Misleading?

Jake Roush
English 314
Misleading Graphic
September 15, 2009

New York Times (NYT) uses a pectoral representation to convey the magnitude of the SARS outbreak. They are using a graphical design by listing all epidemics in their own rectangular boxes. However, the assumptions that someone formulates is that these boxes are representative of the magnitude of the outbreak. Therefore, because the NYT is read by many different audiences, who may or may not have a comprehensive background in these epidemics, they are using a visual rhetoric to mislead the reader. The NYT should have a problem solving approach, before publishing this article, to identify their audience and the background they might have on the topic. Also, the graphic seems to lack a standardization of data among diseases, giving the reader a very inconclusive link to the text sizes. The title of the article has no correlation to the topics being depicted. Also, it seems like the rectangles with TB and malaria seem to have a more of an ethos than the title. This ethos seems to give an urgency and seriousness to the graphic. However, this does define the overall layout of a newspaper; the catching article that has urgency and interests the reader. This article is not meant to be informational; however, it is designed to catch the reader’s attention and give off a definite ethos throughout the graphic.

"Race For The Prize"

The band "Race For the Prize" is an inspirational abstract form of art. This graphic illustrates the dimensions of the band by capturing the calming and mystical aspects of the lyrics, while creating dream like atmosphere with melody.

Jake Roush

August, 31 2009

Government Ethics

English 314

Government Ethics

As a contract technical communicator, with the perspective of Immanuel Kant, the ideas of the massive transformation of statistical data into comprehensible pamphlets for the public can be based on Kantian ethics. The ethical problem arises when there is a conflict between the realistic statistical data you obtain and the actual information that you are asked to present; providing unrealistic research results for the actual needs of your audience. Kant would argue that his ethical system is “based entirely on binding, absolute duty and obligation as they guide the application of free will” (The Ethics Tradition). As ethical interpretation becomes apparently needed, Kant would say that the only ethical reasoning has nothing to do with emotion, purpose or results. Therefore, this differs from many other ethical views because it leaves a certain course of action undefined.

Furthermore, as your situation continues and the data that you propose is consistently declined for a more pleasing outcome. Kant would further insist that, “ethics can be understood and derived only from abstract reasoning itself” (The Ethics Tradition). Consequently, it can be understood that, your ability in the office to perceive the false information that you are told to produce is unethical, is only abstract reasoning itself. Therefore, the altercation of these discriminating stylistic views would be viewed as “ones freely chosen decision to act in good will out of a sense of duty” (The ethics tradition). Accordingly, Kant indicates that with reason, one will act ethically because of the ability to reason and therefore, that ability is a basis for judging ethics.

In this case, based on Kant’s view of ethics, I would use free will to guide my actions. However, I would also use reasoning to interpret duty and obligation without emotion. Therefore, I would present the pamphlet with the required revised and outdated data which does not break my absolute duty. However I would use reason to adjust any social definitions by free will to ethically resolve the situation of discrimination.

Works Cited

The Ethics Tradition. Chapter 3. Page 47-50. https://bb.clemson.edu/webapps/portal.