TOW #13- visual text

A problem that has been considered controversial is the one of climate change, especially during this election when some people (Donald Trump) have denied that it is real. This visual text aims to show people who do believe in global warming how ridiculous those who don't believe are, as a way to make fun of them.
In the image is a bird with its head stuck in the ground, which shows that the deniers are hiding from the problem. However, the bird is being cooked, which shows that while they are hiding, they are still affected by it and should be more concerned.
This image is low-key directed at those who do not believe as well. It is a way to show them how incredible unreasonable they are being by denying climate change. Perhaps the fact that the bird resembles a chicken means that they are scared- scared of the fact that our planet is changing for the worse and we need to do something about it.
The goal is to spread awareness of climate change, to prove that it's real and needs to be dealt with. The author is Nick Anderson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning American syndicated editorial cartoonist whose cartoons typically present liberal viewpoints. While he does focus on portraying issues from a liberal perspective, this is an issue that affects liberals and conservatives and everyone in between.
I think that this is an effective visual text. The way it not so subtly singles out global warming deniers quickly proves what it is trying to get across to its audience right away. The message is clear, and the purpose is evident, which makes it all the more effective.

Vocab #6

Finagle
My guess: mess around
Definition: obtain (something) by devious or dishonest means
Context: on the board of my study hall room
History: 1925-30, Americanism; finaig- (variant of fainaigue)
Connotation: neutral

Ballyhoo
My guess: nonsense
Definition: extravagant publicity or fuss
Context: APUSH
History: 1830-40, Americanism; of uncertain origin
Own Sentence: During the election, the ballyhoo was beginning to get out of hand as riots began to break out.

Laud
My guess: praise
Definition: praise (a person or their achievements) highly, especially in a public context
Context: Church
History: 1300-50; (v.) Middle English lauden < Latin laudāre to praise, derivative of laus (stem laud-) praise; (noun) Middle English laude, back formation from laudes (plural) < Late Latin, special use of plural of Latin laus praise
Connotation: Neutral

Pragmatic
My guess: problematic
Definition: dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations
Context: APELC
Mnemonic device: pragmatic sounds like practical
Connotation: Neutral

Pantheon
My guess: shrine
Definition: a temple dedicated to all the gods
Context: APUSH
Own Sentence: Should Andrew Jackson be included in the pantheon of the greatest presidents?
Connotation: Neutral

Equivocate
My guess: to make equal
Definition: use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself
Context: Douglass
History: 1375-1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin aequivocātus, past participle of aequivocāre
Connotation: Neutral

Trans

My guess: change

Definition: across

Words: transatlantic, transgender, transform, transcribe, transfer

Inter

My guess: within

Definition: between

Words: Intertwine, interactive, internal, intercept, interject

Facio, Factum

My guess: to bring

Definition: make, do

Words: facsimile, facile, feasible, efficacious

Octo

My guess: eight

Definition: eight

Words: octopus, octagon, octosyllabic, octuplet, octane

TOW #12

She Said Yes, Misty Bernall

The Columbine shooting is one of the most famous school shootings in American history, claiming the lives of 14 students and one teacher, and injuring 21 others. Cassie Bernall was one of the unfortunate victims of the tragedy, shot as she was hiding under a table. Right before the shooters fired their guns, they asked Cassie if she believed in God. Her last words were, "yes," before she was killed. This book reflects upon her troubled life and how she turned her life around to become the person she was before she died.
She Said Yes was written by Cassie's mother, Misty Bernall. She writes for parents, hoping "that this book would be read by parents who recognized the need to be more actively involved in their children's lives." But young people from all over the country have been "the most vocal about the impact of Cassie's life."
Something important that Bernall does is utilize anecdotes to share who the real Cassie was, not the ideal version of her daughter. She writes about how Cassie hung out with a bad group of kids, worshipped Satan, and defied her parents and fought with her brother frequently. These stories are important because they show the significance of how Cassie managed to turn her life around. Had Bernall only shared the good parts of her daughter, the purpose of the book would not have been achieved, and none of the readers would have been as affected as they are with the chosen anecdotes in the book.
So far, I am really enjoying this story. I like to read about tragedies, and things like this really interest me. I also feel like I'm able to see a connection between Cassie and my sister, which makes the book much more important to me. My sister used to be in a bad place, but some events occurred where I realized how lucky I am to have her, and she is really different now for the better. Fortunately for me, I didn't have to lose my sister to realize this, and this book reminds me how lucky I am.

TOW #11

Thomas Paine

The American colonies were fed up with Britain's taxes and unfair treatment, and in an effort to convince the colonists to fight for independence, Thomas Paine wrote the Common Sense. Paine wanted to appeal to all Americans, and this is evident through his word choice. Paine writes in simple terms so that even the uneducated colonists could understand it. And it's called Common Sense, as if it must make sense to everyone, even the most common people.
Paine uses persuasive figurative language in order to convince the Americans that they should fight for independence from the British. He writes, “if being bound in that matter, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth” (Paine 108), comparing the colonists to slaves though a  metaphor. This puts into perspective how badly the Americans are being treated, and why they should revolt.
Payne also alters his diction so that it is simpler and less formal. He says, "It matters not where you live, or what rank of life you hold, the evil of the blessing will reach you all” (Paine 109) This appeals to everyone, and it does so in a way that even the most common man could understand it. This helps him gain a wider audience and maintain their understanding.
I think that Paine was able to achieve his goal. Mostly because looking back at history, his Common Sense was so influential and we are able to see what it did to the Americans. It helped give them the extra nudge they needed towards revolution.
Paine is a credible source; he was an English-American political activist, theorist, and philosopher. He was one of the few educated colonists around this time. This is part of why the Americans listen to him. This paired with the unfair treatment of the British shows why the Revolution happened.