A Time of Transition
The concern for oil is a growing topic that presents a challenge for anyone trying to embark on the mission of finding the truth about oil and its possible depletion. The world contains crude oil reserves across the entire planet but trying to calculate how much there was or how much is left is extremely hard to do. Oil is a vital substance that helps sustain the life that people have become accustomed to and what would we do if it all just ran out tomorrow? The world would be in horrible condition. Vehicles would stop running, boats would stop sailing, electricity would not be what it is today, and life would be completely different. Research has shown there are alternative fuel options to slow down the demand for oil but it is currently not an efficient enough way to solve these global problems. These other sources are not exactly oil but have similar characteristics that provide an outcome that is comparable to oil. Without exploring other options the world is in danger. Oil depletion has a lasting effect on the planet and is the source of many emission issues and the transition to alternative fuels is approaching and is needed to help solve oil dependence issues.
The thought of oil depletion sets forth problems that we never saw coming. The increased demand for oil has brought the world to extract oil from anywhere possible, compared to the past, when oil was abundant and cheap to extract. The current supply for oil is uncertain and this is due to the fact that some data is unavailable for political or economic reasons, poor reserve reporting practices and some regions not be explored fully yet. There is also an uncertainty about the amount, costs, and the environmental impacts that are associated with oil. The future demand of oil is unknown due to the new advancements in technology such as biofuels and hybrids. All these unknowns are leading up to a need for substitutes for conventional petroleum and this is predicted to happen within the next ten years (Brandt 2852-2860).
There is still oil left, but there are new ways of obtaining this oil. According to Monica Heger, there is an end to easy oil and we are now forced to develop new skills to get the same product. Heger states that in Alberta, Canada, there are large tar sand fields that contain 13 percent of the world’s oil reserves and under these tar sand fields is a resource called bitumen, which is refined to produce oil. Back in the early 2000’s this area saw massive industry being developed and sought to have a strong presence in the global demand for oil. The production of cheaper conventional oil slowed the demand for this non-conventional oil and swayed investors to keep their money and the oil-rich tar sands of Canada saw a decline in production. So, this is not the conventional crude oil that is most popular but it is a source of oil, which can be used in the same ways. This production of oil is extremely difficult to preform and can be held responsible to releasing twice as much greenhouse gases than the regular production of oil. The result of more greenhouse gases causes more danger for the people and thus returns hurting the planet even more. Considering that the world is consuming oil at an alarming rate, brings up the topic of drawing a line between providing a better future or continuing the practices used now and ruining the world for future generations.
The demand for oil and oil products has caused a dramatic decrease in the world’s oil supply. Oil is a topic that is discussed in great detail regarding if we have hit the peak and if the supply is to run out anytime soon. Back in 1956, a gentleman named M. King Huppert forecasted that United States oil would peak in 1970’s. After much criticism and doubt in Huppert, the United States hit its peak around the 1970’s and everyone was shocked. The thought of running out of oil was absurd. This is now known as “Huppert’s Peak” and it sparked a new interest in the consumption of U.S. oil. Huppert and his co-workers believe that there are roughly two trillion barrels of oil on the Earth and about one trillion of those barrels have been used. This consumption has put the world closer to “Huppert’s Peak” for global oil peak and this is matter that has an effect on everyone. The crisis of final oil production is not achieved when the last well is drained and the last barrel is produced but when the peak is attained and a huge price increase hits and causes turmoil in the lives of everyone (Serwer). This concern for oil depletion is an extremely important topic and is being discussed through several governmental leaders and there is a need for change but understanding the current oil conditions needs to be looked at before a solution can be found.
According to Strahan, oil is consumed at about 85 million barrels a day and is forecasted to be about 105 million in 2030. The estimated decline in oil production is also in 2030 and the demand for alternatives fuels will be sufficient topic worth discussing. The searches for alternative methods of capturing oil have been short come due to the availability of these outside sources. Non-conventional oil which to date has been slow to expand at only 1.5 million barrels a day and these non-conventional oils also take more energy to produce and are held more responsible for higher carbon emissions than a typical barrel of oil. The large demand for oil is the result of the increased investments being brought upon to find better oil production and the fear of running out of oil in 2030 has caused a recent surge in demand for non-conventional oil such as tar sands that contain bitumen which is used to produce the oil. The high demand for oil has caused a demand for new sources of oil or energy and this is a step into the future, but is it the right step?
