Influence: Environmental, Contextual, and Perceptual Essay

One could wonder if personal behaviors can be attributed to the start and stop of epidemic outbreaks as that could potentially change what happens in the world. Our government and other influential individuals can slightly alter this factor – they influence our nation, the choices they make essentially affect the outcome of our nation. People are not the only ones who can influence behavior changes. In Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point: How Little Things Make a Big Difference, he notes in the Power of Context chapter that our immediate environment significantly influences people’s behaviors. Gladwell creatively offers several persuasive strategies, and similar, but different forms of evidence in attempt to advance his main idea with the hopes that the reader will side with him. The various forms of evidence Gladwell presents to his readers directly supports, and helps substantiate his claim that our immediate environment significantly influences people’s behavior. Gladwell offers significant evidence that the New York subway crime was at an ultimate high in the 1980’s, but drastically dropped. David Gunn and William Bratton believed crime was the result of disorder – they both put the Broken Windows theory into effect in order to see if crime epidemics could be reversed. The experiment focused on fixing the smaller issues to create the movement that laws will be enforced, people will be held accountable for their actions. By focusing on the smaller issues, an unambiguous message was sent to criminals – we are taking control of crime starting with petty offences. Eventually the message was received, the criminals changed their ways – if petty laws are being enforced, the major ones would be sure to follow the same suit. Gladwell presents a second piece of evidence; a prison study, which a group of social scientist performed at Stanford University. A mock prison was created and at random, normal psychological volunteers were assigned the role of a guard or prisoner. Within the first day, the behaviors of both the guards and prisoners changed, and each day that had passed, the behaviors significantly increased for the worse. The outcome of the study revealed that behavior changes are imminent based on the immediate environmental changes. Another piece of evidence Gladwell offers his readers came during a seminarian study. A group of seminarians met with two psychologists to test the Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE). This experiment was replicated around the Good Samaritan Bible story and included three variables to test the character traits of the seminarians based upon the situation and context. While walking next door, each seminarian encountered a man who was clearly in distress. The changes in the content of communication varied how the seminarians responded – they were more apt to help the man if they had extra time, whereas, if they were in a hurry he was ignored. The outcome of the study revealed that situational and context surroundings took precedence over fundamental character traits. While the evidence Gladwell presents helps create the foundation and substantiate his claim that our immediate environment significantly influences our behaviors, he also entails rhetorical strategies throughout the text. Rhetorical strategies can be considered a number of various persuasive writing techniques designed with the intention of changing the readers’ outlook. Without being able to recognize these strategies, the author will most likely succeed in his goal of persuasion. In order for a rhetorical strategy to be effective, an author focuses developing their strategies around their intended audience, and potential resistance in hopes the readers will be satisfied with the answers and side with him. Gladwell’s tries to build credibility towards how the Power of Context theory works by strategically mentioning experiments that were conducted by prestigious universities. He mentions that Stanford and Princeton University conducted two separate behavioral studies, and classifies the similarities the two studies have in relation to how our environmental context can affect the influence of our behavioral choices. Gladwell may have anticipated that the reader may be hesitant to accept his argument because if a radical idea cannot be proven to work, it is considered that it will not work at all. The Power of Context theory is classified as a radical idea because it has the potential to affect a large scale, and one could be skeptical of its effectivity due to the high potential for failure – no one wants to take a great risk with the increased potential for grave results. Failure to direct the readers to credible sources would result in lack of the proof they are seeking to back up Gladwell’s claims, and would ultimately question the integrity of the results from the experiments. In turn, the lack of trust could factor into a roblematic situation; readers would bypass his