Model Stage

In our second Stage Chemistry unit, we learned about how different motion happens on the stage and the safety protocols to help accomplish them. This required not only looking at what happens on stage but also above and under the stage. We went to see A Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theatre. Then for our second action project we were to build a model of out own theaters that we made blueprints of in unit one (see here), for our own performance of A Christmas Carol. We also had to design two pieces of motion for the performance and safety protocols for them. I’m proud of both of the motion pieces I made because they required me to think more, so I was proud when I succeeded to make the models of them.

AG Empty Room (2014)

AG Room With Movement (2014)

On the top is an image of the room and stage area alone; on the bottom is an image of the room with all the different parts.

AG Deck Gif (2014)

The moving deck is to show a setting. On it will be Scrooge’s house which is used in many scenes. It will be similar to the Goodman Theatre’s version of Scrooge’s house, where the left side shows the outside of the house, and the right part it Scrooge’s bedroom. However, it will be decorated differently. The deck will be towards the back of the stage so when it isn’t being used, a screen with different scenery painted on can be put in front of it.

AG Deck Warning (2014)

The Safety Protocols for the Moving Deck are:

• If you are near the track (while it is still) be careful not to get anything stuck in it
• Watch deck while pushing controls so that not to make it move while someone is in front of it
• Be careful not to fall off deck
• The deck is set to not go fast - do not try to change the speed
• There will be an emergency button to kill the engine - be aware of how to use it

The deck is mechanical and has a motor to make it move. There will be a control in the backstage area so someone has the power to make it move back and fourth. The control will have a safety warning on the back as well.

AG Force Calculations (2014)

The deck will need to hold three people at most, with the expectation of around 550 lbs maximum, so it will be designed to hold twice that, 1100 lbs.

AG Bottom of Deck (2014)

AG Deck With Track (2014)

AG Deck In Trap (2014)

The model of the moving deck has two cut popsicle sticks on the back side. One on the left the other on the right. They stick out about a centimeter. In real life these are called the knives. On the model, those sticks insert into a slit in the stage model which represents the track. This is what keeps the deck in place and from going too far.

AG Divider Gif (2014)

The dividers have two main purposes. The first is that they hide off the area that isn’t considered the stage, which provides for a backstage area. The second purpose is it works as a curtain. If you pull the divider out, it hides the stage area just like a curtain would. It won’t be done mechanically; someone will pull it out themselves.

AG Divider Warning (2014)

The Safety Protocols for the Dividers are:

• Watch your fingers
• Be careful where you are rolling the dividers
• Be careful not to knock dividers over since they are light

Psyched about Psycho

For our second Ollywood unit, we learned about what goes into the production of a film and how the movies are filmed exactly. We learned about different lighting techniques and framing angles. Aside from the filming, we also learned about what makes an actor’s performance good or bad. For our action project, we were to watch a movie and create a video critique with a group. My group chose to watch Psycho, the 1960 classic thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock. In the critique, we discussed some pre-production and production elements, including plot, characters, set design, framing, lighting, and our personal opinions of the film.


Works Cited

• A Picture of Great Significance. The Cine-Tourist. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
• Agnes, Racskay. Van Mit Nézni a Tévében? Heti Filmajánló. Nyugat.hu. N.p., 21 Oct. 2013 Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
• Cooper, Rich. 15 Bathroom Nightmares Everyone Has. Student Beans. N.p., 12 Dec. 2013 Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
• Elizabeth Hot Stuff. Elizabeth Hot Stuff. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
• Gif Blanco Y Negro De Halloween Clásica Película De Terror. - Gifmambo. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
• Super Showdeo Sunday! Today! Yee-Haw! - Cactus Thorns. Super Showdeo Sunday! Today! Yee-Haw! - Cactus Thorns. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
• What Hobby Did Norman Enjoy? - The Psycho Trivia Quiz. - Fanpop. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
• What We Can Learn from Psychopaths. DailyXY – Guy Stuff. N.p., 9 Jan. 2013 Web. 14 Dec. 2014.

Performance at Fasseas

For our first unit of Stage Chemistry, we learned about the different elements of a theater. We learned about measuring and scaling correctly. For our first action project, we were asked to take our newfound knowledge and apply it to a space of our choice; when then turned that space into a theater. I chose to use Menomonee, specifically Fasseas for the room with the stage. To help us with ideas we examined the Goodman Theatre and its elements. We then had to chose six of our own elements to show details of our space. The elements I chose were the stage, the viewing angles, the lobby showing how to get to the bathrooms, the coat check and concessions, the box office, and ticket pricing. I also had a blueprint of the entire area, as well as a comparison between my space and Goodman Theatre's. I really enjoyed the math parts of the project and making the blueprint to scale. It was difficult to measure all the walls and draw them to scale, because some of the walls weren't at a 90 degree angles. However, I ended up finding a good estimate that worked perfectly, which I was proud of accomplishing.

