In Class: Thanksgiving break

Thanksgiving break is such a teaser.  While technically it is considered a "break" there is not really enough time to fully enjoy a breaks-worth of goodness when finals are coming so soon!  Over Thanksgiving break I got to spend some time with my family and friends, do lots of homework, and enjoy the beautiful San Diego weather.  I feel like Thanksgiving break is like a prepping period for winter break because it gives you a chance to make a list of all the things you wanted to do and didn't get to do because there was not enough time.

Unit III Proposal

We have chosen to address the topic of music piracy. We would like to enter this conversation because music piracy has recently become more prevalent than ever. With websites offering free music at the click of a mouse, it is easier and more affordable to download illegal songs than it is to obtain the music legally.

It is necessary that we spread awareness of the consequences associated with music piracy. Although there are positive aspects to free music downloads such as exposure, copyright infringement is punishable offense. It is common that students are unaware of the consequences that can range from lawsuits to large fines of millions of dollars.

Our audience will be traditional students currently enrolled in Texas Christian University, usually between the ages of 17 and 25. These students tend to be more thrifty than others because of the high cost of education. Students are often the most common offenders of these copyright laws. Most students own a laptop and have access to the internet making it easy to download illegally.

Ideas for genres/mediums:
- Daily Skiff Article
- Poster (mainly visual)
- Song

In Class:Reading

The reading talked about the power of visual arguments; images, fonts, and whitespace among other things play a big role in making an argument.  Using a sophisticated font, for example can make the audience view the text as being high class and serious while using a childish font can make the audience associate the text with fun or youth.  Logos are also strategically chosen; for example, McDonalds and the President of the United States have different logos that characterize the type of business/person they are.  The right visual elements can help to market your product, company, or just send the right message to the audience.

In Class: reading

From the reading I learned that is

job descriptions

In order to have a successful group it is imperative that everyone is on the same page.  It is important that everyone is organized, timely, and enthusiastic about doing their very best work at all times.  In the group, I will be responsible for bringing creative ideas and media relations.  Remley will be in charge of note taking and editing, while Axel will be in charge of technology resources.

In Class: Ideal group situation

An ideal group situation would be a group that is organized, punctual, professional, funny, and with Remley Johnson.  Group work has the potential to be so successful when members are effective with their time.  My ideal group would have a plan and take steps each meeting to reach that goal. My group members would be able to come up with original ideas, and work effectively to create a professional project. 

Unit 2 Proposal

Proposed topic: For this essay I am planning to analyze the argument surrounding the Miss USA beauty pageant, specifically the 2009 Carrie Prejean/Perez Hilton scandal regarding Prejean's views on gay marriage.  Prejean and Perez Hilton's differing viewpoints have caused quite a controversy, and as a result received publicity from major news networks, blogs, and tabloids. Due to the way the contest works, judges are allowed to award candidates with however many points they believe each candidate deserves; many say Perez Hilton took advantage of the situation and of Carrie Prejean's title.

Primary sources: I believe first hand accounts of the Miss USA pageant from various perspectives will be legitimate sources.  Also I think actual footage from the 2009 Miss USA pageant, Prejean and Hilton's twitter, and actual accounts from people who attended the event will serve as credible sources.

Why I chose this topic: I chose this topic because as a native San Diegan I feel connected to Carrie Prejean and care about the legitimacy of the competition.  Deserving or not, I feel that Carrie Prejean should not have had her score deducted because of her views on gay marriage.  I feel that Perez Hilton's motive for giving such a low score to Prejean was not to promote gay rights, but to promote himself and gain a larger fanbase for his blog.  It will be interesting to analyze different people's viewpoints and arguments to see what side has a more compelling argument, and how this links to how Americans make arguments as a whole.

In Class: Public Space

Starbucks truly is an urban territory; there is no stereotypical Starbucks customer.  Before analyzing this public space I expected Starbucks' targeted audience to be a mature, professional, coffee drinking, type of person, but in reality Starbucks caters to people of all ages and socioeconomic classes.
There isn't really a "typical" day at Starbucks either.  I mean there is a regular group of business professionals grabbing their early morning java or late night study groups cramming in the evening, but the people traffic in Starbucks is far away from monotonous. After going to the Hedgestone Starbucks Coffee Company many times, it has become almost entirely clear that Starbucks is appealing to almost everyone.

In Class: Experience with in Class Workshops

My experience with in class workshops has been mostly positive.  I like the idea of getting feedback on my work and hearing what other people say about my writing.  I think constructive criticism is awesome and I think good writers need to be open to other people's ideas.  However, I  hate getting feedback from people who don't know what they are talking about. I like to take other people's perspectives into mind, but I don't always go with everyone's advice if they are not credible.  For example, if Amanda had a suggestion to make about my paper I would gladly welcome the feedback, but if my little brother had some writing tips I would probably just ignore them.

