each member of TKE contributes to the community by using their magination in the formation of group meetings, projects with the school and the surroundng society, and functions such as parties and banquets. Each member must properly be aligned with the Fraternity as well. This is done by following the Fraternity's rules and guidelines in our everyday lives.

How do newcomers enculturate in that group?
Newcomers enculturate into the group by pledging. Each brother of TKE has gone through the pledging process in order to become an active member. Once a brother, each individual enculturates into the group by adding their opinions and ideas through things like Fraternal meetings, discussions via text messages, facebook, phone conversations, and engaging possible pledges for the next incoming class of brothers.

Post 11

John Swales created a list of six general characteristics to help define a group of individuals as a discourse community. I will describe each of these six characteristics and relate them to a discourse community I am involved in, my fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon.

1. A discourse community has a broad set of common public goals.

- Tekes live by the motto "Men of Love, Charity and Esteem." Therefore, our set of common public goals is to pursue these three characteristics in and out of our Fraternal life in everyday situations.
2. A discourse community has mechanisms of intercommunication among its members.

-Tekes have a hidden language. There is a way we communicate that is private to our organization alone. We also communicate through weekly meetings and projects, and through technology such as text messaging and our Facebook group.
3. A discourse community uses its participatory mechanisms primarily to provide information and feedback.

-Tekes share information and provide feedback in every meeting that is held. There is also discussions held on our Facebook page and the TKE homepage through nationals.
4. A discourse community utilizes and hence possesses one or more genres in the communicative furtherance of its aims.

-Tekes aim to communicate both in our organization and outside our organization when looking for members to pledge. We hold ourselves to high standards so that we are presented to others as proper gentlemen, I see this as non-verbal communication.
5. In addition to owning genres, a discourse community has acquired some specific lexis or terminology.

-There is numerous terminology that only members of TKE know. Some may think of these terms to be secrets, but realistically it is our history. Some terms that we use are common of the English language, but hold different meaning in our context.
6. A discourse community has a threshold level of members with a suitable degree of relevant content and discourse expertise.

-TKE is the biggest Fraternity in the nation. Each member is required to know a certain amount of content regarding our history, our present, and our future as The Fraternity.

Post 10

In "From Pencils to Pixels," Baron admits that "How the computer will eventually alter literacy practices remains to be seen" (439). Twelve years later, there are many changes we can discuss that have altered literacy practices. One huge change is the onset and availability of new technologies. Technology has improved drastically over the past twelve years, offering new opportunites for individuals to develop their literacy through computer programs, applications and networking. The availability of text and information on the internet also increases the modern world's literacy because of how easy it makes it to access information that would have been nearly impossible for an individual to gather years ago. Modern technology has completely reformed my literacy practices. Instead of reading a textbook, I find most of the information I need online through my laptop or my Ipad. Even in an oral aspect my literacy has changed with the times. The availability of cell phones and texting has drastically reduced to amount of face time I spend talking with other individuals.
Besides alphabetic writing, there are numerous types of "compusing" I find myself using on a daily basis. I use video nearly every day as a form of literature through programs such as Skype. Skype is a program that allows me to have a personal, face-to-face communication with my family and friends through webcams. Also, I frequently compose music on my guitar, bass, drums and piano. Although I do not use alphabetical writing when composing my music, I still create a piece of literature through developing the musical notes and stringing together a song.
Another form of literature I use that does not involve alphabetical writing is my photography. As the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words" and the pictures that I take are not exempt from this statement! I see photography as telling a story through images. A single photo can tell an individual more about a topic than a novel. It often just leaves the interpretation up to the beholder.

Post 9

A literacy event is defined by Heath as "any action sequence, involving one or more persons, in which the production and/or comprehension of print plays a role” (445). She believes that in order to have a better understanding and comprehension of the forms and functions of traditional orality and literacy in today's society as well as the connections between spoken and written language, one must examine the literacy events. Heath reaches the conclusion that more literacy events call for forms and uses of speech than reading and writing and that they often spend more time developing their oral communication skills, which better serve their daily needs.
In Trackton, Heath observes some of the literacy events amongst the children and the adults of the community. Heath says that children “achieve their meaning as communicators and their sense of their own worth as communicators through responses they obtain from their oral language, not in terms of response in a one-on-one siuation of reading a book with an adult” (462).
This is relative to Sherman's Superman and Me because it is a narrative that puts the reader in the perspective of Native Americans. It shares with the audience how Native Americans feel they are perceived by the rest of the world. The actions which effect this culture plays a role in the production and comprehension of the print.
Both of these readings connect perspectives of society with literature. The literacy events form a narrative just as the people in a society form a culture.