There are several new ways of reducing the demand for conventional oil and one of the most commonly used now is biodiesel. Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that is used in diesel engines that are used in several applications ranging from transportation to power generation. Biodiesel is a huge step in moving into the right direction and it is what needs to be done to slow down dependence on oil and transition the world into a better place. Biodiesel is a clean-burning fuel that is produced by using grease, vegetable oils, or animal fats. The process of transesterification is used to produce this fuel and it consists of transforming the grease, vegetable oil or animal fat into fatty alkyl ester which in simple terms means that the starting product is mixed with an alcohol and catalyst to produce a useable fuel. The use of biodiesel is easily a new source to typical diesel fuel because it requires no change to a diesel vehicle to run this fuel. This alternative fuel has many benefits including that it can be stored and transported the same way as typical diesel fuel, the fuel is oxygenated providing longer life for diesel vehicles, and it is combusted more completely reducing the waste of fuel (Vasudevan, Briggs). With the increase interest in biodiesel the discovery of challenges are there but is this a step worth risking?
Biodiesel has many advantages and is certainly better option than conventional oil but is this worth the time and money to reduce dependence on oil? Currently the production of biodiesel is not a profitable compared to conventional diesel production, but the search for cheaper raw materials has made it more competitive and is providing a brighter future for the industry. To explore lower production costs there are a few simple steps that need to be taken to make it more efficient than conventional diesel. There needs to be a reduction in feedstock prices and these are nonedible oils, waste frying oils, and animal fats. The process in which producing biodiesel relies on these raw materials and if they become cheaper, the production and sale of biodiesel would follow (Vasudevan, Briggs). There are problems associated with all types of alternative fuels, but the production of biodiesel has the fewest and the use of biodiesel has an enormous effect of reducing demand for conventional oil and is a step in the right direction and needs to be explored in every way possible to make it a stable source of fuel. The production of alternative fuels is not only reliant on solving the problems associated with transportation but is also in research for solar energy which reduce reliance on oil production.
Recent increases in the price of conventional oil have caused a new interest in solar energy which would help reduce dependence on oil production and provide a brighter future. Stated by Bennett Davis, if the world could find a piece of land about half the size of Texas and discover a way to capture 20 percent of the sun’s rays the world’s energy problems would be solved. Can this be as simple as it seems? Due to advancements in technology, some do believe that it is possible. Due to the incline in conventional oil prices, others have looked in alternative ways to find energy and it has resulted in the development of new technology that is able to produce great solar energy. This new technology can capture almost 50 percent of the sun’s rays and convert them into useable energy, which is the cleanest and most renewable source of energy there is. Is this the right step to moving away from the strong dependence on conventional oil? Of course, this is a step in the right direction for reduction for many reasons. Many of today’s power plants are run by coal, this may not seem like this means anything to oil but it does. It takes hundreds of trains, trucks, and machinery to extract and deliver this coal and in which all the trains, trucks, and machinery rely on oil to perform their duties. Slowing down the chain of use of oil is the key to reducing oil dependence and solar energy does this greatly.
Dependence of oil has raised a new growing concern for the planet and the environment. The ways of obtaining vast amounts of cheap conventional oil are coming to an end and the world is in transition to a new era; relying on non-conventional oil production. Oil is a vital substance to the lifestyle that millions of people have become accustomed to but is something that we can learn to live without. Before the discovery of oil, man managed to survive and adapt without oil and there is no reason we cannot adapt either. This is an extremely drastic comparison but the world needs to realize that oil will not be here forever and that change is necessary. If the world continues to consume oil at the rate it is now, the future generations will be worse off and be left with the majority of the problems created in this current time period. The transition to new energy for the planet is difficult task to achieve but with interest in this field there is no reason that the world cannot be saved of its growing oil concern and shift to an era of clean and renewable energy that will benefits millions and millions of people.
Works Cited
Brandt, Adam. "Dynamics of the oil transition: Modeling capacity, depletion, and emissions." Science Direct (2010): 2852-2860. Web. 9 Nov 2010.
Daviss, Bennett. "Here comes the sun." New Scientist 196.2633 (2007): 32-37. Academic Search
Complete. EBSCO. Web. 18 Nov. 2010.
Heger, Monica. "The End of Easy Oil." Discover 31.7 (2010): 16-17. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 11 Oct. 2010.
Serwer, Andy. “Oil Prices Are Spiking—Has Supply Hit Its Peak?.” Time Magazine 2004. 5 October 2010
Strahan, David. "Scraping the bottom of the barrel. (Cover story)." New Scientist 204.2737 (2009): 34-39. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 6 Oct. 2010.
Vasudevan, Palligarnai T., and Michael Briggs. "Biodiesel production—current state of the art
and challenges." Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology 35.5 (2008): 421-
430. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 15 Nov. 2010.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Project Four: An Inconvenient Truth
An Inconvenient Truth featuring Al Gore is a hard hitting film centered on the hard truth of global climate change. Gore presents information in this film that is both shocking and mind-blowing to the typical person who has ignored the climate their entire life. Gore stresses throughout the film many different topics and in the end, he wants everyone to be the change that is needed to turn this environment around or at least be the one that helps slow down the process of tearing the Earth apart day by day. This film is a lot to handle the first time that you view it but Gore does a great job of appealing to your emotions to help persuade you to agree with the fact that, you are part of destroying the Earth and you need to change your lifestyle or the generations after you will be worse. This film can be considered successful or unsuccessful for many different reasons but at the end of the film, I felt the same about the climate crisis as non-existent. The more I thought about the topic and began to research more into the matter, my feelings began to change and felt a new growing concern for the environment. This new concern was achieved through the hard facts presented by Gore and being reinforced through research.
