Author: Ella Phillips

My final Blog

by Ella Phillips

As the Governor begins his plan to re-open Texas, Cotton Patch opened up their dining to 25% capacity on Friday. Since we’ve had nobody in the restaurant besides my coworkers and I for weeks, it was very odd seeing people just casually eating while we prepare meals. There are more people than I expected that are eating in restaurant. I’ve even seen a few families with young kids. Even though the guests don’t have to wear masks, all of the workers do. It’s so weird watching our servers interact with our guests with gloves, a mask, and a hat. We also can’t leave anything on the table, so we have to sanitize the salt and pepper shakers and give our ketchup packets. Never in a million years would I ever have expected any of this.

With COVID-19 holding a tight grasp on our lives, I’ve noticed a lot of rhetoric, especially in the news. All the news stations talking about the numbers of cases and numbers of deaths. Some appeal to us using emotion, as they interview people who have been directly impacted by this virus and assuring us everything is going to be okay. Other news stations are using a logos appeal, as they tell us the facts of coronavirus and what we can do to slow it down. By doing this, the news stations keep our attention in this unpredictable time.

My overall semester

Well, I start off by saying this semester didn’t go quite as I expected. COVID-19 made the second half of this year mentally tough and disappointing. With so many unexpected cancellations, my junior year definitely wasn’t boring. Though I wasn’t able to finish my track season or attend the prom, I have learned what is truly important to me. Over the course of English 1302, I’ve learned how to recognize rhetoric and I really enjoyed Hamilton and The Tempest. This semester I learned how to push through, as junior year is said to be the hardest year of high school. One thing I accomplished is keeping up my grades in my classes. This semester I think I did a better job of spending time focusing on one thing at a time. One thing I need to work on is being responsible and getting my work done on time.

Before I finish, I want to thank Professor Waits for being such a great teacher. You’ve been so patient and understanding with me during this time of hardship and I’m so grateful for that. You have taught me so much, things that I will use throughout the rest of my life. I loved your classes and your crazy costumes. You made my day each time I came into class. Thank you Professor Waits.

Works cited

“r/Memes – When Dealing with COVID-19 (Corona Virus), Listen to Baby Yoda (Feel Free to Spread on Social Media).” Reddit, http://www.reddit.com/r/memes/comments/fch34h/when_dealing_with_covid19_corona_virus_listen_to/.

Shakespeare: Why does his rhetoric still matter?

by Ella Phillips

As everyone is on the edge of their seats, we are updated everyday on the most recent news on COVID-19. Before this outbreak, everyone was wrapped up in their daily lives. Now, people are being forced to take a step back, stay at home, and be with their families. I know that for me personally this has been super rough, as my family always drives me crazy. I feel like I can relate to everyone that was annoyed by Gonzalo from The Tempest. Though I’m trying to see the bright side of this pandemic, it’s hard being stuck in one place without being able to escape. The only time I’m allowed outside the house now is to go to work, which is very straining and busy on my part. Since our dining room has been shut down, to-go has been busier than ever. Customers say one of 3 things: “How’s business?”, “Isn’t it so weird with the restaurant being empty?” and “The world is crazy right now, isn’t it?”. It’s crazy how people are dealing with this insane event.

In class…

In class this week, I reflected over Act 4 and Act 5, and what made them important. I also reflected over our current situation with the coronavirus and The Tempest. Reading over my classmates’ comments, it seems like they are all experiencing similar things as me. Most feel stuck at home and are hoping for school to start up again soon, just like me. It was also interesting to see how they connected out situation to the charterers and what happened with them. Many said they felt like they were stranded on an island, just like Alonso and his men were. They also said there are many people acting like Gonzalo; trying to be positive in this awful situation. The Tempest is truly still relative to our time, and it’s been brought to light by this pandemic.

Practice makes perfect…

I’ve seen a lot of rhetoric used by Cotton Patch and many other restaurants. Many are offering “home kits”, which include usually a pack of protein (like steak or chicken), various sides, a dozen eggs, a loaf of bread, and toilet paper. These packs appeal to peoples emotions and seem to be more logical than going to the store. There are many families that are afraid of the store running out of what they need. Also, if the restaurant already has the items readily available, what need is there to go to the store? These businesses sure do know how to convince people to buy their food.