A Rhetorical Analysis of The Most Interesting Man in the World

Grant-Davie views a rhetorical situation as a situation where the speaker or the writer sees a need to change reality and sees that change may be effected through rhetorical discourse. He attempts to establish a thoroughly developed scheme for analyzing rhetorical situations by distinguishing the exigence, rhetor, audience and constraints demonstrated in the work. He believes that there is much value in learning how to establish a rhetorical situation."Exigence, rhetor, audience and constraints can interlace with each other, and the further one delves into a situation the more connections between them are likely to appear." (119) He reaches this conclusion after examining Loyd Bitzer's, Richard Vatz's and Scott Consigny's contrasting definitions of a rhetorical situation.
Gender roles and gender identities are clearly the matter of discussion demonstrated in this Dos Equis advertisement. Grant-Davie establishes three key questions one must ask themselves in their attempt to define the exigence: What is the discourse about? Why is it needed? and What should it accomplish? The exigence is that men, at times, have trouble at finding woman and talking to them. The exigence is also focused on man's strive for perfection.
The rhetor would be the Dos Equis man himself, aka "The man all men wish they could be like." Grant Davie believes that many solutions involve many rhetors at times, and that figuring out exactly who the rhetor is may not be as easy as we think or would like it to be. Ironically, I believe Dos Equis made this rhetor obvious to establish a commercial and a character that is just completely outrageous. Dos Equis is almost poking fun at other commercials that show "men being men" by saying "Our guy is the most manliest man in the world!"
Although Grant Davie believes that the characteristics that define audience are highly unstable, the audience for this advertisement is clear cut. This advertisement is intended to appeal to men. Specifically, these ads target men that are of legal drinking age. It focuses on the audiences' insecurities. There seems to be many negative constraints, or liabilities, in this advertisement.
Grant Davie believes that constraints can be anything or anyone, except the rhetor and the audience, that makes an audience member more or less likely to agree with a particular discourse. The legal drinking age could count as a constraint considering it creates limitations on who the advertisement targets and reaches out to. The saying is somewhat of a constraint as well because some people may not be able to comprehend it. "Happy hour is the hour after everyone from happy hour has left." Even those who do understand this statement could see it as a constraint because it comes across as arrogance. The statement places an image in the audiences' perspective that Dos Equis drinkers believe that they are better than the ordinary beer drinker. His appearance can come across as both a negative constraint and a positive constraint, an asset to the advertisement. Again, his fine suit along with his cigar in hand makes him seem almost arrogant and cocky. At the same time, his appearance can be seen as a form of credibility or ethos. A well dressed man, who seems to exhibit all of the luxuries in life, comes across as both knowledgeable and trustworthy. Another negative constraint is the fact that it only seems to target heterosexual men, not reaching woman and the gay community. Although women and homosexual men might be physically attracted to the Dos Equis man, the commercials appeal to the pathos of heterosexual men. This advertisement specifically demonstrates the appeal to the pathos of heterosexual men by the way the two women are completely enamored with his manliness, while he stares away from them seemingly waving off their attention. Personal taste and opinion of the audience is a constraint that is basically uncontrollable, but could turn people away from Dos Equis as well.

The argument the rhetor/creator of this ad is trying to make is that the Most Interesting Man in the World is "intelligent, well versed in the ways of the world, detached, experienced, irresistible to females, physically capable and ultimately, a high class non-American that seems to be worlds apart from the average Budwiser drinker." The rhetor/creator of the visual wants the audience to desire to be like the Dos Equis man/with the Dos Equis man. They want the audience to think that he is what all men want to be and who all women want to be with. They give Dos Equis' drinkers this delusion of granger that by drinking Dos Equis they are desirable.

The "Most Interesting Man in the World" campaign exemplifies all three rhetorical strategies: Logos, Ethos, and Pathos. Logos is simply an appeal to the logic of the audience. It is prevalent in this ad because it tries to make the audience assume that logically if you drink Dos Equis you will live the unbelievable life of the Dos Equis Man. Ethos is simply an appeal to the reputation and the credibility of the main character that is the focus of this ad. The Most Interesting Man in the World's reputation and credibility is developed through his appearance as well as numerous commercials shown on television. In these ads and commercials he is seen as a lady’s man, tough guy, party animal, and an all around admired person over and over again, building his credibility to consumers. RhetorsEquis man and think, "If he can do all this, why couldn't I?" Every human wants to be loved and adored, and almost every human feels as though they have a higher calling and wish they could experience more in life. This ad triggers these emotions subconsciously, rather the audience realizes it does or not.

I believe that this ad is somewhat successful considering how recognizable the Dos Equis man has become and the reputation this ad has made for the company. As far as it's popularity is concerned, I never even heard of Dos Equis prior to the beginning of this campaign. If you ask someone about the reputation of Dos Equis, they will almost immediately respond with an answer regarding the Most Interesting Man in the World ads.

