Blog III: Ethical Questions

When cable TV became readily available, many networks developed practices and standards for their shows.  However, most networks applied these standards loosely, especially with cartoons. In the 70s, animators created cartoons outside the family arena.

One such feature was Ralph Bakshi's Fritz the Cat; the first X-rated animated feature based on R. Crumb's womanizing feline.   By the 80s, many animators buried satirical commentary in their shorts, eluding profit-minded executives.  Although the practice of placing hidden sexual meanings in cartoons started long before Disney, younger animators began taking advantage of cable television's freedom.

 Years later, certain viewers complained about the subversive messages contained in the cells.  For more than a decade, animators evaded scrutiny with double-meaning cleverness.  Finally, the televised rulers reviewed cartoons with surgical precision. It became clear that writers and animators story-boarded shows appealing more to adults than precocious children.

For this blog, you are to consider the concepts we discussed in Chapter IV regarding ethics.  Once you have finished pondering, you will draft your own standards and practices for whatever medium you want.  If you want to start a television network, then you discuss the content acceptable for airing.  You should have at least five standards.  Once you have finished your standards, discuss how rights, utility, and care apply to your standards and practices.  Do your terms take into account the audience for your medium?  Are you willing to make exceptions (like we discussed with care)?  Finally, discuss one ethical dilemma you might face once you establish your standard of practices.

Once again, good luck!

Spring 2014: Blog II, The Video

For your second blog, you are to make a video and post it on your blog page.  This is not as hard as it seems.  First, you need to make a movie.  You can do so with your phone or screen recorder.  The choice is up to you.  Then, you are to upload it to your blog page.   Once you have uploaded the video, you must do a brief write up on the following questions:


(1)What is your video about?  Are you trying to market something or are you trying to inform.
(2)Who are the primary, secondary, and tertiary readers of your video.
(3)What are the needs, values, and attitudes of your intended audience.

Once again, you have complete freedom.  Just make sure you use good judgement when filming your videos. I wish you luck on your second blog. 

*For those of you who cannot make a video, you must write a summary of what type of video you would like to make.  Once you have done that, answer the the three questions above regarding your imaginary video.

Spring 2014: Blog I

The American-Beta-He-Man:  Hot Chocolate, Plaid Jammies, and Retro-Fitted Glasses

Unless you have been living under a rock or a beer tap since 2010, you know that healthcare in this country has recently changed.  Like all programs, "change" is not enough without advertising. Throughout history, advertisements helped spread movements and reflected national history.  Although it might seem like a loose connection, technical writers fall under the same political and ethical guidelines as advertisers.  Not only are technical writers responsible for describing intricate designs of products, they also play a hand in marketing.

The current Administration is attempting to tap into hipness of the millennial psyche.   Doing this successfully requires a solid understanding of the current generation's needs, values, and attitudes.  No doubt the most creative minds labored over the right image for the young, savvy consumers of today.  Millions of dollars and many stiff hot chocolates later, they came up with "Pajama Boy"—er—"Man."

Coinciding with Chapter 2, take a look at the ad and answer these questions regarding primary readers only:

(1)What are the needs of the readers of this ad?

(2)What are the values of the readers this ad is targeting?

(3)What are the attitudes of the ad's target audience?

(4)Do you think this ad successfully considered the needs, values, and attitudes of its intended primary readers?

Your response should be at least a paragraph and a half.  I wish you the best of luck on your first blog post.

Blog IV and V, The Proposal Project

Soon you will be getting your proposal assignment.  For assignment four, you are to think about a problem that needs a solution.  Traditionally, technical writers create proposal projects all the time.  Your proposal does not need to technical; however, you should have a problem and a solution.  For this blog, you need to do the following:

(1)Think about a problem and describe it in at least three sentences.  To do this successfully, you must consider the problem's impact on society, the environment, or, possibly, the world. 

(2)Next, write a solution this problem.  Your solution should be mature and logical.  Your grade depends on how practical your response is. 

(3)For the last part of this assignment, you are to cite support for your solution in a secondary source.  For this particular post, you must do an APA citation.  When you have done that, you must put the Reference at the bottom of your blog for full credit.

We will be going over how to do the APA citations you need in class tomorrow.  Best of luck.  I know you can do it!

Blog III: Your Favorite Website

For this post, you are to discuss your favorite website.  First, discuss why use this website.  What does it offer you?  Using terms discussed in Chapter 9, write a brief critique on your favorite website. Is there anything that needs to be improved?  Also, consider the different contexts (PEPE) and readers (Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary).  Full credit will be given to blogs that have terms like homepage, nodes, and links.  This post is good practice for those of you doing the website critique.

Ebay: Auction II

For this blog, you are to ignite your free-market instincts and create an auction a mock Ebay auction.   First, you need to find an item that you want to sell.  Once you've done that, then you need to write a three-sentence ad in which you describe it.   The description should include what it is, the item's condition, it's price, and your shipping policies.   After you finish with that, you need to discuss the four contexts (political, economic, ethical, and physical) related to your sale.  For example, are you selling a bootleg LP or something that is not commercially manufactured?  What might be some ethical principles surrounding an illicit item.  As for economic, what socioeconomic class is your item for—the rich, middle-class, or the plebs?  Regarding the physical, in what environment is your item going to be used?   And when you get to the political, think about the ideology of your potential buyer.  Does the item appeal to someone with a certain political ideology?

Your ad should not be written in an overly complex way.  Remember, the average person reads at about a fourth grade level, so remember your audience. 

Best of luck!

Blog I: Fall of 2013. Blogging about Work.

You've just been hired at Calvin and Hobbs[sic], an investment company.   Most of your day consists of seeing clients and giving them financial advice.  Being that you are such a grade-A swindler, you are making good money.  Unfortunately, sitting behind a desk all day gets boring.  But, one day, while walking to the water cooler you over hear Jane talking on the phone with one of her girlfriends. 

Although she is personable enough, there are days you wish she would put down her phone to stifle herself.  She talks about her nights at the clubs, guzzling Cosmos and going home with different men.  You often ponder what any man would see in a woman plain as vanilla yogurt and as obnoxious as a braying jackass.  Just when you thought you had enough, your imagination starts:  Why not write down these stories and put them on a blog. 

You recall reading an article about making money starting a blog while sipping your imported coffee drink at Starbeans, a good company buying coffee beans at third-world prices only to charge their customers a terrorist's ransom for a sip of their re-badged Folgers.  After snapping your fingers, you raid the office supply room for a legal pad and wait as Jane starts talking.  Her awful laugh sends shivers down your spine, but your steady hand guides the pen.  True-blue ink fills the space between lines, as you absorb last night's drunken high-heeled excursion.

For this first blog posting, you are to consider the legal problems with writing a blog about one of your coworkers.  To help you consider the dangers, go to this link: https://www.eff.org/issues/bloggers/legal

Write at least one danger you could face by writing a blog.  Then, discuss if you have to reveal your identity if you decide to risk blogging about coworkers.

Once you've done that, what might be some things you can do to protect yourself from harm while writing your stories.   Hint:  Think about the identities and names of people.

This first blog should be at least five to seven sentences long.