Tow #13 “The Fault In Our Stars: Love In A Time Of Cancer” Rachel Syme

Cancer books often follow a depressing theme and Rachel Syme wants people to know that The Fault In Our Stars has much more to offer. Syme uses comparison and unique syntax to share her love of this book in her online review. She thanks John Green, the author of the book, and persuades others to read it too.

To show the creative plot of The Fault In Our Stars Syme compares it to other popular cancer books. She opens the essay with a description of another book. She explains her belief that cancer needs to be written, for what it actually is. Either writing goes too far in the humor or is too depressing in the discussion and “Fortunately, John Green is the kind of writer to deliver it” (Para 3). By adding these comparisons into her review, Syme makes it easier for the reader to determine if this is the type of book they would enjoy reading. The reader has the ability to narrow down how the story of cancer is shown from John Green’s perspective.

Syme writes the review with creative syntax to parallel the interesting styles used in the book. She writes, “Green graciously avoids the typical will-they-or-won’t-they of most teen reads” (Para 5) to add her own touch into the essay. She makes it very interesting to appeal to the audience so they read The fault In Our Stars. Syme attempts to express to her readers that Green’s “Language is complex, his syntax adult” (Para 4).  In the review she proves the many strengths that the book posses.

Syme entrances her readers with her unique writing styles and highlights the many great aspects of The Fault In Our Stars with her comparisons. She ends the review, “You will be thankful, too, for the little infinity you spend inside this book” (Para 8) because she truly believes people should read this book. 

Tow #12 “Small Ideas” Ikea Commercial

A task such as designing a dream home seems difficult in a small space, but Ikea has ideas to make it easier. To advertise not just their products, but how to use them, they created the “Small Ideas” commercial.  Ikea uses a full circle analogy and concepts of many different situations to promote their furniture.

            A thought provoking analogy develops the idea for this marketing. The commercial begins with a glass container getting filled with rocks. Very quickly it fills up. As a woman describes the issues of space running out, she drops even smaller stones into the bowl, and then eventually finely cut pieces to show how much space the bowl actually has. This transitions well into the rest of the ad by explaining how there are other ways to use scarce space in homes. After showing what one can do with rocks in a container they compare it to a bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom in small houses.  This comes full circle by the end when they pour water into the bowl without any overflowing. This analogy parallels all the ideas Ikea has to improve anyone’s space.

            To show how these concepts can help all kinds of people, Ikea provided changes for many kinds of homes. In this commercial Ikea transformed a family living room, a house shared with friends, and single’s apartments. By detailing so many different styles Ikea exemplifies their versatility. They develop the ideas that anyone can create a home they love with limited space. Ikea is able to draw in many costumers because of all the unique situations the provide aide for.

            Ikea’s “Small Ideas” spawns many large project ideas for people with their advertisement. These challenging projects become much more manageable with the help of Ikea. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQjBrt9LriY 

Tow #11 Don’t Swallow Your Gum! By Dr. Aaron Carroll and Dr. Rachel Vreeman

Everyone knows the seemingly silly lessons you learn from your mother and doctors for tricks to staying healthy, curing ailments, and eating right. Dr. Aaron Carroll and Dr. Rachel Vreeman politely attack these misconceptions in their book Don’t Swallow Your Gum!  To explain why each of these tips is a myth or half-truth Carroll and Vreeman use statistics and humor, while proving mothers wrong.

To falsify these often accepted medical deceptions strong research and facts are provided. Carroll and Vreeman site famous experiments and begin explaining simple background information and terms for their readers. In the introduction they define causation and association and relate back to this information throughout the chapters. By highlighting the difference between these two terms explanations for the tricks becomes clearer why they are actually false. With every myth some kind of scientific research supports Carroll and Vreeman claim. Providing this important information gives the argument more credibility and allows the reader to understand these ideas as a misconception even if they were recommendations from their doctor.

Using humor in their writing is another way Carroll and Vreeman show the invalidity of these medical myths. Filled with anecdotes of embarrassing stories of each other they use this device to make the writing entertaining. While supplying facts that demonstrate that urine will not heal a jellyfish sting, Carroll shares of when Vreeman’s husband wanted to pee on her sting. The book becomes relevant when real life examples are given. The humor in them makes science pleasant and exciting. Not only is the entire book written to prove their mothers wrong, Carroll and Vreeman go to any measure to embarrass the each other.

  The balance of facts and jokes make Don’t Swallow Your Gum!  Interesting, informative, and enjoyable for any reader.