There are several different types of committees and organizations that have been set up across the world and the more you read through the materials, you quickly discover the growing concern for the environment and what the true issues are for the people of the world. All the facts that Gore presented throughout the film seemed to be relevant and holding the truth due to his large involvement in the climate crisis and through more reading his facts begin to become reoccurring and this is not a large surprise. According to the Climate Change Front and Center at World Economic Forum, I discovered more information regarding the facts that Gore presented in the film. Gore referred to images containing mountains that were once snow covered and over time due to global warming have begun losing this snow and has caused problems throughout different parts of the world. In this article it also refers to the topic and it focuses on California which is closer to us and is easier to grasp than parts of the world that we have never seen before. They discussed at the Climate Change Front and Center at World Economic Forum that California is losing snow coverage in the Sierra Mountains which is a cause of global warming and this is a source of drinking water for these people and if these mountains lost snow coverage it can result in a terrible outcome for the citizens of California (Climate). So do you want to lose your drinking water because you just had to take an extra five minutes in the shower?
Over time the thought of global warming was a small topic that people were just simply overlooking but Gore believed for the longest time that the world was warming up, but information presented by the scientist in various fields concluded that this was not true and that they thought the world was actually getting colder. How is the atmosphere temperature decreasing if mountains that used to be covered in snow are now bare? According to Than, I found that we were provided with the wrong information regarding the atmosphere temperature, and this was not due to the lack of intelligence of the scientist but due to the equipment used to record these temperatures dating back to the 1970’s, which was inaccurate and different than today. This equipment from the 1970’s provided a false temperature read out and in the end provided the wrong base for comparing temperatures (Than). Gore presents all this information throughout his film, but you do not consider it to be nothing but just another fact that he has found over time, but after reading some more information you begin to believe his statements even more.
Gore has been faced with many people that are opposed to his claims and these are mostly centered around the oil and coal industry which are focusing strongly on profits and not the future of the world. The Exxon Mobil Corporation is one the largest companies in the world and is responsible for some of the highest profits ever recorded and which is all gained from oil. Gore states in the film that the reduction of oil will cause a great reduction in the release of greenhouse gases and will slow down the global warming affect. Exxon has a different view on this and before the release of the film, Exxon donated a large sum of money to unveil two commercials that are known as global warming alarm that provides information regarding the decrease in burning of fossil fuels to reduce emissions (Shakir). Why would Exxon release commercials that are harmful to their bottom line? Exxon released these TV ads to avoid responsibility for the global warming crisis and did not want consumers of their oil to rebel against them due to the Gore film, and Exxon is responsible for the burning of these precious fossil fuels and a major role in the warming of the Earth’s atmosphere. Recent studies from scientist conclude that global warming is based on human activities and this is no surprise because we as people are always looking to get the most money possible and ruining the future has never been top priority until recent years (Shakir).
The Exxon Mobil Company is a prime example of a company that is only concerned about the bottom line and through its notorious funding of anti-climate change has been providing information that confuses citizens and keeps bringing more money in. These claims made by Exxon are false and they have cut spending for these anti-climate change organizations to cover themselves for providing a product that is ruining the environment (Legum). An Inconvenient Truth stresses the thought of caring more and not worrying about the now but the future and Gore’s use of a personal connection to providing a better future for his son is an example of what he is trying to convey to these large industries. If Exxon Mobil were to be more focused about providing a better future for the generations to come after them, they will start a revolution for change for the climate crisis. Obviously, a decrease in emissions from fossils is the next step in stopping global warming but is it enough?
According to Alan Zarembo, achieving such a reduction of emissions that would show significant gains of the reverse of global warming are almost impossible. Replacing all fossil-fueled electricity power plants worldwide with wind, solar, and nuclear energy solutions would result in a 39 percent reduction on the Earth. This reduction is an unachievable task in my opinion; it is not possible to think that removing all these power planets is not going to hurt the Earth even more. In most cases it takes more of fossil fuels being burnt to convert to these new forms of energy. These methods are currently not efficient enough and right now are causing more harm to the planet than good. During the film Gore expresses an immediate need to change our lifestyles to help reduce our carbon footprint and his use of facts are relevant but do not take in count of the big picture. In reducing the carbon footprint, the Earth will be better off in the future but we can no expect significant changes right away.