"Back to the Future": An Amazing Film from the Past

For our first unit of Ollywood, a film critique class, we learned about the main elements of film pre-production: screenwriting, set design, and costume design. We watched and analyzed many movies, and for our first action project we were to choose our own movie to watch and critique. The movie I chose to analyze is Back to the Future.

Jinho Jung- "Back to the Future 2".(2009) Internet: Flikr

Directed by Robert Zemeckis in 1985, Back to the Future is an enjoyable, imaginative, and thought-provoking film. It does exactly what Roger Ebert, America’s most famous movie critic, says it should do -- it allows you to escape from your own box of space and time, to see the past as it was actually happening. The movie really creates a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for the past.

The movie begins by introducing the audience to the story’s protagonist, Marty McFly, instantly capturing his character; he’s a laid-back, rock-and-roll-loving, witty, typical teenager. He’s known as a “slacker” at school, apparently taking after his father. His entire family seems to have a bad life--his brother works at a fast-food place, his sister has a terrible love life, his mother is an alcoholic, and his father still gets bullied by his boss. It is very clear that they are all unhappy. We are also introduced to his loving and supporting girlfriend, Jennifer, who encourages him to believe in himself and his musical talent. Marty is then called to meet up with his mentor, an eccentric inventor who Marty calls Doc, to try out his latest experiment, a time machine, in the form of a DeLorean. But things take a turn for the worse. Terrorists shoot Doc, and Marty is forced to drive away in the car, accidentally activating the time machine, sending him back to 1955. Having arrived 30 years into the past, Marty runs into some difficulties, and while searching for Doc, encounters his own father as a teenager. Sadly, the young Mr. McFly is as much a loser in the past as he is in the future. Marty’s father was also bullied back then by the same person who bullied him in the future, Biff, his boss. While in the past, Marty accidentally takes his father’s place in what would have been the event that caused his parents to meet. He now has to find Doc immediately, and fix his mistake by setting his parents up, or else he and his siblings will cease to exist. He spends the rest of the time in the past doing just that, all the while fighting off Biff and his own, teenaged, future mother’s advances.

Marty finally succeeds at the high school dance where his parents had always told him they had their first kiss, and after nearly losing Doc for good, Marty is able to save him and escape 1955, returning to the future. When Marty gets home, it’s obvious that a lot has changed. His sister has a good love life, his brother has a good job, his parents are richer and more in love than before, and Biff now works for his father, cleaning and fixing up his car. Everything seems perfect. Marty even still has Jennifer. But then Doc reappears in the DeLorean telling Marty and Jennifer to come with him to the future, for the sake of their future kids. They then fly off in the clearly remodeled DeLorean.

My favorite scene in the movie was a fight scene between the protagonist and the antagonist, Marty and Biff. Biff enters the diner instantly bullying George Mcfly and shouting “‘Ey McFly! I thought I told you never to come in here. Well it’s gonna cost you. How much money you got on you?” As Biff nears George, ready to take his money, Marty comes to the rescue and trips the bully. When he gets back up he say “Alright punk. Now--”, interrupting him Marty points behind Biff saying “Woah, woah, Biff! What’s that?” and with the bully distracted he takes this opportunity to punch him. The reason this is my favorite scene is because it perfectly captures both of their personalities and shows what kind of characters they are-- while it's been obvious that Biff is an antagonist, Marty shines in this scene as a hero with confidence.

Setting plays a major role in this movie. The entire movie is about the change in eras and the production design showed this amazingly. The old-fashioned diner perfectly captures the 1950s with its little jukeboxes on the counter and on every table, that you would never see nowadays, or the paper hats that the workers wore. It also showed the cultural changes between the years, for example when Marty asks for a “Pepsi Free” and the worker assumes he’s trying to be funny and doesn’t want to pay for his drink. Another important location is the Hill Valley clock tower, where in the past a lot of action takes place. In the future, people are protesting to save it from being torn down because it’s broken and doesn’t look nice, but in the past it looks new and still works.

Another key feature of the movie is the costumes. Both the 1980s and 1950s costumes are amazing and so accurate. The costume designers really manage to show the drastic changes between the two periods. Clothing is an important factor and something that distinguishes a lot about a character. The males in 1855, almost all wore collared shirts with a print on them, and the females wore dresses with rounded collars or turtlenecks. Knowing that Marty’s clothing would be strange, Doc tells him to change into something inconspicuous. Cultural change is shown here too, for example, back then it was unusual to have a brand name on your underwear, so when Marty’s mom sees that his say Calvin Klein, she assumes this is his name and sticks with this belief during his entire time in the past.

