Last Thursday night (conveniently after I had read the chapter on redefining terms) my boyfriend called me a "nerd."
I told him: "If a nerd is someone who takes pride in their work, likes to expand their realm of knowledge, and works hard...then, I guess I'm a nerd."
That shut him up pretty quick, and I figured I'd gladly accept the label of nerd if it gives me a way to effectively prove my point!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
WFIC Luncheon
I attended a luncheon hosted by WFIC (Wisconsin Foundation for Independent Colleges). Essentially, this program was a chance to network with various insurance professionals throughout the Wisconsin area. Being that graduation is in exactly two months and I still don't have a job, or a lead on a job, I'm taking every networking opportunity I get.
I learned during the luncheon that rhetoric and persuasion is a significant part of selling yourself. I probably knew this before, through the readings and our class discussions, but it's an entirely different realm when you're actually "out in the field" putting rhetoric to work.
And I'll shamelessly admit that I pulled out a few persuasive ploys, especially during a conversation with a company I was particularly interested in. Initially, I knew that I needed to get him to like me. (I really need a job, okay?!) I accomplished this by asking him about himself before jumping in and talking about myself. I established a relationship with him by doing this because it showed that I cared about him and what he does. Once we had a conversation about his background and skills, he moved on to asking me questions. I tried my very best to answer in ways that would compliment his previous answers. For example, I told him that I have strong public speaking skills, "just like you had mentioned, you feel that is a very valuable skill, and so do I." Be relating new conversation to old, it showed (I hope) that I was interested enough in him and our conversation to remember what we had just said, and that I wasn't just trying to talk myself up.
And then I made the dumbest mistake I probably could have made, so take note and avoid what I'm about to say. By the time we had sat down for lunch, I was so comfortable with this professional that we had moved past the 'interview' stage and were casually talking about school and classes. When he asked me about my course load, I preceded to tell him all about Rhetoric and Persuasion, how I'm learning to persuade audiences, sell myself...basically manipulate. Good choice, Liz...tell someone who you're attempting to persuade to hire you that you're actually taking a course in manipulation.
I guess, in conclusion, I realized it's best to use persuasion and rhetoric---not talk about it...oops. I ended up making a joke out of my error and he laughed--he didn't seem fazed but I can't help but think I just shot myself in the foot.
?
I learned during the luncheon that rhetoric and persuasion is a significant part of selling yourself. I probably knew this before, through the readings and our class discussions, but it's an entirely different realm when you're actually "out in the field" putting rhetoric to work.
And I'll shamelessly admit that I pulled out a few persuasive ploys, especially during a conversation with a company I was particularly interested in. Initially, I knew that I needed to get him to like me. (I really need a job, okay?!) I accomplished this by asking him about himself before jumping in and talking about myself. I established a relationship with him by doing this because it showed that I cared about him and what he does. Once we had a conversation about his background and skills, he moved on to asking me questions. I tried my very best to answer in ways that would compliment his previous answers. For example, I told him that I have strong public speaking skills, "just like you had mentioned, you feel that is a very valuable skill, and so do I." Be relating new conversation to old, it showed (I hope) that I was interested enough in him and our conversation to remember what we had just said, and that I wasn't just trying to talk myself up.
And then I made the dumbest mistake I probably could have made, so take note and avoid what I'm about to say. By the time we had sat down for lunch, I was so comfortable with this professional that we had moved past the 'interview' stage and were casually talking about school and classes. When he asked me about my course load, I preceded to tell him all about Rhetoric and Persuasion, how I'm learning to persuade audiences, sell myself...basically manipulate. Good choice, Liz...tell someone who you're attempting to persuade to hire you that you're actually taking a course in manipulation.
I guess, in conclusion, I realized it's best to use persuasion and rhetoric---not talk about it...oops. I ended up making a joke out of my error and he laughed--he didn't seem fazed but I can't help but think I just shot myself in the foot.
?
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Rhetoric Restoration
I'm currently involved in a junior symposium course called Prairie Restoration. It is an education, biology, and environmental course tied into one. During the semester, we are teaming up with a classroom of ninth graders at Harborside Academy to rebuild a section of prairie that was given to us. Initially, I was dreading this course because science is not my strong suit. However, the nature of the course is encouraging because not only are you yourself learning, you're given the opportunity to teach others.
A minor detail that was left out of our sllyabus was that the Harborside Academy is a charter school, and typically enrolls youth who have left public schools for social, academic, or behavioral issues. So, imagine our surprise when each of us was paired with a teenager who, for the most part, was not interested in what we had to do or say.
I knew that some form of rescue rhetoric was needed if I was going to get my student to pay attention to me at all. Shamelessly, I played on his emotions. Here I am, this young college girl paired up with a misbehaving teenage boy. I knew that if I expressed to him what would make me happy, that maybe he'd want to try to impress me and behave. It worked! Now, this may not work for each and every student pair, but I quickly found that the best way to get my student to listen was to make him feel like he was impressing me. As we buckled down and got into the lesson, he actually did start to impress me. Another form of rhetoric that I exercised was simple rhetorical questions. He knew that I knew the the right answers, so instead of trying to figure it out himself, he would just try to get me to answer. Instead of giving in, I turned it around and asked him a rhetorical question. Not only was he surprised that I could get around his question, he felt like I had challenged him, thus he tried even harder to impress me.