Change is needed to improve our lives and the lives of generations to come. This change is urgent and with participation from all aspects of the planet, change can come. An Inconvenient Truth is a film that educates the viewers and with education comes change. After viewing this film and gaining insight into the horrible climate situation, I feel that we as Americans, the largest producers of CO2 emissions need to start a revolution for change and provide a brighter future for the generations to come. Gore is an influential player in the global climate crisis and through his great forms of persuasion, I am left with one question recirculating in my mind; What can I do now to help give my children a better future and what are they going to do to provide the next generation with an even better future?
Works Cited
"Climate Change Front and Center at World Economic Forum." Truthout (2007): n. pag. Web. 25 Oct 2010.
Legum, Judd. "ExxonMobil Stops Funding Competitive Enterprise Institute ." Thinkprogress (2006): n. pag. Web. 27 Oct 2010.
Shakir, Faiz. "Big Oil Launches Attack On Al Gore." Think Progress (2006): n. pag. Web. 25 Oct 2010.
Than , Ker. "Key Argument for Global Warming Critics Evaporates." (2005): n. pag. Web. 25 Oct 2010.
Zarembo, Alan. "Game Over on Global Warming?." Truthout (2007): n. pag. Web. 27 Oct 2010.
An Inconvenient Truth featuring Al Gore is a hard hitting film centered on the hard truth of global climate change. Gore presents information in this film that is both shocking and mind-blowing to the typical person who has ignored the climate their entire life. Gore stresses throughout the film many different topics and in the end, he wants everyone to be the change that is needed to turn this environment around or at least be the one that helps slow down the process of tearing the Earth apart day by day. This film is a lot to handle the first time that you view it but Gore does a great job of appealing to your emotions to help persuade you to agree with the fact that, you are part of destroying the Earth and you need to change your lifestyle or the generations after you will be worse. This film can be considered successful or unsuccessful for many different reasons but at the end of the film, I felt the same about the climate crisis as non-existent. The more I thought about the topic and began to research more into the matter, my feelings began to change and felt a new growing concern for the environment. This new concern was achieved through the hard facts presented by Gore and being reinforced through research.
There are several different types of committees and organizations that have been set up across the world and the more you read through the materials, you quickly discover the growing concern for the environment and what the true issues are for the people of the world. All the facts that Gore presented throughout the film seemed to be relevant and holding the truth due to his large involvement in the climate crisis and through more reading his facts begin to become reoccurring and this is not a large surprise. According to the Climate Change Front and Center at World Economic Forum, I discovered more information regarding the facts that Gore presented in the film. Gore referred to images containing mountains that were once snow covered and over time due to global warming have begun losing this snow and has caused problems throughout different parts of the world. In this article it also refers to the topic and it focuses on California which is closer to us and is easier to grasp than parts of the world that we have never seen before. They discussed at the Climate Change Front and Center at World Economic Forum that California is losing snow coverage in the Sierra Mountains which is a cause of global warming and this is a source of drinking water for these people and if these mountains lost snow coverage it can result in a terrible outcome for the citizens of California (Climate). So do you want to lose your drinking water because you just had to take an extra five minutes in the shower?
Over time the thought of global warming was a small topic that people were just simply overlooking but Gore believed for the longest time that the world was warming up, but information presented by the scientist in various fields concluded that this was not true and that they thought the world was actually getting colder. How is the atmosphere temperature decreasing if mountains that used to be covered in snow are now bare? According to Than, I found that we were provided with the wrong information regarding the atmosphere temperature, and this was not due to the lack of intelligence of the scientist but due to the equipment used to record these temperatures dating back to the 1970’s, which was inaccurate and different than today. This equipment from the 1970’s provided a false temperature read out and in the end provided the wrong base for comparing temperatures (Than). Gore presents all this information throughout his film, but you do not consider it to be nothing but just another fact that he has found over time, but after reading some more information you begin to believe his statements even more.
Gore has been faced with many people that are opposed to his claims and these are mostly centered around the oil and coal industry which are focusing strongly on profits and not the future of the world. The Exxon Mobil Corporation is one the largest companies in the world and is responsible for some of the highest profits ever recorded and which is all gained from oil. Gore states in the film that the reduction of oil will cause a great reduction in the release of greenhouse gases and will slow down the global warming affect. Exxon has a different view on this and before the release of the film, Exxon donated a large sum of money to unveil two commercials that are known as global warming alarm that provides information regarding the decrease in burning of fossil fuels to reduce emissions (Shakir). Why would Exxon release commercials that are harmful to their bottom line? Exxon released these TV ads to avoid responsibility for the global warming crisis and did not want consumers of their oil to rebel against them due to the Gore film, and Exxon is responsible for the burning of these precious fossil fuels and a major role in the warming of the Earth’s atmosphere. Recent studies from scientist conclude that global warming is based on human activities and this is no surprise because we as people are always looking to get the most money possible and ruining the future has never been top priority until recent years (Shakir).
