Jillian+Thompson

Jillian Thompson English 101.06- Professor Wendt Assignment 1.2 Wednesday, September 15, 2010 “Will Text Messaging Destroy the English Language?” Summary and Analysis In Dallas Spires’ article “Will Text Messaging Destroy the English Language?” he discusses the issue of text messaging lingo infiltrating everyday English and questions whether it is indeed destroying the English language as some claim. It is argued in this article that text messaging lingo is destroying the language as one once knew it; yet, the counter argument is that text messaging is nothing more than a code for communication, such as Morse code or something that the military would use. Spires argues on the side that text messaging has not completely destroyed the English language. Using logos and some pathos to solidify his argument, Spires explains that to understand text messages, one must first have an understanding of English grammar and syntax. He also informs the reader that text messages are almost “like some sort of code” (Spires 1). Like any other code, text message lingo correlates with the English language and allows those that understand this code to communicate. He also discusses how the English language has changed over the centuries, for example: “If most of us were to pick up an Old English edition of Beowulf, we would swear up and down it was not written in English, when it was” (Spires 2). Language has grown and changed just as cultures have over the centuries, and this idea of text messaging lingo is perhaps just another change for the English language. As Spires states in his article, “if we feel that the English language is being undermined simply because the common, accepted written code is falling out of favor, then we need to turn to our teachers, our advertisers, our television stations, where our young people are going to find examples of written or typed English” (Spires 2) and do something about the way English is being taught. Throughout this article, Spires relies mainly on logos to get his message across. In the case of this article, it works because facts are needed in order to create a convincing argument. Using this type of persuasion, it allows the reader to question the article and wonder if perhaps the author is correct and text messaging lingo should be viewed as nothing more than a code and not as something that is destroying the English language. The site that the article is posted on attracts those who are interested in the effect text messaging has on the English language and are looking for more views on this topic. Along the side of the webpage there are links to other pages so that one could continue to research. The appearance is almost that of a //Sparknotes// page, and it appears that the author is reliable. The weakest part of this argument is the final statistics that are given at the end of the article; they are almost randomly thrown in and the argument would have been just as valid without it. The strongest part of Spires’ argument is that text messaging lingo can be viewed as nothing more than a code used today that is “not meant to be understood by the general public but only by the intended audience” (Spires 2) because it makes a valid point that is relatable. On this website, no pictures have been added to portray Spires’ message or strengthen his argument. There are multiple advertisements, but none that strongly have to do with the article overall. This article appeals to the sense of logic, as well as to emotion by bringing up familiar topics and situations with which the general public can relate to.


 * // Jillian - Nicely done. Thorough. Good thinking. CHECK PLUS. ~Prof. Wendt //**

Ebert, Roger. "Moulin Rouge :: Review." //Rogerebert.com :: Movie Reviews, Essays and the Movie Answer Man from Film Critic Roger Ebert//. 1 June 2001. Web. 04 Oct. 2010. .

Clark, Mike. "'Moulin Rouge': A Dazzling Wreck." //USA Today//. 17 May 2001. Web. 04 Oct. 2010. .

Travers, Peter. "Review of Moulin Rouge." //Rolling Stone//. 09 May 2001. Web. 04 Oct. 2010. .

Jillian Thompson English 101- Professor Wendt A 4.1 October 27, 2010 “Service With a Smile, And Plenty of Metal”

In “Service With a Smile, And Plenty of Metal,” Debra Darvick notes that in today’s world more and more people are moving away from just having single piercing on the earlobe to radical amounts of piercings all over the body. It is a common scene now to see people with multiple piercings on the ears, the nose, the eyebrow, the tongue, and the lip, and that’s just naming above the shoulders. Whether this is a generation fad or not is questioned. The idea is also proposed that perhaps the pain from the piercings provides a sense of pride. The author provides many examples from her life about seeing people with multiple piercings and how she finds them very distracting. Darvick states that she would “likely stifle a shudder or two” when she is waited on by a waitress or a cashier with multiple odd piercings. Darvick uses ethos effectively throughout her article by pulling examples directly from her life to state her opinion on the new fad of piercings covering what seems to be every inch of the body. She describes the distracting piercings of an employee at a bookstore as well as a cashier at a CD shop and a server at a coffee shop. Pathos are also used well. She creates a feeling that makes you almost want to be just as disgusted as she is about these multiple piercings. By describing in detail what disgusts her about piercings, one relates to those times when he or she may have thought the same thoughts. Discussing the “toro style” nose ring that is “big enough to hold one of my [her] dinner napkins” brings a vivid mental picture that the reader can relate to. She does fail though to fully convince readers that she is not just simply judgmental about these piercings. Darvick sounds old fashion and unwilling to look beyond the surface layer. Logos are not used to their fullest since she provides little solid evidence about piercings besides what she knows from her personal experience. She does include a counter argument that discusses the idea of all of these piercings as being a way to become one with pain. Darvick supports this thought commenting: “perhaps piercings provide a path to create meaning out of the profane.” Even though this comment is made, Darvick notes that she will still let someone else take her place in line if the cashier is has multiple piercings that are too distracting to even allow her to look him or her in the face.

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