F.W.

I had the great opportunity to go to a session of General Conference this weekend, so I figured I would write about that for my free write this week. I have gotten tickets for at least one session of General Conference every semester I've been at BYU and it has been such a great blessing. Obviously you can listen to the messages wherever you may be, but there's something about being in the presence of the prophet and the apostles and all of our other great leaders that changes it. Being in the room with them as they tell me to strive to do better makes me feel an even greater resolve to do better, because seeing them in person makes them seem more real. Watching them talk to each other before the session begins and seeing them meet their wives afterward and hold their hand and walk away brings these great men down to earth. Yes, they are men of God, but they are also just like us. I also just love going to the conference center, because it is so beautiful and such a remarkable tribute to President Hinckley.
It's very strange to hear the word prophet associated with anyone besides Gordon B. Hinckley. He's been the prophet for as long as I can remember. I vaguely recall President Howard W. Hunter, and even more vaguely remember Ezra Taft Benson. President Hinckley is basically all I've ever known. Thus, having a new prophet just felt odd at first. I have always loved President Monson, but I had a hard time thinking of him as the prophet before this weekend. I believed that he was, but a little part of me still expected President Hinckley to walk out, waving his cane in the air. But it was completely clear to me as I was listening to President Monson speak this weekend that he truly is called of God. He had a different spirit about him that let me know that he does have new keys and he is the head of this church. This weekend is something I'll never forget.

T.A.

I thought I'd analyze an interesting source I found that talks about video games causing seizures in children. I've been thinking about writing about this for my paper.

1. The argument is that children may experience seizures as a result of playing video games.

2. It seems that the target audience would be parents of kids who play video games.

3. The argument relies heavily on logos: lots of statistics about this issue are used. Photosensitive epilepsy is described in detail, and they talk about the fact that it is much more common in children than in adults. Other statistics are given about the amounts of people who have experienced these seizures. 618 children in Japan experienced this problem from a single TV show one year. Their argument makes perfect sense in that regard. Pathos is inevitable since the argument is about children and is directed toward parents. No one wants their child to suffer from anything, including epilepsy. Ethos is effective as well, because the research was done by a department that specifcially studies seizures. They obviously know what they are talking about. I think their argument is mostly sufficient, but probably a few quotes from pediatricians would have been effective. The more offical sources you can have the better. It was a very typical argument, in the fact that all of their methods were perfectly predictable. They didn't try to shock their readers too much; they simply told everything how it was. All of their information was accurate, which is good. And everything mentioned completely relevant. The article was very concise, which is perfect for their audience. Short and sweet and to the point.

4. I thought this argument was extremely effective, which was the scary part. The numbers of people who suffer from this are shocking. I never thought about the idea that video games could cause medical problems.

R.A.

I've been thinking about a few options, but I can't decide which one. First of all there's not really any overwhelming evidence for any of them, just because these things are relatively new topics. So I'm just wondering how hard it's going to be to find 2000 words worth of information.

1. The effects of us idolizing celebrities as much as we do. So much attention is giving to knowing every detail of their lives. How is that affecting us as a society? Or maybe more specifically, how is it affecting kids as they grow up? Are they living their lives in an accordance with how they think they should according to their celebrity idols? People devote their lives to celebrities, from knowing everything about them to getting plastic surgery just like them. News stations report just as much celeb gossip as they do actual news these days. But the problem is that I don't really know what to argue exactly. Plus, is there are even a way to change this trend?

2. What are the consequences of young kids having cell phones? Is it necessary for safety purposes or is that concern just paranoia? Does a kid having a cell phone change the rate at which they grow up? Does it lead to younger ages for everything? I.e. drugs, sex, etc. At what age do we deem it a necessary thing then? I got my first cell phone when I was 16 and I could drive, just in case something happened. Should that be our cut-off? Or is that not practical and we should cut it at 14 or 15?

I think either one of these would be really interesting, I guess I just need to do a lot more research so I can see which one I'll actually be able to expand on. Right now I'm leaning towards the cell phone thing, but should I also expand that to include kids having ipods, tvs, etc?

T.A.

I really have no idea what I'm going to write about for my media paper, so I'm just brainstorming right now. But I found this study about the tabloidization of the news that I thought was interesting.

1. The argument is that newspapers and television news stations don't just report the news anymore because they are losing readers and viewers. News is now a hybrid made up of some actual news, opinion, history, and pop.

2. The audience is people who at least care about the news a little bit.

3. There is a lot of logos in this argument, because it is full of numbers and different statistics about readership levels and circulation, etc. The author lays everything out in a very straightforward manner. He says that because those numbers were going down, newspapers and TV news stations had to do something to get money so they completely changed the format of what they do. I would say there is a lot of ethos in this argument, because a lot of credible and prominent people were interviewed for their opinions on the matter. Having credible sources helps to make you credible. Pathos is at a minimum. The argument is very straightforward, kind of like the author is saying, "Here are the facts. They tell you all you need to know. I'm not going to even try to convince you." It's an interesting strategy, but in a way I think it makes his argument a little less than sufficient. It's strong, but his indifferent attitude does make it a little weaker. In that regard, his argument is somewhat atypical. Most people try to incite some sort of emotion is their audience. He doesn't. The argument is definitely accurate and relevant, though. He is talking about a real problem and he has real facts to back up his side.

4. I think his argument could be effective for some of his audience, but not all of them. People who like just straight-up facts would enjoy it, but a lot of people might feel like he doesn't really care about them as audience.

F.W.

Wow, I don't think I've ever been more tired than I am at this particular moment. I honestly cannot recall a time in the recent past where I've gotten more than four hours of sleep. There is just way too much to do and way too little time to do it all in! I think you know that if you're hitting REM sleep within seconds of taking a nap that you need more sleep, but there's no easy solution. I feel like it has no choice but to catch up with me and I'll crash for a couple days, but at the same time, I can't afford to crash for a couple days. Also, apparently lacking sleep makes you much more suspectible to diseases, so am I go going to get sick from my lack of sleep? Getting an awful illness during finals because I'm stressed out is one of my worst fears. It would be awful. Basically, I just can't wait to go home and take a break from school. I'll be busy, yes, but in a different way, and usually if I want to sleep, I can actually sleep. Those will be the days. Plus the weather will be infinitely warmer, so I'll definitely take that in a heartbeat.