The Exxon Mobil Company is a prime example of a company that is only concerned about the bottom line and through its notorious funding of anti-climate change has been providing information that confuses citizens and keeps bringing more money in. These claims made by Exxon are false and they have cut spending for these anti-climate change organizations to cover themselves for providing a product that is ruining the environment (Legum). An Inconvenient Truth stresses the thought of caring more and not worrying about the now but the future and Gore’s use of a personal connection to providing a better future for his son is an example of what he is trying to convey to these large industries. If Exxon Mobil were to be more focused about providing a better future for the generations to come after them, they will start a revolution for change for the climate crisis. Obviously, a decrease in emissions from fossils is the next step in stopping global warming but is it enough?
According to Alan Zarembo, achieving such a reduction of emissions that would show significant gains of the reverse of global warming are almost impossible. Replacing all fossil-fueled electricity power plants worldwide with wind, solar, and nuclear energy solutions would result in a 39 percent reduction on the Earth. This reduction is an unachievable task in my opinion; it is not possible to think that removing all these power planets is not going to hurt the Earth even more. In most cases it takes more of fossil fuels being burnt to convert to these new forms of energy. These methods are currently not efficient enough and right now are causing more harm to the planet than good. During the film Gore expresses an immediate need to change our lifestyles to help reduce our carbon footprint and his use of facts are relevant but do not take in count of the big picture. In reducing the carbon footprint, the Earth will be better off in the future but we can no expect significant changes right away.
Change is needed to improve our lives and the lives of generations to come. This change is urgent and with participation from all aspects of the planet, change can come. An Inconvenient Truth is a film that educates the viewers and with education comes change. After viewing this film and gaining insight into the horrible climate situation, I feel that we as Americans, the largest producers of CO2 emissions need to start a revolution for change and provide a brighter future for the generations to come. Gore is an influential player in the global climate crisis and through his great forms of persuasion, I am left with one question recirculating in my mind; What can I do now to help give my children a better future and what are they going to do to provide the next generation with an even better future?
Works Cited
"Climate Change Front and Center at World Economic Forum." Truthout (2007): n. pag. Web. 25 Oct 2010.
Legum, Judd. "ExxonMobil Stops Funding Competitive Enterprise Institute ." Thinkprogress (2006): n. pag. Web. 27 Oct 2010.
Shakir, Faiz. "Big Oil Launches Attack On Al Gore." Think Progress (2006): n. pag. Web. 25 Oct 2010.
Than , Ker. "Key Argument for Global Warming Critics Evaporates." (2005): n. pag. Web. 25 Oct 2010.
Zarembo, Alan. "Game Over on Global Warming?." Truthout (2007): n. pag. Web. 27 Oct 2010.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Rhetorical Analysis
An Inconvenient Truth featuring Al Gore is a film displaying the problems centered around global warming or climate change as it is being referred to now in present time. This film focuses on the viewer’s emotions and plays off that to make have different feelings towards this topic than ever before. The start of the film starts off with Al Gore trying to position himself as a non-politician by bringing in a personal story about his past and making the viewer to be able to have more of a connection with Gore. During the middle of the movie, Gore focuses strongly on the core of the movie which is global warming. He uses fact after fact to display his growing concern for the environment and what is not being done to stop anything from getting any worse. After presenting all these hard facts and background information within his personal life, Gore expresses his emotions with the viewers, through the use of a strong voice and trying to bring to attention to everyone that change needs to be done and it needs to be done by each and every American. After watching the film many different claims can be made about the film but one strong one comes to mind after viewing the film.
The film’s central claim is that as American’s we need to change our ways for it will be worse for the next generation. Gore presents many facts that hit the viewer hard and directly affects the emotions of them. The fact that Gore presents throughout the film make the viewers want to start a change and want their children to have a better life than them, and not have to focus on the falling of planet Earth. This film focuses strongly on emotions and it has a different effect on everyone who watches it.
This movie personally did not affect my emotions as much as it did my fellow classmates. After being surrounded by all the media involved with climate change, I feel that it is something that is being blown out of proportion. I understand that things are changing but I feel that comes with modernization. My fellow classmates seemed to be very moved by the film and started to see a possible different light on the subject. Everyone expresses that we need to change our ways to protect the future, but no one ever follows through with these thoughts. The thought of going green is a great idea but until the day that everyone starts to walk to work instead of driving or uses solar energy to power their homes instead of coal, will be the day that there will be a noticeable change. Al Gore does not do this, so why does he expect me too? Gore is a very passionate man about this topic and that is a great thing to have when you are trying to cause such a movement, but after failing so many times, the American people are starting to lose faith in him, no matter how he presents the information. Overall Gore presents his information in a very effected way but it is not making a lasting impact on the American people and that is one of the main problems surrounded around the climate criss.
