Barbara Ehrenreich as Barbara Alexander has undergone her coaching, went to bootcamps, undergone a physical transformation, and has been to networking events. She still has not acquired a job and even with her background cannot seem to secure an interview. She has begun to provocatively approach companies that are not looking for her type of work field. Alexander has used her training to try to get further ahead in the fight to get a good paying white-collar job, but the training looks like it was a waste. At the beginning of her journey she set aside one-thousand dollars for items that she might have need in the process. The excessive coaches, bootcamps, and trips to different networking events has eaten up her budget of one-thousand dollars and she is now over by three-thousand dollars. Alexander is feeling defeated, but she is not letting that stop her. It has been four months and she expected to have landed a job already. Alexander refers to herself as desperate to succeed, but determined to finish what she set out to do.
Tone: determined, frustrated
Style: exact
Rhetorical Strategies: parallel structure "And the first part of the plan is, onece again, as emphasized by Ron, networking- sustained and furious, skilled and highly targeted, relentless and dogged." pg. 95
allusion "The ten principles, he explains, are the Ten Commandments..." pg. 125
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Bait and Switch
Barbara Ehrenreich has gone undercover again, but this time she is investigating the hardships of the white-collar class. Ehrenreich seems to be optimistic about being able to land a job in no time. She believes that she has a strong resume, personality, and experience to get her a well paid, good benefits white-collar job. Her first step to enter into the world of the white-collar is to create a "fake" name, "fake papers, and a "fake" resume. She fears that she will be recognized and treated better than others if she doesn't do these things because of her previous book Nickel and Dimed. Her next step is to get training from a career coach. She finds the world of career coaches to be extremely dishonest. Erenreich believes that networking is one of the most important things to do when going for a job. The more people you know the greater your chances of landing a job. To gain the aura of an executive Erenreich enlists in a executive boot camp. She wants to be able to embody the spirit and actions of an executive.
Tone: optimistic
Style: precise
Rhetorical Strategies: imagery "...modest ranch house in residential area...decorated in a style I recognize as middle-class Catholic, circa 1970- prints of nineteenth century pastoral scenes..." pg. 25
simile "But in networking, as in prostitution, there is no time for fascination." pg. 62
Application: When people graduate from college are they as optimistic about landing a job right away like Barbara Erenreich was?
Tone: optimistic
Style: precise
Rhetorical Strategies: imagery "...modest ranch house in residential area...decorated in a style I recognize as middle-class Catholic, circa 1970- prints of nineteenth century pastoral scenes..." pg. 25
simile "But in networking, as in prostitution, there is no time for fascination." pg. 62
Application: When people graduate from college are they as optimistic about landing a job right away like Barbara Erenreich was?
Friday, January 4, 2008
The Economy and the New Year
Author: none
Found: NY Times opinion section
In the 2008 article, "The Economy and the New Year," describes the downfall of America's economy and how we can bring it up in the new year of 2008. Most people can see that our economy is spiraling down and George Bush is in total denial. He believes that the economy has a strong foundation and is stable. Bush is probably referring to rising wages and low unemployment, but wages are not bypassing inflation and the creation of jobs are slowing. During the Bush administration the economy has grown in a peculiar way. There is one step forward and two steps backwards. The rich has become richer and the middle and lower classes are still waiting for an opportunity to catch up. The growth in exportation has not led to more manufacturing jobs. The areas in which the economy needs the most help, the Bush administration has done little progress the situation. The administration's worst mistake is not preparing for the worst. Bush is still in denial and cannot face the seriousness of the situations that he has created. The only real hope America can get is the reassurance and the proof that the economy issues will be taken care of.
Tone: disappointed
AQ: Will the economy issue improve with the newly elected president in 2008?
Found: NY Times opinion section
In the 2008 article, "The Economy and the New Year," describes the downfall of America's economy and how we can bring it up in the new year of 2008. Most people can see that our economy is spiraling down and George Bush is in total denial. He believes that the economy has a strong foundation and is stable. Bush is probably referring to rising wages and low unemployment, but wages are not bypassing inflation and the creation of jobs are slowing. During the Bush administration the economy has grown in a peculiar way. There is one step forward and two steps backwards. The rich has become richer and the middle and lower classes are still waiting for an opportunity to catch up. The growth in exportation has not led to more manufacturing jobs. The areas in which the economy needs the most help, the Bush administration has done little progress the situation. The administration's worst mistake is not preparing for the worst. Bush is still in denial and cannot face the seriousness of the situations that he has created. The only real hope America can get is the reassurance and the proof that the economy issues will be taken care of.