Reading back on that paragraph makes me think of being a little kid and my mom telling me not to wish my life away. I'm really not; I do love my life, but this semester has just been insane. I think my brain is completely fried from my OChem test today and so all I can think of is not school. 3 more weeks and my Chemistry career will finally be over. Oh I can't wait! I guess technically I have biochem still, but I kind of consider that a separate genre since it's not strictly Chemistry. We'll see how I enjoy that. Which reminds me that I need to register for classes next week...everything I have to take sounds scary, so I definitely have my work cut out for me. Wish me luck!

T.A.

Let’s first try to understand what causes violence in schools or even violence in general. People committing violent acts are angry at someone or something. So what do the children in public schools have to be angry about? As much as students complain about their mean or unfair teachers, school violence usually involves students hurting other students. Why would a child be angry at a fellow classmate? According to the National Education Association (NEA), a lot of anger is the result of bullying. Until recently, people often assumed that bullies were the ones committing violent acts in school. The opposite is actually true. Gerald Newberry, the director of NEA’s Health Information Network explained, “The kids who pulled the trigger weren’t who we thought they were. They were not the bullies-they were the kids who had been bullied.” This idea is further supported by a Bureau of Justice Statistics survey, which found that 86% of high school students said students resort to violence in school because of being picked on, made fun of, or bullied by their peers (Greenya).
A major way many kids try to fit in with their peers is through their clothes. Certain things are cool to wear and certain things are not. Topping my thirteen year-old sister’s Christmas list this year were specific articles of clothing she felt she needed to have. But the specificity of her requests did not lie in the color or really even the style of the clothes. The only requirement was that they came from specific stores. She really believed that by wearing these clothes she would have the coolest, the best, and most importantly, the most friends. According to a study by the National Mental Health Association, there are many students besides my little sister who place a lot of importance on clothes. The survey found that 76% of students say kids who dress differently are picked on at school (Greenya).

F.W.

I too am out of reminiscences so I figured I would just write just what came to me. You guys really don't have to read it, since it'll just be my ramblings and will probably bore you to tears. But at least it will be fulfilling its purpose, which is to be 300-400 words before tomorrow at midnight. I can't believe I've written 30 of these things already...I honestly didn't think I had that much to say! This semester has seriously gone by so fast. I feel like Valentine's Day happened yesterday. But it definitely did not. Tomorrow is Easter. 4 more weeks and school will be over. I'll officially be 3/4 of the way through my college years. That is, if I actually finish in 4 years, which is really doubtful. But still. 3 years of college down. That's so crazy. That makes me feel so old. I wonder what it will actually be like to graduate. I won't know what to do with myself. I can't imagine what it will feel like to be on my own. Mostly I am just so excited to go home for the summer. It is going to be a blast. Hanging out with Lindsey 24.7, spending lots of time with my brother before he goes on his mission, seeing my sister and brother-in-law and my niece, going to Puerto Rico...and those are just the highlights! I mostly need to spend a lot of time working and making all kinds of money and working in a hospital getting all kinds of volunteer hours. So I will basically be really really busy. But I'd much rather be really busy than really bored. It makes life so much more productive and keeps you out of trouble! I really am so much happier when I have a TON to do, as much as I may complain about it. It's the only way I feel like I have a fulfilling life.

T.A.

Virginia Tech. The University of Texas. Columbine High School. Red Lake High School. Far beyond a random listing of schools, these top a list compiled by US News and World Report last April. Unfortunately, unlike many lists, earning a position at the top of this one is not a prize any school desires to attain. Of the ten deadliest U.S. school shootings included in this list, six occurred during the last ten years and, frighteningly, five took place in elementary, middle, and high schools (Jack). Violence in American public schools is an epidemic, with fights, gangs, and weapons at school becoming much more commonplace. (somehow I need to take this sentence out, but connect the ideas together still). School administrators are left with the responsibility of keeping students safe, but no foolproof way to curb school violence has been found. This does not mean, however, that numerous solutions have not been suggested, including the idea of requiring uniforms in public schools. What are the consequences of requiring students to wear uniforms on levels of school violence?
Let’s first try to understand what causes violence in schools or even violence in general. People committing violent acts are angry at someone or something. So what do the children in public schools have to be angry about? As much as students complain about their mean or unfair teachers, school violence usually involves students hurting other students. Here is where i will add my stats about bullied kids and clothes. Why would a child be angry at a fellow classmate? A lot of it seems to stem from jealousy. Never is the desperate desire to fit in with peers as evident as it is with young students, especially during their middle and high school years. For many kids, being accepted and having lots of friends is as important, if not more important, than actually learning things in school. It makes sense that feeling alienated may make a student angry. And who do they direct that anger towards? Inevitably it is often the students whom they hold responsible for leaving them out.

R.A.

Yay, I found a good study to help support my paper A LOT. It's basically a paper about violence in schools. But the reason that they pinpointed was that people who are bullied do it to for revenge. A lot of school shootings have been the result of people who are bullied. And one of the main criteria for getting bullied was dressing differently. This is perfect for my paper, because it helps me prove that clothes do contribute to school violence. And thus school uniforms are a potential answer.

1. The argument is that bullied students are more likely than others to committ violent crimes in their schools.

2. The audience is probably the general public, because it was written kind of informaly. Not informal like they don't know what they're talking about, but just like they're trying to relate to the common man kind of.

3. Logos is the most important part of this study for me, because I need more facts in my paper. All of their statistics about school violence are very logical and will be helpful for me to use. Ethos is used because they do have a lot of credible experts who commentate in their paper. You can tell that these people actually know what they are talking about, because they have studied a lot of these cases. Ethos is used because they tell specific stories about kids who commit violent crimes. A lot of them were good kids, honor students, who were bullied and apparently couldn't take it anymore. Brining emotion into the argument is very effective. They definitely have a lot of information, so I would consider their argument to be sufficient. It is typical, because all of their research methods have been used before. The information they present is quite accurate, and is backed up by a lot of prominent people. And it is definitely relevant, because a lot of the school violence does come from people feeling bullied.

4. I think their argument is very good and I am so excited that I have more information to use!

F.W.