An Inconvenient Truth featuring Al Gore is a film displaying the problems centered around global warming or climate change as it is being referred to now in present time. This film focuses on the viewer’s emotions and plays off that to make have different feelings towards this topic than ever before. The start of the film starts off with Al Gore trying to position himself as a non-politician by bringing in a personal story about his past and making the viewer to be able to have more of a connection with Gore. During the middle of the movie, Gore focuses strongly on the core of the movie which is global warming. He uses fact after fact to display his growing concern for the environment and what is not being done to stop anything from getting any worse. After presenting all these hard facts and background information within his personal life, Gore expresses his emotions with the viewers, through the use of a strong voice and trying to bring to attention to everyone that change needs to be done and it needs to be done by each and every American. After watching the film many different claims can be made about the film but one strong one comes to mind after viewing the film.
The film’s central claim is that as American’s we need to change our ways for it will be worse for the next generation. Gore presents many facts that hit the viewer hard and directly affects the emotions of them. The fact that Gore presents throughout the film make the viewers want to start a change and want their children to have a better life than them, and not have to focus on the falling of planet Earth. This film focuses strongly on emotions and it has a different effect on everyone who watches it.
This movie personally did not affect my emotions as much as it did my fellow classmates. After being surrounded by all the media involved with climate change, I feel that it is something that is being blown out of proportion. I understand that things are changing but I feel that comes with modernization. My fellow classmates seemed to be very moved by the film and started to see a possible different light on the subject. Everyone expresses that we need to change our ways to protect the future, but no one ever follows through with these thoughts. The thought of going green is a great idea but until the day that everyone starts to walk to work instead of driving or uses solar energy to power their homes instead of coal, will be the day that there will be a noticeable change. Al Gore does not do this, so why does he expect me too? Gore is a very passionate man about this topic and that is a great thing to have when you are trying to cause such a movement, but after failing so many times, the American people are starting to lose faith in him, no matter how he presents the information. Overall Gore presents his information in a very effected way but it is not making a lasting impact on the American people and that is one of the main problems surrounded around the climate criss.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Shayne Applegarth
Mudd
29 September 2010
Rhetorical Defense
Alden Library
The Alden Library is extremely essential building in a college students life at Ohio University and it was not any different back in 1966 when it was constructed. One of the largest buildings on campus dedicated to one purpose and one purpose only; to provide a stable learning environment. The Vernon R. Alden Library was named after the fifteenth president of Ohio University and was proclaimed for him right before his resignation from the University. The Alden Library was completed in 1969 and later was expanded in 1972 to house more than one million volumes and many different types of electronic files. The expansion of the library was a great mark in the history of Ohio University and was a large topic among students. The use of a flyer to promote this event is effective way of promoting and informing students and it has a many rhetorical ways of doing so.
The obvious audience of this flyer is college students who use the library to expand their learning or to reinforce it. This flyer is very catering to a college students mind set, which is a simple task to do. Students want to observe a flyer that is short, simple and to the point and this flyer reflects that. The use of a large heading, a picture and quick facts helps a student retain the information trying to be presented. The large heading grabs the attention of the viewer, a picture keeps the viewer focused on the main idea of the paper, and the short and quick facts, keeps the reader from becoming bored with the flyer and ignoring it. The style of this flyer also reflects how the audience is portrayed to students in the fact that it is in black and white and that was the colors used back when the library was being expanded and this shows that it is something that is not completely off the map and it is important information. The main point of this flyer is to grab the attention of students provide them with some information that is extremely helpful.
The sole purpose of any flyer is to inform the reader and through different techniques this can be achieved and provide an appropriate form of information. The use of certain features makes this flyer very purposeful. Providing students with the information needed to inform them of a growing library in a simple way to get the point across without beating it into the ground and using short facts and a picture displays a student friendly flyer. This flyer has different conventions compared to today’s normal flyers which are very colorful with many different things going on all in one picture, which make it friendlier to the students. The rules of today were broke in designing this flyer by using a black and white color scheme with simple facts and no crazy artwork or other distracting things going on, but back in 1972 when a flyer like this would be coming out you would not be seeing all this computer generated flyers because it simply did not exist. The new flyers are not bad but the use of all the newer features would not be a purposeful thing to use in a flyer that is going to be dated back to 1972. Having a flyer for a library was a very hard topic to cover and having it back to a period in which I was not around for was even harder.
The Alden Library is of course an important place but is not typically put on a flyer and posted or handed out on the Ohio University campus. Having information to put on the flyer was extremely hard to decide what someone would actually read and pay a little bit of attention to. With having the first flyer a bust, with simple facts and bright background but overall boring, I decided to switch gears in a sense. I tried to imagine myself back in 1972 and visualize what I thought I would see on a flyer for an expanding library on campus. To no surprise I came up with a simple black and white flyer that would grab the attention of someone walking by it and realize that it is somewhat interesting. Everything I did in this flyer, I did in a rhetorical way and the main goal was to keep it simple and something that I thought would capture the essence of the library back then. The library is a vital building in any learning environment and is something that should be recognized if there is a major change in it.
