Hallelujah!

Man that issues paper was a doozy. I actually had a lot of fun writing it though. It was a topic I enjoyed so it was interesting for me to do all the research for it and then construct an argument for it. In high school I would always just find whatever sources on the internet for research papers. So I had a difficult time finding legit sources that weren't written by 15 year olds who just figured out how to create a web page. But I did, so my paper is real, ok?! I thought the thingy where we learned how to find sources was really helpful. Well guys, it's been fun! I can't believe another semester is almost over. This is the last blog post, so take it easy friends!

Nothing like a smiling sun to pick you up when you're feeling down...

J-Dub signing out!!

Breaking It Down!

Well I'm just going to have to mix and match to make my paragraph outline work.

My topic of my paper is very historical in nature (the dropping of the atomic bomb in WWII). I had to take the 6-part paper outline and disperse the narration/ explanation part into the reasoning/ arguments part of it. Partly because my arguments wouldn't make sense without historical background. Part is a weird sounding and weird looking word when you say it too much...

1. Intro- Usual introduction, some historical background.
2. Statement and division of subject- Defined by my thesis within the intro.
3. Reasoning and arguments/ narration and explanation- My arguments are A. the Japanese were not about to surrender, thus it saved more lives than an invasion would have taken. B. The use of the bomb deterred a very powerful Soviet Union from any aggression. C. The use of the bomb created a dead lock for bomb use in the future.
4. Prothetic- I'm still trying to figure this one out...
5. Conclusion- just everything summed up nicely!

Oooooohh maaaaan! Bummer in the summer!

I'm not actually going to have a bummer in the summer, I just like saying it. My U.S. history teacher my Junior year of high school would always say it and he had THE deepest voice ever (he was actually the announcer for the L.A. Dodgers- pretty cool). I'm am so pumped for school to be over! In fact, I made a paper chain to count down the rest of the days I have to be up here. It's pretty exciting to break one every day you should try it! I'm going to go to the beach every day before work when I get back! Newport with all my friends back home. I get to go back and work at the Honda dealership and see all my 40 and 50 year old Mexican friends who speak barely any English and practice up my Spanish for my mission! At the beach by morning/afternoon ,washing cars by night! Making money and having fun is pretty tight! (Did anyone pick up that vague song reference,  I changed the words so probably not) I just have to endure to the end of school now, and knock out that issues paper! We're almost out of here!!!!!!!!!

I know I already obsessed about the beach my last post, but I really do miss it. Here is the beach "The Wedge". It has monster waves that crash right on shore... definitely a win-lose situation.

The Research Place!

Well... I don't have a whole lot to say about my experience. It was very brief cause I didn't really have any questions at the time. The guy did show me how to find a newspaper database so that was... good. I just felt like we already learned most of the stuff there was to know about that research website. Anyways gotta finish that paper so I don't have to worry about it over the weekend because I'm leaving for home in a few hours!

Here's my favorite beach back home, Newport!!

I am enlightened..

New Evidence of Truman's Decision: Scholarly Article

Sparks fly over new report on Hiroshima bomb radiation: Scholarly Journal

Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Web page

Codename Downfall: The Secret Plan To Invade Japan: Book

Theses! (but actually just one)

Although the atom bomb in WWII has had lasting negative consequences, the bomb saved more lives than it took because the alternative to ending the war was a massive invasion.




I'm not sure what this is, but for some reason a thesis search under creative commons finds it relative... so here you go!!

Issues For Days!

Effects of the Atomic Bomb in WWII: 


How much damage did the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki cause immediately?

Did the atom bomb end up saving more American and Japanese lives than an invasion would of?





Stem Cell Research:

What aspects of it caused President Bush to not fund it during his presidency?

Are there less controversial methods?




Sweatshops- (of course they are deplorable): 


Is boycotting sweatshops or buying from them the best way to stop their use?

 How many now thriving and civil nations and cities grew from sweatshops?