theory as an un-credible risk not worth considering. Gladwell attempts to remove this resistance by providing credible results in a convincing fashion that favors the similarities between the Power of Context and behavioral influence experiments that were conducted. Noting the studies were done at prestigious and credible colleges, a level of trust has been instilled between the reader and author, and in turn a bond has been created – the trust will continue to grow and ultimately less convincing will be required to reduce further resistance the reader may have. After Gladwell tries to build his credibility, he notes that his theory is legitimate by mentioning that it can be used to reduce crime. Crime was at an ultimate high in the 1980’s, but drastically dropped. Murders dropped, felonies dropped, and New York City was at the center of the crime decline and people did not know why. Gladwell presents that the Broken Windows theory reflected substantial improvements in New York. One could doubt that a city the size of New York City, known for corruption and crime could see drastic changes from relatively small environmental changes. It could be argued that the changes in generations and arrival of new immigrants flushed out the crime, but without further proof, doubt would set into the reader’s mind, and one would be curious as to what truly factored into the reversal of crimes. If the Broken Windows theory were not linked as the direct result of the crime reversal, the effectivity of his theory would be questioned, thus reducing the likeliness one would side with him. In order to advance his claim, Gladwell creates a direct link between the crime surges, the implication of the Broken Windows theory, and the decline in crime. In turn, one would be more apt to accept the powerful tool Gladwell has laid before us. If New York City, a city thought to be beyond help due to its size can drastically reduce their crime and clean up their city, the Broken Windows theory must have something spectacular to offer. Gladwell hopes that his readers are tired of seeing crime in their towns, ultimately creating a public push towards government officials to gradually implement the Broken Windows theory with the intentions it would do exactly as it has in New York City. After Gladwell tries to create the image that his studies were legitimate, he tries to show that applying his theory is convenient and easy by strategically relating the Broken Windows theory to real life situations. He mentions, focusing on the smaller issues within the subway seemed irrelevant at the time when the whole subway system was close to collapsing – it seemed as pointless as cleaning the decks on the Titanic while it sank. The Broken Windows theory is considered a radical idea, which is counterintuitive of how one would typically go about solving a global problem. Therefore, it is challenging for the reader to comprehend to Gladwell’s theory, thus making it likely the reader will mistakenly bypass his argument due to their confusion. If the confusion remains, readers are less likely to accept Gladwell’s idea because there will be a lack of confidence for something one does not understand. In efforts to remove the confusion the reader may have about how the Broken Windows theory works in relation to real life scenarios, Gladwell presents a convenient option so the reader is not forced to search for answers. By providing real world examples as to how the Broken Windows theory works, he performs the footwork for his readers in hopes the convenience he has offered them will clear up any confusion they may have about how his theory works. The image Gladwell strives to imply on his readers if the Broken Windows theory is easily applied, as it is understood, then one would be more apt towards applying it in real life situations. While the various forms of evidence and persuasive strategies were presented with the intentions of advancing Gladwell’s main idea, some noteworthy areas to mention follow. Gladwell’s Power of Context and the Broken Windows theory is essentially the same thing. Both ideas revolve around small changes in behavior and environment can signify a major impact. Secondly, not many people focus on fixing the small problems because it is perceived fixing the bigger problems first, result in major changes. Finally, behavioral changes have more variables. Based upon the situation, context, and environment is what factors into how one will respond and react. Gladwell’s attempt to convince his readers does not come by mistake. He intends for this to help readers open their eyes to new strategies and ideas he envisioned to creatively incorporate into his text. By doing so, a new dimension of listening and analyzing has been brought upon the reader. It is crucial at some point in our lives we all learn to decipher and understand the rhetoric of what an author is truly trying to tell us. The more we are able to read between the fine lines, the better we will be at assessing and listening to future texts.