In Class: new observation ideas

The question "what sorts of people work at Starbucks" was raised in my classmates feedback.  I find this question hard to answer because Starbucks baristas tend to be a very eclectic bunch.  If i had to generalize however, I would say that baristas are generally young, wearing black or white, and familiar with their product. The Starbucks Coffee Co. has some unique terminology, and knowing and understanding this lingo is key to working in that environment.  Customer service is key in customer satisfaction; I believe having good customer relations is making an appeal not only to ethos, but to logos and pathos as well.

In Class: observation

After spending some time at Starbucks it has become apparent to me that Starbucks is an accurate representation of out consumer culture.  Everything at Starbucks is aimed on gaining customers, making money, and expanding their customer basis.  Things like the "what's happening in your community" board, or the comfy chairs make hanging out at Starbucks appealing to the public, but what keeps customers coming? Is it the actual coffee, or the environment?  I still don't know the answer to this question, but most likely it is a mix of both.  Starbucks has loyal customers, but would they still make drinking Starbucks Coffee a habit if the environment was different?  It seems like Starbucks puts forth a lot of effort to make each branch a hip location to hang out in; as a result people feel comfortable, and are more likely to see the value in the products they sell.  For example, Starbucks sells the albums they play in the store.  They sell the drinks they advertise at the store.  Everything at Starbucks is an advertisement.  I am even an advertisement as I sit there and drink a cup of coffee...

unit one: ethos, pathos, logos

Startbucks Coffee company is definitely making an ethical argument.  Upon entering there is much evidence that starbucks is giving back to the global community.  There are buletine boards with "community news", ways to give back, and events happening in the neighborhood.  On a global scale, Starbucks advertises "free trade" coffee and that they are "going green" through their attempts to recycle.  Whether you see the economic irony of free trade, or believe that Starbucks is going to great lengths to help others, it is apparent that Starbucks is making an ethical argument.


Starbucks obviously makes many attempts to appeal to one's pathos;  great smelling drinks, warm paint tones, and trendy chill indie music are all evidence of Starbuck's attempt to appeal to one's emotion.  Starbucks offers the option of customizing one's drink, making everyone get the impression that Starbucks cares for you on an individual level.  Also, comfortable chairs, a coffeehouse environment, and the smell of coffee are all comforting to Starbucks' customers.  Starbucks goes the extra mile to make their customers feel at home.


Starbucks makes a logical appeal whether the customers realize it or not.  Most customers are either students, business professionals, or the general public.  Starbucks is logical in that it appeals to the general public.  After spending some time at Starbucks, I noticed that there are many people who come to Starbucks without even ordering anything.  This sounds peculiar, but it is true, Starbucks definitely makes an appeal to logos in that they are able to target such a large audience and get them to come in on such a regular basis.  

In Class: logos artifact

I brought in my calculator because I believe it makes a logical argument.  I associate logos with direct facts, statistics, and numbers.  If something is definite, it appeals to logos because it represents logic and a definite value.  While ethos represents credibility, and can often be bases on one' point of view, logos is definite.  Logos is right or wrong, just like with any math problem.  One's observations, written data, or anything that definite is not only powerful in an argument, but very credible in the sense that is is a fact.  Logos is for the most part, non-negotiable.

Unit I Proposal

For my Public Space Analysis  I am choosing the Starbucks at Hulen & Ledgestone, a place that is very familiar to me.   Starbucks is a place that I not only go to on an almost daily basis, but a place that caters to many different types of people.  Some go to Starbucks to relax and chat with friends over a cup of java, while Starbucks also caters to students busy cramming for tests.  This space is appealing to me personally because drinking coffee and studying are both important parts of my daily routine.  I chose this space because as a consumer, Starbucks appeals to me on many levels; obviously I love coffee but the music, culture, and global perspective of starbucks are also appealing to me. 

I anticipate experiencing something unexpected.  Starbucks is a public place and anyone is allowed to come in.  Not just "anyone" comes to Starbucks though; I hope to see people who aren't just coming in to grab their daily cup of java.  I hope to see something that you wouldn't expect to see at your average starbucks.

I believe I am definitely part of Starbucks' targeted audience;  If I am not, then Starbucks is really good at targeting the general public because I am a regular supporter of the company.  In reality though, Starbucks is targeting the general public.  Even people who are too young to appreciate coffee, or people who don't like caffeine have many options at Starbucks.  Besides, going to Starbucks isn't even all about consuming coffee or ordering anything from the menu.  Some people have meetings at Starbucks or even use Starbucks as a place to work on group projects. 

I am biased about Starbucks Coffee Company because I am already a habitual coffee drinker, however coming into the space with a different purpose besides studying and getting a caffeine boost can completely change the experience.  I plan on doing this assignment with an objective perspective because I want to overcome the temptation of conforming to the Starbucks Coffee culture.  

In Class: ethos artifact

I brought my glasses in because I believe they represent intellectual ability, and as a result bring about credibility.  People who wear glasses automatically appear more intelligent without actually being any smarter.  Some people wear glasses for purely cosmetic purposes, while other people actually need them to see.  Either way, there is really no correlation between wearing glasses and being smart; it is funny that it is common to associate a vision ailment with intellectual ability.  In this sense, I think it is ironic that in a sense credibility is derived from a disability.