Why It Got Hot for LeBron in Miami

Michael Jordan is undoubtedly “The Man” in basketball. He earned this title because he has had 25 game-winning shots, 6 championships, and has been dubbed the best player to ever step foot on a NBA court. This is why his opinions on all matters associated with the NBA have nearly become law. LeBron James seems to have much of the talent of Jordan with exactly zero sixths of the championships. When LeBron chose to switch teams from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the stacked Miami Heat, it began a wave of controversy and dislike towards LeBron. The Miami Heat had several superstars already, and when Lebron left for Miami it looked like a desertion of the Cavaliers. Basketball fans had just begun to view LeBron as one of the greats before he switched; he had almost become “the man”. "The Michael Jordan view of LeBron James" is an effective argument that convinces basketball fans who dislike Lebron to stop and view LeBron as wise rather than short-sighted by using logic, appeals to authoritative NBA sources, and evolving, repetitious diction in order to break down what being “the man” in basketball means.

The author of “The Michael Jordan View of Lebron James”, Henry Abbott, begins with logical arguments of what made Jordan “the man”. Abbott defines being “the man” in a way everyone would agree with by using words like “indomitable”, “fearless”, and “victorious”. The order in which he presents the rest of his arguments is very logical and easy for a basketball fan to agree with. He first goes on to define why LeBron has not received the same level of applause as Jordan from basketball enthusiasts. He claims LeBron has not been living up to the current definition of “the man”: “When people heard that James was teaming up with Wade and Bosh [in Miami], though ... wow. You know how men have this reputation as not being willing to pull over and ask for directions?” Lebron switching teams for help was seen as a loss of man points.  However, Abbott goes on to logically break down the current definition of being “the man”. His arguments leave those with dislike for LeBron wondering why they have those feelings. He begins to logically lead them on a path that says perhaps being “the man” is more than attempting to win alone. Perhaps it is being able to build a better team in order to win championships, as LeBron has done. Abbott begins to cite Jordan’s own unhappiness at his team mates in his Hall of Fame acceptance speech in order to show the Jordan way of winning is unsatisfactory, “ ‘Jerry’s not here,’ Jordan explained. ‘I don’t know who’d invite him. I didn’t. ... ‘All this bitterness, even though they won championships together!’“ Abbott is logically driving home the point that LeBron has not been living up to what most people expected of him, but maybe people have been expecting the wrong thing. This is very effective because Abbott has made it clear that Michael Jordan was undoubtedly the hero of the NBA. Yet, Jordan has his own conflicts with his team mates that sports fans never saw. Abbott has efficiently declared that although Jordan won 6 championships, he was bitter. Maybe LeBron has discovered a way to win 6 championships without the hard feelings. Abbott has put his arguments in an order that leads readers to believe they have currently had the wrong definition of being “the man”.

With Michael Jordan being the premier ex- star of the NBA much of his opinion is agreed with and constantly supported. Abbott effectively appeals to the ultimate authority in basketball by using Michael Jordan quotes. He also makes a reference to Charles Barkley’s opinion, another basketball star, on LeBron, “Jordan, Charles Barkley and others are making fun of James -- perhaps the most biting of all of Jordan's words was "kid" -- for getting help.” Pulling in quotes from the past stars of the NBA is very effective, because most basketball fans find it hard to disagree with their favorite past NBA stars. Nearly all basketball fans love Michael Jordan, thus when Abbott quotes him to further his own point it is truly difficult to disagree. He sets up an untouchable, shining pillar to support his argument. He uses Jordan’s own opinion of success in the NBA to support LeBron’s decisions. One quote Abbott uses shows that maybe Jordan has more respect for LeBron than he has been showing. Jordan states, "There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry [Bird], called up Magic [Johnson] and said, 'Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team,' " Jordan said, “But ... things are different. I can't say that's a bad thing. It's an opportunity these kids have today. In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys.” Abbott supports his own cause with Jordan’s quote which admits the game has changed and he cannot even blame LeBron. Michael Jordan, the legend of all basketball, just admitted that while he may not agree with LeBron’s choice, he doesn’t condemn him for making the decision. Abbott has shown that Jordan, the king of basketball, may agree that Lebron is making a good choice, which gives a big boost for Abbott’s argument.