The inspiration for Back to the Future came from the screenplay writer, Bob Gale, who had discovered his father's high school yearbook and wondered whether or not he would have been friends with him as a teenager (Holleran). The movie was obviously a wild success; it won many awards, and is still considered one of the best movies of all time. I highly recommend it for anyone in the mood for an imaginative, whimsical, clever movie, and a good laugh.

Works Cited:
-Back to the Future. Dir. Robert Zemeckis. Perf. Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson. Universal Studios, 1985. Film.
-Holleran, Scott. "Brain Storm." Brain Storm. Box Office Mojo, 18 Nov. 2003. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.  

Showing A Speech

This Rhetoric unit tied together with our last one. We learned more about visual rhetoric and how to apply our rhetorical elements towards artwork. The main purpose was to make a visual representation of our speech. The political issue that my speech focused on was police brutality. I’m proud of being able to effectively transfer the main arguments of my speech into an art form.

AG: Cover (2014)

I am a highschool student and have lived my whole life in Chicago; the topic I chose for my speech and artwork was police brutality. I chose this topic because police misconduct has increasingly gotten worse in Chicago, and because it affects me personally due to the death of one of my good friends at the hands of our city’s police. The message I want my artwork to send is that police brutality must be put to an end and for new regulations need be put in place. All of us should feel angry about what is happening. We all need to care, especially, about our youth! If we let this abuse of power go on we are saying that it is okay for police to kill the children in our city.

Some of the things I learned when doing research on this topic were that:

• In 2012, the Chicago Police Department shot 57 people, killing 8 of them.
• Between 2002 and 2004, 10,149 complaints were made accusing Chicago Police Department, but only 19 of these complaints led to any suspensions. 85% of the officers weren’t even interviewed about the complains that were made about them.
• In Rialto, California, officers are now obligated to wear tiny cameras that film all of their interactions with the public. This resulted in complaints against Rialto police officers decreasing by 88%, and use of force by officers falling by almost 60%.

I chose a pamphlet as my visual representation, which required the use my computer and a printer supplied with paper and ink. The reason I chose to make a pamphlet was because it allowed me to not only give a visual, but to also give a lot of information that people should know about the topic. If people don’t know the facts, they won’t care to make a change because they won’t understand why it’s so crucial.

In my pamphlet I used description and narration in the personal story section when I wrote about and described an instance where police brutality occurred in my life. My pictures are an example of exemplification because they show rather than tell evidence. I also used process analysis in the solutions section when I outlined what steps must be taken in order to help resolve the issue. I also used amplification, for example, when I stated that police brutality “occurred in 14 of the 25 Chicago Police Districts, that is more than half of the districts.” to emphasize the severity of the issue.

If I could share my pamphlet I think the best place for them to be is at police anti-violence rallies, at funerals or memorials of victims of police brutality, or even just on busy street corners, in order to spread the word more and inform people who normally wouldn’t be so aware or involved in the issue. If I can get people to care about the issue, maybe I can get them to stand up and make a change, which then hopefully will put an end to it.

AG: Outside (2014)

AG: Inside (2014)

Sources

Erye, Pete. “Infographic: A Neutral Look at Police Brutality | Cop Block." Cop Block RSS. N.p., 3 July 2012. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://www.copblock.org/17484/infographic-a-neutral-look-police-brutality/>.

Hulsey, Emily. "California Town's Simple Solution To Police Brutality Has Lowered Use Of Force By 60 Percent." Independent Journal Review. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://www.ijreview.com/2014/07/153997-california-towns-simple-solution-police-brutality-lowered-use-force-60-percent/>.

"IPRA Releases Report on 2012 Chicago Police Shootings | People's Law Office." Peoples Law Office. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://peoples lawoffice.com/ipra-releases-report-on-2012-chicago-police-shootings/>.

FINish the Waste

In this Design and Engineering unit we learned about the Fibonacci series, the golden ratio, exponents, scientific notation, area, and volume. The purpose of our assignment is to create something that represents and illustrates a global issue we are facing: material waste. To do this, our class was divided into groups, and each chose a material or item that is wasted a lot; my group chose plastic bottles. I am most proud of the installation I made out of water bottles for the action project because I think it’s interesting and a very special fish (named Fin).

HP: Sketch from Bottom (2014)

During this unit, we did some research to understand a little more about our item. Two very interesting and shocking statistics we read were that more than 60 million plastic bottles end up in landfills and incinerators every day (Franklin), and six times as many plastic water bottles were thrown away in the US in 2004 as in 1997 (Franklin).