References

Grant-Davie, Keith. "Rhetorical Situations and Their Constituents." Writing about Writing. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2011.119. Print.

""Most Interesting Man in the World (Happy Hour)" Print Ad for Dos Equis Beer by Euro Rscg Worldwide-new York." Creative Advertising & Commercials Archive. Awarded Ads Database. Web. 06 Feb. 2012. http://www.coloribus.com/adsarchive/prints/dos-equis-beer-most-interesting-man-in-the-world-happy-hour-11012255/.

"Dos Equis’ Most Interesting Man Sports Manliness in the Traditional Sense « Megafauna." Megafauna. Web. 06 Feb. 2012. <http://alexanderarmero.com/2011/02/28/dos-equis-most-interesting-advertisement-male-identity/>.

Post 8

A Literacy sponsor explains how larger economic and social forces impact the development of an individual’s literacy. One of Malcolm X's literacy sponsors was a man named Elijah Muhammad, the leader of Nation of Islam, who created a United States mailing campaign that gave money to prisoners that would write a one page letter to him. A prison educational program at that time provided the tools for prisoners to learn how to read and write. Therefore, his other sponsors were the prison workers along with the family members that visited him. On a side note, it is also known that Malcolm X copied an entire dictionary while in prison because of his fascination with learning and words. His socioeconomic conditions contingent on race and class determined his access to sponsors because of how limited his opportunities were to contact sponsors and to communicate with them. Malcolm X's literacy sponsors constrained and negatively impacted his literacy acquisition because he they were also limited in their abilities and honestly could only do so much to develop Malcolm X's reading and writing skills. Also, I could not see the educational system in a prison caring too much about furthering prisoners educational abilities. Prison wardens along with guards probably would not be too happy about an African American prisoner being educated in their prison system. It is a shame that racism was so prevalent in our country's history. It can still be seen, especially in our prison system, across our nation till this day. Malcolm X is a great example of an individual that had the will to strive and succeed against all odds and can serve as a role model for individuals of all races.

Yeah... Rough Draft

Gender Roles/Gender Identities are clearly the matter of discussion demonstrated here. The exigence is that men, at times, have trouble at finding woman and talking to them. The exigence is also focused on man's strive for perfection. The rhetor would be the Dos Equis man himself, aka "The man all men wish they could be like." The audience is men in general. Specifically, these ads target men that are of legal drinking age. It focuses on the audiences' insecurities. The legal drinking age could also count as a constraint. The saying is somewhat of a constraint because some people may not be able to comprehend it. The fact that it only targets heterosexual men creates a constraint not reaching woman and the gay community. Personal taste and opinion is a constraint that turns people away from Dos Equis as well.

The argument the rhetor/creator of this ad is trying to make is that the Most Interesting Man in the World is intelligent, well versed in the ways of the world, detached, experienced, irresistible to females, physically capable and ultimately, a high class non-American that seems to be worlds apart from the average Budwiser drinker. The rhetor/creator of the visual wants the audience to desire to be like the Dos Equis man/with the Dos Equis man. They want the audience to think that he is what all men want to be and who all women want to be with. They give Dos Equis' drinkers this delusion of dranger that by drinking Dos Equis they are desirable.

The "Most Interesting Man in the World" campaign exemplifies all three rhetorical strategies: Logos, Ethos, and Pathos. Logos is simply an appeal to the logic of the audience. It is prevalent in this ad because it tries to make the audience assume that logically if you drink Dos Equis you will live the unbelievable life of the Dos Equis Man. Ethos is simply an appeal to the reputation and the credibility of the main character that is the focus of this ad. The Most Interesting Man in the World's reputation and credibility is developed through his appearance as well as numerous commercials shown on television. In these ads and commercials he is seen as a lady’s man, tough guy, party animal, and an all around admired person over and over again, building his credibility to consumers. I found the campaign’s use of pathos very interesting, sneaky even.  Pathos is simply an appeal to the audience's emotions. This ad attempts to connect to the audience emotionally by making the audience feel as though they need to feel loved, needed, affiliated and respected. It also makes the audience feel as though they should be doing more with their life. They see the Dos Equis man and think, "If he can do all this, why couldn't I?" Every human wants to be loved and adored, and almost every human feels as though they have a higher calling and wish they could experience more in life. This ad triggers these emotions subconsiously, rather the audience realizes it does or not.

I believe that this ad is somewhat successful considering how recognizable the Dos Equis man has become and the reputation this ad has made for the company. As far as it's popularity is concerned, I never even heard of Dos Equis prior to the beginning of this campaign. If you ask someone about the reputation of Dos Equis, they will almost immediately respond with an answer regarding the Most Interesting Man in the World ads.