In order to further break down the definition of being “the man” in basketball, Abbott employs repetitious diction; which is in fact one line repeated 3 times throughout the blog: “Hell no I don't need help.”  At first, the line is used to further strengthen the idea that Michael Jordan was the superstar of the NBA because he didn’t need help to play the game effectively. Part of being “the man” was not asking for help and getting it done all by yourself. The second time Abbott uses this line it is to show that LeBron did indeed fail as being “the man” by the current standard. However, when Abbott uses the line the third time he completely breaks down the old definition of being “the man” in sports, and ultimately ridicules the idea of not seeking help in order to win championship. He draws basketball fans in with the repetitious diction in a very clever way. He gets basketball fans to agree with his argument of what “the man” in basketball is. The line is used twice to ridicule LeBron’s choices: which Abbott’s target audience, basketball fans who dislike LeBron, will find favorable. However, the third time he employs the repetitious line he strikes down what being “the man” entails, and shocks his readers. He states how Jordan could have been more useful to his team. He takes the repetitious diction the basketball fans have come to trust, and throws it in their faces, “By the metrics of being the man, Jordan would have been a failure. Talk about pulling over to ask for directions. But Jordan would have been a better winner. He'd be more valuable to his team and his fans in every way if somehow he had pulled that off. Hell no I don't need help.” The final use of the repeated line is used very sarcastically as if to say only a fool would not seek help. The repetitious diction was cleverly used over time in order to finally break down the essence of the hate against LeBron. At first the line is condemning and points an ugly finger at LeBron; however, the final time it is used it puts LeBron on a pedestal by breaking down arguments against him.

Henry Abbott builds his case for LeBron by using diction that repeats and evolves, appealing to authoritative NBA sources, and the use of logical arguments. The repetitious diction evolves in order to become a powerful line to support Abbott’s view. When Abbott pulls in quotes by Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley it is hard to disagree with such stars of basketball and thus creates a compelling argument. Abbott also has the ability to logically construct an argument that breaks down the definition of being “the man” within basketball. His argument very convincingly turns the heads of basketball fans that dislike LeBron. These three uses of rhetoric combine to create a compelling argument and issue a call for all basketball fans to think a little more clearly before throwing out another insult against LeBron James.

Reflection Time!

Well, I actually kind of liked the RA despite not having to be creative. I guess I'm just not that creative in general. Actually, I know that's true but that's ok. When it comes down to it I just thought this paper came together a lot easier for me than the Opinion Editorial. It's probably because I had a better subject this time so I was actually able to really write the paper and be satisfied with the result.

Plus! I had this nice lady at the writing center who wasn't scary and kind of mean like the girl I got for the opinion editorial. She had a lot of really helpful suggestions that I still need to add into my paper.

And it's National Flag Day in Mexico... in case anyone was wondering.

Comparison de Peer Editing Styles ("of" is the only Spanish word I knew from that last line)

Well, both the OpEd and the RA styles of peer editing were good and bad for different  reasons. When it came down to it though, I liked the RA style more. It was good to get more opinions because my paper needs all the help it can get. They tore my paper down better as a team than would one person alone. Which is good because if the tearing down doesn't kill my paper it makes it stronger right? Unless it lost a leg or arm or something... Anyways my favorite part of the RA style of peer editing was that the essays were read before class. I felt like that gave more time for the editors to analyze the papers closer and get the general picture better than usual. SO cheers to the RA style!

I wish I was as cute as this kid when I was little...

Power of the Word

Analogy: Abbott takes LeBron looking to team up with other superstars and compares it to a man stopping to ask for directions. It's not suppose to happen.  "When people heard that James was teaming up with Wade and Bosh, though ... wow. You know how men have this reputation as not being willing to pull over and ask for directions?"

Tone: Abbott begins to ridicule, with a biting tone, the current definition of being "the man" in basketball. "In your personal life, do you find it true that real men don't pass the ball, or share, or have friends, or smile or all that? The Jordan/Bryant way was one way to do it, but it's hardly the only way to get the job done." 

Rhetorical Question: "But more importantly, how do we know James' end goal is to be the man?"




Is this what being "the man" means? Maybe...

THE Thesis!

"The Michael Jordan view of LeBron James" is an effective argument that convinces haters of Lebron to calm down and see LeBron as wise rather than short-sighted  because it uses logic, appeals to NBA authority, and repetitious diction in order to change the current unpopular perspective on Lebron.

Wow that thesis is a doozy...

From One Blog to Another

Who's the Next Michael Jordan?
Topic: What happened to Lebron's fanbase? It disappeared as quickly as he changed teams.
Author: Henry Abbott
Audience: Basketball fans, present and past. Especially Michael Jordan and Lebron/ Kobe fans.

