In the book “The Paradox of Choice” by Barry Schwartz; Chapter 1, we can see how he explains “A Day at the Supermarket” and how he’s faced with so many options that seem to be never ending.Schwartz goes on and explains, “A typical supermarket carries more than 30,000 items”. When we think about it literally, that’s a whole bunch of items, but what Schwartz says next is even more interesting. He goes on to rephrase his earlier statement by adding, “And More than 20,000 new products hit the shelves every year, almost all of them doomed to failure”. Why is it that so many new items are just coming out to be a total disappointment? Well.. it’s definitely not my area of expertise, but I’m willing to bet that the products that do end up being successful end up staying at the store completely while the new items coming in are given chances to see if those items would end up blowing up in popularity for sales.

So what this says about all those items is that it’s a marketing strategy. A strategy where marketplaces as such test multiple new items to see which become popular to keep within the stores, while the others doom in failure. There’s no actual solutions for these products that doom, but rather for them to learn. Obviously the known brands hold all the power as their products are the first to likely be sold. Some implications of this would be that those less likely known brands wouldn’t get the same amount of attention and would get all the fame taken away even though they could be almost the exact same thing, but simply just the different brand. After all, as Schwartz goes on to explain, “Supermarkets are unusual as repositiories for what are called “nondurable goods,” goods that are quickly used and replenished”. 

So in conclusion, a day in the supermarket may overwhelm someone with so many choices, but at the end people will buy products that cost more money as they’re most likely to be guaranteed that fresh sensation, flavor, calories, and fat. Pretty much exactly what Schwartz would say, “But in most other settings, people are out to buy things that cost more money, and that are meant to last. No one wants to buy something that’s gonna end up being cheap and a waste of money or especially something that isn’t gonna last. Even if it’s a couple bucks more, people are willing to buy the bigger, better thing.

In an article “The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food” by Michael Moss, they go over junk food and its science behind addiction. They go on to explain that today one in three adults are clinically considered obese. That being in mind, they also explained that one in five kids, and 24 million Americans are afflicted by type 2 diabetes. It’s no surprise knowing those kinds of statistics, especially in todays date. There’s multiple or actually tons of fast food chains that are growing today and are going to continue. 

People who don’t watch what they eat and continue to have a poor diet are often diagnosed with pre-diabetes. As stated in the article, “79 million people having pre-diabetes” specially caused by poor dieting. It’s not just diabetes, but many other health risks that can be gained from poor dieting. Health risks such as Heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, osteoarthritis, and breathing problems! Food addiction is real, but can be easily stopped if you decide to actually stop and change up your diet. 

Reading deeper into the article in “Lunchtime Is All Yours”, we can see that there was a campaign that targeted mothers who were often too busy to make lunch for their kids. So, Kraft made a marketing strategy that played an ad after cartoons were done playing for their product named “Lunchables”. It carried out a message that said, “All day, you gotta do what they say,” the ads said. “But lunchtime is all yours”. My reaction to this is just straight disappointment, because the nutritional value on these lunchables are horrible. I’m pretty sure everyone knows what a lunchable is, but it’s not something that should be eaten every single day as it contributes to obesity today.

What this says about food addiction is true. There’s many Americans who love junk food and especially kids. The obesity rate just continues to raise every year especially with kids nowadays. Although, there is solutions to this, many people choose to just simply ignore them. As simple as it may sound, it would cause a huge difference in todays society. A simple change to your diet can change the obesity rate within this country. Fast food chains have in the power within this society as they’re mainly responsible for obesity and many of the health risks today. Fast food chains continue to produce and exploit consumers to their product and target multiple people who don’t have enough time to prep and cook meals. This takes advantage of it’s consumers with their quick expertise in it’s program to deliver it’s product as soon as possible to the customer, where the customer then can eat their food within a waiting period of under 5-10 minutes.