When we came to earth God gave us all many talents and good personality traits. I was lucky enough to be blessed with brains, some musical ability, and a little athletic prowess. I'm a good cook, an entertaining storyteller, and I always give the best advice. But in order to keep me humble I was also blessed with a few flaws. I can't walk in a straight line, I have a bad habit of talking too loud at inappropriate times, and my brain is devoid common sense. Worst of all, though, I tend to always want what I can't have. When I was a kid and we were told to keep out of the cookie jar my brothers and sisters were sad, but they got over it. I, however, did not. Instead, all I could think about was cookies. I wanted them more than I had ever wanted anything else. It didn't even matter if I liked that particular kind of cookie. Oatmeal raisin actually makes me sick, but when I wasn't allowed to have them I craved them. Something about the unattainable was indescribably appealing. I had numerous experiences like this one as I grew up, but this character flaw truly presented itself as I got older and began dating. I would go through a cycle every single time I liked a boy. He didn't give me the time of day so I instantly developed a crush on him. I couldn't have him so of course I desperately wanted him. Then we would start talking and he would begin to really like me too. But as soon as I found that out I would find things wrong with him and move on. If he liked me it meant that I could actually have him, so I didn't want him anymore. It was a vicious circle that hasn't completely disappeared. I guess the root of the problem is that more than anything else I love a challenge. Perhaps I should take up some ridiculously hard sport and channel those energies into something productive!

R.A.

I don't really have a source to analyze right now, which is the problem. My first paper was about school uniforms and why they stop school violence. The weakest part of the paper was definitely in dealing with my counter-argument, which is the cost of school uniforms. It is a big problem, because a lot of people can't afford them and the whole point is obviously for everyone to have one. All of the rearch I can find about paying for school uniforms is from other countries, though! Mostly England. They have all kind of grants and ways for the government to pay for the uniform, which is great, but I need a United States example, since I am not writing to British people. And they do have good ideas, but they would require law changing and I don't really have time to get into that in my 1000 word paper. So I'm kind of in a bind. I guess if I knew of any real-life examples of schools that got money somehow to pay for uniforms that would work, but I have no idea how to find something like that. I didn't actually have uniforms in any of the schools I went to, so I don't have any firsthand experience with the realities of paying for school uniforms. If any of you know of something like that and could tell me how I could find information on it that would be great, because information is what I need to add to my counterargument. Not just my own ideas, but ideas that have worked for school districts already. Hopefully by adding that it will strengthen my paper a lot. In general I think I just need to add more research to everything, though. The more sources I have the more credible my ideas are and the more likely I will be to convince anyone of anything.

T.A.

Practice working through problems is a huge benefit of dating for a longer period of time. The researchers from the previously mentioned study noted that “feelings of frustration with marriage or with ordinary daily conflicts may not be interpreted as negatively by individuals who gave their relationship enough time during dating to reveal such problems before marriage.” Couples who are good at working out little difficulties will be better equipped to handle the bigger problems that life will inevitably spring upon them. This may not be the case with couples who date for only a few short months and subsequently do not get a lot of experience dealing with problems. The researchers hypothesized that “short periods of dating may mean that individuals do not get much chance to experience troublesome differences, and thus when differences inevitably arise afterwards, they cause greater problems to the marriage.”
(Do I need a transition sentence here?)
Cheryl Dakis is a pre-marriage and education coordinator in Melbourne, Australia who meets with a lot of couples preparing to get married. She suggests they wait until the first infatuation phase (usually about 6 months) is over before they even think about getting married. “Physiologically in that early flush of romance there are a lot of feel-good hormones floating around the body that change the way a couple sees things. The old saying ‘blinded by love’ is so true. We only see what we want to see. (Couples) need to get through that phase and really get to know each other.”
This may be a touchy subject for many Mormons. It is not uncommon in our culture for people to get married after knowing each other for only a few months. We understand how important it is to get married; the prophets have told us numerous times. The Doctrine and Covenants even tells us that we have to get married in order to obtain the highest degree of celestial glory. People often argue that if marriage is so imperative and you know you have found “the one” why wait? But this is not something that has been encouraged by church leaders. Elder Hugh B. Brown said, “Infatuation may be romantic, glamorous, thrilling, and even urgent, but genuine love should not be in a hurry…Time should be given for serious thought, and opportunity given for (each partner to gain) physical, mental, and spiritual maturity. Longer acquaintances will enable both to evaluate themselves and their proposed companions, to know each other’s likes and dislikes, habits and dispositions, attitudes and aspirations.”

T.A.

For time and all eternity. Till death do us part. For as long as you both shall live. These may be familiar phrases, but unfortunately the blissful things they promise do not always come true. By looking at the current divorce rates it is painfully evident that love is not a fairy tale. Almost half of U.S. marriages end in divorce, so obviously not everyone is living happily ever after. But why? People get married because they love each other, so why do so many marriages end in unhappiness? A multitude of reasons, really, so some may wonder how we can attempt to pinpoint any kind of solution. The truth is, there is no easy answer, but like any problem, going back to the beginning may be helpful. So how do all marriages start? Of course we know they are all preceded with dating. What are the consequences of time spent dating each other on the success of a couple’s marriage?
A study was done on this topic, where middle-aged wives were polled. They were asked how long they had spent dating their current spouse and then answered questions about their marital happiness. The results speak for themselves. There was a strong correlation between time spent dating and marriage satisfaction. The people who reported dating their husband for shorter periods of time (0-5 months) also reported being much unhappier in their marriages than those who had dated their husbands for longer periods of time. And it makes sense. People who date for a long time get to know each other really well. They figure out how to deal with problems while they are dating. “Feelings of frustration with marriage or with ordinary daily conflicts may not be interpreted as negatively by individuals who gave their relationship enough time during dating to reveal such problems before marriage.”
The researchers hypothesized that “short periods of dating may mean that individuals do not get much chance to experience troublesome differences, and thus when differences inevitably arise afterwards, they cause greater problems to the marriage.”

R.A.

Ok, back to statistics about my paper. One interesting thing they talked about was that people are divorcing earlier and earlier in their marriages. What used to be the seven-year itch is now the two year-itch. After 5 years of marriage approximately 10% of marriages end in divorce.

1. The argument is that marriages are ending sooner and sooner.

2. The audience is whoever would look up this study, so probably not the average person.

3. Obviously, since this is a statistical study, there is a lot of logos used. They have done research on a lot of people to find out divorce rates. Ethos is used, because this is from the U.S. Census Bureau Reports. Being that they are the official government census agency they are obviously very credible. Pathos is not really used, because these are straight facts, and there's no real arguing with the numbers. Their argument is sufficient, because they did poll a lot of people to get their information. Their argument is typical, because they didn't really do anything too out of the ordinary. Their argument is accurate, because what is more accurate than a census? Their argument is definitely relevant, because the stats don't lie.

4. I think they make a good argument, because everthing makes perfect sense. More than anything it's just surprising.

F.W.

New Years Resolutions. Everyone makes them, but no one keeps them, right? It's always the same thing: this year I'll exercise, this year I'll eat healthy, this year I'll save more money...

They're always admirable goals, but the problem is they are also very lofty. 10 pounds is a lot to lose by February and it's crazy to think all your bad habits could disappear in just a year.