Should News Come With a Warning Label?
Topic: How news and the media may be detrimental to our emotional well-being.
Author: Dick Cavett
Audience: Anyone who views news regularly.

Is Drumming Good For You? (Of Course!!)
Topic: Does laying down rhythmic beats improve mental and physical health?
Author: Joe Besso
Audience: Drummers (so they have a reason to play for extended periods of time no matter how loud it may be) Anyone who wants to become healthier.



                                           The Man- The Myth- The Legend- Travis Barker.
                                             

Opinion Editorial: What Was My Opinion Again?

Well, to be completely honest, this assignment worked me forwards and backwards. To put it in sports terms, I was Kendrick Perkins, and Blake Griffin dunked on my face.

I think I was confused about how in-depth the Opinion Editorial was going to become. My topic started out as me ranting on bad hand shakes, lo and behold, I would soon have to support it with logic and authority; I was dumb-founded. My editorial became a 750 word "how to" instead of "here's why".

The lady at the Writing Center shot my paper down so hard that maybe she, and not the editorial, was the Blake Griffin in this assignment: all 5 ' 2 of her. Either way I got roughed up, and my polished draft hardly resembles my final draft I turned in. I had to seriously revamp it after the Writing Center. I lost a lot of my somewhat sarcastic tone and became very... factual (ehhh).

I still thought it was a great assignment and I would pick a different topic next time. My problem was my lack of understanding on what exactly I would have to do with my ravings (not THESE kind of raves) and rantings.

My Rhetorical Analysis will be the best!

Grasping the Importance of a Handshake

Today is the day you get that coveted job at the most prestigious company in the city. You’ve been waiting for this moment for several weeks now and as you enter the office you are struck by the beeps and blips of printers and fax machines. Your hands begin to shake as your interviewer makes eye contact with you, and moves his way toward you. The interviewer’s eyes begin evaluating you as he walks over. His eyes dash to your hair and then to your face, deciding whether or not you shaved this morning. He determines the quality of your suit and your posture. Yet, as you look into his eyes you can tell he has not truly made an evaluation of you: he’s waiting for something. Then he extends his hand. You realize this is what he is waiting for. This hand shake can leave the interviewer feeling that you are capable and confident, or weak and indecisive. In a world where first impressions can make or break you, it is important for business people and missionaries to shake hands properly so that a beneficial first impression is made.

It is said that long lasting impressions of new people are made within the first five seconds. That means it can takes months of knowing someone to change their split second decision on who you are as a person. People make evaluations and judgments of others consciously and subconsciously virtually all the time. The new individual will evaluate you in several seconds and hold to that opinion throughout an interview or any initial first meeting. This is why the hand shake has become so important. Anyone can dress up nicely and look presentable for an interview, but to many people, the handshake is a view into the character of the new individual. In those few, judgmental seconds, you can declare who you are as a person without any words at all.

I once had an employer who was responsible for interviewing all new applicants to his division. He shared an important aspect of making good impressions with me. He stated, “When I’m interviewing applicant after applicant, I see dozens of business suits and resumes. Before you know it, people begin to blur together. But when applicants give me a good handshake upon introduction, I make a note of it, because to me, that screams confidence louder than their dressy appearance.” I’ve also experienced this phenomenon of exuding confidence through a hand shake. I have met many LDS missionaries who, because of LDS culture, shake hands with everyone new they meet. When a missionary goes for a handshake and instead supplies you with a flimsy hand, you can’t help but begin to think that they are lacking in social skills and ultimately, lacking confidence in themselves. I have been guilty of thinking this exact thing, a flimsy hand shake left me with the impression that the missionary was not social. Many individuals have also experienced the opposite: a nearly-painful hand shake from a large male. An overbearing hand shake can appear as an attempt to assert power; this nearly always has a negative correlation for the one receiving the domineering hand shake.


Some may claim that hand shaking is not as important as it used to be and that its use is on the decline and even becoming outdated. It is true that the handshake does not have nearly the value it did in the past. A hand shake was once as good as someone’s word, when now it seems to be not much more than a formality. In today’s world, innovation and productivity are climbing faster than ever, and useless and outdated pieces are removed and redesigned. Yet, the hand shake still remains because it still holds value. It may have lost some of its luster and shine, but it has survived because it is a powerful tool for measuring the abilities of someone you have truly yet to know.