Rhetorical Analysis of Fdr’s First Fireside Chat

A Rhetorical Analysis of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s First Fireside Chat President Franklin Roosevelt’s â€Å"First Fireside Chat† is a reassuring piece that inspired the nation in a time of need using his voice that projected his personal warmth and charm into the nation’s living rooms to explain the banking crisis. He slowly and comprehensibly informed the American people on what has been done and to explain the complex banking system while using rhetorical appeals of ethos, logos, and pathos to effectively restore American faith in the United States government and banking system.Roosevelt won the 1932 election after a landslide victory over his predecessor Herbert Hoover. At this time, America was going through one of the toughest times inside its own borders ever: The Great Depression. Roosevelt's First Fireside Chat on March 12, 1933 marked the beginning of a series of 30 radio broadcasts to the American people reassuring them the nation was going to recover as he shared his hopes and plans for the country. Roosevelt was simply telling the people what he was doing and why.This level of intimacy with politics made people feel as if they too were part of the administrations decision-making process and many soon felt that they knew Roosevelt personally and most importantly, they grew to trust him. Only eight days after his inauguration, President Roosevelt took to the air waves to let Americans know how the country was doing. Millions gathered around their radios to listen in. The President explained to the country in simple terms why so many banks had failed and why he had decided to close them down on March 6 (the so-called â€Å"bank holiday†.He then described the measures that Congress was taking to make sure that a banking crisis would not happen again. Roosevelt used ethos multiple times in his speech to establish his credibility and honesty. After his introduction Roosevelt told America, â€Å"And I know that when yo u understand what we in Washington have been about, I shall continue to have your cooperation as fully as I have had your sympathy and your help in the past week. This was an effective use of ethos because he draws the distinction between conventional knowledge and new insight that he provides throughout his speech. Another example of effective ethos can be found towards the end of his speech when Roosevelt told America, â€Å"I hope you can see, my friends, from this essential reticle of what your Government is doing that there is nothing complex, nothing radical in the process. † This summed up the knowledge he shared in the banking system and instilled a sense of integrity in the government.Throughout the chat Roosevelt used his knowledge to teach the American banking system and explained thoroughly what went wrong while using some of the most commonly words in the English dictionary, which appealed to a large audience that effectively established personal credibility. Alo ng with ethos, Roosevelt used logos in his speech to successfully show that his plans for America were logical and reasonable. Roosevelt used logos to logically organize his speech to effectively inform America of the Emergency Banking Act and his possible solutions.Roosevelt told America at the beginning of his speech, â€Å"I want to tell you what has been done in the last few days, and why it was done, and what the next steps are going to be. † Roosevelt starts with this sentence because little hope and despair fill American hearts who need explanations for the failure of banks and Roosevelt comes out right away with what he’s about to say. The way Roosevelt structured the speech with upfront communication portrayed him as a very organized and upfront leader.Also in the beginning of his speech he says â€Å"First of all let me state the simple fact that when you deposit money into a bank, the bank does not put the money in a safe deposit vault. † Following th is quote he states exactly what is done with your money and why. Roosevelt used logic to make a statement that everyone can agree with and relate to provide a sense of unity. Roosevelt used logos throughout his speech to show Americans that he is both logical and reasonable.On top of logos, Roosevelt’s most effective rhetorical appeal in his first fireside chat is pathos. He appeals to pathos the most throughout the speech because he wants the concerned citizens to feel comforted. He explains towards the end, â€Å"After all, there is an element in the readjustment of our financial system†¦ and that is the confidence of the people themselves†¦ it is up to you to support and make it work. † This is where he makes the people feel important that draws attention to the audience’s desires to make it out of the banking crisis.Immediately after he inspires in unity as he concludes â€Å"It is your problem, my friends, your problem no less than it is mine. To gether we cannot fail. † Roosevelt used inclusive and emotional language such as â€Å"my friends†, â€Å"we†, and â€Å"together† while referencing to what Americans desire in their future, which made people want to act. Roosevelt used pathos effectively throughout his speech to draw attention to the desires, emotions, and beliefs of the audience.Shortly after Roosevelt was inaugurated on March 4, 1933, Roosevelt addressed a worried nation over radio broadcast in his First Fireside Chat that brought his charm and personal warmth into living rooms. With his effective use of pathos, ethos, and logos his rhetorical appeals helped describe the crisis, restore American confidence and faith, and lay out solutions that he is going to use to fix the problem. Worried and impoverished Americans cherished a voice of hope that called for action when leadership meant the most during the worst economic times our country has faced. Word Count: 974