Last year I realized that the resolutions I was making weren't really getting me anywhere. So I decided instead of making "serious" resolutions I would make fun ones!

My first major goal was to be learning how to wink. All my life I've had a problem with this elusive skill. Not being able to do it really frustrated me, because I thought it was such a useful thing to be able to do! Plus everyone else could do it. I've really never met anyone who can't.

So starting in January I practiced. Every day as I got ready I would look in the mirror and try to wink. For the first few months it was just blinking, but by the summer I could kind of do it and by August I was a pro. Mission accomplished.

This year I have a new goal. Whistling. (I know, I can't do anything). So far I can't do it, but I'm okay with that since it's not that serious of a resolution. I know if I don't ever learn I'll be ok and that makes New Year's Resolutions much less pressure-filled. When January rolls around I"m excited, and not wary, to make all kinds of goals. And I have such a good time crossing those things off my list as the year goes by. Of course, I think it's brilliant. But you guys can decide for yourselves.

T.A.

I thought I'd write quickly about my audience for my next paper. My WATCO is going to be:
WATCO getting married at a young age on survival of marriage?

Before I talk about my audience, though, I'm trying to decide if I should pick a specific age as my deadline. A "young age" seems very broad, but I'm having a hard time deciding what I would choose for a specific age. 22? 25? It'd be hard to find specific studies about a random age I just pick. Then I was thinking I could specify a young age as before graduating college, but I'm still kind of iffy about that too. My point is basically that there's no reason to rush into marriage when you're 19, but I'm not sure how to word that in my WATCO.

Anyway, about my audience. I want to write to young people wanting to get married. But should I narrow it down to engaged young people? Or even specifically to young Mormons? I think that would be really difficult, because in our culture, getting married really fast at a really young age is commonplace. And I definitely think it's good to get married when you find the right person. Maybe the point I'm trying to make is that dating for awhile before you get married can only help. I've heard way too many stories lately about people who got married young and didn't date for a long time who are now getting divorced. It's probably a combination of the two.

Right now I think I'm leaning toward writing toward engaged young people. I think I'll specify young as being under 25, because they seem the most likely to make a rash decision. I just want to emphasize the point that it's a very important decision and there's no need for it to be rushed. In that case, maybe I do want to narrow it down to Mormons, because then I can talk about how marriage is forever, so it's an even bigger deal.

R.A.

I'm just going to quickly analyze a government study done about marriage and statistics based on age and race. It's not so much taking one side as it is presenting just a lot of numbers about marriage.
1. There are a lot of arguments presented, but the one I think is most interesting that I'd like to focus on is the issue of age. The argument is that women 25 or older when they get married are less likely to have marriage problems than women who are younger than 25 when they get married.

2. The audience is not really specificed. I guess it would be educated people who are likely to read a government study in the first place.

3. The logos is definitely there. A lot of people were studied over an extensive period of time. In addition to age they also looked at race and other factors that could possibly play a role. Their conclusions are very methodical and they don't draw conclusions where they shouldn't. Ethos is important, because the government is obviously a very credible source. They don't publish things that are too wacky. Pathos isn't really a big deal here, because above anything else they just have a lot of statistics. It's hard to tie in emotion with numbers. I think their argument is sufficient, because they definitely have the data to back it up. If their audience is well-educated people numbers are a good way to make an argument. And they have a lot. As such, their argument is quite typical as well. It's completely accepted to present data in the form of graphs and tables. It's actually very convenient. Their argument is accurate, because you can tell a lot of effort was put into making sure the data was as accurate as possible. They studied this for years before they published anything, so we know they didn't draw any hasty conclusions. And their argument was definitely relevant. They wanted to prove something and they did just that by using diferent studies.

4. I think they made a very good argument and I will probably use their data in my paper. It is very straightforward and completely believable.

F.W.

So I'm really tired and not feeling like I can come up with anything super witty, so I thought I would just write about how amazing this week is going to be. First of all, as of Monday, when we turned in our papers and I finished my presentation, I am done with major school things for the next week and a half. All of my midterms are over, all of my papers are turned in, all of my group projects have been done...school-wise I can just relax and catch up on all the reading I putt off while I was stressing out about school. I am definitely really excited about that. Plus I have the whole week off of work. I coach gymnastics and our session ended last week, so we have a week off, which is really nice. Then...Thursday is a special day. It's February 28 and my birthday is August 28, so Thursday is my half birthday! People always look at me like I'm insane when I say this, but in my family we celebrate half birthdays. It's not anything too big; just a present or two and you get to pick what you want for dinner. My parents say it was a good way to break up the year when you have little kids, because time goes so much slower when you're little then and your birthday always seems so far away. A half birthday is nice, because it's another day celebrating you! So even though I'm all grown up, I still celebrate my half birthday. My mom is sending me a present, my brother is taking me out to lunch, and my best friend is making me a cake. And on top of all of those good things, I'm going to Maryland this weekend. My older sister had a baby, my first niece! We get to go for the baby blessing and I am so excited. All of the pictures I've seen of her are adorable and I just love babies anyway. Plus I'll get to see my sister, my brother in law, and my parents and little sister. Best week ever!

R.A. Music

I'm going to evaluate the argument put forth in Cheap Trick's "I want you to want me"

1. The argument is basically that they want the person they are singing to to want to be with them.

2. The audience is someone that the singer really wants to be with.

3. The argument is very straightforward. In terms of logos, they first talk about what it would be like if they could be together. The singer would be willing to shine his shoes, put on a brand-new shirt, and come home early from work if this girl would love him. The he points out that she's already lonely. He saw her crying because she was without a friend, so she might as well be with him. Ethos is pretty easy too. He just keeps repeating it. We are definitely sure halfway through the song that he loves her and then he even keeps going. "I need you to need me" is a pretty strong statement. He can't go on without her in his life. I would be touched if someone said that to me. Ethos is kind of lacking, because we don't know the background of the singer. How reliable is he? Does he say these kinds of things to a lot of girls or is it a rare occurence for him? Is he someone who keeps his emotions inside or someone who says whatever he feels, whenever he feels it? I think his argument isn't sufficient, because he doesn't say much. He just keeps repeating himself. But I actually think that the repetition works in his favor. Sometimes it works to just say things over and over and over again, which is exactly what he does. I think his argument is typical, because he doesn't say anything too out of the ordinary. He is a typical guy, in the fact that he makes promises of what he'll do if she'll just agree. He also is typical because saying how much you like someone isn't a crazy occurence. I think his argument is accurate, because he does really like her. What else is more accurate than just saying what you feel? The argument is relevant, because he talks about loving her, which is exactly the point he's trying to make.

