Jeff Holmes Portfolio
December 6, 2019
Introduction:
As technology and internet culture have pervaded every corner of society, we have been presented with a litany of new mediums to leverage for argument and persuasion. The internet and digital platforms have become a dominant arena for social discourse, and in order to use these platforms effectively, users must adapt the way they present an argument based on the medium. In this course, I have been exposed to several new internet softwares and techniques, such as audio essays through Audacity and App Arguments through Adobe XD. In the process of working with these softwares and strategies, I have learned about the strengths and weaknesses of each medium, and am now a confident producer of content for all of them. As the internet becomes more significant in terms of argumentation, learning how to adapt my arguments based on the medium they are presented through has been a hugely valuable experience.
I underestimated the importance of collaboration when I first entered this course. Collaboration was most relevant during the podcast assignment, one of my favorites of the semester, when we worked as a group to develop a cohesive recorded conversation regarding social media. I found that working as a team was crucial to not only completing a recording of the required length, but also to making the podcast sound conversational and natural. Had we not worked together, it would have been more like multiple audio essays stacked together, but the collaborative nature of the group allowed us to achieve a more conversational tone which was more enjoyable for a listener. Further, in nearly every assignment we were presented with new software which I had little to no experience with, and collaborating with classmates helped me to learn the software and become comfortable with it more quickly. I would not be as proficient in Adobe XD if I had not spent time with classmates working with and learning the software during the App Argument assignment. Additionally, collaboration played a huge role in terms of giving and receiving feedback. I found that analyzing the work of classmates in class allowed me to gain a better understanding of what components make an argument effective in various mediums, such as an audio essay. While receiving feedback on my own work was naturally helpful in making revisions, I also found that providing feedback to others helped me develop a better understanding of why certain strategies were effective. For example, after providing feedback to classmates regarding the Audio Essay, I realized the importance of voice tone, inflection, and short sentences when communicating an argument through audio. This allowed me to develop a more effective Audio Essay myself.
Creativity was central to all of the assignments in this class, as we consistently were able to choose our own topics. The most obvious examples are the meme and gif assignments, where I was able to explore the mediums and learn how to formulate a cohesive argument while operating within the bounds of those mediums. For example, with the meme assignment, I learned how a reader must be aware of certain cultural trends in order to understand the point a meme makes. This was made obvious as I developed memes of my own and formed arguments within the context of social or cultural trends, such as Michael Jordan's lack of success as an NBA owner. Creativity was a huge factor in this process, as I chose topics which are significant to me and incorporated my own personal sense of humor. Additionally, creativity was a cornerstone of the App Argument assignment. I knew I wanted my app to make a point about the varying age of criminal responsibility in the United States, but I did not want to simply state facts in an app which boils down to a slideshow. I had to develop a creative way to convey my argument in the form of a mobile app. I decided to create a "Choose your character" game in which the user selects a character from various states and is taken through the legal process based on the age of criminal responsibility in the chosen state. As a result, the player sees the difference in experiences based on the age of criminal responsibility in a format which mimics first-hand experience. I was proud of the way I developed my argument in a creative way which allowed the user to arrive at the argument I was making rather than explicitly stating my point.
Critical thinking was crucial in this class, as each new medium had to be evaluated in terms of its strengths and weaknesses, as well as how to use or perform them most effectively. When comparing mediums and looking at what works and what does not, I had to think critically about why some components were effective or why different mediums required different approaches. Further, when reviewing drafts in class, I had to think critically about what was effective and what could be improved, which lends further understanding into how to use those mediums in the most productive way possible. Critically analyzing drafts of my peers allowed me to be more thoughtful, understanding and effective in carrying out the tasks individually. For example, when developing the outline for the Podcast assignment, I had to engage critically with other podcasts to not only identify characteristics which appealed to me, but also to understand why those characteristics were effective in making an argument through audio. I realized I enjoyed podcasts which were conversational, and it was because a conversational structure was more engaging and made me feel like part of the conversation. As a result, I was able to construct my podcast with my group in a manner which was conversational and therefore more engaging and effective. Similarly, with the GIF assignment, I had to critically analyze GIFs which I found effective to better understand what makes a good GIF and why. I found that GIFs with less text which were not precisely literal were more effective, because they require the reader to make the intended associations and come to an understanding of what the GIF means on their own. I used this understanding when developing my own GIFS, and tried to compose them in a way which forced the reader to engage with them rather than using tons of text and stating explicitly the point I wanted to make. Critical thinking was generally valuable in the sense that I had to analyze things to draw smaller conclusions, then leverage those smaller conclusions in unison to develop an enhanced and holistic product or outcome.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed developing my understanding of and ability with various forms of media. I am now capable of producing a compelling argument using things like pictures, videos, audio and social media data. This portfolio illustrates the development of my ability to leverage the strengths and weaknesses of various mediums to make an effective argument.