In the end, is junk food really all that addicting? Some people may say yes, while others say no, but in the end it all comes down to decision making and choices. Obesity isn’t something that’s naturally given, but rather something that is done with your decisions. No person in this world is born obese, but all that can simply be changed by changing their dieting routine. A lot of people just start thinking, ” why not”, and that just builds up more and more, eating bad for one day is not going to hurt you but all that just keeps adding up if you eat the same way.

Visual Analysis

Many people have always been against smoking and everyone should know that any type of smoke is bad for your lungs no matter what no matter who it is. The ones that most affected by smoking is the people that get the second hand smoke. Smoking never just hurts the people that are smoking it hurts the people around you in your house hold.

As it says at the bottom of the picture, ” Smoking isn’t just suicide. It’s murder”. Which is very self explanatory but goes a long way the more you think about it and was made by Chilean Corporation Against Cancer that researchers about second hand smoking. This is a simple picture really to most people they would say, its just a kid that surrounded by smoke and its hurting him, but its way more than that if people would just take a second and actually look at analyze the picture. The main focus of this should be the background of the picture its all blacked out saying that no one really looks at the children and how its not only hurting adult but their whole family without them knowing that its actually suffocating ones child. Even just a little bit of smoke can really do harm to children’s lungs it can be the cause to many different health complications in the future for them.

In the picture if you look closely where is says, “Smoking isn’t just suicide, its murder”. It’s written inside a cigarette to symbolize where it’s coming from not just are you killing yourself by putting all these toxic chemicals in your body but everyone around that inhales that smoke is just thousands of harmful chemicals in your body. The smoke even makes the shape of a bag over the child to make it look like he’s getting suffocated by the bag of smoke which does happen with plastic bags it can actually suffocate you.

The ad could be changed and still have the same message. There could be a luscious landscape and have a child with his parents playing and running around in the background. Everything in the background will be bright and beautiful. In the foreground, there will be a pack of cigarettes in the trash. Everything in the foreground will be dark and dim. 

Overall, the ad is very simple with only a few elements shown but it speaks so much more. The usage of the lighting and the dark black background to give all the focus to the child. The caption that states “Smoking isn’t just suicide. It’s murder” inside of a box that looks like a cigarette that emphasizes the caption greatly. It all ties together to show the damages smoking can do to oneself and the people around them.

Now and days kids understand more and more on how horrible cigaret smoke is but even with all these advertisements people have changed to Juuls or vaping that still has chemicals that still harm you and still get you addicted. Thats the way they need to make these advertisements and not just post them on build boards or TV commercials, they need to be put on social media platforms like Youtube like twitter huge platforms to get messages across.

“As A Result” Connecting the Parts: They mention that when writing a sentence to think of each sentence as having arms that could reach back and forward as this would establish a connection that would improve writing to become more smoother. They explain the use of transitions and what they are and how important they play a role in a sentence. A transition not only will help you connect your sentences and paragraphs, but it’ll mark the exact kind of connection that you’d like to make. Also, while keeping in mind that a transition is always placed near the beginning of a sentence. They go on to explain other ways to connect parts of an argument and they did by using pointing words. For example, they mention that to either point or refer back to a concept from a previous sentence by using the common usual pointing words. Finally, but not least, they explain a technique that involves repeating yourself, but with a different approach. Repeating yourself with a different approach would avoid making your text sound monotonous and would allow you to keep connecting parts of your argument to keep it moving forward establishing connections throughout your sentences.

What I learned: I learned that how to successfully repeat myself. I didn’t really know how successfully repeat myself as I would normally just explain the same idea over and over again. I now know that in order to repeat yourself, you have to approach it in a different way while maintaing the same idea to avoid sounding monotonous.