Works cited

“Shakespeare – Shakespeare.” Memebase, memebase.cheezburger.com/tag/shakespeare.

Rhetoric in Act 5 and the play as a whole

by Ella Phillips

The world is crazy right now! If you told me a few weeks ago that restaurants would be closing down indoor seating, church services would go online, and the shelves that used to hold toilet paper would be completely empty, I’d think you were insane. We are living out something that will be in future generation’s history books. Personally, this event has really affected my work, since I work at Cotton Patch as a server and to-go host. I’ve never seen the restaurant so empty. When I am working, it’s only one other coworker, the chefs, the manager, and I. Many of our customers walk in with masks or we bring their meal out to their cars. To make it so people see we are still open, we placed a tent outside. I’m trying to be like Gonzalo in The Tempest, as I’m trying to make the best of this situation and see the bright side of everything.

In Class…

Though we weren’t actually in class this week, I read and analyzed Act 4 and 5. In Act 4, we saw Miranda and Ferdinand accept each other and plan to be married soon. I love how sweet they are to each other and how Ferdinand is willing to take her as his wife so quickly and confidently. It’s a true love story. In Act 5 we see Prospero have a change of heart and have compassion on his enemies. He releases them from the spell he put on them and talks to them. Prospero shows Alonso that Ferdinand is still alive and finally lets go of his power and releases Ariel. I personally love this ending; I’m a sucker for happy endings.

Practice Makes Perfect…

Because of all this chaos, I’ve been watching the news a lot lately. While watching the news, I saw the Good Morning Show. They were going over pantry staples. They suggested including canned beans, fruits, and vegetables as foods to stock up on because of their long shelf life. Only a few days after this aired I went to the store to get ingredients for dinner. When I looked in the aisle where the black beans were, the aisle was almost completely empty. The ladies from the Good Morning Show used unintentionally used rhetoric to convince people that these were foods they needed. They use logos as well as pathos. They used logos because it was logical to get these foods versus other foods, and they used pathos because of people’s fear of running out of food. This is a great example of how people can convince someone that something is a good idea, without us even truly noticing or meaning to.

Works cited

Marcene, Brandi. “100 Funniest Boston Terrier Memes: #MemeGodCertified: Doggypedia.” The Dog Digest, 7 Jan. 2019, doggypedia.org/100-funniest-boston-terrier-memes/.

Rhetoric in Acts 1-2 of The Tempest

by Ella Phillips

In Class…

In class this week, we began reading The Tempest and learned about each character. We picked what character we would like to read and naturally I picked Sebastian as he was my favorite singing, red crab from my childhood. So far, my class has read through Act 2 and I’m really enjoying the play so far. I love how the interception of the play can vary from person to person. For example, personally I don’t believe Caliban is a horrible being, but misunderstood and misused. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next act!

Since the name Ariel was invented by Shakespeare, and I just so happen to have a Disney + subscription, I decided to re-watch The Little Mermaid. While I was reminiscing on my childhood, I noticed how much rhetoric was in “Under the Sea”. The entire song is Sebastian trying to convince Ariel to stay away from the human world. He uses vivid imagery and pathos to try to prove to Ariel that the ocean has so much more to offer than the human world. Being the stubborn teenager she is though, she doesn’t listen.

Practice makes perfect…

To practice my knowledge of rhetoric today, I decided to analyze “Under the Sea”. In the beginning of the song, Sebastian states “Up on the shore they work all day, out in the sun they slave away” (Wright, “Under the Sea”). This suggested that all humans do all day is work and don’t have any fun. Ariel is a carefree spirit who loves to explore and have fun, so by saying this Sebastian attempts to appeal to her hopes of freedom. He also claims that humans are just fish killers when he says “Nobody beat us, fry us and eat us, in fricassee” (Wright, “Under the Sea”). Most likely he says this because of his own fear of being eaten, since he is a crab. This also suggests that humans are ruthless and dangerous towards sea creatures, though.

