Chapter Four

For this blog assignment we were to read on chapter four and reflect on it. I found this chapter very interesting and more readable than some of the other chapters in our text.

This chapter was all about using images in your arguments. It opened by stating visual materials are used with written arguments primarily to appeal to emotions or to clarify numerical data, such as with graphs and charts.

The chapter talked about images in advertisements, and images that accompany news stories. It asked the question, "Are some images not fit to be shown?", and gave examples of the video of journalist Daniel Pearl's execution and the Danish newspapers who printed cartoons of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. My opinion on these two situations is, I always believe in free speech and freedom of the press, but the media has a responsibility to be respectful to people in what they show. Airing the video of Pearl's execution is not only in extremely poor taste because of the gruesomeness of the video, but it is extremely disrespectful to Pearl's family. As for the Muhammad cartoons, that's just intentionally going out of your way to offend a major religion, and nothing but trouble can come of that.

Another image that was used in this chapter was that of an advertisement from the American Cancer Society, depicting a cigarette that is bent, and on the opposite end from the filter the cigarette turns into a smoking gun. This is extremely powerful. Most public service announcements or anti-smoking ads are preachy and corny, but this is just a simple image that packs a powerful punch. I used to smoke and if I'd seen this ad, it probably wouldn't have made me quit on its own, but it would have really made me think and consider what I was doing to my body.

The chapter also talked about political cartoons and how they can make a major impression. I enjoyed reading this section because I am something of a political cartoon junkie - I always check out Mike Luckovich and Tom Toles.

The chapter ended with suggestions on designing and formatting academic papers. I found this section helpful.