Portfolio Video
The portfolio video I composed details the development of the Audio Essay, Memes, Podcast, and Twitter Analysis assignments I completed this semester. I chose to focus on these assignments because the Memes and Podcast were the most enjoyable for me, and the Twitter Analysis and Audio Essay were the most difficult. Despite their difficulty, I learned the most from the Audio Essay and Twitter Analysis because I had no experience developing arguments in those ways prior to this class.
In creating this video, I struggled to find engaging visuals for things like the Audio Essay which consisted of a script and audio file. I had to be creative in showing portions of my script, as well as the appearance of the completed sound file and the effects I utilized to maintain compelling visuals to accompany the audio were I describe the assignment. I felt that including sample headlines relating to the hashtag I studied in the Twitter Analysis, as well as examples of memes using an image I used, was effective in composing visual elements which not only accompanied the audio, but enhanced it.
Overall, creating this video not only enhanced my understanding of how to use audio to present a strong argument, it also taught me about the value of using compelling visuals which enhance that argument. I had to be creative in selecting visuals which had synergy with the audio, and I learned the importance of this after critically analyzing other effective videos to tease out what characteristics were effective and how to incorporate them into my work.
This is my finished Portfolio Video:
Twitter Report
The first assignment was the Twitter Report, in which I selected a popular hashtag and analyzed tweets containing it. I chose #AntonioBrown, because the Wide Receiver had been all over the news for his antics as a member of the Oakland Raiders, as well as allegations of sexual assault. I was interested to see how the hashtag was being used given the variety of topics relating to Antonio Brown and his divisive nature.
Using TAGS software, I tracked tweets from a selected time period from users with at least 2,500 followers. I wanted tweets from users with more followers because those users have more influence. After compiling a list of tweets which met the stated requirements, I coded the tweets using five factors: whether the tweet was positive or negative as it relates to Antonio Brown, the purpose behind the tweet, whether it was original or a retweet, the topic and the tone. Using these codes, I was able to analyze the sample and draw some larger conclusions about the Twitter discourse surrounding Antonio Brown.
There were slightly more opinionated tweets in opposition to Antonio Brown, but I was generally surprised at how many tweets referenced Brown in a positive manner. I was not surprised, however, to find that allegations of sexual assault were the most popular topic relating to Antonio Brown on Twitter. I was also shocked at how many tweets using the hashtag were advertising podcasts. At nearly 25%, advertising was the most common purpose for tweets in the sample. This shows how Twitter users can leverage hashtags to attract an audience and build a following not only on Twitter, but also other mediums like podcasts.
Rhetorically, many people in opposition to Brown cited his character and past behavior as reasons for not liking him. Many of the people coming to his defense, however, had a much more angry tone, and often talked about how Brown was not benefitting from the presumption of innocence which is guaranteed in our justice system. This analysis shows that arguing on the internet often comes from a very emotional place, and rhetorical and argumentative strategies are often idealized or anecdotal rather than logically or statistically based.
This is my initial Twitter Report:
After receiving feedback from classmates and Professor Anderson regarding my assignment, I revised the Report to include figure labels on the graphs and charts, and removed unnecessary language which distracted from the arguments I was making. The resulting report was more direct and structured, which is more conducive to a reader fully understanding my argument.
