Some important things that I’ve learned so far in this unit about analysis are what ethos is. I never really understood the meaning of ethos and now I understand that it is the credibility of the author and what they do to show that they know the topic. In the Op-Doc, dying in your mother’s arms, I learned that there is a specific doctor that specializes in care for dying children. I also learned that she doesn’t just care for the child but she comforts and supports the parents of the child. I think I am struggling with trying to find ways to start analyzing and coming up with ideas to analyze the video.
September 2020
Calorie Detective Response
In the Op-Doc, Calorie Detective the filmmaker’s main purpose is to inform the audience that they need to be aware of the fact that the calorie information posted at restaurants and/or on food labels is not necessarily correct. The author’s other purpose could be that he is trying to bring awareness to the fact that they are requiring to have the calorie information but aren’t requiring it to be correct. I believe the filmmaker’s audience is anyone who reads the calorie information on food or anyone who bases their diet on calorie numbers. The filmmaker mainly uses logos throughout this film. He uses logos by providing evidence from the experiments that happened and using the numbers from each restaurant. But he also uses pathos by going to and getting food from popular restaurants that most people go to. The Calorie Detective was extremely different than the Toys of War. In the Toys of War, the filmmaker used more ethos rather than logos. It was very more emotional than the Calorie Detective.
Project #1 Unit Reflection
1. In what ways have your writing skills improved as a result of completing Project #1? Be specific.
This project really helped me in the format aspect of the essay. I feel that I have improved in writing an organic essay rather than just a five-paragraph essay.
2. What areas of weakness in your writing did this project highlight for you? Be specific.
My greatest weakness for this project was planning. I had a really hard time trying to come up with ideas and how to start the essay. It took me a couple of days of planning before I could even start writing. I still don’t feel that I was able to get all my ideas across.
3. What was the most stressful part(s) of completing Project #1? How did you attempt to overcome that stress? Were you successful? Be specific.
The most stressful part of this project for me was the time. I wasn’t really sure that we had to read the book until a few days in and I am a very slow reader. So it took me a lot of time trying to read and comprehending it all. By the time I was finished I didn’t have a whole lot of time writing the essay. I feel that I was successful but it was definitely not my best work.
4. What’s something about your learning in this unit that you want to be sure to remember when it’s time to compose your Epilogue Post at the end of the semester?
I want to remember the importance of critical thinking and active reading.