Mudd
29 September 2010
Rhetorical Defense
Alden Library
The Alden Library is extremely essential building in a college students life at Ohio University and it was not any different back in 1966 when it was constructed. One of the largest buildings on campus dedicated to one purpose and one purpose only; to provide a stable learning environment. The Vernon R. Alden Library was named after the fifteenth president of Ohio University and was proclaimed for him right before his resignation from the University. The Alden Library was completed in 1969 and later was expanded in 1972 to house more than one million volumes and many different types of electronic files. The expansion of the library was a great mark in the history of Ohio University and was a large topic among students. The use of a flyer to promote this event is effective way of promoting and informing students and it has a many rhetorical ways of doing so.
The obvious audience of this flyer is college students who use the library to expand their learning or to reinforce it. This flyer is very catering to a college students mind set, which is a simple task to do. Students want to observe a flyer that is short, simple and to the point and this flyer reflects that. The use of a large heading, a picture and quick facts helps a student retain the information trying to be presented. The large heading grabs the attention of the viewer, a picture keeps the viewer focused on the main idea of the paper, and the short and quick facts, keeps the reader from becoming bored with the flyer and ignoring it. The style of this flyer also reflects how the audience is portrayed to students in the fact that it is in black and white and that was the colors used back when the library was being expanded and this shows that it is something that is not completely off the map and it is important information. The main point of this flyer is to grab the attention of students provide them with some information that is extremely helpful.
The sole purpose of any flyer is to inform the reader and through different techniques this can be achieved and provide an appropriate form of information. The use of certain features makes this flyer very purposeful. Providing students with the information needed to inform them of a growing library in a simple way to get the point across without beating it into the ground and using short facts and a picture displays a student friendly flyer. This flyer has different conventions compared to today’s normal flyers which are very colorful with many different things going on all in one picture, which make it friendlier to the students. The rules of today were broke in designing this flyer by using a black and white color scheme with simple facts and no crazy artwork or other distracting things going on, but back in 1972 when a flyer like this would be coming out you would not be seeing all this computer generated flyers because it simply did not exist. The new flyers are not bad but the use of all the newer features would not be a purposeful thing to use in a flyer that is going to be dated back to 1972. Having a flyer for a library was a very hard topic to cover and having it back to a period in which I was not around for was even harder.
The Alden Library is of course an important place but is not typically put on a flyer and posted or handed out on the Ohio University campus. Having information to put on the flyer was extremely hard to decide what someone would actually read and pay a little bit of attention to. With having the first flyer a bust, with simple facts and bright background but overall boring, I decided to switch gears in a sense. I tried to imagine myself back in 1972 and visualize what I thought I would see on a flyer for an expanding library on campus. To no surprise I came up with a simple black and white flyer that would grab the attention of someone walking by it and realize that it is somewhat interesting. Everything I did in this flyer, I did in a rhetorical way and the main goal was to keep it simple and something that I thought would capture the essence of the library back then. The library is a vital building in any learning environment and is something that should be recognized if there is a major change in it.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Almost the Same Place
Imagine the college life, the way people live, act, and even think. Now imagine that you are located only three miles from one of the oldest college universities in the country. If you have now pictured this, you are now located in the outskirts of Athens, Ohio in a little town called Millfield, Ohio. A quiet area in entirely that has a big city feel right in its backyard. This is the town of a fellow classmate named Nicole who has made a home here for many different reasons and has no desire to leave anytime soon.
The town described as a small, country lifestyle with many added benefits of its location. The university has provided a new element to how this town functions, mostly centered on it, a sense of community is built through the school which in other ways is lost once outside of the city limits. Nicole has more than made a home in this town but has made a career and a strong network of friends and co-workers. Being located next to such has provided its ups and downs. The increased growth associated with the university has caused many improvements and down falls.
Growth is an essential part of society for many aspects in life and the growth within a town or community has presented many joys and concerns. A small town attitude is greatly valued in Millfield and in Athens which has brought concerns of expansion such a businesses and infrastructure. The people of this town enjoy the way of living and value that it stays the same. A laid back atmosphere is automatically noticed when observing this area, and this is something that is appreciated by all that live in the area. When a sudden change may occur they find it hard to react and adjust their lifestyles for something they really did not want from the beginning. From an outsider looking in, this would be a wonderful place to live, but like everything there are faults and people have learned to accept them and are willing to move forward from them and this is now considered my new home also.
