Close Reading - Why We Should Stop Obsessing About the Federal Budget Deficit

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/why-we-should-stop-obsess_b_2155489.html

Robert Reich, who was the Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration, and is now a professor of public policy at University of California at Berkeley, thinks that people think that the deficit is the main factor in the economy, when its really not. Reich uses elements of rhetoric diction, details, and syntax.

Reich's uses diction to emphasize that people who support cutting the budget are wrong and that job growth comes from spending. Reich calls deficit cutting an "industry" (para. 6 ln. 1). He is saying that people who only focus on deficit cutting are part of an industry and are fueled by money. The word "hokum" (para. 7 ln. 2) shows the media as a magician, who is showing people an illusion, rather than the truth. Reich says that investment "spurs" (para. 10 ln. 1) public investment. By using the word "spur" he is saying that investment is the spark of job growth. Reich's use of diction shows that the deficit is not really all that important.

Reich's use of details are used to provide previous examples when a balanced budget came out of a strong economy and not from cutting programs. Reich says "the 1990's when the Clinton administration balanced the budget", was not because of cutting spending, but because of "faster job growth than anyone expected" (para. 3 ln. 2-4). Many people remember the 1990's as a time of job growth and a strong economy. By Reich coupling it with a balanced budget, he makes readers associate the two, to make the idea seem very viable.

Reich uses syntax to keep the reader thinking and to make something seem less dangerous. He asks the question "Why don't our politicians and media get this?" (para. 6 ln. 1) referring the affect of our budget on our economy. He places this at the beginning of the paragraph to have the reader think as why they do not get it, then in the next sentence, he quickly answers the question. Reich also calls the "fiscal cliff" a hill. Instead of just saying that it is a hill, he artfully says "(and, yes, I know -- it's not really a "cliff" but more like a hill) " (para. 2 ln. 3-4). by using the parenthesis he is saying that he actually knows its not as serious as everyone thinks it is, but he is just calling it the fiscal cliff, because everyone does.

The use of the elements of rhetoric in this paper are used to strengthen his argument that the deficit is not the huge problem that people make it out to be and that the fiscal cliff is not that serious either. 

Open Prompt 3

1994. In some works of literature, a character who appears briefly, or does not appear at all, is a significant presence. Choose a novel or play of literary merit and write an essay in which you show how such a character functions in the work. You may wish to discuss how the character affects action, theme, or the development of other characters. Avoid plot summary.

In "1984", written by George Orwell, everyone is constantly watched by Big Brother, although no one has ever seen him. He is on posters, stamped on their coins and even on large telescreens, all with the message of "Big Brother is Watching You". Although in the book you are not even sure if Big Brother is real, he still plays an important role. Big Brother affects the action of the characters, the theme of the book, and how characters develop.

Big Brother is everywhere and the characters of the play know that. Winston his whole life has followed the rules of the Party, but has always harbored hate for everything that they stand for. His affair with Julia is an act of rebellion for both of them, but for different reasons. Julia does it for self satisfaction, while Winston rebels because he has a fundamental ideological problem with the party and he sees this as a way to rebel. Winston also does little things to rebel, regardless of whether he will be caught or not. Deep down Winston feels that regardless of what he does Big Brother will eventually catch him through the thought police. By thinking this, Winston makes little rebellions that increase his risk of being caught, like when he wrote "Down With Big Brother" in his journal that he had bought. Big Brother acts as a God like figure, in that he everywhere and supposedly know what you are doing.

A clear theme that  Big Brother influences is that you can not trust large governments that control everything. There are large telescreens in everyone's houses that spew propaganda about the party. The propaganda tells people false information, making the party's failures look like huge successes. Another theme that is in this book is that the government will use the technology for evil. Big Brother and the party have hidden microphones all over the cities and use the telescreens to promote the Party and brainwash everyone in Oceania. 

How characters develop are also largely affected by Big Brother. Big Brother is the face of the Party and represents what the party stands for. After Winston is caught by the party for his affair with Julia, the party brainwashes him to be a loyal party member. After, Winston comes to love and embrace Big Brother. Big Brother affects all the characters, not just Winston. They all face the same scrutiny of Big Brother.

Big Brother may not actually be real, but has a significant affect in "1984". Big Brother affects the actions of the characters, how they develop, and influences the themes of the novel.

Response to Course Material #3

We recently retook the terms test, which I did just a little better on than last, but that was to be expected, for how much effort I out forth. The games were helpful at first, but after the first couple of times we did them in class I had already memorized the answers, so they were only good for examples and not for application. I do feel like I do know the terms much better now though. I also feel like some of the questions on the terms test had more than one right answer for them, but that just might be me. We usually do a tone exercise everyday, which for me is more of a vocab lesson than a tone lesson. I think it really just depends on how you say it to get the piece of candy. Like the song Santos and I made "America is Sick". If you didn't hear us say it you would probably think we meant it literally, not America is awesome.

We watched Death of Salesman, which I found really boring. I think I might like it more when I read the play, but I really disliked the movie. The point that Miller was trying to get off, I think was overplayed at the time by critics of society in that time period. I personally don't like the way he did it. That may be because I watched it as a movie and couldn't go back and re-read something, if I didn't catch it. I think after our small discussion of the play definitely helped in my understanding.