This is my final Twitter Report:
Overall, this assignment taught me about rhetorical strategies being used on Twitter, as well as how to leverage data and social media samples to draw larger conclusions and make a compelling argument. I had to collaborate with classmates in order to learn the TAGS software, and then I had to think critically about what characteristics were recurring in the sample pool and how to code those characteristics so as to draw out valuable data and reach substantive conclusions.
Audio Essay
The Audio Essay was the most difficult assignment for me, as I had no experience with Audacity or writing for a script. I struggled to write in a succinct way which clearly communicated my argument through audio, which taught me the importance of brevity when the audience is listening to an argument rather than reading it.
I wrote my script about the use of technology in classrooms, and the various benefits and hindrances associated with students using technology in class. I thought this was a relevant topic because it addresses the risks and temptations associated with technology use as well as the ways it can be used to benefit the learning process. I found videos online which supported the argument I was making, and cut out audio clips to use as support in my audio essay. I then wrote my script and structured it in a way which flowed naturally and seamlessly incorporated the supporting audio clips into my own.
In my first draft, I struggled substantially with composing a succinct script as well as a high quality audio file. This is the first draft of my Audio Essay:
Audio Essay Draft
I revised my original script to remove unnecessary language and add content to make the final product longer. After editing my script to be more effective in terms of conveying my argument through audio, I recorded the script again through Audacity. This time, I payed close attention to the reduction of background noise and matching the volume of my voice with those of the supporting videos using the amplify effect. Additionally, in the revised Audio Essay, I made a conscious effort to alter my tone of voice and inflection so I was speaking more clearly and in a way which would engage the listener.
This is my Final Audio Essay:
Audio Essay Final
In completing this assignment, I learned to write and speak succinctly in an engaging manner. With these skills, along with my new ability to manipulate audio files through Audacity, I am confident that I can develop a compelling audio argument through Audacity or other audio platforms in the future. These skills were particularly valuable and relevant later on in the course when completing the Podcast and Portfolio Video assignments. Additionally, being creative was critical to this assignment, as I had to develop a unique argument and present it in a way which seamlessly incorporated the other video clips and was succinct enough to keep a listener engaged. This was a huge difference from a traditional essay, and it took creativity to rewrite and reformat my argument in a way which is appropriate for an Audio Essay.
Podcast
The Podcast was my favorite assignment of the semester, as it required me to work with a team to develop an effective argument. This required me to use some of the skills I developed in the Audio Essay assignment, as I had to speak succinctly, manipulate audio files and develop an argument which is meant to be heard rather than read. The key difference, however, was that the Podcast is much longer, involves multiple speakers, and is generally more conversational. I found that a conversational tone was critical to an engaging podcast, as it makes the listener feel like part of the discussion and is more engaging than drawn-out individual statements.
The success of our podcast hinged on the team working together to create an outline which was structured in a manner conducive to conversation. We focused our podcast broadly on the effect of social media on the youth, and each team member had a subtopic relating to that overarching topic. By incorporating questions for the group into each subtopic, we were able to effectively structure conversation into the podcast. This was an effective tactic, as it engaged the listener and made for a more compelling argument.
I was proud of our final product, as it was highly engaging and conversational, differentiating it in a key way from an audio essay and creating a more entertaining final product. Each subtopic was interesting, and the conversations directly supported the overarching arguments regarding youth development and social media. We also did a good job of speaking clearly, not speaking out of turn, and avoiding the wordiness which can sometimes hinder an audio argument. Additionally, the responses to questions posed in each subtopic were not scripted, and I thought we did a good job of adapting to answer those questions on the spot without being wordy or losing the interest of the listener.
This is the audio file for our podcast, which has been edited to amplify some of the sections which were not as loud as the rest:
Completing this assignment taught me about the value of being conversational when presenting an argument in an entertaining way through audio. I learned how to structure a podcast effectively and balance the aspects of entertainment and information to effectively convey an argument while remaining engaging. Additionally, I learned the value of collaboration and adaptation when it comes to developing an argument in podcast form. I had to be comfortable not being in total control of the outcome, and further had to work past differing opinions amongst the group.
App Argument
For the App Argument assignment, I designed an App in Adobe XD in an effort to convey a larger argument. I knew I wanted my argument to center on the varying ages of criminal responsibilities in different states, but I did not want to explicitly state my point and supporting evidence. Instead, I wanted to develop a creative way to present the argument which allowed the user to reach the desired conclusion.
