Chapter 16 Analysis

This chapter is all about evidence and the different ways people present it and the different ways it can be seen. Some different kinds of evidence, such as one example mentioned that relates to college students, is quantitative data, which is basically evidence in numbers that can be observed. Also, it does matter to whom you are presenting your evidence to and the context of which it is in simply because some people, such as skeptics, would be less likely to believe something, rather than people who are already swayed into believing. This chapter also discusses how interviews are used as evidence because they are direct quotes taken from what should be a credible source. In addition to this, another type of evidence could be surveys taken because it represents a populous or set group of people pertaining to the claim. However, they do mention how surveys need to be extremely clear in order for participants to understand what is going on. Experiments are also another form of evidence discussed in this chapter. There is secondhand evidence, which is evidence that is collected from another source, such as a library source or online source. This kind of evidence is most familiar to college students because in English 101 and currently in English 102, we have had to use ASU's online library database, or even directly from books at the library.
The part of this reading which  I found most intriguing was the section about how evidence does not necessarily have to be words, but can simply be pictures-ones that are moving and inspiring that photojournalists base their career around. The example they use in the book is drawings done by children's eyes about the current actions in Darfur. The pictures are definitely moving and sometimes say more than words and other evidence would. The example I can definitely relate to and I think anybody can would be the sickening, frightening and dreadful pictures of the emaciated victims of the Holocaust. To me, these pictures speak louder than any words.

Chapter 13 Analysis

Basically, this chapter is describing how just as in the many outlets of life there are all kinds of styles, writing has many too. Style is how the way the argument is set up in order to make an effective claim. These can be found as ways of communication which the chapter classifies as high, which is formal, middle, which is understated, and low, which is every day talk. Using these gives a certain style and tone to the organization of the argument. This chapter also addresses word choice as very important for the style of the argument. Slang can be used for specific target audiences and jargon has the same effect too. The style can also have figures of speech, or use metaphors, similes and analogies to compare and contrast and further prove or disprove a point. Rhetorical questions, which most people are familiar with  help continue the argument on and also engages the audience to make assumptions. Another strategy that most people have heard of, but don't what it's called is "antonomasia," which is "George the Great," etc.
The part that I found most intriguing that reminded me of something I've seen on the web would have to be a combination of sentence structure and punctuation. The example I'm thinking of that makes a huge difference is "Let's eat Grandma!" as opposed to "Let's eat, Grandma!" because the meanings are completely different and affected by the smallest thing.
Also, I found the part about metaphors and similes interesting because I find this to be the easiest to understand for audiences of all types and are almost always effective as proving something. For instance, the advertisement below compares having a baby and being grounded. Most people can understand or relate to this because they understand what being grounded entails, or have experienced it themselves.