4. I think this argument is pretty effective (I may be a little biased because I love the song, though!). Repetition is a very valuable tool to use and his upfront honestly is also very appealing.

T.A.

Here's some ideas for my paper:
Virginia Tech. The University of Texas. Columbine High School. Red Lake High School. Far beyond a random listing of schools, these top a list compiled by US News and World Report last April. Unfortunately, unlike many lists, earning a position at the top of this one is not a prize any school desires to win. Of the ten deadliest U.S. school shootings included in this list, six occurred during the last ten years and five took place in elementary, middle, and high schools. Violence in American public schools is an epidemic, with fights, gangs, and weapons at school becoming much more commonplace. School administrators are left with the responsibility of keeping students safe, but no foolproof way to curb school violence has been found. However, this does not mean that numerous solutions have not been suggested, including the idea of requiring school uniforms in public schools. What are the consequences of requiring students to wear uniforms on levels of school violence?
Let’s first try to understand what causes violence in schools or even violence in general. People committing violent acts are angry at someone or something. So what do kids in public schools have to be angry about? As much as students complain about mean or unfair teachers, school violence usually involves students hurting other students. Why would a kid be angry at a fellow classmate? A lot of it seems to stem from jealousy. Never is the desperate desire to fit in with peers as evident as it is with young students, especially during their middle and high school years. For many kids, being accepted and having lots of friends is as important, if not more important, than learning things in school. It makes sense that feeling alienated may make a student angry. And who do they direct that anger towards? Inevitably it is often the students whom they hold responsible for leaving them out.

F.W.

I like to think I know myself pretty well. And I know that despite my many other redeeming qualities, I unfortunately do not have a lot of common sense. I have "blond moments" all the time and I usually do not make the smartest on-the-spot decisions. I was surprised to find out this weekend that people actually exist who have less common sense than I do! I really did not think such a thing was possible.
On Friday night I went to Salt Lake with my best friend Lindsey, her roommate Megan, and her Megan's sister Nicole for a concert. Nicole, who just recently got married, drove us there. About a block from where we were to park we got hit by a young girl. She blatantly ran a red light and smashed right into the hood of Nicole's car. We pulled over and so did the other driver and the police were called. Megan and Nicole told Lindsey and I to go on ahead to the concert, because there was nothing we could really do, and that they would meet us there later.
Not needing to be told twice, we left and after about an hour they met us there, carrying the entire contents of Nicole's car with them. They had decided to have the car towed, so they emptied everything out just in case they never saw the car again. Nicole had called her husband Ty and he was going to meet us after the concert was over and take us home.
The concert was amazing and around 9:45 the band finished their last song. We started to meander our way outside and along the way we walked right past the amazing opening act. Lindsey was dying to get a picture and was about to get one when Nicole grabbed her purse and started pulling her toward the door. I had no choice but to follow, but I figured that this meant that Ty was here and she did not want to keep him waiting. When we got outside Megan took out her phone and texted Ty, only to find that he was still in Provo. No one had notified him of when the concert was to be over and he had not even left yet. What's more, he didn't think his car would make it to Salt Lake with the way the road conditions were (clean and dry, by the way), so he was going to stop at his parents' house in Lindon to exchange cars.
Lindsey and I followed Nicole and Megan , still walking as fast as they could, and we were completely confused. What were we in such a hurry for if he had not even left yet? After walking a few blocks we made it to the Gateway Mall, where we proceeded to sit in the hallway outside the bathroom (the only building still open at 10:00). Around 10:45 Ty called to say that he was about to get off the exit. Nicold said that was cue for us to go out in the Arctic again (even though he was still a good five minutes away still) and we hurried outside after her. Twenty minutes later Ty found us.
Cold and tired and really confused as to why we had to make a mad dash out of the concert for no reason, I finally got to go home.

R.A.

For my rhetorical analysis this week I actually looked at an opposing view to my argument about school uniforms. This study done by researchers at Notre Dame said that uniforms do not lead to an improvement in attendance, behavior, drug use, or academic achievement.

1. The argument is obviously the fact that uniforms don't improve student behavior and scores. In fact they say that wearing uniforms has a negative effect on these things.

2. The audience is a little bit harder to pinpoint. Only people really interested in this topic would even read this abstract report. Probably well-educated people who might have some sort of say in the uniforms issue would be their target audience.

3. They used a lot of logos, because they tried to go about it as scientifically as possible, looking at kids in a high school in Long Beach, California. They tried to use correlation coefficients to relate wearing uniforms to these variables. Pathos wasn't used a lot, because this abstract isn't so much of an argument as it is a straight presentation of facts, or at least what the researchers consider to be facts. I took one Statistics class and I already know that their study and on top of that, the way they interpreted their data is not very statistically significant or accurate. Ethos was used, because being from a major university such as Notre Dame is pretty credible. People think university researchers know it all. I don't think this argument was remotely sufficient. They leave a lot of things out and much is assumed throughout. The argument was kind of typical, but I felt they could have used other research techniques and been more effective. Although I also think that by using other research techniques they would have proven their opposition's point. Their data wasn't particularly accurate, because their sampling techniques leave much to be desired. The same goes for relevance. They're almost comparing apples to oranges here.'

4. I think their argument was not a very good one at all, which helps my case a lot. All they had going for them was scientific data, which wasn't even gathered very scientifically at all. Much was left out.

T.A. Audience

Ok, I'm not sure exactly what she's looking for here, so I'm just going to discuss my audience I guess and talk about how I would go about targeting them. Right now I'm planning to write about school uniforms and why they increase productivity among students.
Obviously conservative people would not really have a problem with school uniforms. A lot of private schools already have them. So I would probably want to target more liberal people. I guess I could either target school administrators (like school boards) or parents in these areas, because it seems that PTAs actually do have somewhat of a say in what goes on in schools. In order to target these people effectively I would have to stress the fact that even with uniforms students would be able to have some sort of originality. That seems to be a common concern. I even thought that about school uniforms before. I figured they would take away my individuality. But I really do think that the pros outweigh that con. Plus it is still possible to have your own style and personality even with a school uniform.
With this audience I would also have to stress the fact that I think uniforms will definitely increase productivity among students. By that I mean better grades, and therefore higher test scores, and thus more money for the school district. I would talk about test scores and money especially if I were targeting the school administration. If I were targeting the parents I would focus more on the kids' grades and what that would mean for their futures. If their kids' schools had uniforms it would increase the general productivity of all the students, which would include their own children. And isn't success in college and career what parents want the most for their kids?

