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This is where I will type my rhetorical precis. I can copy and paste here if I want to.

Oldest to Newest. See directions on class website to typing up. MLA citation for The Piece Rhetorical precis Personal Impression (1 sentence long) in between each precis please insert horizontal line

Golding, William. "Thinking as a Hobby." //The Norton Reader, Shorter Eleventh Edition.// Ed. Linda H. Peterson and John C. Brereton. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2004. 124-130.

** Thinking as a Hobby ** William Golding, the well-known philosopher, in his essay “Thinking as a Hobby”, argues against the way people think by sharing whom he believes the real “thinkers” are. William Golding introduces three kinds of thinking by describing that grade-one thinkers think clearly with logical system, grade-two thinking is the detection of contradictions, while grade-three thinkers express feelings more than their own thoughts. His purpose is not only to point out contradictions but to open the people’s eyes to their own ignorance and try to change the way people think. He alters the perception of his readers who have the wrong insight on intelligent people who can think, to portray that those people are blinded by their own ignorance and just as stubborn as cows who don’t listen to anyone’s opinion.

I agree with Golding about some people who are so stubborn by their pride, thinking that they know everything, that they don't listen to other people's advice.

Robbins, Alexandra. //The Overachievers: the Secret Lives of Driven Kids//. New York: Hyperion, 2006. Print.

** The Overachievers ** Alexandra Robbins, the female journalist, in her book “The Overachievers”, implies that today’s high- stakes educational culture is spiraling out of control by capturing the thoughts and experiences of a young generation who are pushed to stand out and pressured to strive for excellence. Alexandra Robbins claims that the educational system is turning students into workaholics, giving the teens a lot of stress with a lack of self-confidence, to achieve for the highest. Her purpose is not only show that schools are becoming insanely competitive but to provide an insight at the high-pressure, high-stress high school culture that is producing a generation of sleep-deprived overachievers. She alters the perception of her readers who are professors, teachers, parents, and students alike, to give suggestions on how to assuage teens' stress and panic at how far behind they feel to break the addictive, abusive cycle of extreme perfectionism.

I really enjoyed the book, because the author is right about the competitiveness today in the educational system, and also it was interesting to learn more info on what is happening on today's education and solutions to improve it.

Skloot, Rebecca. //The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks//. New York: Crown Publishers, 2010. Print

** The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks ** Rebecca Skloot, the female science journalist, in her book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”, claims that the Lacks families deserve the recognition for what their relative, Henrietta Lacks, had contribute to the medical research that had led to the advancement on the science field around the world today. Rebecca Skloot develops this claim by giving an insight on the complicated background of the Lacks family and how the medical research all began when Henrietta’s cervical tumor was taken by Dr. Gey to study, which her cells started to multiply uncontrollably, leading to a multimillion-dollar industry. Her purpose is not only to show how the HeLa cells have contribute to the scientific and medical developments globally but to question about the readers’ beliefs of bioethics, racism, tissue ownership, and humanity. She alters the perception of her readers who are involved in the medical fields, to inform them on how HeLa cells have impacted the science history and the real, compelling story behind it.

It was an interesting nonfiction that is so heartbreaking and sad that Henrietta Lacks' cells became a part of a big medical research without her and even her families realizing it and they gained nothing just because of their skin color.

** Letters between George Washington and Phillis Wheatley ** The communication exchange between General George Washington and African-American, abolitionist Phillis Wheatley in 1776 depicts how a writer can use language to achieve a secondary, less obvious purpose. Phillis Wheatley uses praises to show her support for Washington, which persuades him to support and help her race to end slavery in the colonies; meanwhile, Washington shows his appreciation and praises Wheatley’s poetical talents. Wheatley’s purpose is not only to praise Washington about his leadership but to make him take notice of the black race. She alters the perception of Washington who is a great Commander in Chief and soon-to-be President to represent herself as a speaker for her race to stop slavery in the newly independent nation.

Phillis Wheatley is such a great model representing her race and have such talents on writing poems.