“You MEAN I CAN JUST SAY IT THAT WAY?” Academic Writing Doesn’t Mean Setting Aside Your Own Voice: They begin by explaining that the goal of this chapter is to counteract a common misconception and that being the straightforward, everday language that we use everyday that make us sound stupid. They explain that in order to impress our teachers, we need write in a way that is harder to understand while setting aside that everyday language/voice. They mention that translating academicspeak into everydayspeak would allow our mind to function as a thinking tool and to allow us to go beyond and discover new things. They also went to say that when using everyday language to talk even on a draft, those who critique your work would shine a bright light on your writing to expose it’s strength and weaknesses. FInally, they explain when it’s acceptable to use everydayspeak and academicspeak. For example, the slang and questionable grammar that many people use can still be used, but perferably not applying for a job or submitting a proposal. They explained it best to simply just go with the “standard” English.

What I learned: When choosing what to write, that I shouldn’t feel limited to what I’m saying, but rather having a combination of both everydayspeak and academicspeak or simply one over the other would be just fine.

“BUT DON’T GET ME WRONG” The Art of Metacommentary: They explain that when thinking of metacommentary to think more of it as a chorus in a Greek play that stands to the side when there is drama unfolding to explain to its audience the true meaning of what’s going on or more or so a voice-over. They mention that when using metacommentary, it’s best to use it to elborate and clarify. For example, they explain that no matter how clear your writing can be, there will still be readers that fail to understand what’s going on. So, by using metacommentary it’ll clarify your work, making your work much understandable. They also mentioned that it’d help you develop ideas which could generate more text. Finally, they also explain another way to use metacommentary and that would be by thinking of a title. They go on to say that when thinking of a title using metacommentary, it allows you to develop sharper and better titles that will give readers a hint of what your argument will be.

What I learned: I learned what metacommentary is and how to successfully use it. I had no idea what is was or what it meant, but now that I know how it’s used. It allow me to clarify and elaborate on my texts.

“HE SAYS CONTENDS” Using the Templates to Revise: They explain that one of the most important stages in writing is the revision stage. They mention that in order to make your argument be convincing, it’d help to add more concessions to an opposing view by using certain templates. They introduce many templates that range from starting with representing what others say to showing why your argument matters. Throughout these templates they explain how to effectively use them and when to use them. For example, whether you agree or disagree with something, they have many reponses and questions on how to answer those questionaires correctly and effectively.

What I learned: I learned from the many templates that were shown, that when it comes to the revision stage these would effectively help with my writing process and there’s so much information being shown and explained.

Cartel going against policemen in Mexico which caused huge destruction in Sinola along with some casualities.

1. Ioan Grillo, the publisher of this image. Grillo is a journalist based in Mexico. He’s also a journalist/publisher for the time. He is extrememly credible as he’s known figure and is known to write the news that happens in Mexico. The background definitely has an impact or role in the intent of the message because it shows the aftermath of the war which causes a feeling of sorrow.
2. The intended message was to show how fearful the cartel can be when messed with. Grillo explains that it just seems to show that the cartel are seeming to be more powerful than the army themselves which could have implications for the governability. Cartel can easily control or even pay off people of the law to get their way.
3. The image itself isn’t persuasive as it should be, because this just shows two burnt cars in the back with a clear view of the sky, river and the trees. Pathos is used because the destruction behind the image are shown and along with yellow tape surrounding the vehicles which means casualties. 
4. The intended audience would be America and Mexico. The reason due to this is because this comes to show that the cartel hold more power themselves compared to the government. They’re showing a form of dominance, but not in a sensation of taking over the world.
5. Grillo published this story as soon as the whole tragedy occured. In Sinola, Mexico on October 18, 2019, the Sinola cartel waged war against the army/policemen for taking in Guzman, Ovidio. Policemen arrested Guzman, which caused an uprising and war between Guzmans and policemen for Guzmans freedom/rescue.