F.W.

I've just been talking to my best friend about a date she went on tonight and it was kind of interesting so I thought I would talk about it here. It was a blind date with a guy in her ward. In order to encourage people to go to Institute, the Institute committee arranged dates and then afterward they played the Newlywed Game. This was to help them find out all about their date so that they could answer all the questions and win the game. Throughout the course of their date they found out that they have a ridiculous amount of things in common. They are practically the same person. They are both from Florida, they have the same favorite color, the same favorite music, and the same favorite ice cream. They are even majoring in the same thing. In fact, they found out that they actually have a class together. They quote the same movies, love the same Saturday Night Live skits, and tell all the same jokes. She was trying to figure out if that was a good thing or a bad thing, because dating him would almost be like dating herself. Is it good to date someone who is that identical to you? Maybe, because it is nice to have things in common, but then again, maybe not, because are there any surprises that way? The other person knows exactly what you're going to say all the time, not because they know you really well, but because they know themselves really well.

They say that opposites attract, but then people talk all the time about how important it is to have things in common with the people you date. So where do we draw the line? Does the fact that she is even analyzing this mean that they're not right to be with each other?

R.A. Art as Argument

1. The argument is obviously to buy Chesterfield cigarettes.

2. The audience would be American men.

3. The company is using art to target their audience in many ways. As most advertisements do, this one appeals a lot to ethos. The picture is of a pretty, smiling girl who is offering the audience cigarettes on a platter. She looks so friendly and happy holding them that the audience can only assume these cigarettes will make them happy too. The clincher is the slogan "Do you smoke the cigarette that satisfies." It seems as though they are trying to make the point that not only will these cigarettes satisfy you, but so will this woman (or one who looks like her) if you buy these cigarettes. The woman is leaning toward the audience, as if to say 'come and get these cigarettes AND me.' Ethos could be a factor, depending on if this brand was well known during this time period. Logos is not utilized very much. For its' audience I think this argument is sufficient. They know they will be satisfied if they buy these cigarettes and that is what they want. The argument is definitely typical, because it is simple. Nothing is too crazy, it's all about the cigarettes and the woman. Men are often targeted using women, so it is obviously an effective strategy. As for accuracy, who knows if what they're saying is true? Will this cigarette really satisfy the people who buy it? That's quite a claim that is never really addressed (although that is hard to do in a simple picture). I am not sure if the argument is too relevant, since a lot of it hinges on this girl, but we have already seen that having girls in the picture is an effective strategy, so it doesn't really matter if her being there is relevant or not. It works for what they want to do. The advertisers knew their audience well.

4. I think this argument is pretty effective. It is very simple, but the audience is probably satisifed with the information they are given. These cigarettes=satisfaction+women.

F.W.

I might later regret recounting this story on here later, but it is pretty funny, so I'll just hope I don't embarass myself too much. This Saturday I had an interesting experience. I was hanging out with a few of my friends and we decided to go back to my friend Mike's apartment to watch a movie. He lives in King Henry, so the parking is all on the side of the street. Bad news for someone like me who was never taught to parallel park. In Florida our driver's test is a joke. First of all, it's given in a parking lot. Second of all, we don't learn useful skills like parallel parking! Basically they make sure we can accelerate, do a three-point turn, and park in a parking space. This was great when I was sixteen, but now that I need to parallel park all the time I really wish things would have been different.
Anyway, on Saturday night we drove up and down the street looking for parking and there was absolutely nothing open. The only small space was currently being occupied by a motor scooter. After five minutes of searching we decided the best thing to do would be to temporarily move the scooter while I parked and then move it back after. So my roommate Brindi and my friend Mike got out of the car to do that and then I began parking. It was an extremely tight spot, though, and soon Brindi came to take over for me. I got out of the car and we were about to switch places when suddenly we noticed the car was reversing itself! Apparently I had never taken it out of reverse! (Yes, I know. I'm an idiot.) Instead of thinking rationally we both panicked. Neither of us knew who was going to get inside and put it in park, so we both tried to, but that obviously didn't work. Meanwhile, Mike stood helplessly in front of the car behind me, which happened to be his. At the last possible moment I pushed Brindi out of the way and slammed on the brakes.
We surveyed the damage. Both of the cars were fine, but my pride was not. Five cars had driven by during this episode and they had all seen the whole thing happen. I do hope that watching this happen made their nights, because they definitely laughed enough! Of course, after Brindi stopped laughing and parked the car we moved the motor scooter back in between our cars. It was the considerate thing to do, after all!

T.A. Style

First paragraph:
I was five years old and about to start kindergarten when Hurricane Andrew hit Miami, Florida. I still remember the day before the hurricane was going to come, as my parents tried to make all of the preparations they could, as quickly as they could. This was a big one, unlike anything they had ever experienced since moving there, and they were scared. But I don't really remember that fear, because they hid it really well. They had three small children to take care of, so what choice did they have?
The night the hurricane hit I spent the night huddled in a bedroom with my mom, older sister, and little brother, as my dad held the door shut against the wind and water that soon engulfed our house. The next morning we went outside to take a look at the damage. Everything was gone. My house did not even really look like a house anymore, fallen trees covered the street, and the remains of roofs were strewn across the lawns that had looked so pretty the day before.
I don't really remember much of the rebuilding process, other than the fact that because of all the damage, kindergarten was postponed for a month (probably the most devastating news I have ever received). We celebrated my birthday with food storage, pretend candles, and no presents, but it was probably one of the ones I remember best, because my parents tried their hardest to make it a happy one for me. It was a difficult time for my family, but not as miserable as it could have been.


Revision for style:
My fifth birthday and my first day of kindergarten were just around the corner when Hurricane Andrew hit Miami, Florida. I still remember the day before the hurricane hit, as my parents tried to make all of the preparations they could, as quickly as they could. This big hurricane, unlike anything they had ever experienced since moving there, terrified them. But I don't really remember that fear, because they hid it really well. They had three small children to take care of, so what choice did they have?
The night the hurricane hit I spent the night huddled in a bedroom with my mom, older sister, and little brother, as my dad held the door shut against the wind and water that soon engulfed our house. The next morning we went outside to take a look at the damage. Damage doesnt give the storm enough credit. Fallen trees covered the street, the remains of roofs were strewn across the lawns that had looked so pretty the day before, and my house did not even really look like a house anymore.
I don't really remember much of the rebuilding process, other than the fact that because of all the damage, kindergarten was postponed for a month (probably the most devastating news I have ever received). We celebrated my birthday with food storage, pretend candles, and no presents, but I never forgot that birthday, because my parents tried their hardest to make it a happy one for me.