We selected this material because I use at least two daily which really adds up over time, and because of the insane amount people all over the world use every day. When we found out just the daily amount we were shocked. Plastic is very bad for the environment. It comes from natural, chemically modified, and completely synthetic materials and it ends up in landfills or incinerated. Plastic’s main ingredients are ethylene, propylene, butadiene, vinyl chloride, terephthalic acid, adipic acid, sebacoyl chloride, hexamathylene diamine and bisphenol A (What are the ingredients used to make plastic?). However, there are many others. The first plastic based on a synthetic polymer was made from phenol and formaldehyde, with the first viable and cheap synthesis methods invented in 1907, by Leo Hendrik Baekeland (Plastic 2014). We want people to realize how bad wasting so much plastic and discarding so many water bottles is. Our planet wastes way too much of it. We want people to stop buying plastic water bottles and use a sports water bottle so they can use it over and over. Or to buy a filter and just drink filtered tap water.

As I stated earlier, 60 million (6 x 10^7) plastic bottles end up in landfills and incinerators every day. That means about 22 billion (2.2 x 10^10) plastic bottles are used in just one year! Moreover, we keep increasing the amount of plastic bottles that are manufactured and then throw away; as previously mentioned six times as many plastic water bottles were thrown away in the US in 2004 as in 1997. This increase is also shown in the graph below.

"Giving Back - a promise from Terra Polyester S.A. de C.V.." Internet: Terra Polyester

My group's installation is a fish made of water bottles. We used 6 water bottles to represent the 60 million plastic bottles that end up in landfills and incinerators every day. Each bottle represents 10 million. The design was inspired by the ocean, because oceans are the biggest bodies of water and fish swim in these waters. Any time people think of fish they also think of water. And if we run out of water, we will no longer have fish. Furthermore, plastic, which is our material, is a danger to aquatic life. The amount of plastic in the water often ends up inside aquatic animals which leads to their deaths (Conntoro). Plastic constitutes approximately 90% of all trash floating on the ocean’s surface, with 46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile (Oceans: Plastic Pollution).

The only obstacles we ran into during our project involved the building of our installation. Our first issue was with the shape of the fish: we couldn’t figure out how exactly we wanted the head and tail to look. Our next obstacle was with gluing: the hot glue melted our plastic so it was difficult to glue stuff together. Aside from that we had no problems with our project.

AG: View from Top (2014)

AG: View from Side (2014)

AG: View from Front (2014)

Sources

Conntoro, Mark. "Six Reasons Why Plastic Is Bad for the Environment." Creeklife. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.

Franklin, Pat. "Down the drain." Down the drain. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.

"Giving Back - a promise from Terra Polyester S.A. de C.V.." Terra Polyester. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.

"Oceans: Plastic Pollution." TakePart. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.

"Plastic." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 4 Sept. 2014. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.

"What are the ingredients to make plastic?." Answers. Answers Corporation, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.

Enough is Enough

     This unit in Rhetoric was about what types of speeches inspire and mobilize people. We learned about what elements are essential for a good speech, and the types of language that attract people. Our final project was to use this new knowledge ourselves, and write our own speech on a change we want to see in our city, Chicago. I chose to write about police brutality, for many reasons, the main one being that one of my close friends was a victim of this. Writing this paper made me feel proud because I felt that I honored that friend by writing about this topic.

     I have lived in Chicago my whole life. Over that time I have seen so many amazing things in our city, the diversity, the cultural attractions, the food; but lately I have been hearing about many terrible things as well. One of those terrible things that has continually increased over the years is police brutality. Lately, I’ve been hearing story after story on the news, seemingly every day. And I believe it is time to say enough is enough.

     In 2012, the Chicago Police Department shot 57 people, killing 8 of them. Officer-involved shootings occurred in 14 of the 25 Chicago Police Districts, that is more than half of the districts. An author for the People’s Law Office website described the situation perfectly: “...it is important to recognize that police officers, government employees who are sworn to protect all of us, are far too often responsible for the gun violence against civilians.” (IPRA Releases Report on 2012 Chicago Police Shootings, 2012). This statement reveals the main issue, which is that the police are abusing their power. This has become a fight for equality, like previous fights for racial and gender equality, but this time it is for the equality between people in power and the average citizen. Just because someone is a police officer, does not mean he or she shouldn’t have to follow the same laws as everyone else. And if a regular citizen goes to jail for shooting or torturing someone, police officers should go to jail for this as well. Instead, many times they are let off the hook because it was just “a mistake”. On August 9 this year, in Ferguson, Missouri, an 18 year old boy named Michael Brown, with no priors, was shot and killed in broad daylight, and the police officer, Darren Wilson, received no disciplinary action against him, in fact his killer is still walking freely after two months having never been arrested for the murder. Apparently, Wilson shooting the unarmed boy was another instance of an officer “just doing his job” (Swaine, 2014). So is that what police jobs now entail? Shooting people? Shooting unarmed, not dangerous people? Shooting unarmed, not dangerous youth?