** Gives the Kids a Break ** Steve Rushin, a //Sports Illustrated// journalist, argues against the notion about schools eliminating recess for the “safety” of the children. Steve Rushin uses statistics and facts to prove that children tends to do well in school with a time for breaks, to convince that recess is a time for the children to learn how to socialize and solve problems on themselves. His purpose is not only to state that children need recess to learn the rights and wrongs, and not be sheltered just to prevent injury and bullying, but to emphasize that everyone, including adults, needs to take a break, “surely seven-years-olds deserve to do the same.” He alters the perception of his readers who have experienced or have kids that are now experiencing this recess controversy, to fight for the right to have recess.

I totally support the author's argument. Every children have the right to have recess. Recess can help made the kids' brain develop better as they solve problems on their own. Everyone needs rest, including children.

** Growing Up Online ** The documentary film, “Growing Up Online” observes the private worlds that teens are creating online and how the risks, realities, and misconceptions of teenage self-confidence on the Web affect their lives. The filmmakers develop this argument by interviewing teens, who are affected by the Web, going from low self-esteem to suicide, and experts, teachers, and parents who are aware of the danger that the impact of the Internet had on the young generation. The film’s purpose is not only to make everyone, especially parents, notice the big problem of what kind of life teenagers are living now, but to awaken the society that it is a huge issue that teenagers are spending their lives online more than in the real world and that they are cut away from socializing with real people, face to face. The film alters the perception of its viewers who are right now experiencing or are unaware of what damage that technology had done to the society, especially to the young adults.

Although I knew about how teenagers today are obsessed in technology, but I did not expect that it went to that extent that was shown in the film. It was unbelievable and frightening of what technology have gotten ourselves into.

** Hiroshima ** The documentary film, Hiroshima, believes that the atomic bomb dropped in Nagasaki and especially Hiroshima, was a wrong choice made by the Americans. The filmmakers develop this argument by showing footages of the damages of the two cities that were caused by the powerful atomic bombs, including massive destruction of the cities, fatal burns, radiation that cause terrible illnesses. The film’s purpose is not only to show how severe the atomic bombs, but to specifically emphasize that the Americans are using the Japanese as an “experiment” to see how the damage of atomic bomb affect humans, environment, and the radiation that comes after it. The film alters the perception of its viewers who are unaware of the damage that the atomic bomb had on Japan, to make the viewers realize that America made a major mistake on dropping bombs on Japan, causing devastating sufferings on the innocent Japanese people. I knew about the atomic bombs and World Wars, but never really give it another thought until I saw the film. It was unbelievable to realize what damage the Americans had bring upon the Japanese by dropping powerful atomic bombs, destroying everything within its paths. It was so horrifying to see how the Japanese suffered and tried to overcome the devastating catastrophe.

** Patrick Henry’s //Speech of Virginia Convention// ** Patrick Henry, an American orator, opposed the British government and its policies by giving speeches to urge the colonists to fight for independence. Henry developed this argument by stating facts about British ignoring the colonies and kept asking questions to reflect what he said so that his belief can make an impact on the audience’s thoughts. Patrick Henry’s purpose is not only to persuade the colonists to fight for freedom over the British but to specifically acknowledge the unfair treatment that the British government had on the colonies. Patrick Henry alters the perception of his viewers who are in deep thought of whether or not to fight their mother country.

** Thomas Paine’s //Common Sense// ** Thomas Paine, a British immigrant, wrote the //Common Sense//, to encourage the colonies to seek independence from Britain. Henry developed this argument by enlisting both the reader’s reason and emotion to reject rule by kings in favor of a democratic government with representatives elected directly by the people. Thomas Paine’s purpose is not only to speak out against the unjust treatment of the colonies by the British government but to state that it is absurd for an island to rule a continent and that America could avoid conflicts by being free of Great Britain’s rule. Thomas Paine alters the perception of his audiences who were undecided about whether to support the American independence, to convince the people to fight back and, in return, it was instrumental in turning public opinion in favor of the Revolution.

** Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence ** Thomas Jefferson wrote the //Declaration of Independence//, to convince the people to fight for independence. Jefferson developed this argument by listing out all the unfair policies and taxes that the British passed onto the colonies. Jefferson’s purpose is not only to state that every man have individual equality and rights but to specifically claim that the power of a government is derive from the consent of the governed and that a government is created to serve its people. Thomas Jefferson alters the perception of his audiences who are indecisive about the revolution, to prove the audience that the colonies have to gain independence in order to be free from the strict British policies and not be restricted no more.