Journal 50: Speech Next Week

     One of people’s greatest fears is speaking in public, and most people fear it more than death. I think that speaking in public, in front of an audience, is scared if I am not well prepared. To me, the most fearful thing when I speak in public is the moment that I have nothing to say. It seems embarrassed if there are lots of pairs of eyes looking at me and I am speechless. It is easy for me to feel nervous, so I would try my best to practice my speech if I can before going on the stage. In addition, audience is another reason that makes me feel nervous. I believe that majority people would feel more comfortable and relaxed to speak to the people who they are familiar with. Of course, it is totally different to give a presentation than have to put forth a persuasive argument. I definitely need to prepare myself both mentally and emotionally before speaking in front of people because it would make different feelings to the audience. They might not have strong feeling if I just give an argument speech with normal tone. However, they would be impressed by my speech if I use my tone appropriately.

 

Journal 49: Reflection on Your Essay

        My essay is talking about that it is better for people to study abroad. I provide three reasons to support my idea. I use logical, emotional, and ethical appeals to persuade my audience. In the first paragraph, I make a short description of my general idea of why studying abroad is good for us, and what benefits we can get from it. In second paragraph, I provide details by using logical appeal. There are some facts and research which can make audience feel more convincible and tend to agree my idea. In addition, I use emotion appeal here that I choose some strong words in order to create strong feelings to the audience, such as the example I give in my essay. To the third paragraph, I use ethical appeal to try to persuade my audience. I mention about the importance about being a global citizen and how it would affect people in this generation in the future. I hope that these appeals are able to make audience to agree with my idea. However, there are also some disadvantages about studying abroad. I didn’t really discuss about it in my essay. I am not sure that whether it is better to mention it or not.

Journal 48: Your Opposition

     My persuasive argument is that not all people broaden their views or get benefits though they have experiences of studying abroad. Some people might get trouble because there are challenges that must be understood before taking the plunge. There are two reasons why of studying abroad is not only contains advantage. One of the big disadvantages of studying abroad is the costs and safety. You might not be familiar with the new environment and the new lifestyle, so it is easy to face trouble. Moreover, as you are far away from your family and friends, you might feel lonely or sad. Not all students’ families are able to pay the fee for their children to study abroad because it will cost a lot of money. For example, you have to rent a house in order to settle down first. The tuition must be expensive than the one you pay in your local country. At this time, you might question yourself: Can I afford to study abroad? In addition, you have less time to see your family or friends because the best way to communicate is by using Facebook, Skype, or other online chatting systems. Sometimes, you even can’t find anyone to help you when needed.

Journal 47: Writing or Speaking

     I think that writing is more effective than speaking because you have to think more when you are writing. I write short diary everyday. Although it is not very long, containing only fifteen words or less, at least I review some important things happen on that day. I have started to write my diary around three years ago. I don’t want to write too many words because it shouldn’t make any pressure for me. After I take showers, I start my journal time. I won’t record down everything happens on that day. I would choose only one or two important things. Sometimes, you might think that writing is not that hard, but you can speak doesn’t mean that you are able to write it down in words. For example, it is easy to talk to your friends, but you might feel it is more difficult to write an essay about the same topic. Therefore, writing is more effective and critical than speaking. Moreover, you are unable to review if you just say the words. On the other hand, you can go back and look what you have already written on your essay. Writing also help me to memorize and know things more deeply.

 

Journal 46: Your Argument

     According to my argument last time, I think that I provide more logical appeals of my subject. I list some similarities and differences of both ipnone 4s and HTC Incredible S. For example, I compare their sizes of screen, their weights, the sizes of the phone, shortage, and camera. As I providing many details of these two types of phones, it would make audience easier to compare both of them and think which one is suited for them. Those details are logical appeals which are easily to convince people. On the other hand, I also have a emotional appeal, but it doesn’t weight as much as logical appeals. I mention that most of people around me, especially my friends, are using smart phones. Although smart phone is not necessary for me, I just want it in order to have a convenient life after I study abroad along. In addition, my friends who are already in the United States tell me that it is better to have a smart than a normal phone because at least you can use Internet. That is why I pick these two phone and want to buy one of them. To this argument, I provide more logical appeals because those data and information about the smart phones seem to have stronger feeling to persuade people.

Journal 45: Persuade Me

    I want to buy a new cell phone now! I have used the current one around four years. Most people around me use smart phone now. Although smart phone is not necessary for me, my friends in the US told me that it is more convenient to have you when you are abroad. Therefore, I decide to buy a new one, but I am torn between choosing iphone 4s and HTC Incredible S. My parents encourage me to buy iphone because I don’t need to worry about whether the system would fit the telecom in the United States. I just research some information about these two types of phones. To iphone 4s, the size of screen is 3.5-inch LDC, 640 x 960 pixels, and it is heavier than HTC. On the other hand to HTC, the size of screen is 4.0-inch LDC, 480 x 800 pixels, and it is a little bigger than iphone. Both of them don’t have keyboard, have shortage up to 32GB, and front camera. As I have these information and data, I believe that I am able to convince my audience. The type of this appeal is logical appeal because the information I provided are real and reasonable.

 

Journal 44: Reason Sits Firm

     According to the first sentence from the quotation, Reason sits firm and holds the reins, it means that no matter what are the reasons or evidences of a truth are, the reality stays the same and it won’t be changed ever. For example, the cake is eaten by my sister, but she keeps saying that it is eaten by her friend. Although she tells everyone that she doesn’t eat the cake, the reality stays that the person who eats the cake is my sister. “She will not let the feelings burst away and hurry her to wild chasms”, this sentence means that the speaker would choose to believe the truth, and try her best not to be affected by other things or people. “The passions may rage furiously, like true heathens, as they are, and the desires may imagine all sorts of vain things”, at this time your feelings or passions of the truth seem to be the heathens who are excluded. Moreover, the speaker’s instinct would turn to be vain thing. “But judgment shall still have the last word in every argument, and the castings vote in every decision”, the speaker might not satisfy the reality or the result. That is the reason why the argument still exist.