Propaganda Techniques in Today's Advertising

I agree propaganda is used to brainwash the viewers to side with the salesmen that use it. Although some propaganda is used to help send a message and people who are less fortunate. Others are used to haggle you out of money or make you feel obligated to buy or do something. The technique of propaganda is just convincing your views with straight up lies and cheap parlor tricks.The techniques can be repulsive but effective. Some target a certain group and others target you the reader. Although propaganda is use often used that it is kinda over looked. Propaganda ranges from logos to free t shits and anything in between.

Advertisers use a wide variety of techniques to get to the consumers. Name calling is one and is when they use negative names to there competitors. Glittering generalities is when they hype up an item to make it seem better then it is. Transfer is when the consumer recognizes the symbol or logo and trusts it. Testimonial is like when someone endorses something. Plain folks is resembling the average, normal, and everyday consumers. Card staking is when the evidence is distorted. Bandwagon is saying "Everyone's doing it. Why don't you."All of these seem cruel and unusual but are effective and widely used.

Freewriting

This particular reading hit close to home. I have many problems with writing and english in general. This technique looks like it could fix many of my english and writing problems. Also it looks like a good way to practice for brainstorming. Although it is under used it is one way to increase your writing structure. Free writing also cures going back and editing which could come in handy when it comes down to a time restrain.When freewriting you don't worry about other criteria like spelling and grammar which keeps you on topic and prevents losing your thought process. This also keeps a consatent flow in ones writing. Another problem that is apparent is jumping off topic. The one aspect of freewriting I do not get is the peer editing part where there is no critiquing. This spontaneous writing will help you in the long run in various ways. One being finding main ideas and topics for ones writing assignment. Which is one of my most common errors.

The one thing I do not agree with in the passage about free writing is that there is no editing and that it could just be nonsense and extra unwanted material. Clearly something you think makes sense could be complete garbage to someone else. So peer editing would make free writing more effective. I disagree when Mr. Elbow says that this is the most effective way to increase your writing skills. I feel repitition is the best means of incresesing ones writing skills.Free writing is not for everyone. Advanced writers should not use it because it would only slow them down.

How to Mark a Book

Mortimer Adler has many respectable views on how to mark up a book. Personally I have no interest in violating a book in any fashion wether its taking notes in the margins or highlighting a important sentence. I fell it takes away from the value and shelf life of a book. I feel a book should be kept in mint condition. When I see a book marked up I second guess the persons opinion on if the topic should have been marked or highlighted. It can be very successful as a study guide for said book but the next person to come across this may not agree.Although it summarizes the book and makes you brain storm form main points of the book. In my opinion if the book is not returnable it is ruined.

Adler points out some useful methods of taking notes in a book like underlining, stars, asterisks, numbers in margin, circling key words, and jotting notes at top and bottom of the pages. I fell these would be useful in a school setting. Like books you will be tested on and books you will need for a later date. I also agree that you should not violate a library book or a friends. One of my biggest pet peeves is when I lend a book to a friend and they dog tag or highlight the pages. I feel that if the fact that you would have taken notes on or highlighted was that important then it should be on a sticky note or on index cards you could slide in to book mark the important fact.