T.A. Style

Miscommunication. It happens. Especially in our frantic, crazed world full of different ways to talk to the people we know. In one day alone I had conversations with my brother in four different ways: on the phone, through texting, via email, and oh, I almost forgot: in person. I almost don't even think about that last one sometimes, but I definitely would have benefited from a face-to-face conversation yesterday.
It was a traumatizing day for me. I was on the phone with one of my best friends from home and she was talking about a doctor's appointment she had had earlier that day. Over the many years I have known her she has had more than her fair share of health problems: her back, her knee, her wrist, and even a slight heart condition that she found about last year. So when she said she went to the doctor I had no idea which of those things it could be. I figured she had probably told me earlier, but I was walking home from school, so I was a little distracted. She'd most likely mention which ailment it was later in our conversation, so I decided not to ask. I pride myself on being a good listener and I didn't want to taint my reputation.

"Kylie," she said, "The doctor said that he can't really see what's going on, but the fact that it's been bothering me for so long isn't good. So he's going to do (at this point there was a lot of static)-ory surgery."

Oh my gosh, I thought. Did she just say coronary?? That is NOT good, she's so young!
"Are you ok?" I asked her. "This must have been the worst afternoon of your life."

"Not really," she said. "I don't really think it's that big of a deal."

"WHAT are you talking about?? It's a HUGE deal. How many people can say that they've had heart surgery at the age of 21?"

Now she was the one to explode. "WHAT?? Heart surgery? Kylie. Exploratory surgery. On my knee. I don't even know what you're talking about."

I didn't say anything. How could I when I was laughing so hard? When I finally got ahold of myself I told her, "Next time you're having any sort of knife cutting into you let me know in person. This conversation almost gave ME a heart attack!"

F.W. #3

I have the best job in the world. I coach gymnastics for little kids. The youngest ones are probably five or six and the oldest ones are thirteen. I love them all, but the little ones are definitely the most amusing, because of the things they say and do. I remember the first day of class one of the coaches told them we were doing conditiong and asked them if they knew what that meant. One little girl raised her hand and said "It's air that blows on you when it's really hot in the summer."
Last semester there was one little boy named Johnny. On the first day of class Johnny, who was five at the time, came up to me with an outstretched hand and said, "I don't believe we've met before. I'm Johnny, what's your name?" Two minutes after our "formal" introductions he ran up to me and gave me the biggest hug a little boy could give. I knew then that little Johnny was smitten. Every day he had class he'd hug me probably ten times and he would always make sure to sit as close to me as he possibly could during stretching. As the weeks went by he went as far as blowing me kisses.
This semester Johnny is gone, but there is a new crop of kids who entertain me every night I work. Just the other day one little girl gave me a card. Now, all of the kids knew that my older sister had a baby the week before, but I think she got confused between last week and this week as to who actually had the baby. The envelope was decorated with tons of stickers and in between them was her kindergarten handwriting, reading things like "I love you" and "I can't wait to see you with your baby" and "I'm so happy for you and your baby." Inside the envelope was a simple piece of paper, which read, "I'm so proud of you." It was all I could do to keep from smiling too much. Luckily she just thought I was really really happy about my baby!

R.A.

For my rhetorical analysis this week I went engagement ring shopping with my rooommate's boyfriend. We went to Zales in the University mall.

1. The argument was to buy a certain engagement ring.

2. The audience was my roommate's boyfriend Lane, a poor, love-struck college student.

3. The saleswoman targeted her audience in a number of different ways. She tried to use a lot of logos, by telling him the practical reasons for buying a certain kind of ring. She talked about the clarity and the number of imperfections relative to the size. When he didn't really respond to logic she moved on to ethos. She brought out her favorite ring and talked about how she wished she could buy it, but she first had to find someone who wanted to marry her. She was trying to make him feel lucky that he had found someone he wanted to marry. Then she started talking about where he was from and found out that she used to date his cousin. She talked about his family for about 15 minutes. By doing this she was trying to establish a kind of friendship so he would feel obligated to to buy this ring. I don't think her argument was sufficient. She didn't really have too much evidence to support the ring. I felt like I knew more about diamonds than she did, and I don't even know that much. Her argument seemed pretty typical, though. She didn't really use any crazy reasons. Her argument was relatively accurate. She just seemed to leave out a lot of information. I really don't think her argument was relevant. She tried to sell him by getting to know him and establishing a friendship within twenty minutes. She didn't really read her audience in that way. He is obviously a very straightforward and upfront guy who just wanted information. He didn't want to talk about his family when he was trying to buy an engagement ring.

4. I really don't think her argument was effective. Well, I know it's not, because he's not going to buy the ring that she suggested. I really think she talked about herself too much and didn't really read her audience as well as she could have, which is so important. Research is also really important and she didn't do as much as could have, especially for having a job at a jewelry store.

R.A. Democracy in Asia

1. The argumement is this paper is for rule-of-law education to continue in Cambodia

Taking away rule-of-law education in Cambodia will harm the growth of democracy in Cambodia, because taking away rule-of-law education in Cambodia will make Cambodians less educated concerning democracy and the rule-of-law.

2. The audience is people on the conference committee concerning this issue or maybe people who have an influence on the conference committee concerning this issue.

3. The author uses a lot of logos to target the audience. Obviously the people he is writing to are very intelligent. He gives a lot of background information, methodically making his case. He clearly explains his reasons and he explains how taking away rule-of-law education will only exacerbate the situation. His audience is probably very interested in his credibility also. He is a law professor and directer of the Cambodia Law and Democracy program at USF. He obviously knows a lot about this issue. probably even more than the conference committee who will ultimately make the decision, because he is constantly studying the situation in Cambodia. I'm not sure if his argument is sufficient. His argument does make sense, but he doesn't have tons of evidence that what he's saying is true. Congress thinks that the education didn't work, because Hun Sen was victorious in Cambodia, really setting back democractic progress. The author never really addresses why he thinks that happened. His argument is typical, though. Nothing he says is far-fetched or crazy at all. He is very accurate, because he is getting information from the best sources possible. He has a quote from the Asian Wall Street Journal, which would probably be very informed about this situation. He doesn't rely too heavily on his quotes, either. He is relevant, because he is talking about concerns that his audience probably has. He understands what they are looking for.

4. I think his argument is effective. His main problem is his lack of hard evidence, but that kind of thing is hard in a situation like this, because no one really knows what would happen either way.