     A national poll taken by police officers in 2012 showed that 42% of officers believe that “Always following the rules is not compatible with getting the job done”, meaning they think they are exempt from following the rules and laws. They should not be. 84% admitted that they have witnessed other officers use more force than necessary to make an arrest and 61% admitted that they don’t always report serious criminal violations that involve the abuse of authority by fellow officers (Erye, 2012). This shows how many officers use excessive force, and how many other officers allow it by being bystanders. They should not be. Between 2002 and 2004, 10,149 complaints were made accusing Chicago Police Department officers of excessive force, illegal searches, racial abuse, sexual abuse, and false arrests. Only 19 of these complaints led to any suspensions. 85% of the officers weren’t even interviewed about the complains that were made about them. This shows how little is done about police abuse, and that officers are given the impression that breaking the rules is okay and goes without consequence. They should not be.

     Our own mayor is ignoring these issues. Some police officers were sued for torturing two prisoners, Ronald Kitchen and Marvin Reeves. During the trial, the defendants claimed that over 120 men were tortured. And what was Rahm Emanuel’s response? “I’m sorry this happened. Now let’s move on.” (Wisniewski, 2013). Let’s move on? Let’s move on? This isn’t some small unimportant issue, this is a matter of torture and the abuse of power. We will not “move on”. We refuse to “move on”.

     While some of you may think this issue wouldn't, or even shouldn't, touch me personally, it isn't small and unimportant issue to me. My good friend Dominique Franklin Jr., “Damo”, 23, was a victim of police brutality. He was a good person who made a mistake just like the rest of us. He did not come from a wealthy family, and didn’t always have the money to afford what he needed. So one day, he went into a Walgreens and yes, he stole something; yes, he broke the law. But was taking away a few dollars from a big company worth his life? I don’t think it was. When the police found Damo they handled the situation by tasing him, not once, but twice in what was clearly an unsafe area, because when they did, they caused him to fall against a pole, and be knocked unconscious. For around 15 or 20 minutes, no medical attention was provided for him. Instead, the police stood there, with no remorse for their actions. This unconsciousness became permanent because what the officers had really done was put this young man into a coma. And that cost him his life two weeks later. This was a clear case of police misconduct, and that is why Damo’s father is pressing charges against the Chicago Police Department. He says he is suing to “try and ensure that what happened to his child, doesn’t happen to anyone else.” (Puccinelli, 2014). And that’s all any of us want at this point. We are sick of the deaths all around us at the hands of police officers, the people who are paid to protect us. Our youth should not be meeting such early deaths. Rahm Emanuel talked a lot about safety in his inaugural speech and had said “The police cannot do it alone”, but he seemed to forget that often times, the police are the cause of the violence. He talks about the police as though all they do is help stop and solve crime, but too often are they the cause of the crimes in the first place. If Emanuel wants to make our streets safer like he claims, he should start on the inside- the police.

     What is happening is not okay. Now is the time for a solution. In Rialto, California, officers are now obligated to wear a tiny camera that films all their interactions with the public. The result? Complaints against Rialto police officers fell by 88%, while use of force by officers fell by almost 60%. (Hulsey, 2014) This change is amazing and it is a change that needs to happen in Chicago as well. And for any brutality that continues after cameras are placed on the officers, there must be a NO TOLERANCE policy. The repercussions for the police's abuse of power are not nearly good enough. Most officers aren’t even suspended when complaints are filed. What message does that send? That they can do something extremely wrong and just get a break and still get paid? That is not the message we should be sending. Police brutality must not be tolerated or accepted at all. If a police officer is involved in brutality, sexual abuse, excessive force, or the killing of an unarmed person, they must be discharged, with no pay. They should not be allowed to return for at least three years, during which they should be required to go to therapy and anger management or other classes of such type. We need to stop making excuses for what is done and stop tolerating it; from now on if this happens, there must be an assurance that that officer will not make it happen again.

     If we do not make a change, those who care about these issues will begin to fight back; there will be more riots in the streets such as the ones in Ferguson, and maybe eventually even a war. There will be more deaths, and it will come to the point where the deaths aren’t just those of civilians but of the police as well. There will be an uprising, because what is happening can only be tolerated for so long. And that time has ended. We demand an end to police brutality. Enough is enough. Chicago has to step forward and make the change. And then maybe we can be an influence to other cities. To the entire state. And hopefully then to the entire nation. But we must first start in our own backyards. So it is time for Chicago to enter a new era, one where police receive the same treatment as everyone else, and one where they are not allowed to go unpunished for killing our citizens.

     I would like to see the day when there is no police misconduct and brutality. I would like to see the day when people see police as helpful and on their side, as they are supposed to. I would love to see the day, when I turn on the news, and hear nothing about a youth dying at the hands of an officer. And until that day comes, I will not rest, and I hope neither will you.