1. Symbolic: The main subject in the image is the policeman being seen standing in front of two destroyed cars with yellow tape completely wrapped about them. It’s captured during the day which shows the many clouds along with the green scenary within the trees. Completely in front of the policeman it’s a beautiful view, but right in front it’s the aftermath between the war that just occured. The ash under the cars, the way the policeman is standing in sorrow and disappointment. His clothing all wrinkled with one side being dark, while the other half is brightly shown. 
2. Written: The caption behind the image is “How the Sinola Cartel Bested the Mexican Army.” This brings immediate attention as it demonstates a fluke within the government system in Mexico. Grillo shares the background along with information on what occured on October 18, 2019. This journal was written and published by Ioan Grillo as his thorughly explains the whole situation.

In an article written by Carrie Packwood Freeman and Debra Merskin, it is said that “males are more heavily associated with the killing, grilling, and consumation of animals”(277). While the females are more associated with cultivation and the consumption of plant-based foods. Although, the roles in gender do play a big role in this article, it may seem that many points made throughout this article are overexaggerated as they ‘hype’ up the male a whole lot more when it comes down to meat. 

They explain how masculinity came to be with its relation towards meat. They said, “Meat is further linked to masculinity by its historic assocation with war and male aggression, as in the practice of reserving meat for warriors” (279) Although, what they say is true. They provide factual evidence by explaining that, “In fact, the Vedic word for “war” means “desire for cows,” and the Sanskrit word for “battle,” gavisti, means “desire for cattle” (279). We can see that the desire for meat has actually been within the historic past of the males rather than the females as they explained them to be primary foragers which accounts for their association with plant based food. By providing this piece of historic evidence, it shows more of dominance when it came to meat towards the males than the females.

Packwood and Merksin continue on by performing a interpretive textual analysis on seventeen ads which ended to be on fast food. In the texts they selected, they indicated that males would usually have lead roles, while females were used as objects that males would gaze on. Although they do mention that they could not prove that these ads would associate meat with femininity as explained and said, “In addition, while we cannot prove that other fast-food ads do not associate meat with femininity, a rudimentary persual of most fast-food ads fail to suggest that the industry is constructing an association between meat and women specifically and frequently as it is between meat and men” (282) they do suggest that males would serve as main targets when it would come down to advertising meats. They even mention that family based ads are rarely shown compared to those of men. Therefore hinting towards another claim made by Quizno, “Guys are the presumed exports when it comes to finding meat” (288). Even then, most of the information gathered through their analysis is not entirely accurate or complete as it lacks to present actual findings and or evidence. It shows that most of this is opinion-based by the authors themselves as this was more towards their perception of the case.

In the end, most of the findings made throughout the article fail to present actual evidence as most of what is said is opinionated based from the authors themselves. The lack of claims and research made to back them up seem to hint towards it. There’s many missing parts that could’ve been researched and backed up with extra evidence that could’ve these claims stronger, but most of it just seems to be opinion-based allowing this whole article to be more of an argument that’s open for debate rather than the article itself being a researched, factual piece. I’m not saying this whole article isn’t true, but these claims and presentations made are making it harder to understand what actual point is being made as it tries to prove one thing to another.

One: “They Say”

This chapter provides many key elements and templates that can make a piece of writing sound more effectual. That being the case, Graff and Birkenstein mention that when keeping an audience engaged, it’s important that the writer remembers to structure and keep his ideas organized as not doing so would reverse the natural order in where people process materials. Correctly doing so would avoid confusion and questions. They also introduce many templates in where they showcase how to effectively begin an introduction. Graff and Birkenstein also break down “return sentences”, as they explain how it ensures that the writer knows what he’s speaking about from start to finish. Also allowing the speaker/writer to respond more confidently and firmly to earlier arguments that have made.

What I learned : Before reading this chapter, I didn’t specifically know how to introduce things that other people have said. It showcased examples from templates on introducing other people sayings.

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Two: “Her Point Is”

In this chapter, Graff and Birkenstein talk about how to effectively summarize. The first rule they mention speaks about balance and how balance can be both outward and inward. Thus, separating and balancing the writers focus with the authors saying. They also mention a key element to writing a good summary is to suspend beliefs and focus on other kinds of perspectives that are different. Graff and Birkenstein explain when writing an effective summary, the writer must willingly consider new viewpoints rather than their own. In addition, they encourage that the writer expands their viewpoint internationally.