Works cited

Giphy. “Sebastian The Little Mermaid GIFs – Get the Best GIF on GIPHY.” GIPHY, giphy.com/explore/sebastian-the-little-mermaid.

“Under the Sea Lyrics.” Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2020. Web. 1 Mar. 2020. https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/3383576/Samuel+E.+Wright.

Ethos, Logos, and Pathos

by Ella Phillips

Week 2 of blogging, and I’ve been thinking about it all week long. Last night when I was watching my favorite show, 911, with my parents, I even noticed rhetoric. It was a Nissan commercial. In this commercial, they were advertising their crash preventing features. By doing this, every person, except the driver and their family, were on their phones. This was their way to show that their newest Rogue was “… protection in a world of distraction”. This commercial spoke to me emotionally because I hate how dependent on technology our world has become.

IN CLASS…

In class this week, we discussed how to make a proper resume and how to present them in a professional way. A cover letter, job specific traits, and past job experience are all great was to make an impression on a possible future employer. We also began reading Hamilton. As a class, we listened and analyzed Act 1. We were introduced to various characters , including Aaron Burr, the Schuyler Sisters, and Alexander Hamilton himself.

Practice Makes Perfect…

Earlier this week, I found out my friend was trying to find a home for this adorable dachshund. Naturally, I tried my best to convince her to bring her home with me. I used my knowledge of logos, ethos, and pathos to try to persuade her.

It went something like this:

Hey mom! My friend is trying to find a home for a adorable little dachshund. She was found wondering all alone on the streets. They tried to find the owner, but there was no luck. We have plenty of room for another dog, and Sugar could use a friend! If we don’t take her end, they might have to bring her into the shelter. All they are looking for is somebody to love her.

Of course, this was a failed attempt, but I was very close to convincing her.

Works cited

“Distractions Meme .” Distractions Distractions, Everywhere- Buzz and Woody, makeameme.org.

“2020 Nissan Rogue Commerical.” 2020 Nissan Rogue Commerical, Youtube.com, https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0SQF68GbJ4g/maxresdefault.jpg.

What Do I Want to Learn?

Featured by Ella Phillips

Lights. Camera. Action.

Good question! Honestly, I’m very excited to read through Hamilton this semester. Many of my friends throughout high school have been theater nerds, so I’ve attended a few plays over the course of the past two years. I’ve always wanted to dive deeper into the performing arts, but between have no skills in that area of expertise and a busy track schedule, I’ve never had the opportunity.

For real though…

Throughout the course of this semester, I hope to learn more about plays and why they are an essential part of English. I also hope to obtain a deeper understanding of myself and my true emotions by doing these weekly blogs. Between my love of writing and learning, I hope to see my writing better itself and truly enjoy reading once again.

About My Not-So-Secret Life

by Ella Phillips

Welcome to my blog!

Allow me to introduce myself: My name is Ella Phillips. I am a 17 year-old girl from Dallas Texas, and I actually have started this blog as apart of my college English class.

Why a blog you may ask?

  • Because my English teacher encouraged it! She has already taught me to love English all over again and I’m excited to experience being able to express my feelings and opinions online.
  • Because I think this might just help me find my true self

Inside My life

Running. A huge part of my life is the sport I love the most. I have been apart of cross country and track since 7th grade. Once I came up to the high school, I made varsity cross country my freshmen year. I was actually one of the first athletes in my grade to earn my Letterman (I’m still really proud of that). I’ve advanced to regional cross country two years now and it truly is one of my passions.

My future. I am apart of many activities that I love in hopes that one day in the future I will become a police officer. I have been involved in POLICE club since my freshmen year, and have created many relationships in this club. Last year, I joined Skills USA and did a competition called “building search”, which is basically my team and I clearing a building of bad guys. I’ve become fascinated with this profession and hope one day I can help countless people in their times of need.

God. Probably the biggest part of my life, I am very active in my church and my faith. I love my Creator; He’s blessed me with countless talents, good friends, and a caring family. Without Him, I wouldn’t be who I am today.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.”

– Matthew 5:16 NIV