Sources

Erye, Pete. "Infographic: A Neutral Look at Police Brutality | Cop Block." Cop Block RSS. N.p., 3 July 2012. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://www.copblock.org/17484/infographic-a-neutral-look-police-brutality/>.

Hulsey, Emily. "California Town's Simple Solution To Police Brutality Has Lowered Use Of Force By 60 Percent." Independent Journal Review. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://www.ijreview.com/2014/07/153997-california-towns-simple-solution-police-brutality-lowered-use-force-60-percent/>.

"IPRA Releases Report on 2012 Chicago Police Shootings | People's Law Office." Peoples Law Office. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://peopleslawoffice.com/ipra-releases-report-on-2012-chicago-police-shootings/>.

"Prison Culture » Damo’s Dead & Other Reasons to Fight…." Prison Culture RSS. N.p., 24 May 2014. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/2014/05/26/damos-dead-other-reasons-to-fight/>.

Puccinelli, Mike. "Father Suing Police After Son Dies Following Use Of Stun Gun - CBS Chicago." CBS Chicago. N.p., 18 June 2014. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/06/18/father-suing-police-after-son-dies-following-use-of-stun-gun/>.

Shen, Aviva. "Chicago Police Cannot Keep Complaints Of Brutality Secret Anymore, Court Rules."ThinkProgress RSS. N.p., 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/03/12/3393421/chicago-police-misconduct/>.

Swaine, Joe. "Ferguson police officer was 'doing his job', say supporters." The Guardian. N.p., 17 Aug. 2014. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/18/ferguson-supporters-police-killed-teenager-protest>.

"Timeline: Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Mo.." USA Today. Gannett, 25 Aug. 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. <http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/14/michael-brown-ferguson-missouri-timeline/14051827/>.

Wisniewski, Mary. "Chicago Police Torture: Mayor Rahm Emanuel Apologizes, Says 'Let Us Now Move On'." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 12 Sept. 2013. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/12/chicago-police-torture-mayor_n_3910197.html>.

Best Bike

This unit was about wheels, gears, and bikes. We learned how to calculate the circumference of a circle, how to calculate gear ratios, we learned about axles, we learned to graph circles, and we learned about the different parts of a bike. I’m proud of the graphing I did, because I haven’t graphed in a long time and I never learned to graph circles and which I learned quite quickly. The purpose of this assignment is to get us thinking about speed and user-friendliness. To do this, each group in class got a persona with specific needs, and we were asked to design a bike for them. With our new background knowledge that we got from professionals and basic bike users, we were able to design the perfect bike for each of our personas.

AG: Bike Sketch (2014)

From the research we did on existing bikes, one of the things I learned was that bikes with thicker tires will be able to withstand more damage (potholes, snow, rocks) than bikes with thinner tires. A bike with thinner tires can go faster on paved road whereas thicker tires will slow the rider down. Also that wider handlebars allow for more controlled steering because it gives you more leverage.

One quote that helped me with designing the new bike, was said by my friend RW: “Different handlebars, I would prefer bull-horn handlebars, so I could position myself differently while riding.” It helped me when designing because he gave me the idea to add bull-horn handle bars since our persona had the same issue.

The persona my partner and I got was Peter, who needs to ride 12 miles from Hyde Park to school. His legs get tired along with his arms, when they are in the same position for too long, not to mention his back hurts. He needs a secure bike because his last bike was stolen outside of school. He also needs a comfortable bike to make the 12 mile ride easier.

Our new bike that we made for Peter has many great features. It has a special seat, a space for a backpack, or other cargo, with a hook and something to buckle it down, a handlebar with different positions to hold, locks and GPS locators on the separate parts, and an electric engine.

• The shape of the bike allows the user to sit down and comfortably pedal. 
• The handlebar also rotates so there are very many holding options. 
• The GPS chips in the parts of the bike ensure that if the parts were somehow stolen, which is already unlikely due to the locks on the separate parts, that you could find them. 

The bike solves our user’s problems by providing him with comfort. His back problems are solved with the new seat, his arm tiredness get solved by being able to switch his arm position, and his leg tiredness is solved with the addition of an engine. The bike also resolves any security issues. The locks on the bike parts make the parts safe from being stolen, and if they are somehow stolen the GPS chips in them make sure they can be found again.

AG: Bike Labeled (2014)

The user should trust in our design because it is the safest, most comfortable option. Without our additions, bikes are more difficult to use and maintain. This bike solves so many problems that not only our user has, but many other people have as well, so instead of grinning and bearing it, now there’s a solution.