What I learned: I learned that in order to make an effective summary, you must maintain a balance of what the author is saying along with that of the writers focus.

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Three: “As He Himself Puts It”

In this chapter, Graff and Birkenstein mainly focus on quotations and how to properly frame them along with template examples. They explain how to successfully include quotations into writings to help strengthen the argument rather than weaken it. They offer two key elements that help strengthen an argument which breaks down into choosing the quotation carefully and framing the quotation correctly. Graff and Birkenstein also talk about “hit and run quotations”. They explain this as quote that has no explanation behind it. Therefore, often confusing the audience to know what claim is actually being made.

What I learned: I learned that in order to frame a quotation correctly, you must insert it into a “quote sandwich”. Where then you can successfully introduce statements and explain the quote.

In today’s blog we’re going to discuss an article titled “American Adults Just Keep Getting Fatter” and this article basically just reviews how Americans just seem to keep getting bigger rather than slimmer. They explain how the risks of developing heart disease, diabetes and cancer are being increased as they keep obtaining weight. They also point that American youth are better than adults when it comes to being obese.

Matt Richtel and Andrew Jacobs. Matt being a best-selling author and Andrew being a health and science department in New York both collaborated to create this article . Both of them being reporters to The New York Times.

The audience would be both American youths and American Adults. It is seen throughout the article, that both audiences are being targeted with the statistics given. The people that really care about their weight is usually teenagers and upcoming adults because they tend to care about appearance.

This article was published on March 23, 2018. After following up with many statistics and results on how American Adults are becoming more obese within the years. Over the years America has mode obesity a huge deal but with children and at one point America was the number one FATTEST country in the world but now we are number two.

The main argument within this article was that Americans just continue to pile up on pounds becoming more obese within the years. I believe that people in America are still gaining weight from things that are labeled as low fattening. Things that are low in fat are the reason people eat more and more. When you don’t eat fats you don’t feel as full as usual and low fattening doesn’t fill you up so you just eat more and more until you feel full.

ClaimsRisks such as heart disease, diabetes and various cancers can come within obesity. Efforts on educating people about the health risks of having a poor diet do not seem to be workingYouths seem to be doing a better job than. Adults when it comes to obesity

Evidence. 7.7 percent of American adults were reported to be severely obese therefore increasing their risks to various cancers, diseases, and diabetes. Eating too much contributes to being overweight hinting at a poor dieting scheme and telling people about the problem doesn’t simply just solve it. American youth aging from 2 to 19 had an 18.5% obesity rate in 2015 & 2016, while 5.6% were marked towards being severely obese; therefore comparing the youth to adults comes to show that the youth are doing a bit better than adults.

“Yes / No / Okay, But”: In this chapter, it explains how there’s three ways to respond to others’ ideas, although while still maintaining a focus on three main points. Those being agreeable, disagreeable, and the combination of both. It also explains how to never really jump into a conversation with mass amount of details, but rather just simply agreeing, disagreeing or both. Although, disagreeing can generate more ideas such as with something that was said, topic wise, or simply to generate a conversation. When disagreeing, there is something to keep in mind and that’s to always offer persuasive reasons when there’s a disagreement. When agreeing, it becomes a bit more complicated than disagreeing. There’s moves and contributions that can be added when agreeing, but keep in mind to never contradict yourself. Another example when agreeing can be taken from personal experiences, evidence, and claims that have been made.

 I learned that when you are to disagree, that it means more than simply adding “not” to what an individual has said as it would just make you contradict yourself at the end. Proving them wrong and making them side with me is probably the best feeling that anyone can get and I’m sure everyone feels the same way.