In order to do so, I developed a game-like app where the user can choose a 17-year-old character from Texas or California, where the ages of criminal responsibility are 17 and 18, respectively. After choosing a character, the user progresses through a legal adventure in which they are exposed to the cruelty of the adult justice system and its lasting effects. After completing the game as both characters, the user hopefully reaches the conclusion that an increased age of criminal responsibility makes it easier for youth offenders to rehabilitate themselves and return to being contributing members of society. The user reaches these conclusions on their own after the game experience which simulates first-hand experience.
I was proud of the way I creatively expressed my argument in the form of an app.
This is my Final App design:
Later, I revised my app to alter the design in a way which gave the final product a more app-like feel and color scheme. I did this by altering the color palette I used and utilizing the background blur tool. I believe the resulting design feels more like a traditional app than the initial draft, and the design makes the argument and game the focus of the app rather than distracting from them with bright colors. My app and argument were enhanced by the more cohesive design.
Developing this app showed me the value of an audience reaching a conclusion on their own rather than being told outright. An argument is much more effective when it leads the audience to reach the conclusion on their own instead of just stating an opinion. Additionally, I learned a lot from this assignment because I had never viewed apps through the lens of argument before. I always considered apps to be tools or entertainment, but this exposed me to a new purpose for that medium. In the future, I will be comfortable leveraging argumentative and Adobe XD skills which convey a compelling argument without spelling out the point I am trying to make. Creativity is critical to presenting the argument without being too on-the-nose, and I had to collaborate with classmates to gain proficiency in XD and further the app-feel of my final design.
Meme Images
Prior to this class, I had very limited experience with Photoshop. However, my minimal experience was enough to make me more comfortable when we began developing memes, and I was able to focus more on the argumentative strategies associated with memes rather than the technical skills required to make them. Nevertheless, I found my Photoshop skills were greatly improved through this process, and I enjoyed working with classmates who had less experience to help them with the ins and outs of the software. This collaboration helped me to develop my own memes more effectively.
My first meme was humorous, and associated Duke and UNC with very muscular people while NC State is associated with a much smaller person. This meme is creative in that it draws an association between two unrelated things (the bodybuilders and the universities) in order to make a larger argument about the rivalry dynamic between those schools.
My second meme was also humorous, but required more technical photoshop skills as it incorporated multiple images. I associated a gas pump with Michael Jordan and a dumpster fire with the Charlotte Hornets. To do so, I had to make use of the layer mask and quick selection tools in Photoshop. Additionally, the reader must be aware of Michael Jordan's ownership of the Hornets and lack of success in order to fully grasp the argument the meme makes. This requires critical engagement on the part of the reader, and as the creator, I had to be creative in building those associations without stating my argument explicitly.
My final meme was a social commentary on the low voter turnout despite the plethora of people on the internet talking about how we need action and change. To make this argument, I used an animated protest to represent people on the internet, and confused John Travolta in a desert to represent my confusion at the lack of voter turnout. This meme also required quick selection and layer masks, and requires the reader to understand the confusion which Travolta represents. This picture of Travolta is frequently used on the internet to convey confusion, but if the reader was not aware, the meme would not make sense.
Overall, the meme assignment taught me to present my arguments in a creative way which builds associations between things which are not related and allows the reader to reach the conclusion instead of stating the point outright. I had to think critically about what each element would mean to a reader and how they would interpret it in order to create this memes. Finally, I had to be creative in infusing my own sense of humor into the memes I created.
When looking at the work of my classmates, I was drawn to Alex Weiss's clown college meme. This meme was effective because it spoke to the larger phenomenon of people tweeting without checking their sources without literally stating how he feels about it. Instead, the image associates people who do that with clowns in clown college, implying that it is the behavior of a foolish and clown-like person. Critically thinking about this meme helped me to develop my own memes in a creative way which avoided literally stating my argument, instead leveraging associations between unrelated things.
Animated GIFs
The GIF assignment was very similar to the memes, the big difference being that they incorporate moving visuals rather than a still image. I used my Photoshop skills again to develop compelling GIFS which made an argument without being too on-the-nose. To create these motion visuals, I used multiple techniques, including pulling videos and compiling still images.