Peter lives 12 miles from school. With our bike it will take him about 36 minutes to get there with an average speed of 20 mph. His new wheel’s diameter is 26 inches and its circumference is 26 pi which is about 81.68 inches. The wheel will rotate 9,308.5 times on his journey. The scale we used for our model was 13 inches, so 1 inch on the model is 13 inches in real life. For example, the wheels on our model have a diameter of 2 inches and the actual wheel's diameter is 26 inches.

We took into consideration all of Peter’s different issues as well as the distance he must ride each day. Some of the obstacles were that he has to put his backpack somewhere while riding, he can’t wear it because of his back problems and because of the seat design. We solved this by adding a space for it behind his seat; he could strap the shoulder straps onto the seat, set it on the rack, hook it to the hook, and strap and buckle it in. Another problem was that his legs get tired, but it’s a bike so he still has to pedal. Our solution to this was adding the engine. This makes riding much easier and more effortless. Much less force is required, as the engine does most of the work for him so his legs don’t have to. The bike runs on a cordless lithium battery that is good for over a thousand charges. The battery will last up to 25 hours before needing to be recharged.

AG: Bike Model II (2014)

AG: Bike Model (2014)

AG: Bike With Terrain (2014)

Gender Inequality

    Gender inequality has been around so long it is rooted into our history. Women in the United States finally took a stand against it and started the first wave Women's Right Movement between the years of 1848 and 1920. There were many important factors in this movement and many people who were crucial to making a change. One of these individuals was Susan B. Anthony. Alongside Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Anthony formed the National Women Suffrage Association in May of 1869, based in New York City. The organization’s main goal was to achieve voting rights for women. Anthony herself made many speeches for the cause; being a teacher for 15 years, she was very educated and knew how to write exceptionally well. One of her most famous suffrage speeches was delivered in June 1873, while Anthony was under indictment for “the alleged crime of having voted at the last Presidential election, without having a lawful right to vote.” Anthony used her words in this instance, to prove that what she did was not a crime and that it was unconstitutional to consider her actions criminal. In her defense, Anthony makes strong appeals to logos, pathos, and ethos, which is why I believe this speech should be included in the Rhetoric course library.

National Women's Suffrage Association.(1913) Internet: Wikipedia 

    Anthony begins her speech by explaining why she is under indictment. Her crime was voting unlawfully due to the fact that she was a woman. She makes the argument that to be incarcerated for this is unconstitutional. Providing the background that she does in the beginning of her speech adds to her ethos. Anthony states “I stand before you to-night, under indictment for the alleged crime of having voted at the last Presidential election, without having a lawful right to vote.” As a famous speech maker and writer she is already considered credible, and her fighting for such an important cause makes her morally likable. Anthony actually practiced what she preached, and fought for justice by fighting against unjust, sexist laws. She was someone who fought for the basic rights of everyone.

    Furthermore, Anthony offers rationale for her cause by quoting directly from the Constitution, which states in the preamble: "We, the people of the United states...". Anthony focuses on this plural pronoun that clearly includes us all explains how “we” means that whether male or female, the people who make the Union are citizens including, her and all other American females. It shows how the Constitution should apply to women in this country as well. Anthony goes to make the point that women weren't specifically excluded from the laws. She quotes the Constitution again, referring specifically to a section that makes special mention of all those tho whom the laws do not apply. Those excluded are individuals who have been or may be convicted of bribery, larceny, or any infamous act. Anthony's argument is that, nowhere in that list of exclusions does it state "women", which shows that women are full citizens who should be able to excerside their right to vote. Anthony defends herself using a logical, text-based argument.

    Anthony's tone in her speech is demanding; she fearlessly does not back down in her demand that she and all women of America are given their basic rights and allowed to vote. At the end of her speech Anthony proclaims "we propose to fight our battle for the ballot...persistently through to complete triumph, when all United States citizens shall be recognized as equals before the law." This statement and her strength in defending herself and women’s rights is really powerful, because it shows that she, alongside many others, will not stand down and will continue to fight until they get what is rightfully theirs. As a fighter for women’s rights, her words likely inspired her peers and gave them hope, I imagine that when she read this last line the audience felt all sorts of emotions, from sadness to joy, which appeals to pathos. She gave so many emotional examples throughout the piece as well as multiple anecdotes, such as her talk with Senator Sumner, where she asked him for his help in protecting women in their right to vote. Anthony really showed how women are strong and deserve to be treated as such.

    Throughout the speech Anthony employs multiple rhetorical modes, including exemplification and process analysis. Anthony aims to prove the unconstitutionality of denying women the right to vote. She quotes Senator Sumner in her analysis of diction in the Constitution, as he had also helped protect African Americans in their right to vote and was now helping Anthony do the same for women. The Senator had stated that if you deny women the rights given by the Constitution just because it is written with masculine pronouns then you must also "exempt women from taxation...and from penalties for the violation of laws". This is a phenomenal point and proves that you can't make the argument that the Constitution only applies to men just because of the use of masculine pronouns. Anthony also uses process analysis, her speech itself is a step taken to reach the outcome: the right for women vote. Moreover, achieving the right to vote will bring them a step closer to ending women's suffrage. She shows that everything is just one step after another in a long process. Her political activism and her speech, along with others, are the steps being taken to be allowed to vote, which in turn is a step to reaching gender equality.