T.A. #2 Introductions

Opening my closet for the first time can be somewhat of a shock for most people. Not so much the clothes that are inside, but the shoes. All kinds of shoes. High heels and kitten heels. Wedges and flats. Boots and sandals in every color imaginable. Some have called this slight obsession (their words, not mine) unhealthy. "Ellie," they say, "I've never even seen you wear most of these. Shouldn't you be investing your money in something more substantial?" I usually just roll my eyes and change the subject, because I know they will never understand. Sure, I could be using that money for other things. I really could have used some of it last month when I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and kind of, sort of nicked that scary guy's truck with my car (I still stand by my original position, by the way. He hit me. ). But, the thing is, shoes and I have a history. And who am I to break that strong bond? My black boots were there for me when Dave broke up with me and I needed to retalliate by "stepping" on his foot. My red heels were there for me when I saw him at Rob and Tiffany's engagement party and I needed to look AMAZING. And I still firmly believe that the pink ballet flats are the reason I got my job. Shoes have never let me down, which is more than I can say for most of my friends. So until they do my exploding closet will just have to continue scaring people.

C.W. #2

I've always been told that I'm a good storyteller, so I thought for my free write this week I would see if I can write stories as well as I can tell them. Maybe all my power is in the delivery? Perhaps my facial expressions? We shall see...

Once upon a time I was five years old. And I loved boys. A lot. Most girls tell stories about being chased by boys around the playground and that did happen to me on occasion, but most of the time I took matters into my own hands. One night I really really took matters into my own hands.
My parents had some family friends over for a barbeque that summer night. One of the families had a son my age who I was absolutely in love with. His name was Mark, he had brown hair and brown eyes, and he was tall, probably about 3' 5". I decided that Mark was a good thing that I couldn't just let get away, so I planned my proposal to him all evening.
When it got dark I made sure we were out on the porch together. The sky was full of stars and the swimming pool had the reflection of the pool in it. Could it have been any more romantic? I waited until I felt that the moment was right and then I simply asked him: "Mark, will you marry me?"
Silence.
And then to my shock a one-word answer: "No."
I couldn't believe it. "Why," I asked, "would you pass up this opportunity? You have to get married one day and you might as well choose me while I'm still available."
For some reason my logic did not register in his five-year old mind. He stood by his answer and I stood by the pool dumbfounded.
Fifteen years later I ran into his parents at my sister's wedding reception. "Kylie," they said, "remember when you proposed to our son? We really should get you two on a date, you'd be perfect together!"
My answer? "I think he had his chance."

R.A.

I couldn't find the ad to post on here, so I'll just try to describe it. It is a Rolex ad, showing just the wrist of someone wearing winter gloves and wearing the watch. In their hand they are holding the reins to a pack of dogs that look like huskies and the background is mountains and snow. The words say: OYSTER PERPETUAL EXPLORER II: In the land of the midnight sun, the Rolex Explorer II allows expedition leaders to remain oriented to day and night. A direct descendent of the legendary Rolex watches that extend the limits of man and technology, few environments are too extreme for the Explorer II. I found this ad in Ski Magazine.

1. The argument is to buy this Rolex watch. 

2. The target audience is wealthy skiiers. The whole magazine is about expensive places to ski, expensive skis, and other ways to spend money while you are off skiing. These people are probably in their 40s or 50s. They still have jobs, but they really like to go on skiing vacations and feel like they are adventurous.

3. ethos= It is a credible ad, because Rolex is a very well-known and well-respected maker of watches. Obviously we know that that this will be a quality watch. The question is whether or not the readers will be willing to spend the money to buy this watch.

pathos= Like a lot of advertisements, emotion is the driving force behind this one. The audience loves the winter outdoors, so what better way to convince them to buy this watch than to see someone in the winter outdoors wearing this watch? The hand wearing this watch is holding the reins to a pack of huskies, which is a very adventurous thing to do. This could help convince the audience of being adventurous if they bought this watch.

logos= Logic is used, because the ad tells the readers how it is important it is to "remain orientated day and night." You need a watch to tell the time, so you might as well get this one!

4. I think the ad is pretty effective for the target audience, because they like nice things and they want to feel like they are adventurous and daring outdoorsmen (or women). This watch will help them achieve that goal. Plus, the ad is very slick and classy, something else they obviously like. 

T.A.

WATCO getting married after knowing someone for only a month?

Getting married after knowing someone for only a month (A) decreases the chances of your marriage working out (B), because getting married after knowing someone for only a month (A) decreases the chance that you'll be sure you are meant for each other (C).

Audience: marriage hungry BYU students


WATCO skipping a day of school to go on a weekend trip?

Skipping a day of school to go on a weekend trip (A) increases overall scholastic productivity (B), because taking a break from the stress of school (A') re-energizes and refreshes you (C).


Audience: students leery of taking any time off of school


WATCO moving BYU to Florida?

Moving BYU to Florida (A) would increase student learning (B), because having a warm school year (A') would encourage students to get out of their beds and walk outside to school (C).

Audience: BYU administration

C.W. #1

Once upon a time there was a teenaged girl. We'll call her Smiley. Now, on the surface Smiley may have seemed like your typical sixteen-year old. She went to school, she drove a car (not without incidents, but that is a story for another time), and she talked on the phone endlessly. No one really knows what she was talking about for all of those hours every single night. It really is one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of our time.

What made Smiley different from the rest of her school-going, scary car-driving, nonstop phone-talking friends was the fact that her life really was not centered on any of those things. They were a part of it, yes, and if you had asked her she probably would not have wanted to give up any one of them. (No, not even the school part. Yet another mystery of our time.) But take away one of those things and she would have survived. What set Smiley apart from her peers was the one thing that could not be taken away.

Could it be food? Water? Love? No, Smiley did not care about those things. Well, she did, but she did not need them. What, you ask? That makes no sense at all. Of course she needed food and water or she would not be alive. And all of us need love. Isn't that what every song played on the radio is saying?

Scientifically speaking, Smiley did need these things. But they were secondary. She did not get up in the morning because she could not wait to have some water. She woke up because of gymnastics. She did not eat breakfast because she loved food. She ate it because she needed energy to do gymnastics. And love? The word only begins to describe how she felt about this thing that some may call a hobby. For her it was much more than a sport, much more than just a part of her life. It was, in fact, what she lived for.

But, as we know all too well, life is about change. Sometimes we choose this change, but most of the time it is thrust upon us. Smiley knew that things would change eventually. Her body wouldn't be able to handle the demands of the sport forever. But she couldn't have predicted, wouldn't have wanted to have predicted, how soon that change would actually come.