Sociology of sports Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sociology of sports - Essay Example In 2008 Black Americans represented 8.5 percent of the players in the National Baseball League, twenty-nine percent were Hispanics with most of the having a Caribbean origin. Also, racial representation is evident in athletics where most of the athletes who participate in short sprint races are blacks while the whites and Hispanics tend to participate in the long distance races (Floyd, Kimberly and Monika 2013). Edwards (1972) argued that blacks are superior to the whites in terms of physical strength but are inferior in terms of intellectual ability. Hoberman (1997) argued that physical prowess has become a characteristic of African-American community in sports like basketball. This is as a result of the idolization of famous black athletes such as Michael Jackson. This, he argues has reduced the importance placed by African-Americans on their intellectual and social economic development (Jon 2008). The statistics showing that blacks dominate the whites and people from certain places in the world dominate in different forms of sports raises the question whether genetics have a role to play in this. Is the genetic makeup of black people different from the white people hence their dominance in certain sports and not in others? Is the genetic makeup of Jamaicans different so as to dominate the short distance races? People might argue that people with a certain genetic makeup would excel in a certain sport more than people with a different genetic makeup. However, there are several sociological concepts that can correctly explain this phenomenon. The idea of self-fulfilling prophesy argues that what a person believes to be true becomes true due to positive feedback between behaviour and beliefs. Self-fulfilling is in the beginning a false understanding of a situation which then leads to a new behaviour which makes the originally false definition become true. In sports, the misplaced believes that a certain race is best suited for certain sports

Benefits of using electronic whiteboards as a teaching aid Essay

Benefits of using electronic whiteboards as a teaching aid - Essay Example It is possible to maintain cleanliness in the environment while using whiteboards, as there are no chalks or dusters. Besides providing the convenience of using flipcharts, pictures, maps and charts during demonstration which otherwise would not have been possible, it mainly provides the following benefits: It serves as an excellent tool for brainstorming sessions, either in meetings or classrooms, the demonstrator has the benefit of conducting question-answer session in several ways, which after analyzing and ensuring that all pupils are taking part, uses symbols or communication aid to mark the answer as true or false or to transfer their views on whiteboard for display purpose. It is easy to get students' attention, as it is a colourful medium. Whiteboard is ideal in situations where the computer access is limited as it is an interactive tool, which works best when there is only a single computer in classroom. While working along with computer and projector and in addition to displaying lectures or information, it can also send that information to all students in a class and possess the ability to research a topic using Internet along with the class. Electronic whiteboards help in daily updating of lesson plans.

Critical Analysis Paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Critical Analysis Paper - Assignment Example Many of the major poles in this newly emerging multi-polar world will not be single nations, but rather clumps of nations who will exert a significant say as to how the new world order need to be contrived. In such a scenario the ubiquitous West is expected to lose its grip over the world economy and politics. In a more pragmatic sense the so called ubiquitous ‘Western Liberal Democracy’ is losing its charm as the history is set to evince major corrections over the next five years. The other remarkable thing that one would discern in the world politics will be the augmenting role of the non-state actors in the configuration of international relations and in the shaping of local and international political setups. The multinational corporations whose domains extend beyond the borders of the nations they ascribe to are poised to adhere to potent corporate foreign policies that are bound to configure and shape international relations in a variety of ways. The power of the international intergovernmental institutions and powers like the European Union and nongovernmental organizations like the international financial institutions are set to play a major role in the international polity and economy over the next five years. The nation states will stand vulnerable to the agenda of these intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations and institutions. In the next five years the policy frameworks and governance agendas of the non-state actors will gain much prece dence amongst the developed and developing nations as the framework of these non-state actors are expected to become more inclusive and democratic. For example say the emergence of the international credit rating agencies and the influence that their predictions have on the flow of capital in the international markets is one way one could grasp the emerging power of the non-state actors. In the years to come, the important question will not as to how to dilute and diminish the role

