#1 party school

The main issue of the broadcast entitled #1 party school is the destructiveness of drinking alcohol and how it not only effects the students of Penn State but also the civilians that live in State College.  The first reason this issue is being investigated is due to getting ranked the number one party school as well as the rising rates of violations and the increase in arrests of Penn State students. The rising rate inclined at such a vast pace that the President of the college, is planning on getting involved to stop this climb. I feel the intended audience of this piece is primarily for the students at Penn State; as we are the ones making these violations and committing these crimes described in the broadcast.  However, this broadcast could also be used as as warning to civilians around, making them aware of what goes on and what they can do to help. Specific details were given in the story to emphasize the main point. Such details include an interview with a Penn State senior. He spoke of how he had to leave his fraternity at the end of his sophmore year due to his failing grades. They would party 4 days out of the week and would even casually drink on Mondays and Tuesdays resulting in bad grades. The senior said it was not what he came here for; he came to learn and get a good education- being in frat life was preventing this. Another detail used was they spoke to a local resident who's house is in between 2 frats. He said that because of the immoral actions that have been going on his property he had to put up motion sensors. Motion sensors helped him keep his property in order.  Another example they used was through an interview with a canyon pizza delivery boy. He said that on many accounts he has altercations with drunk people either outside of canyon pizza or making an actual delivery. On one specific occasion, he actually got in a fight at a apartment door and got his jaw broken. The conclusion of the broadcast ended with an interview with Penn State president Graham Spanier. He spoke about the issue of drinking on and off campus; if people continue in this manner, he is going to take action and up the penalties. In this broadcast, they did a series of interviews; with freshman girls on the blue loop, police officers, an ex frat guy, actual frat guys, liquor store owners and civilians.  The main narrative technique used was dialogue as they were talking the entire time but also interviews.  They also used ethos by conducting interviews with people whom expressed themselves either positively or negatively. 

Personally I did not like the broadcast. From personal experience and my own general knowledge of being at Penn State, i know that it was all an exaggerated series of events that occurred that normally do not happen all in one night. I felt it was unfair and bias; due to the bad decisions of some does not mean you can entitle the entire school. With having 40,000 people at a school, there are bound to be a small (and yes, looking at the entire school it is small) percentage of kids making bad decisions but that should not effect the kids who do not make these decisions. 

Bird by Bird

Bird by bird begins with Anne Lamott explaining her love for books which is primarily due to her fathers massive influence. She always used to wish her father had a normal working job but realized that writing was a perfect fitting job for him and soon followed in his footsteps. She learned a lot from her father, in which she passes down her knowledge to us as the reader. As a child, Lamott’s brother was once overwhelmed by a huge school project on birds. His father’s simple yet profound advice was to take it “bird by bird,” or one small step at a time. This really stuck in my head; not only because it addresses the title of the book but also because it explains a great way to break down things and really get going on where you want to start. Lamott firmly believes that writers should start small, like an experience you had when you were a child.This shows me that if you were to take something complicated, and break it down, you will be less intimidated by the complexity of your task.  It also showed me the importance of faith- if you are patient and discipline your writing style, you can achieve great things.  The fact that Lamott chooses the phrase “Bird by bird” as the title of her book is a tribute to her father, and his influence on her.  The memory of her father was the inspiration for her first book after falling ill with brain cancer; leading me onto the next point in the story which really helped me as a writer.
A repeated motif in Bird by Bird is the importance of memories. Memories become a primary source of writing, and the underlying motivation for writing. Lamott refers to memories early in the book, when she describes encouraging her students to write specifically about their childhoods. She herself writes about her own memories throughout Bird by Bird; the book is partly a memoir of her writing life. She goes on to explain in detail that memories are simply the starting point for writing, the means of discovering what experiences arouse passion and need to be shared.  This was noteworthy for me because there are a lot of times where, as i writer, i feel stumped about what to write; this bit of advice reminds you to reflect on memories and the truth will just come out on paper.
Another part in Bird by Bird that really influenced me was when she was explaining that to be a good writer, you not only have to write a great deal, but you have to care. I find this to be very true, if you are not passionate about what you are wanting to say, it wont get across to the reader as well as it could. Lamott constantly reiterates that though writers might feel outside of society, their job is to call attention to things others might miss.  This makes me think that if you have a lot to give to the world- a lot to say-  you need to be dedicated and really care enough to want to get inside the readers head and that is when they will care what you have to say. 

Memoir Analysis: My Addicted Son

My Addicted Son is a touching story about a father who is absolutely helpless in destroying his sons drug abuse. His son Nick, the one who is self destructing himself with drugs, struggles through his life starting at the age of 4, where his parents underwent a terrible divorce, which is known to mentally disturb a child. However, the events that occur after, as explained, start at a later age.
The story begins with Nick returning from college. Everything seems okay at this point as he plays with his younger siblings and read them goodnight.  His first morning of being home, he is "vibrating like an idling car" and that's how his mother first comes to realize that he is abusing again. His taste in music that he is listening to in the memoir only implies that his role models may not be the best to have influence you as they all are or previously were drug users. The story unfolds to explain that actually, Nick has been searching for methamphetamine his entire life. It begins by telling you that he has always been a unique character, dressing differently to the other children through most of his elementary school days, even though he was made fun of.  To me, that part of the memoir didn't fit right, most people who from a young age and are wanting to stand out shows characteristics of a natural born leader; however, not in this case.  Similarly, the topic of drugs was not untouched in his family, his dad had warned him about the addictiveness and destructiveness of drugs; advice that should have been taken in strongly due to his father knowing from experience.  However, Nicks drug use started from a young age, 12 when he was first caught with marijuana.  After similar problems occured, Nick was given a second chance to become clean and set his life path in the right direction. His teacher, walked with him through this, dedicating a lot of time towards Nick, doing activities such as surfing.  At the age of 16, he was skipping school and tardy when he did want to show up so his parents thought to seek a therapist who told them it was just an adolescent stage.  Just a few weeks later Nick was arrested for missing a court meeting which he informed no one of. The memoir continues in such a manner; Nick in and out of rehab primarily his entire life. Drugs had taken over and he was a slave to them. No matter how many times he tried to detox the demons out, he would always wind up in living hell over and over again. Unfortunately, Nick at the time did not realize the damage being done, not only to himself, but to all his family around him. Throughout the memoir, Nicks father, the author continues to blame himself; persistently allowing the thought of his son abusing drugs eat at him, wondering what more he could of done to stop this. Maybe taken the signs at an early stage more seriously rather then thinking it was just a phase. Luckily for Nick though, he had a family who loved him despite his addictions and a family that would always be there for him, spending their time and money devoted to his well being and health; bailing him from jail, sending him to rehab multiple times. He didn't realize how fortunate he was to have this as so many lives are lost to overdosing and he could of been next. His parents really did play a vital role in his surviving and currently, Nick is sober and doing well.
I feel the intended audience of this story is for teenagers and parents. I say this because, it teaches teenagers just how easily it is to become addicted to drugs and just how difficult it is to get off them. And for the parents, because it shows them to not give up hope if your child is addicted.  The author uses ages to tell where we are in time, which is extremely effective. It walked us through the life story of his addicted son.