The first GIF is a video of Roy Williams excitedly walking/dancing into a room, and uses text to associate that excitement to the feeling you get when Thanksgiving Dinner is ready. This was intended to be humorous, and is a creative way to make a point about being excited for Thanksgiving.
My second GIF required more technical work in Photoshop, as it involved using a layer mask to mix a video clip with a still image. I used a video of the Northern Lights and displayed it where the sky was originally in a picture of a man sitting on a ledge looking at a mountain range. I wanted to create an exciting visual which mixed multiple shots of nature which convey grandeur but are not related. Finally, I added the word "Explore," to add emphasis to my overarching argument about the importance of getting out and exploring nature.
My final GIF was a compilation of images which I took screenshots of on my computer. I created a file called US History Textbooks, created folders for Christopher Columbus, Pilgrims and the Trail of Tears, then deleted the Trail of Tears folder and renamed the file "US History Textbooks (Revised)." I was proud of the way I creatively conveyed an argument about the way history is represented in textbooks by relating the textbook to a computer desktop/file organizer.
Throughout the GIF Assignment, I had to think of creative ways to develop my arguments by drawing associations between unrelated things rather than just stating my point. I realized the value of this creative component after critically engaging with other GIFs I found to be effective, and coming to an understanding that a GIF is more effective when it is not being literal or explicitly stating its meaning. By analyzing other effective GIFs, I realized the value of things like being relatable and leveraging unrelated things together. With this understanding, I was able to include these components in my own GIFs.
When looking at the work of my classmates, I really enjoyed Trent Lupton's GIF regarding connect carolina and registration. When critically thinking about why I enjoyed the GIF, I realized that it was because I am familiar with The Office, which the video is clipped from, and I can relate to the feeling of having difficulties with connect carolina. With this understanding, I was better able to develop GIFs which made use of the readers previously held associations and knowledge, while also infusing my own sense of humor in a creative way which enhances the arguments I made.
Comments
Throughout the semester, I have consistently responded to readings and the work of my classmates through comments. When analyzing the work of others, I was able to think critically about what characteristics made something stronger or weaker, and how to incorporate that understanding into the development of my own content. Seeing what others do well and what they struggle with helped me to understand the strengths and weaknesses of various mediums so that I can better create compelling arguments which leverage the unique characteristics of those mediums.
The two Review comments analyze the work of other classmates, originally in an effort to support the development of their audio essays. However, I found that thinking critically about the work of others not only allowed me to give constructive criticism to them, it helped me create a more effective audio essay myself. I realized what components I liked and disliked, and was able to take that into consideration when writing and recording my audio essay. This collaboration and critical thinking was a common theme throughout the course.
Another comment I am proud of was in response the article about hashtags. This comment resonated with me, because it was the only reading I largely disagreed with. I found that because I disagreed with the article, I engaged it more critically and analyzed its rhetorical strategies. As a result, I have a much better understanding of how hashtags are used effectively to develop an audience and join a community.
Conclusion
All in all, this course was incredibly interesting and valuable. I used things like collaboration, critical thinking and creativity to develop and understanding of and proficiency with several new mediums which can be leveraged for argumentation, including memes, audio essays, and apps. When I enrolled into this course off of the waiting list, I never anticipated how much I would learn or how useful this course would be going forward. However, I am now proficient in several new mediums and feel confident that I can compose a compelling argument in each going forward. As internet communication becomes an increasingly large portion of my life, the skills I learned in this class will assist me in developing cogent and effective argumentation in the future which hinges on the unique characteristics and strengths of each form we studied. I am grateful for this course and had a wonderful experience overall.
Creativity was crucial in finding new and unique ways to pose an argument based on the unique characteristics and strengths of each medium. Collaboration was important in terms of working together on individual tasks to gain understanding, as well as in group work in terms of not being totally in charge of something and still being comfortable creating a product as a team. Finally, Critical thinking was instrumental in analyzing examples to learn about strengths and weaknesses and to draw conclusions, then using those learnings to create more effective and compelling content myself.