For the first time in a long time, I experienced something we all know and hate: writer’s block. When faced with the challenge of creating a Rhetorical Analysis, I immediately panicked as it was one of the first major assignments I had as a college student. Turning to daybook for brainstorming, I decided that it would be best for me to select a topic that resonates with who I am and the experiences that have shaped me thus far. Thinking about the major milestones in my life, I asked myself, “Do any of these milestones relate to a common issue in society?” Referring back to my daybook, I discovered that my dream topic was right before my eyes; distracted driving related incidents.

 

When I was little, I experienced the loss of two individuals in my life from texting while driving incidents that could have been avoidable. Haunting me on a daily, I chose this topic to shed light on the voices of those individuals who can no longer speak; those who have been killed or involved in a distracted driving accident. Having been exposed to AT&T’s It Can Wait Campaign, I made the decision to analyze one of their several commercials because the commercials sparked an interest in me back from when the campaign first launched. With various options to analyze, I chose the commercial, The Unseen, because it was the only one that made my physically cry. (WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER FOR VINNY!)

 

Desiring to execute my analysis, I spent countless hours writing my first draft only to find out that my Rhetorical Analysis was missing a major component to it… RHETORIC. (LOL HOW FUNNY IS THAT?!) Being a firm believer in extra help, I came upon this realization in office hours with Dr.Andrews. Thankfully, this woman is an actual Saint, (PRAISE JESUS) so she sat down with me and guided me in restructuring my argument; redeveloping my entire thesis too. Having visibly lost confidence and feeling like a failure, Dr.Andrews introduced the reverse outline to me. The reverse outline has taught me to identify what I already know... TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT I KNOW IS ACTUALLY BEING PUT DOWN ON PAPER BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THE TIME I WROTE MY RHETORICAL ANALYSIS! I believe this changed my writing ability because I have utilized it for all of my classes now and I have seen my writing blossom right before my eyes. What do you think?

 

Thank you guys so much for taking the time out of your busy schedules to learn more about my Rhetorical Analysis through the lens of my website. This project is in honor of Francis Duddy and Catherine Hynoski; two beautiful individuals who were taken too soon from distracted driving related incidents. When assigned this project, I desired to bring light to this topic as it is always surfacing in society. While many are unable to think twice before making the CHOICE to operate a vehicle, I do. And, I speak for those who can no longer; comparative to the young boy in the commercial. BE THE CHANGE because this issue is not going away anytime soon. BE THE VOICE OF TOMORROW AND MAKE GOOD DECISIONS!