Tone: disappointed
AQ: Will the economy issue improve with the newly elected president in 2008?
LA's low homicide rate
Author: none
Found: LA Times opinion section
In the 2007 article, "L.A.'s low homicide rate," the plan that was utilized to reduce deaths in LA was analyzed. Recognizing the lowest homicide count since 1970, it was said to be a holiday gift to LA. The source of most killings in LA are gangs and the police has done a good job keeping track of them. We cannot stop cracking down on gangs just because the crime rate has reduced drastically. The incoming of wealthier citizens and putting a short leash and keeping a close eye on gangs has stop them from commiting many murders in LA, but they have not disappeared. These gangs have moved to different cities where obviously the homicide rate has gone up. The trasfer of the crimes from Hollywood to San Bernadino is not the same as reducing the crimes. Therefore, gang violence has not change. It is believed that gang murders are not associated with hurting rival gangs, but to express rage and hopelessness. The strategies used by the police cannot stop the creation of gangs and can not eliminate gangs, but it is part of the solution.
Tone: informative
AQ: Would locking up gang members and leaders be a good strategy to reduce the homicide rate?
Found: LA Times opinion section
In the 2007 article, "L.A.'s low homicide rate," the plan that was utilized to reduce deaths in LA was analyzed. Recognizing the lowest homicide count since 1970, it was said to be a holiday gift to LA. The source of most killings in LA are gangs and the police has done a good job keeping track of them. We cannot stop cracking down on gangs just because the crime rate has reduced drastically. The incoming of wealthier citizens and putting a short leash and keeping a close eye on gangs has stop them from commiting many murders in LA, but they have not disappeared. These gangs have moved to different cities where obviously the homicide rate has gone up. The trasfer of the crimes from Hollywood to San Bernadino is not the same as reducing the crimes. Therefore, gang violence has not change. It is believed that gang murders are not associated with hurting rival gangs, but to express rage and hopelessness. The strategies used by the police cannot stop the creation of gangs and can not eliminate gangs, but it is part of the solution.
Tone: informative
AQ: Would locking up gang members and leaders be a good strategy to reduce the homicide rate?
Monday, December 31, 2007
Project 50 for the homeless
Author:none
Found:LA Times Opinion section
In the 2007 article, "Project 50 for the homeless," the plan to take 50 of the most vulnerable homeless people on skid row off the streets is revealed. Common Ground, a nonprofit organization, has lead Project 50 in New York and is now leading the project in Los Angeles. The first step to getting the project off the ground involved two dozen Los Angeles county workers. These two dozen workers spent several nights walking down skid row talking to the people who sleep on the streets and observing the conditions that they were in. From this the city was able to create a registry of skid row street residents. The registry will help the city put the 50 most vulnerable street residents in permanent homes. These homes will provide healthcare, drug treatment and more to the residents. Project 50 is a great plan, but taking 50 street residents off the streets is not enough. Hopefully in the future the next step is taking more residents off the streets.
Tone: satirical and promising
AQ: If Project 50 is successful in California should it be attempted in other states?
Found:LA Times Opinion section
In the 2007 article, "Project 50 for the homeless," the plan to take 50 of the most vulnerable homeless people on skid row off the streets is revealed. Common Ground, a nonprofit organization, has lead Project 50 in New York and is now leading the project in Los Angeles. The first step to getting the project off the ground involved two dozen Los Angeles county workers. These two dozen workers spent several nights walking down skid row talking to the people who sleep on the streets and observing the conditions that they were in. From this the city was able to create a registry of skid row street residents. The registry will help the city put the 50 most vulnerable street residents in permanent homes. These homes will provide healthcare, drug treatment and more to the residents. Project 50 is a great plan, but taking 50 street residents off the streets is not enough. Hopefully in the future the next step is taking more residents off the streets.
Tone: satirical and promising
AQ: If Project 50 is successful in California should it be attempted in other states?
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