"Time Out!" by Dave Barry

Melina Norris

AP Lang

Harmon

27 Feb. 2012

Better Late Than Never.

An Analysis of “Time Out!” by Dave Barry

            Dave Barry’s embellished fortitude exaggerates the stereotype that women are always late. Barry claims that a woman’s idea of being ‘on time’ is far different from a man’s. He employs hyperbole, satire, and ethos to justify his conclusion that it is genetically impossible for women to be on time.

Barry’s use of hyperbole delineates the misconception women have no concept of time whatsoever. “Women think there is WAY more time in the universe than men do,” a “scientific, statistically valid conclusion [Barry] reached by talking to some guys about their wives.” He

 qualifies the statement that women think there is more time in the universe than men do as a “scientific, statistically valid conclusion” simply because a few other men agreed with him. He classifies all women by his experience with his own wife who is prone to lateness. Because women believe “that the universe has plenty of time,” they interpret leaving for a party at “7:30 to mean ‘around 8,’ or more specifically, ‘9.” Barry fabricates the idea that when women are late, they are very late. Generally, no woman is going to allow herself to be one to two hours late for an event.

Barry utilizes satire to add humor to the stereotype that a woman’s perception of time is far different from a man’s. When catching a plane flight, men will always “factor in a ‘cushion’ to allow for the unexpected,” while women will “arrive at the airport as the plane was taking off” and ask what the hurry is because “the plane isn’t even halfway down the runway yet.” Barry’s sarcasm implies that women see nothing wrong with being late so much that they would arrive an airport to catch a flight as it was already “halfway down the runway.” Because women are often categorized as intelligently superior to men, Barry chooses to exalt one of the few flaws they possess to prove that, in this way, men are better. “I’m almost ready!’ ‘I’m just putting on my makeup!” are phrases commonly heard by men, but to them, “these two statements contradict each other.” “It’s like saying: ‘I’m very short! I’m 38 feet tall!” Barry uses this contradictory statement to emphasize the confusion forced upon men when women claim they’re almost ready, but have to do this or that first. His sarcasm reiterates his “factual” conclusion that the entire female population is physically incapable of being on time.

The ethos Barry uses allows the male readers to relate to his article. He pulls in situations that he himself, along with most all men, has endured with their own wife. “Every minute that a wife spends putting on makeup is experienced as 45 minutes by a husband who has reached the key-jingling stage.” Men can relate to pacing back in forth in agony waiting on their wives to finish getting ready. While women see a few short minutes as nothing, men are already starting to break a sweat. By the time 5 minutes have passed “the husband is a nervous wreck,” while the wife complains that he is rushing her. Barry conveys the animosity men have towards the female habit of tardiness through ethos. He draws men into the article relatable situations he has endured with his own wife.

           

            Barry’s use of hyperbole, satire, and ethos in “Time Out!” efficiently portray the widely known “fact” that women have no concept of time. By over emphasizing one of the few flaws of women, he places men, in this characteristic, as dominant.

Kill 'Em! Crush 'Em! Eat 'Em Raw!

2. Paragraphs 5-7 compare and contrast football and war. Is this comparison convincing? How does the comparison appeal to logos?
Yes, the comparison between football and war is convincing because much of the terminology is similar. "Field general", "blitz", "front line", "the draft", etc. are all common language in war and football. McMurtry appeals to logos by expanding on the similarities of tactics and schemes war and football share.

3. In paragraph 9, the tone shifts. How is the shift achieved? Explain how the shift mirrors a transition in McMurtry's argument.
McMurtry achieves the shift by reminicsing on his own childhood memories of playing football for the sole reason of having fun. He describes the laughs he had running barefoot on an open green field with no one keeping score. McMurtry transitions from playing football for careless enjoyment to becoming routine and dangerous.

6. Consider the language of football, especially the words shared by the military. What sports other than football have a miliaristic side?
Many sports have characterisitics similar to the military. Soccer, Basketball, Rugby, Volleyball, etc. all have two sides fighting to achieve the same goal; winning. Additionally, they use tactics or "game plans" in order to figure out the best way to beat the other team.

7. Who is McMurtry's audience? Is it necessary for the reader to understand or care about football in order to understand what McMurtry is saying about society? Explain.
McMurtry's audience is anyone involved in football; parents, kids, coaches, etc. It isn't necessary for the reader to understand every aspect of football, but it is helpful to understand the physical hardships the game can cause to be able to relate to McMurtry's text.

Standardized testing

Standardized testing is an important factor in helping kids succeed. Standardized test like the ACTAAP and the Benchmark prepare student for more advanced tests like the SAT an ACT.
Students' scores from the earlier standardized tests allow teachers to compare their class scores with the state averages. They also show the teacher each child's capability to learn in comparison to the other students.
Standardized testing only increases a child's chance to score better on others tests and succeed later on in life.