The hand shake has become an essential part of meeting someone for both business people and missionaries. A hand shake can be worth a thousand beneficial words, or a thousand detrimental ones. The subconscious mind judges and categorizes nearly all it views, and when first impressions are made quickly haphazardly, you do not want to be judged and sentenced incorrectly. Ensure a competitive edge in the interviewing process by beginning it with a firm hand shake. Ensure the newly met investigator of your church that you have something worth listening to. Ensure that your future is bright, and shake that hand just right.

Why Blogging Without an Assignment is Hard

I really do find writing without an assignment killer! It's hard because in order to have a topic you have to actually be thinking about things, and to be completely honest I don't have time to think anymore since college. I mean, my mind gets so crammed with school during the week and then during the weekend my brain shuts off.

Yet it's also really hard writing about why blogging is hard cause there's only so much you can say. I'm pretty sure I'm hitting that limit right about now too. Anyways, blogging assignments are nice!

Poor kid, he didn't have an assignment either...

The L The P and the E

Logos: I state a well circulated saying at the very beginning of my opinion editorial, but I can't really base it off of any experimented fact. "It is said that long lasting impressions of new people are made within the first five seconds." I'm trying to work with STAR also of course.

Pathos: Well, I make an attempt at some slight humor, but I also try and appeal to a few of the 5 senses with imagery.

Ethos: I'm definitely working on the artistic type of Ethos here since I have no innate Ethos or title here. If anything I have negative credibility cause I'm a punk college kid. But anyways, I'm definitely trying to identify with the reader because everyone has had some major bad handshakes in one way or another.

Solid appeal to the Pathos for you!

Claim Reasons and Assumptions!

Claim: It is important to shake hands well

Reason: So that people have a good first impression of you, or continue to have a good impression of you.
(Important for receiving jobs, confidence, capability)


Assumptions: People having good assumptions about you must be beneficial.



Start the tower building right with a firm handshake so he knows he can trust you!

Op Ed Thesis!! P.S... It's not noon in California yet, that's where I'm at... oops:)

Thesis: Every American, especially businesspeople and missionaries who are representatives of their respective groups, should understand the physics,proper duration, and etiquette of a handshake.

Don't be like this guy!!

The limp fish!

Editorial Ideas

So I'm going to be completely honest, I really couldn't think of anything interesting to write. I just decided that I'll talk about one of the things that often bothers me when meeting someone new, the handshake!

• When you go in for a handshake you don't have to rush in quick and end up causing a handshake where you're holding just the other person's fingers. It's ok to move in a little slower and make sure you get that solid grip.
• Once you do make that solid contact make sure you squeeze! No body likes shaking a limp fish, especially if your trying to make a first impression.
• There is also no reason to try and be the Incredible Hulk. A hand crush doesn't get you any more respect then a firm grasp does. As Patrick says, "firmly grasp it." (Spongebob)
• Finally, don't hold on while you are making conversation. It might have been a good handshake and you're trying to make a point in your conversation by keeping them rooted to the spot, but it's ok to let go. They will pay just as much attention to you whether you're still holding their hand or not. In fact, probably more, because they won't be thinking about how sweaty your hand is.

That's about all I have for this... which isn't very much.

Here it goes!

My name is Johnny Welker. I'm from Southern California so I've learned to love the beach, ocean and sunshine. I love sports, especially college football, the NFL, and NBA. In highschool I played football, tennis for a short time, and eventually discovered how much I love track and field, especially 110 and 300 meter hurdle races. It's one of the few sports at BYU you can't come back and compete for fun without being on the the actual team, which is a bummer. I was in a band where I learned to play drums. We were called Untold Legacy and we did covers as well as a few of our own. We're all broken up right now though :( due to one of our members who is currently serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Sweden. When he gets back myself and another of our band mates will be serving a mission, and when we get back another will be serving!! So we're semi-permanently retired for now... But I love my religion and I'm excited for the chance to serve. I wouldn't have it any other way! My religion gives me character and helps define who I am. I love my parents, 7 brothers and sisters, and all my 13 nieces and nephews! Family means so much to me!!