Aaron's Paper 2
From Mizzou Wiki
Times have changed and students have changed along with them. How can people illustrate their student lives to the world? The Wesch video, which was created at Kansas State university, is a prime example of how higher education may ask a little much of a person. The present student may go through more than expected behind classes and in their real life. Wesch brought up many great issues that all affect the average student. People fail to see the issues that a young student has in his or her life. Maybe class and technology asks much, maybe not. The issues that were illustrated in the video are the connection between money and the education span of a student, the loss of interpersonal connection, and lastly the issue of the school's expectations of the student. Wesch hit hard on these issues so people can finally realize whats going on. This video actually depicts the student of today, but how are they connected.
The average college student pays 9,000 dollars at a four year college annually. The average household income is no more than 48,000 dollars. Though 13% fall below poverty level and over 20% of the house holds make under 20,000 dollars a year(U.S. Census Bureau, www.census.gov) . Once again as Wesch was trying to prove, college has forgotten the life behind the curtains. There are expenses, bills, food, and luxury that all must be paid and many can't afford, not just in the U.S., but all around the world. And it has been like this for many decades. In the video Wesch used the statistic that the price of a laptop costs more than many make in a year. The video also uses the statistic that many kids are greatly in debt after their degree is obtained. Why does college tuition cost so much for an education? This is one of the big issue of today in our schools, but many can't answer this question, the only known fact is that tuition is increasing at a fast rate. And now as expenses go up, the supplies necessary for school also goes up. You almost have to have a laptop to go to college now due to the requirements for classes such as constant emails, daily online assignments, and constant access, and this only spends more of my money. Which leads to the second big issue in school now.
The "distant" education, where students barely interact with their teacher, is what separates students from their classrooms. The statistics used by Wesch were by average, only 18% of students' teachers know their name and one has even had an average class of 128 people. There are many factors that help a student become successful and one of them is a relationship to ones teacher. A more personal environment in class is a great way for students to exceed, but that connection has been lost over the years. The computer has been the basis for all types of education and work and the running of general classes now. During the video it shows by average, one student had to write over 500 emails pertaining to class. This shows how it is hard for a student to speak to their teacher for help on a more personal basis. How far has technology gone in school, and how far will we let it take us? We do gain much from technology, though we lose in some cases, much more.
The expectations of classes has also increased. The simple planning or daily scheduling may not cut it any more. There is sleep, eating, jobs, relaxing, studying, and class that must be taken care of all in one day. It showed in the video that many of these day to day errands and duties add up to be more that just 24 hours, but actually over 26 hours necessary in our day to keep up. That is impossible to accomplish, thus leading to time cuts to certain duties and obligations that would have helped, but now can only hurt a student if were cut. Every change can be displayed as a double edged sword. If I get less hours of sleep, I'll be less motivated or energetic in class, if I cut work hours down to get studying in, I lose money, and vice versa. There just isn't the time of day to do many of the things required in my day. It's as if teachers want their student to be totally class based which can be possible, but definitely not logical. Wesch's video is determined to make a change to this issue.
These issues definitely can relate to any student, but these issues relate to me very much. Me, coming from a single parent family and seeing how hard it can be to deal with college, work, and simply life in general. I see what people take for granted everyday and that is why i know people have failed or have forgotten to see the problems of students. These problems are not new, they always have been here and it's surprising that only in the past years have they surfaced for people to understand. I'm not going to say that all of these problems pertain to me, but a little of each does effect me and every student, if they realize it now or not. This leads to how the understanding of these issues is based off the cultural competency of each and every person.
Some say that cultural literacy helps you understand or comprehend each culture, which means it must be cultural competency that means more than just understanding. I believe cultural literacy only helps a person with comprehending the actual means of conversation of a culture. It's cultural competency that makes a more round person and this is the focus of the video. If someone has cultural competency than they do more than just understand a culture, but actually appreciate the culture.If the audience was more cultural competent, they would feel more obligated to make a change because they can feel for the student. Someone who has lived in our shoes or has lived in our culture is a step ahead of the next man, which is what makes one cultural competent. This video was directed at a cultural competent audience and also aimed towards those who aren't cultural competent, to enlighten them.