The city of Athens and its surrounding areas are greatly centered on Ohio University and it has made it a very wonderful place to live or go to school. Thousands of new students flock to Ohio University each year for several different reasons but at the end of the day we all live or work in the surrounding area because they feel comfortable and love being able to call this place home. The small, comfortable town has presence that can be seen through almost every person walking up and down the streets, greeting each other with a simple smile or hello that has set a community feeling inside everyone and makes this place even better. They are proud to say where they are from and Nicole was no expectation to this in any way. The troubles and concerns seem to be overlooked and people continue to live their lives as they feel is best and the town as a whole is growing and it may be start to something that is incredible and life changing for many.
Imagine the college life, the way people live, act, and even think. Now imagine that you are located only three miles from one of the oldest college universities in the country. If you have now pictured this, you are now located in the outskirts of Athens, Ohio in a little town called Millfield, Ohio. A quiet area in entirely that has a big city feel right in its backyard. This is the town of a fellow classmate named Nicole who has made a home here for many different reasons and has no desire to leave anytime soon.
The town described as a small, country lifestyle with many added benefits of its location. The university has provided a new element to how this town functions, mostly centered on it, a sense of community is built through the school which in other ways is lost once outside of the city limits. Nicole has more than made a home in this town but has made a career and a strong network of friends and co-workers. Being located next to such has provided its ups and downs. The increased growth associated with the university has caused many improvements and down falls.
Growth is an essential part of society for many aspects in life and the growth within a town or community has presented many joys and concerns. A small town attitude is greatly valued in Millfield and in Athens which has brought concerns of expansion such a businesses and infrastructure. The people of this town enjoy the way of living and value that it stays the same. A laid back atmosphere is automatically noticed when observing this area, and this is something that is appreciated by all that live in the area. When a sudden change may occur they find it hard to react and adjust their lifestyles for something they really did not want from the beginning. From an outsider looking in, this would be a wonderful place to live, but like everything there are faults and people have learned to accept them and are willing to move forward from them and this is now considered my new home also.
The city of Athens and its surrounding areas are greatly centered on Ohio University and it has made it a very wonderful place to live or go to school. Thousands of new students flock to Ohio University each year for several different reasons but at the end of the day we all live or work in the surrounding area because they feel comfortable and love being able to call this place home. The small, comfortable town has presence that can be seen through almost every person walking up and down the streets, greeting each other with a simple smile or hello that has set a community feeling inside everyone and makes this place even better. They are proud to say where they are from and Nicole was no expectation to this in any way. The troubles and concerns seem to be overlooked and people continue to live their lives as they feel is best and the town as a whole is growing and it may be start to something that is incredible and life changing for many.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
A Place I Am Connected To
About two years ago, I went to a place with my friends in hope to have a good time. It is not the typical place that most people go to but it suited me perfectly. This was a motocross track located about 45 minutes from my house and I fell in love with the place right away. The setting is pretty simple, grass field with a dirt trail with a few obstacles in between. Most people would not feel a connection to place at all but to me and a few very close friends it was perfect. The sense of friendship this place promotes is incredible. I have gained many close friends from this place and will continue these friendships till the day I die. Everyone is treated equally and in my opinion that is one of the greatest things I value. No matter where you came from, you will not be judged. We were all brought there for the same reason and it was to have a good time and enjoy each others company.
I value this place and have a strong connection to it because it sparked an even greater interest into something I did not explore very much and has continued to be the strong foundation on how I live my life. This place alone is the sole responsibly for friendships, road trips, and most importantly finding my true self. With the help of friends and family I truly understand myself much better than ever before and the one place that helped make all this possible was a simple grass field out in the middle of nowhere.
I value this place and have a strong connection to it because it sparked an even greater interest into something I did not explore very much and has continued to be the strong foundation on how I live my life. This place alone is the sole responsibly for friendships, road trips, and most importantly finding my true self. With the help of friends and family I truly understand myself much better than ever before and the one place that helped make all this possible was a simple grass field out in the middle of nowhere.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
About Me
Hello,
My name is Shayne Applegarth from Galloway,OH which is located on the west side of Columbus. I am a pretty laid back person, I do not get upset or happy real sudden. My family and friends mean the world to me and I will do just about anything for them. I feel I have learned a lot about myself quickly and I do not regret much in my life. I am looking to be a business owner in the future. I would like it to be about my favorite hobby of riding and racing ATV's . I am very passionate about it and will continue to do it till I physically can not do it anymore. In all I'm a simple guy and glad to be at OU now.
My name is Shayne Applegarth from Galloway,OH which is located on the west side of Columbus. I am a pretty laid back person, I do not get upset or happy real sudden. My family and friends mean the world to me and I will do just about anything for them. I feel I have learned a lot about myself quickly and I do not regret much in my life. I am looking to be a business owner in the future. I would like it to be about my favorite hobby of riding and racing ATV's . I am very passionate about it and will continue to do it till I physically can not do it anymore. In all I'm a simple guy and glad to be at OU now.
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