    Gender inequality is still an issue today, but if it weren't for women like Susan B. Anthony we might not have come as far as we have. People question whether gender equality will ever be attainable. There are many articles on the issue, for example “Gender Equality” in the New York Times, where different people discuss their views on whether or not equality is a possibility one day. One of the women stated "I am always baffled as to why these concepts could ever be contentious." referring to gender equality and feminism. This shows how the issue still isn't revolved and is believed by people to just cause arguments. People still don't know whether or not this issue will ever be resolved. But the progress that women like Anthony have made gives us hope. The Rhetoric library needs this speech in order to show others what a good piece of writing looks like and to remind us that gender equality is an ongoing struggle.

A New Beginning

    In our first unit of Design and Engineering we researched and designed new tools. The tool my partner and I had was a tiller. We found our tool while on a field experience at Home Depot, where we also learned what it is used for. A tiller is a tool designed to loosen soil and provide it with more air. When designing a better version of the tool, we had to take into consideration how to make it usable by different types of people, such as elders or people with difficulty preforming certain tasks. Doing this shows empathy, which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. I'm proud that I was able to design such a tool to help others that aren't always taken into consideration.

AG & TC New Tiller (2014)

    The purpose of this assignment is to see how we would recreate a tool that gives people problems nowadays. Our users are most specifically elders but can be used by people of all ages, and what makes them unique is that they would be able to use this tool no matter what height or size they are.

    As mentioned earlier our class went to Home Depot to learn about different tools. Experts there were very helpful. We also conducted our own interviews, mine being with my mother who has gardened for years. With all this new information I learned a lot. Some of the most important things I learned were that: certain tools are flimsy and won’t work properly, for example they will loosen and fall off the handle; the handle type is important, because certain materials will hurt your hands; and the weight is important, because if it's too heavy you might not be able to use it as well as you should be able to, and it will be more difficult to use. One of the quotes from my interview that really stuck with me was: “The shovel has a hard handle and it’s heavy which makes it difficult to use.”

   Aside from going to Hope Depot and conducting our interviews, we each had to do more research on our specific tool. Three important things I learned from this research were:
1) There are also electric versions of our tool.
2) There are also smaller hand versions of our tool.
3) The tools vary a lot in sizes and prices.

    Our new tool is a longer, sharper, and spikier hand tiller. With the new adjustable length of the hand tiller it won't cause back problems for taller people or shorter people. There would be a button or switch on the side to adjust it to the size that best fits you. The parts to this new hand tiller are: the wheel as a new handle, the adjustable length for different height varieties, and spikier tines (the outer ones being slanted). The new handle as a wheel helps get a better grip and keeps your hand secure while turning the handle. A wheel is easier to use than just a straight bar, because a circle is easier to turn; if the handle were just a straight bar you would have to stretch out your arms to grab the further side while twisting. The two inner tines are sharper in order to enter the soil more easily, and keep the tiller more in place. The outer tines are slanted with horizontal spikes and the bottom, which help the tiller cut through the soil. Other tillers don't have the horizontal spike added to the tines, which would make it more difficult to cut through the soil because the tines are vertical but the tiller is turning horizontally. Our improved tines solve that problem. However, since there are now spikes going to the side, the tiller can only be turned one way, which will be explained on the label. Furthermore, our tool is made completely out of stainless steel, aside from the foam covering the handle, which makes it easy to wash and doesn't result in rust.

AG & TC Vectors (2014)

    Three ways our tool is better than the competition are:
1) Our handle will be circular so it will be easier to turn.
2) There will be spiked ends on the side of the pokers at the bottom of the tiller, to make it cut through the soil more easily.
3) The middle part will extend so you can choose the length so it's customized to each person’s height.

    Our tool uses the wedge concept because to get deeper in the soil/dirt we had to add a slant into the outer spikes, which lets our tool cut through more dirt and creates more air pockets for the garden. Wedges focus all their weight into one point, and since you will turn the tool the way the spikes go, the weight of the tool will all go to the points of the spikes which will require you to use less force.

    Two things we took into consideration when redesigning our tool were:
1) What would make it easier for old people, or just everyone in general, to turn the tiller, so we turned the handle into a circle.
2) People’s height differences, so we made the tiller extendable (you can make it longer and shorter).

    The steps to use our tool are shown in the following pictures:

AG & TC Tiller Steps 1-4 (2014)

AG & TC Tiller Steps 5-6 (2014)