4/27/09 - Group Role

I enjoy working on the visuals when visuals are necessary for the group project. This is mostly because I draw and paint as a hobby and have taken a computer graphics course in high school. I like to do some of the writing usually as well, but less of the presenting (although I don't hate doing that.) I usually tend to oversee the tasks and make sure things get done, but at this point, at the end of the semester, my major courses are becoming very overwhelming, so I probably won't be the best person to do that.

4/22/09 Humorous Piece Author's Note

The background to this coartoon gives reason for its humor. Currently, the state of Florida has was of the lowest taxes on Cigarettes, yet can't seem to adequately fund its public schools. The cigarette tax in Texas is $1.41, it's $2.57 in New Jersey, and two dollars in several other states. In florida, however, smokers pay only 33 cents per pack. It is being suggested that the tax in Florida be increased to the national average of $1.00, which would provide billions of dollars in tax money and could help to fund schools, especially in counties planning on cutting at least 8 schools if the current proposed budget cut happens. There are few people that like paying taxes, so it seems that if the funding is needed, one population of people being taxed on something that has been named the #1 cause of preventable death in the United States makes some sense.

The cartoon is a second draft. I am happy with it, but would like to hear any critisism. I want to make sure it is funny and understandable.

4/20/09

I chose to use a cartoon for my humourous peice in order to make the point that it seems outrageous for people to find increasing the cigarette tax in Florida to the national average is a greater cuase for upheaval than potentially closing eight schools in one county due to budget cuts that could be supplemented by the increased tax. It is humourous becase it shows a man being told by his wife that his youn son may be in a class with 200 students to one teacher - with his response being "that's not too bad...", and then on another day being told about the cigarette tax being raised to the national average (one dollar) and him freaking out saying that legislators must be crazy. He reacts to a seemingly commone sense (to those who agree with the point) tax increase and not to an absurd statement that an elementary class size would be 200, which is where the comedy comes in. There are a few other details like the facial expressions of the little boy and the visible newspaper headline that also had comedy.

4/14/09

The humorous selection I found on the topic of slumping education costs is not specifically related to the central Florida community but definitely relates to the topic. It makes a joke about the increase in layoffs occurring throughout the U.S. while tying in the effects on the public school budget. Rather than a cartoon about an adult getting laid off a job, it shows a child coming home from school (backpack and all) and commenting to his mother that he is home early because he has been laid off from school due to budget cuts. This is humorous because, while it does not literally happen, it is ensuing that rejecting kids from school is the next [extreme] action that can be taken to make do with such a low budget.

4/13/09 Op-ed Draft 1 Author's note

This is the first draft of my Op-Ed piece. I intend for it to be addressed to the audience of the Orlando Sentinel, the local paper in Central Florida. I think the point I am trying to make is clear, but I’m not sure if my wording always works. I need some help making sure that the read is not confusing. Also, I don’t think the evidence is very strong to support all that I am saying, so let me know if the argument falters because of it. I would like feedback on whether or not the paragraphs flow as well.

4/6/09 Op-Ed Prewriting

1.The general tone of op-eds posted in the Orlando Sentinel is purposeful, witty, and often is blaming. It is clear that the authors feel strongly about the topics being discussed and the editorials call upon a specific party to be responsible for the issue at hand. The assumed audience seems to be educated individuals living in greater Orlando who are of voting age. It is interesting that there is a liberal feel with each piece since the audience is not predominately liberal or conservative. A lot of the articles are currently dealing with new budget cuts, education, and topics related to jobs and the economy.

2.The op-ed I will write will focus on persuading readers that education should be at the top of priorities for legislators based on evidence suggesting negative results that sprout from poor education such as a weakened economy and work force. I will discuss some suggested options that can be initiated to make sure that education is not sacrificed amongst budget cuts. This topic runs parallel to the theme of most of the op-eds currently in the Orlando Sentinel.

3.My purpose in writing on this subject is to persuade readers to write to or call the governor of Florida’s office and other legislators about their concern for the lack of focus on sustaining and improving public education in Florida.

4./5. /6. The most effective rhetorical appeals will probably be ethos and pathos, but also logos. I will give personal experience or anecdotes to bring pathos to the piece. This will be effective if the audience is as I assume: educated. It will be most effective in persuading parents of school aged, or soon to be school aged children. I will establish ethos by discussing the topic with an educated view, not simply opinions. For example, I will provide results from research on the effects of poor education on a county or state (which I will have to do some researching to find). This will also provide logos, as will bringing up other arguments in the correct logical order.

4/1/09 Letter to Editor draft 1

Author's Note:

This is the first draft of a letter to the editor regarding an opinion article bashing the Florida legislaters rather thant the school district leaders for the potential drastic measures that may occur in certain Florida school districts due to recent budget cuts in education. I think I need help making sure my statements are clearly understandable, as I often find that my wording can be a little akward and difficult to get through. I am also concerned that my points are not effective enough.

Draft 1:

In regards to the article published on 3/20/09, “We think: Legislators sleep as the education funding crisis deepens,” and having been raised and educated for the most part in Central Florida, It seems that Florida’s legislators and Florida voters need to take another look at their priority list and reevaluate what is important to sustaining and promoting a good life.

As a college student who can now fathom the importance of learning continuously in order to lead an enriching and purposeful life, I have learned numerous times that less focus on education leads to increased unwanted births, increased drug and alcohol use, and a dampened economy. And if you don’t believe me, do your research. My experience with the situation comes from attending public high school in Florida. Over and over again, the story seems to be that the importance stressed on education, and the amount of resources available, are negatively correlated with violence, low test scores, and failing rates.

I came from a school that was nationally ranked, but some surrounding public schools were known for their low test scores, violence, and failing rates. It was for this reason my parents decided to send my sister and I to a private middle school and to move to a better school district in the town over. Not all families, though, have the opportunity to or care to make such changes to send their children to a better educational setting. And why should they if Florida legislators did their job to ensure that public education is a top priority no matter the economic state?

Many have traveled and experienced an 8 percent sales tax in other states, two cents higher than the six percent sales tax in Orange County. While this is not ideal, the ultimate question is if people will people stop buying if one to two percent more is taken in the name of sales tax for the benefit of the school system? And if so, why not, instead, raise the sales tax on cigarettes to that of other states since more and more studies are suggesting that smoking cigarettes is one of the leading causes of cancer? What does the governor think is being accomplished for the state by decreasing property taxes and failing to raise cigarette taxes? Is appeasing Florida smokers by not increasing taxes to the extent of every other state more important than ensuring that our youth have the best educational resources available?

As the article points out, Charlie Christ is opposed to increasing taxes. Maybe it’s on this principle that he was placed on several billboards throughout the state when Florida voters were called to “vote yes to Amendment 1”. While the article does not mention this, I can see a parallel theme. Amendment 1, as all Florida residents probably know, decreased property taxes. In turn, however, the school system saw dramatic budget cuts. Teachers were fired, busses cut from bus schedules, and four-year universities across the state eliminated degree programs and limited available summer courses.

In my opinion, not only are the governor and legislators to blame for their skewed sense of what is important, Florida voters need to be called upon to pay more attention to the consequences of their voting decisions.