In Class: understanding emotion

Understanding pathos is crucial in making an effective argument. Seeing other people's perspective and understanding how they will react to something is key in even selling something as basic as coffee at Starbucks. At Starbucks for example, there is normally music playing that inspires relaxation, drinks that give you that afternoon boost of caffeine, and baristas willing to collect your money.  The owners of franchises like Starbucks intentionally plan out all elements of their business; the music, culture, products, decorations, etc. in order to best appeal to their targeted audience and attract the most people possible.

In Class: pathos artifact

I brought in a picture of my little brother because he is a very special person in my life.  Looking at this photo evokes strong emotions because it reminds me of how much I miss the little guy, and of the good times we have had together throughout our childhood. My little brother lives in beautiful San Diego, California, so I only get to see him when I go home for breaks. While younger siblings are notorious for causing fights and being spoiled, my little brother is actually fun to be around, and someone who I enjoy hanging out with. From my perspective, this artifact is definitely making a pathos argument, however most people would probably just look at this picture and see a little kid.

BP commercial

Just like any argument, it is not always obvious to the reader that the author is doing some level of persuading.  In the BP video, BP attempts to show Americans that they are working to restore the economy, environment, and those affected by the oil spill by it’s use of, rogerian argument, argument to inform, and its arguments of the present, past, and future.

 This commercial appeals to the audience’s ethical and emotional side.  The native New Orleans narrator, sad music, and serious tone throughout the commercial work to not only inform the audience, but to touch on the audience’s pathos. 

The commercial appeals to the audience’s ethos by taking responsibility on the issue; BP admits they made a mistake, but takes responsibility by proving they are working to rebuild the economy.  By providing facts about the spill and taking responsibility of the situation, BP develops it’s argument to inform.  Admitting there is a problem and having a non-biased tone helps to take a rogerian perspective to BP’s argument; by seeming non partisan, the video does a good job of acknowledging both sides of the issue, even if they may be at fault for the original crisis.            

Additionally, the video encourages the audience to listen to the “shrimp workers, hotel employees, etc.” which works to built up credibility, or ethos.  This argument appeals to members of all economic classes by referencing extremes of the people who could have been affected.  Additionally the video effectively uses arguments of the past, present, and future by comparing present day with the past in an effort to improve the future.  BP is continually looking for ways to help; this is apparent in their goals to restore communities, the economy, and the environment.  They make a very logical argument by gaining the audience’s trust by stating BP “is going to be here until we make this right.”

This commercial alone is an affective argument; however American’s with outside knowledge would probably not see BP as the “helpful” corporation they appear to be in this ad.

           

In Class: Sbucks

I feel that starbucks coffee company would be an optimal location for this assignment. Not only does Starbucks sell a highly demanded good, Starbucks is a place for the community to come, hang out, chat, and enjoy themselves while they get addicted to overpriced drinks and turn this experience into a habitual habit.  I say this mainly because I am a victim of this coffee culture, and as I am writing this blog I am planning my next visit to Starbucks. Additionally, I can see that the founders of starbucks had some type of greater vision when founding their business.  Starbucks is unlike privately owned coffee houses, or even other successful coffee franchises like coffee bean. Going to starbucks is a unique experience that I hope to discover the secrets behind after spending time doing this assignment.

In Class:Sophomore Shenanigans

My first week of class has brought forth a mixture of emotions; happiness, tiredness, and a high level of stress.  While it is great to see my friends again, it is not as nice to see all of the homework that my courses have brought forth.  This week I have primarily been focused on completing assignments and coordinating the baby freshmen of my sorority.  While I really enjoy getting to know my new sisters, the work that comes with being New Member Coordinator is typically stressful and very time consuming. 
Academically, I have been enjoying my Foundations of Business class.  I feel that the skills we are learning are so pertinent in the professional sphere, and that sometimes the classes I take don't always seem to have that same level of legitimacy in the work force.

Intro Blog

My name is Erica Torgerson and I am a sophomore business major from San Diego, California.  I am passionate about learning new things; I see every day as a chance to discover and learn from other people.  I spend a lot of time playing, listening, and enjoying music.  I play the drums, guitar, uke, and am really obsessed with vintage vinyl and indie rock.
I chose to take this course because I truly have an interest in reading and writing.  I believe that writing has the potential to really impact people, and that a well written email or a convincing essay can be a powerful force.  I feel that this class is a good fit for me because my ultimate goal is to be a judge.  Being able to develop and argument and support my point of view is really important to me, and something I plan to do professionally.
I enjoy expressing myself through writing and primarily write in the form of emails, texts, and facebook messages.  While my jargon varies throughout these forms, my writing is always a reflection of my voice.
I believe everything has a point of view, and therefore everything has an argument.  Everyone has their own personal bias that is influenced by one's experiences, beliefs, and ideas shape our idea of what is true.  The purpose of an argument is to use evidence to support some level of truth, but depending on one's evidence or bias, the truth can appear different.  In this blog, I believe I am making the argument that everything is biased, and that a persuasive argument can change one's point of view. 
I have read, understand, and agree to the terms of the course syllabus, which I see as a contract for our course.