Many of the problems of school were pin pointed in Wesch's video and were displayed in a strong unique way that was interesting to the audience. The video very abrupt,by mentioning problems straight forward, though subtle, by not overwhelming the crowd, created a sign to all. Though the video had a preferred audience, Wesch's video was directed to all. Anyone can make a change. This video really opened the eyes of many and showed us things that we wouldn't even believe. This video was a signal to not just an audience outside of the students, but pointed towards them also. All can learn from this video and Wesch chose a great way to illustrate his thoughts.
Wesch's video on college issues have reached many people. Though, it was not by chance or luck that his video has gotten so far. The way Wesch created the video was well planned and arranged to get to the people in a certain manner. Wesch used one of the best rhetorical methods--the stance isn't really a "method", it's a way of describing what he's doing-- in his video on purpose. He used rhetorical stance which his video on purpose--?--. He used rhetorical stance which is based upon the audience that his argument was directed to, than the actual argument itself, and one of the main points is the tone and style he displayed his message in.--revise this sentence-- This type of rhetoric must be well thought out. The video itself is based on this rhetorical stance.--it is?-- And rhetoric is what makes the video more clear or cohesive. What rhetorical stance does, is arrow the broad idea of his message in the idea, and easily transforms it to be expressed to your particular audience, and with to, you know exactly ho to express your thoughts in the best way, and the finest part is the argument falls in.
--this is really confusing. I see the key words, but they're not put together in clear ways.--
What Wesch seemed to have done was finding out exactly what he wanted be known to those who watched the video. He had all the problems in the video displayed, but only the ones that worked best. He chose stats that show how students need financial help and how we may be overwhelmed with school work. He carefully chose this argument because these are the most important and the most relevant to talk about. Wesch's argument is well backed up because he chose serious issues that many can easily see. The points express meaning and so they will be able to make a change to the ways our schools are now. Mainly he chose the argument to be displayed to his audience.
--still--
A writer speaker, producer, anyone with a message, can never forget what--purpose? or "who"?-- they're doing it for. The audience is who determines the success of what Wesch was trying to convey. Every move that Wesch took, he probably had his audience in mind. In Rhetorical Stance, and audience needs to be always kept in mind. "Because he has not led to see a question which he considers worth answering, or an audience that could possibly care on way or the other, the paper is worst than no paper at all."(Wayne C. Booth) This can be easily transitioned to Wesch's video. He must have looked at the questions and displayed as many of them as possible. Wesch answered these questions in his video, which led to more questions by the audience. Though these questions were different, such as what can we do? and how can we change this? An audience left with these questions in mind, means Wesch has successfully mastered the audience section of his rhetorical method. Wayne C. Booth later says"unless the student discovers a desire to say something to somebody and learns to control his diction for a purpose, we've gained very little." This is exactly what Wesch has done, he had a specific purpose to the audience and a great delivery.
--again, this would work really well, if it were written more clearly--
One of the most important factors of a statement is the tone or style of the argument. When one speaks to the audience and tries to convey a point, the point is only as strong as your argument, and your argument is only as strong as your style you choose to deliver it in. Anyone can display a message in any way, but if they don't say it in a manner for it to be actually heard and acknowledged, than there was no point at all. An argument can only go so far, the points you chose to support are by material and the points you chose, but how do you expect your audience to really appreciate your argument if you don't display it in a style that hits home with your argument. The style you chose must relate to your argument so the style must change for every argument which is why this must be the most important part of your whole purpose. "Well, Rhetoric is the art of persuading."(Wayne C. booth)--this quote seems dropped, rather than "used"-- And how does a speaker persuade his listeners without a tone that touches them? As you can see Wesch chose his style carefully because he knew it would would be the prime persuasion in his video. The shaking camera, the jumping from sign to sign, all put a different effect on us watchers, if we know it or not. To make the most effective argument would be master the style and tone that you speak to the audience in. "Our mandate would seem to be, then, to lead more of our students that were now do to care about and practice the true arts of persuasion.
Finally, Rhetorical stance is truly perfected if it is balanced. Balancing your statement with all of these points may be the most difficult part of all.
--? there's no conclusion. You've hit some of the points, but this doesn't come across as part of the argument for the paper...--