Advertisment: Dress Irresponsibly

The ad we chose is the Pacsun "Dress Irresponsibly" ad. The ad show a young, happy girl draping her body on a bed covered in the brand's clothes. The audience appeals to teen and young people because they want to seem care-free and slightly rebellious.

The use of ethos is shown by that the girl on the ad is attractive with a slight smirk on her face like she has no worries. It makes it seems like teens should want to be like her and be, in a sense, "irresponsible".
The ad is logical because because it symbolizes freedom. A person's sense of style is one thing no one can take away from them. How you dress is your choice and you can't get in trouble for expressing yourself. The model shown is nicely dressed in Pacsun clothing, and the majority of young people want to be looked at as "fashionable".
The girl on the ad looks like she just had a fun night out, and isn't that what all teens want? Underneath the phrase "dress irresponsibly", the ad is saying that if you buy their clothes, you'll be happier. Teens want to live it up while they're still young and the ad perfectly  expresses the typical, fun Friday or Saturday night they all want. The model's expression of happiness pulls at the audience's emotions of longing for fun and carelessness.

Symphony

Symphony, as Pink calls it "aptitude", is the ability to put together pieces. Some professions require symphonic thinking, such as composers, conductors, and artists. Composers and conductors take a variety of musical notes and place them in a pattern to make beautiful music, similar to artists who draw different shapes to create a big picture. Relationships are a large part of symphony. Composers and conductors had to make sure brass doesn't cover the sound of the woodwinds and artists, in drawing a portrait, have to proportion the eyes to not just each other but the entire face.While talking a five-day art class, Pink says his teacher had the class use various techniques out of the book "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards. In curiousity, I checked out the book online and chose one specific technique for my own experiment, drawing upside down. I had a hard time deciding what to draw so I took my sister's preschool picture down and used it. Drawing with the picture faced downward confuses the left, and most commonly used, side of the brain and lets the right side take control. In turning the picture upside down I saw portrait as more of a collaboration of shapes rather than just a photo.

So, here's the picture and what I ended up drawing..

(She had just got done crying before she had her picture made, if you're wondering why she looks sad.)

What happens to forgiveness? (Harlem poem)

What happens to forgiveness?
Does it conquer
like a case proved by a witness
And then all if forgotten?
Does it lie like an sweet girl turned rotten
Or does it lighten the mood
like a vivacious attitude
Maybe it just brings sorrow
like fearing the pain of tomorrow
Or does it deceive?

Character Analysis: Creon

Melina Norris
5-3-11
4B

Character Analysis: Creon

Many people today still agonize over what is truly right and wrong. Should one follow their heart or the law? - is the question. Creon of Sophocles’s Antigone is a prime example of one who struggles with this choice. Creon is a dynamic character, he quickly changes from the stereotypical harsh ruler to feeling more compassion toward Antigone.

Creon denies Antigone a burial for her brother, Polynices, he considers him a traitor. Antigone argues that "[he] was not a slave who died but [my] brother." Creon is the new king of Thebes since both previous rulers, Polynices and Eteocles, were killed in battle. In being so new to the throne, Creon wants everyone to follow the law and under no circumstances break it as he says in Antigone, "am I wrong to protect my own empire?" Clearly, the major conflict in Antigone is man vs. man because it is Antigone against Creon. Creon is consistently always disagreeing with Antigone and threatening her life until all of the hurt his decisions are causing start to tear his family apart.

Seen as a strict, inconsiderate ruler, Creon had many weaknesses and downfalls. He was full of pride and thought that because he is now king, no one is above him and can tell him what to do. Although "it is not [his] custom to disagree with [anyone]," Creon is considered the antagonist because he goes against the main character, Antigone. Though he has many flaws as a king, Creon has one particular strength; he is not easily persuaded. Creon is always firm in what he believes, which can be a good quality in a king. He does not doubt that following the law is the right thing to do until, at the end, he suddenly realizes all of the chaos and damage he has caused.

Creon, at times, comes across as a stern and unfair ruler but really only wants to keep the city of Thebes under control and just. He thinks he is doing what is right, but is not viewing the situation from Antigone’s side who has just lost both of her brothers. Throughout the majority of the Antigone, he stands by what he believes is right and best for the city; following what is law. He believes "[he] [knows] well that no human is strong enough to pollute the gods." But after seeing all the pain and suffering he has caused to his family and to Antigone by denying her brother a proper burial, he has a change of heart. But like all Greek tragedies, Antigone ends in tradgedy.

Because Creon was so harsh he watched his life and everyone in it crumble. Antigone, his son, Haemon, and his wife, Eurydice all took their own lives. Eurydice "struck herself in the heart with her own hand, when she learned the sad fate of her boy," Haemon, who committed suicide after seeing his betrothed’s, Antigone’s, lifeless body hang in the tomb. Creon payed for his bitterness, and although he tried to change, he was too late.