Douglas

Douglas Elks 5/12/14

Last week in English class we campaigned for a male or female running for Mayor. The class was split up into small groups and each group was given a person to campaign for. We were able to choose the way we wanted to campaign for our candidate. Then at the end of the week there was an election. Throughout the project there were some twists and turns about our candidates and we had to decide how to handle the situation. One propaganda technique we used in our project was testimonial. We featured Leesville Road football star, Malcolm Hitchcock in our video to increase voters support. We also used glittering generalities by saying Reeve Stogers is a family man. Throughout the entire project I found the hidden secrets about the candidates the hardest. As we were working on the project our teacher, Mrs. Whitley gave each group some more information about each candidate. The twist was that the information given to each group was negative information about each candidate. This information could be used against your candidate so you had to decide weather you are going to address the problem, deny the fault, or hit the opposing candidate with a hit piece. The project overall was a very fun project. I think this project should be continued. Our teacher did a great job of preparing this project for us and I see nothing that needs to be changed. The techniques we have learned in this project are very valuable techniques that we are going to be able to use in the future of this class. When we are trying to prove our point or get something across we can use propaganda techniques. Similarly you will be able to use these techniques in other classes when you want to convince someone your point. These techniques we learned will also help us in life. There are even job options you could choose were having this skill is required. Being able to persuade people in life is a very good skill to have. Mrs. Whitley has helped us improve this skill with this project and unit. What a fun project!

Douglas Elks 3/21/14

Friday in English class we talked about a variety of topics including photo shopping. I understand the reasoning behind this process, but I don't agree with it. Photo shopping the girl or guy on the front of a magazine is a common thing. They do this to make their magazine better and increase sales. People will buy the magazine just because of who is on the cover. My main problem with photo shopping is that when you photo shop someone it changes who they are to make them "look better", but really people should be happy with themselves. Some people get discouraged by this because they feel like they can never look like these people. There have been many article and interviews about people who feel like this process is unnecessary because its not really what these people look like.

Douglas Elks 3/16/14

Basketball is everything to me! I feel like it is always there for me no matter what. I know its silly to think and feel that way about something non living but, I never have to worry when I play the game. I have always turned to basketball when something bad happens or when I'm not feeling well. It never lets me down. It always makes me feel better. A lot of people see it as a recreational activity, but it is so much more to me! I'm not sure where or what I'd be without it. When I'm not playing the game, I'm thinking about it or wishing I was playing. Basketball truly means a lot to me.

Douglas Elks 2/28/14

In today's society the heroes are the popular, powerful, good people. They are the people we look up to and want to be like. Miley is not afraid of what other people think of her. She likes to express herself and live the way she wants to. The message she sends regarding being yourself and living the way you want to is good, but the things she does is not good. Young children are being influenced by this provocative style. In one of the articles Jennifer Lawrence says [|"For some disgusting reason, young sex sells even more.”] This is something that has taken over our society, but people are having problems with this "new change." Miley Cyrus is courageous, but the ways she express herself is inappropriate. See the link to the article i referenced below.

Douglas Elks 2/21/14

The first article talks about the difference between t-shirts made for boys and girls. The Avengers t-shirts are made to make men seem like a hero and girls to need a hero. The second article talks about the struggles parents have trying to make sure their children are dressed properly. The article mentions different ways parents should approach their kids about the way they dress. They want them to dress appropriately instead of just trying to fit in and be like their friends.

Society has changed the way men look at women. Some women feel like they have to dress a certain way for men to find them attractive. Society makes young girls want to dress a certain way to fit in and be like their friends. Parents feel like the new "fashion" is inappropriate. Parents want to get a long with their kids but, they also want to make sure their kids are wearing appropriate clothing. Studies have shown people don't take girls that wear inappropriate clothes as serious as girls who wear appropriate clothes.

Douglas Elks 2/7/14

The article I read was [|The Intersection of Homophobia and Hip Hop]. Rappers should be careful with the words they choose, but part of rap is expressing yourself the way you want to. Some rappers feel like they should be able to say what they want to in their raps. The articles talks about people being offended by rappers who cuss or talk about gay people in their raps. Gay people who hear these raps are not happy with the rappers. The rapper's response was that he wasn't trying to offend gay people he was using the word "gay" as a word meaning stupid. Using this type of language isn't considered right, but it has been apart of the rap culture for a long time. It is the way rappers write their raps; with this type of "language". It is it crucial to be critical of the words we say, but rappers should have the freedom to say what they want to in their own song.