Issues Paper - Rudimentary Google Search

             I'm not yet entirely sure what I want to research and write about for my issues paper assignment.  To get an idea for where to start researching though, I started with basic Google searches on the suggested topics listed in the prompt.  I started searching general parts of the prompt and then tried to get more specific.

            I began by just searching for "religion in the public sphere".  I was directed to over three million results in less than a second and found many to be quite general.  The amount of results seem fair according to the generality of my search.  I then tried to narrow my search.  The search suggestions seemed to help narrow things down - especially if I knew what I was really looking for.  I tried getting more specific.  I searched for specific topics like Boy Scouts and Planned Parenthood.  Just searching for these topics was helpful to get overall facts about them but obviously I had to search for more specifics if I wanted to find examples.

            I went to the library's website next and began looking through research guides and databases.  This seemed to be much more helpful finding specifics as well as actual resources rather than just plain facts.  I was able to narrow down my search much more quickly and I knew what resource I was looking at much more accurately.

            Overall, I found doing a Google search or searching in the library's guides can both be helpful.  Both methods did produce results.  The Google search method seemed to offer more general information even while trying to narrow down results.  The library searches seemed to start more specific.  I feel that Google would be a good place to start while using the library would be a good place to continue more specific research.

Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Proposal

            For my rhetorical analysis I'm planning on analyzing Reagan's and Romney's speeches.  While the speeches have some similarities, I felt that they both differed enough that I would be able to pull out opposites to compare and contrast.  While the overall exigencies of the two speeches differ quite dramatically - having a great effect on the way the speeches were written, given, and received - I feel that comparing similar rhetorical strategies will provide interesting analysis.

            Both speeches were primarily addressing Republicans but from different perspectives - defensive and offensive.  As mentioned above, considering the exigency of each speech is an important place to begin.  The respective primary audiences had to have had differing expectations - making the purpose of using similar strategies different overall.  However, even considering this, Reagan appears to have been the more effective speaker overall.

           

            I plan on approaching the analysis as follows:

Reagan -

Eloquence and morality - Shows he's educated but also relies on his faith in God.  Shows he understands the audience.  Effectively establishes trust from both believers and non-believers.

If - Then/Repetition - The reasoning is logical and he encourages the audience which effectively unifies and promotes action from them.

Imagery - Shows emotion and thus appeals to his audience's emotion which unifies their relation.

Personal/Biblical/Historical/Poetic Anecdotes - Establishes, appeals to, and logically proves beliefs and faith to be an important factor within national affairs.

Romney -

Personal beliefs/convictions - Establishes and presents beliefs in response to the audiences concerns.  Addresses concerns but could have been more specific.  Sort of vague.

Flips argument - Designed to allay concerns by addressing an underlying issue and unifying faith

Repetition/Equality - Establishes and compares faiths in hope for a unified result.