The working class of Indian mens working in the field of Fashion Dissertation

The working class of Indian mens working in the field of Fashion - Dissertation Example The study "The working class of Indian mens working in the field of Fashion" talks about The working class of Indian fashion Industry. With industrialization and mass production fashion got a new shape in the western world. Fashion industry has became more popular when combined with visual effects, that is through the art of photography which brings the outcomes of the designers to the doors of common people through different print media forms. on one hand photography makes the dresses and models all the more attractive and famous, while on the other, it makes the conceptual loopholes quite prominent. The 16 page editorial published in the Vogue Issue of August 2008 in India sees the new nation as a place where even the poor class takes to expensive brands and carries it off gracefully. Hence Vogue attempts to make fashion reach out to all classes of people instead of the wealthy ones or celebrities. The magazine published some photos of lower middle class people flaunting expensive branded clothes and accessories. However this kind of portrayal drew lots of controversy because the people modeling in the magazine belonged to the similar class, which witnessed suicides and poverty. What becomes prominent in this discussion is the strong influence of western culture or the cultural dependency witnessed by the Indian fashion industry. Yet, the same fashion trends which has been a pride of the glamour seeking people of the upper middle class and wealthy sections are now imposed upon. those working class people who are merely able to cover their cost of production of labor hours and some who are not even able to do so. They perhaps belong to the class of contractual or casual workers who thrive to make both ends meet. When we think of the designers and fashion photographers a finger might be raised at their sensitivity towards the human dignity. It hurts when one sees the contrast between the social status and the expensive brands. Why would a person thriving for ba re survival want to use a Burberry umbrella? Even if we assume this might one day become an economically viable option, the individual might not decide to flaunt his money through these brands even if he can afford it. The middle class people working in the fashion industry (photographers, designers and editors of fashion magazines) need to be sensitive to the ethical viability of any form of art which represents fashion trends. This prompts us to ask the question: Can Vogue’s way of representing ‘new India’ support Realism or it is an example of Aestheticism in fashion photography? II. LITERATURE REVIEW This section attempts to discuss the theories of Realism and Aestheticism in visual art and how they apply to fashion photography in particular. Reviews of different literatures are covered to learn about the evolution of fashion industry in India and the works of different fashion photographers including the way they portray fashion in the daily lives of the soc iety. The study incorporates details regarding the middle class people working in the fashion industry of India and how they portray culture and economy through their works. How the trends change along with the impact of globalization and economic upgradation. At the end of the review one might raise questions about ethics and priorities while portraying

Marketing questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Marketing questions - Essay Example These information’s may include the price of the commodity, date of manufacture and expiry date, nature of the product among other things. These informations provided are very important for both the customers and the companies in realizing the purchasing nature of the customers as well as in setting the prices of the commodities. Some of the information captured in the card from scanner data includes demographic factors of the client. The demographic data are date of birth and gender; customer’s contact address as well as residential area. They also include the customers name and national identification number. These information’s which are captured are very important for the companies as they help the company to strategize in efforts to enjoy competitive advantages over their competitors. They are useful in designing promotional strategy as it may only allow certain groups of customers who may have the card to enjoy certain discounts from the company. It will therefore be cost effective for the company when they use this cards with all the information contained (Khazanchi and Besley, 2012). The picture below present the package of choice which provides the good job in providing information related to the benefits of the product, safety, the manufacturer and direction to consumers on how to use the product. This package is very important to the consumer due to information it has which are relevant to the consumers. It educates the consumers on the ways of managing their weight loss which has become a challenge in the modern society. It does this by educating the consumers on how to do grocery shopping, exercise and smart eating. The product itself is very important in improving the individual’s health and has also been packaged in a bio-degradable package which makes it to be environmental friendly product which brings some benefits to the consumers. The company producing this package is responsible for a number of community sensation