Reflection Unit 9

Overall in this subject, I do think that this subject really makes me think critically. Although I had problem to understand what it is all about in the very beginning, I do manage to understand about it, with the help of my lecturer and friends. I do believe that by understanding well the critical literacy 10 elements, it will eventually help me to be more critical thinking in any article I might read in the future, as I have taken this course of English Communication, a critical thinking is definitely vital for me. Basically, this subject is vital for this particular course as it will be needed in the future.

As in this subject, I have learned about something I do not familiar with before, such as rhetorical function. Before I learned critical literacy, I have no clue what it is all about, later I knew about it and understood well. It is same goes to perspective and positioning, as well as visual literacy and other six elements. With the understanding of those 10 elements I have manage to complete all the assignments given, in order to complete this subject. There are also differents method to do critical literacy, like what have been assign to me, in assignment one and two, I was asked to do the 10 element, based on article given by the lecturer and also in the book. In assignment three, I was assign to find an article on my own and do the critical review, without the topic of the 10 elements, and merge all the elements needed. I’ve also been assigned to critic on my friend critical review on her article, in order to make sure that I am fully understood on critical literacy subject.

Reflection Unit 8

In reading 8.1, ‘Drugs or guns’ by Peter Hawthorne had highlighted the issue happened in Cape Town, South Africa. The issue is about the leader of the country that pointed by Peter as the one who did not doing his work, despite, he eventually made wrong decisions when it comes to drugs and arms issue. In Cape Town, both of these issues is mainly well concern by many authorities, that figures the real problems in their state and wanted to help victims involved.

The author point out that the government are facing a battle with non-governmental arms reduction organization in managing the arms issue. At the same time, the national AIDS activist group is forcing the government to supply free drugs to all HIV-positive pregnant women in the country. The arms purchase also had been asked the necessity by the political opponents towards the government. The arms issue also related to corruption, which there are sides who had been benefited from the arms deal and the government seems to refuse to deal with this issue. The government policies on AIDS also had been question by many fronts. One of the fronts, TAC had proposed government in the reason of the drug need to be proved the effectiveness and insufficient resources. While Mbeki government seriously focusing on the arms, in the economic crisis situation, the real issues that the country facing, is against AIDS.

Basically the author had chose this article to be published specifically in a magazine, might be because he wanted the audience, who always read the magazine, knew about what he is trying to convey, as he already surveyed on the target readers. Obviously he wanted the audience to agree with him that the Mbeki government is not doing their job very well, as he mentioned many involves party and highlight their position in the article. It is likely that he wanted to give such a big impact to his audience when they read his article by placing such meaningful pictures in the article.

Reflection Unit 7

For reflection on unit 7, ‘Dieting; a waist is a terrible thing to mind’, by Seligman, Martin (1994). This article focuses on physical and mental health. In this article, Seligman has condemned on commercial weight loss programs by outlining several points. He convinced the readers that weight loss product does not work, by stated the study on people frequently gains weight back and it is harder to lose weight again. He also told the readers that their weight is probably an ideal weight. Seligman also argues that medical views which support the dietary product are wrong. He explain this by, when people knew about the ideal weight charts to identify ideal weight problems, they will tend to do anything to reduce their weight, such as spend large amount of money to but weight loss products.

Next Seligman mention about ‘natural weight’, however, he did not stress on this term precisely. He only state that ‘natural weight’ is when the weight cannot be reduce anymore. Generally, the readers might be in vague state. Seligman might have hidden agenda, because he once failed to lose weight. This leads to a look back through the evidence given. He also views the commercial dietary product companies as those who only knew how to make benefit from weight issue. He insists that, it is not the consumer who had the benefit, they may even be harmed, but the producers who make money by utilizing weight issue on consumers.

Seligman positioned the consumers as a victim, who cannot accept their natural weight, however they cannot be blamed as, they received false information on weight by the weight loss industry and the general beliefs about maintaining ‘ideal weight’. Then Seligman also make the readers feel sorry for those who fail to attempts diet, and again convince the readers that their weight might be ideal for them. His article may give two impact; first is that, the impression on the weight loss company, which they give wrong information to promote their product, and second; he convinced the readers and those who had failed to diet, that, it’s not their fault, and their weight is probably just fine.

Reflection Unit 6

For reflection on, ‘Invasion of the baby snatchers’, by Walter Kim, this article mainly about lost children whose always been reported in mass media, especially in U.S and Britain. The reason that the media often report about this kind of news might be because, to draw attention on the audience from other issue that cannot be solve such as war. The media just focus on those who are being reported to be missing, but seems to ignore about those children who are being abandon and harmed by irresponsible adult. Reporters knew that people are easily touched by this kind of issue.

For reflection of role plays, the first role play is, Apocalypse, from my understanding, the article is mainly about those commenter, who just comment without really think about what others feeling on their commenting. Their comments sometimes lead to severe situations on people, such as those are been commented, might feel very down and do not dare to state their opinion anymore. For the second role play, the Gangsterism, the idea is that, gangsterism is bad, and the ministry had construct several plans to tackle this problem.

For the third role play, which is ‘Burning Out at Nine?’ mainly about children who are force by their parents to have full time scheduled, starting from early morning till night. Those child are suppose to have their play time like other child, but their mother give the reasons that, if they did not started to study everything in their early age, it will be too late for them. In the role play, the members of the group have made comparison with different types of mother who give time to their child to have their own leisure time rather than learning all the time in a tight schedule.

For the fourth role play, the ‘Out Of puff’, the presentation,resembles that an irresponsible father who let her daughter smoking although he knew that smoking is bad. The counselor is not giving the right advice, and he even questioning why women are afraid to quit smoking. The topic is mainly about women who smokes, the reason and why they are afraid to quit. In the fifth role play, ‘Without any warning’, it is about water shortage in Kuantan, Pahang which had made the consumer really mad. Their presentation is very interesting, with the interview of a reporter to all involved party of the situation. Overall, for all role plays, I understood each of them.