All in all, the few hours I had with my student went a lot better then expected. A few rhetorical tricks turned an unfocused teenage boy into a Prairie Restoration enthusiast.
A minor detail that was left out of our sllyabus was that the Harborside Academy is a charter school, and typically enrolls youth who have left public schools for social, academic, or behavioral issues. So, imagine our surprise when each of us was paired with a teenager who, for the most part, was not interested in what we had to do or say.
I knew that some form of rescue rhetoric was needed if I was going to get my student to pay attention to me at all. Shamelessly, I played on his emotions. Here I am, this young college girl paired up with a misbehaving teenage boy. I knew that if I expressed to him what would make me happy, that maybe he'd want to try to impress me and behave. It worked! Now, this may not work for each and every student pair, but I quickly found that the best way to get my student to listen was to make him feel like he was impressing me. As we buckled down and got into the lesson, he actually did start to impress me. Another form of rhetoric that I exercised was simple rhetorical questions. He knew that I knew the the right answers, so instead of trying to figure it out himself, he would just try to get me to answer. Instead of giving in, I turned it around and asked him a rhetorical question. Not only was he surprised that I could get around his question, he felt like I had challenged him, thus he tried even harder to impress me.
All in all, the few hours I had with my student went a lot better then expected. A few rhetorical tricks turned an unfocused teenage boy into a Prairie Restoration enthusiast.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Bars and Rhetoric
I noticed a particularly odd form of rhetoric this weekend when my girlfriends and I spent Saturday night in the city for a friend's birthday. We took a cab to a popular street that housed a few different clubs. The literal second we stepped out of the cab, we had a promoter at our footsteps. "Hey ladies, you look great tonight! You'd look even better in my club! $10 all you can drink over here- don't go anywhere else!" He continued to ramble on and on until my friends and I turned on our heels and went directly the other way---to the bar we had planned on going to.
Was his rhetorically persuasive? No. Was he annoying and unappealing? Yes. I learned that night that there is an extreme difference between being persuasive and being offensive. Obviously, terms such as decorum and other cultural manners can be used to counteract this man's behavior. But part of me wanted to sit him down and explain to him that is use of rhetoric was not going to get anyone in his bar that evening, and that be better find a more decorous approach to promoting his business.
Was his rhetorically persuasive? No. Was he annoying and unappealing? Yes. I learned that night that there is an extreme difference between being persuasive and being offensive. Obviously, terms such as decorum and other cultural manners can be used to counteract this man's behavior. But part of me wanted to sit him down and explain to him that is use of rhetoric was not going to get anyone in his bar that evening, and that be better find a more decorous approach to promoting his business.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
"But ALL my friends are going to go!"
I was driving around for work today when I heard an advertisement on the radio that was not only one of the most horribly written plugs I've ever experienced, but also full of rhetoric.
This Saturday night, come join ALL the hottest Milwaukee minors at the new Sugar Dance Club...located (somwhere)...
It went on to publicize the events details but then here was the kicker. The ad had different teenage girls saying the following phrases as if their life and future depended on the success of this public announcement:
"You just have to be there!"
"Everyone I know is going to be go!"
"This is the coolest event to ever hit Milwaukee!"
" All my friends are going to be there, so I better go to!"
The reason this irritated me so much, beyond the whiny teenage voicing conveying rhetorical lies to their listeners, is that the creator of this message clearly understood how to play on people's logic and emotion. To someone unversed in rhetoric, this announcement may actually convince them to go to this "happening under-age dance club."
But to me, I realized that no, I don't HAVE to be there...not EVERYONE I know is goign to go---it's definitely NOT the coolest thing to hit Milwaukee, and just because one or two of my friends may go doesn't mean I have to.
I guess that the announcement just solidified the fact that rhetoric really is everywhere, and only those who are aware can really identify it. Otherwise, you probably just fall for it.
This Saturday night, come join ALL the hottest Milwaukee minors at the new Sugar Dance Club...located (somwhere)...
It went on to publicize the events details but then here was the kicker. The ad had different teenage girls saying the following phrases as if their life and future depended on the success of this public announcement:
"You just have to be there!"
"Everyone I know is going to be go!"
"This is the coolest event to ever hit Milwaukee!"
" All my friends are going to be there, so I better go to!"
The reason this irritated me so much, beyond the whiny teenage voicing conveying rhetorical lies to their listeners, is that the creator of this message clearly understood how to play on people's logic and emotion. To someone unversed in rhetoric, this announcement may actually convince them to go to this "happening under-age dance club."
But to me, I realized that no, I don't HAVE to be there...not EVERYONE I know is goign to go---it's definitely NOT the coolest thing to hit Milwaukee, and just because one or two of my friends may go doesn't mean I have to.
I guess that the announcement just solidified the fact that rhetoric really is everywhere, and only those who are aware can really identify it. Otherwise, you probably just fall for it.
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