“And Yet”: In this chapter, it reviews to always distinguish the differentials between what you say from what they say. It explains that when reading a text, the author usually drops a hint of a clue that a view is being attributed towards the writer or anyone else in that perspective. They come to explain Mantsios’s use of a direct tone by showing a switch in a voice. They explain it as a view that is actually true or real, rather than something that is merely true and or what others would consider “true”. When separating the difference from what they say to what you say; first-person should be avoided. There’s a way around this and that’s by using statements such as “she is correct”. This chapter also provides a trick when identifying who is speaking. It comes to show when using embedded references, it will allow us to economize the train of thoughts and other perspectives without any brief interruptions.

 I learned that when distinguishing what is being said in the text to pay attention to voice markers as its an important aspect towards the reading comprehension to fully understand what is actually going on. Trying to say or pronounce certain words is important when reading, even when I’m writing or texting I say certain words differently to show what I really mean.

“Skeptics May Object” : In this chapter, it discusses that most or all writers have experienced and inexperienced the idea of someone criticizing an individuals assignment. Although, this can actually be taken as an advantage as it’ll support as feedback therefore improving the assignment overall. This chapter also states that telling readers what has been used or said against you would actually improve your credibility instead of ruining it. These arguments can strengthen your credibility therefore working for you rather than against you. It also goes on to explain that when bringing in entertaining objections, to not hurry past them, but rather stick with it and explain it thoroughly in a manner of paragraphs or several sentences. When it comes down to overcoming an objection, it is said to agree with parts of it rather than disprove what is being said completely. By doing this, it’ll allow you to stand your ground without complicating the situation.

 I learned that when answering counterarguments, it is best to agree with some parts of it, because it’ll allow you to maintain your ground as this will allow you to make concessions without losing any ground at all. To show that they really had some good points and that I’m not just disagreeing with everything they have to say, so its easier for them to notice where my reasonings are coming from.

“So What? Who Cares?” : This chapter provides many key points that allow us to answer the phrase, “who cares?” and “so what?”. It’ll explore the differences between the two claims that are being said and whereas if they were to be accepted. When answering the “who cares?” phrase, it allows us to establish a contrast of what is actually being said in a text or book. When answering the “so what?” phrase, this allows us to answer questions on the larger scale. For example, arguments that are in a larger matter that individuals would consider important. Thus, addressing that both questions need to be answered in some kind of way. This will allow your audience to stay engaged, while closely paying attention and care on what is being said.

 I learned that when answering these two questions, that it is completely necessary to go above and beyond when answering these questions. By doing so in every possible way as if you don’t, this will cause your audience to presume the questions on their own therefore making your hard work seem less interesting or unimportant.

All girls have friends and girls that are closer are best friends or can even be called girlfriends but guys have something different, guys have more of a connection to each other than just friends, we have HOMIES.

Homies are something more than friends and I can even argue that my homies are my brothers. Friends that I have experienced things with that I have seen things with done things even accomplished things with. These are homies, girls don’t have the luxury that us guys do because girls can have a friendship but as soon as they get into a fight with each other their friendship is over. Homies can argue scream and even fight each other but at the end of the day they are still Homies. No guys would call anyone a homie and that’s just a rule that everyone knows, you can’t just say it and even if you do say it to someone they know you’re not serious. You would never say it to a stranger or someone you just met and you probably wouldn’t say it to a friend you see once ad a while. This is someone that you go out with or hangout with almost every time you go out and of course guys can have multiple homies but these are the guys that you would do anything for you would cancel on someone else for your homies. Homies are the type of friends that you would make fun of over the smallest things, if a homie tripped and fell and landed on his face the first thing you would do would be to laugh your ass off without hesitation but then of course check if he’s okay after both of you laugh it off together.

Girls can’t say they have homies but Guys can say they have girls that are homies and in this case when a girl is a homie she’s usually a girl that of course you’ve been through a lot with but also a girl that you don’t find attractive. In a guys mind he would probably think about it but he would never actually do it because she’s a homie she’s like a guy. Therefore girls can’t have homies.