Word of the Week #5

Jennifer Bilek
MCOM 100W MW 12p.m.
Word of the week #5

Word: actuarial

Source: Alonso-Zaldivar, R. (2008, Sept. 30). One-in-four chance McCain may not survive 2nd term. Associated press.

How it’s used: “It’s actuarial math.”

Definition: (Adj):
1: relating to statistical calculation especially of life expectancy.
2: a person who calculates insurance and annuity premiums, reserves, and dividends.

Your Sentence: When diagnosed with cancer, I asked the doctor how much longer I would live according to his actuarial expertise.

Journal #2

Jennifer Bilek

MCOM 100W 12-1:15 MW

September 29, 2008

So Close Yet So Far

September 25, 2008

Newspaper (San Jose Mercury): By Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Jennifer Loven.

Length: Twenty-one paragraphs.

Sources: six sources.

Pictures: There is one picture of protesters located outside of New York Stock Exchange.

Article Analysis: The article starts off on a very positive note, stating the bill almost passed. However, a few paragraphs down showed the harsh reality of disagreement. The article stated that the presidential candidates were invited to the private meeting, “aimed at showing unity in resolving a national financial crisis, [but it] broke up with conflicts in plain view.”

TV (CNN): This was “Lou Dobbs” section on CNN with guest speaker Congressman Brad Sherman.

Length: Four minutes and thirty-three seconds.

Sources: Four sources.

Article Analysis: This was in interview with Congressman Brad Sherman asking his opinion on the economic bailout. He states that he finds several things wrong with it and how the president cannot come to a compromise to get the bill passed. This interview differed significantly from the newspaper article because it gave much more in-depth information. It also showed Sherman’s opinions on many of the subjects, unlike the newspaper which was designed strictly to provide information without giving any biases.

Web (WashingtonPost.com): By Dan Balz.

Length: Sixteen paragraphs.

Sources: No direct quotes.

Article Analysis: This article is very informal and sarcastic. The first sentence asks readers what type of president they want. The following paragraphs make Bush and McCain look like fools compared to “the cool and reserved style of Barack Obama.” He goes on to say that the bailout crisis is giving voters an inside view on how these candidates would run the country if they were to be elected. The web information was similar to both the newspaper and the TV broadcast. It showed the distinct differences between the candidates like the newspaper did but the information was told through one person’s opinion much like the TV spot.

Pitch Letters

Jennifer Bilek

MCOM 100W

September 24, 2008

Los Angeles Times

Dear Editor,

Most people walk into work with a steaming cup of coffee and today’s newspaper fresh off the press. Doug Rose, however, is escorted to his desk by his loyal black Labrador, Marvina. He sits down in a row of technicians, waiting for the sound of the church bells two blocks away to tell him his work day has officially begun. He places his fingers on his keyboard, feeling around for the J and F keys, translating every indentation for the letters they stand for. Doug Rose is blind.

Word of the Week #4

Jennifer Bilek
Mass Com 100W M/W 12pm
Word #4

Word: Quintessential

Source: Fleming C. (2008). The Authenticators: ESPN, 11(19), 80.

How it was used: “A Hunt auction at 2008’s MLB Fan Fest, scheduled for before the last-ever All-Star Game played at Yankee Stadium, would be the ideal setting for this quintessential piece of Bombers history.”

Definition: (noun)
1. The pure and concentrated essence of a substance.
2. The most perfect embodiment of something.
3. (In ancient and medieval philosophy) the fifth essence or element, ether, supposed to be the constituent matter of the heavenly bodies, the others being air, fire, earth, and water.

Your sentence: Winning the first place metal in the national swimming meet was the quintessential part of my high school career.

Word of the Week #3

Jennifer Bilek
Mass Com 100W M/W 12pm
Word #3

Word Assurance

Source: Chris Isidore. (2008, Sept. 19). Will it Work? CNN Money.com.

How it was used: "Other experts said that while there are obviously big risks to taxpayers, the federal government has little choice but to provide the assurance to financial markets."

Definition: (noun)
1. A positive declaration intended to give confidence: He received assurances of support for the project.
2. Promise or pledge; guaranty; surety: He gave his assurance that the job would be done.
3. Full confidence; freedom from doubt; certainty: to act in the assurance of success.
4. Freedom from timidity; self-confidence; belief in one's abilities: She acted with speed and assurance.
5. Presumptuous boldness; impudence.

Your sentence: I was given assurance by my sister that it was safe to jump off the second story but my Mom caught us right before I jumped.

Telling Details

Jennifer Bilek
Mass Com 100W 12 M/W
Telling Details

I step over the threshold into a seemingly ordinary restaurant in downtown San Jose and to my surprise I am transported into another country by the aid of salsa music dancing in my ears. The walls that surround me are a symphony of color yet I am distracted by the aroma of fresh tequila spilt on the hundred year old bar. I look around the room and I notice a painting of the Virgin Mary looking down on me as I fully deliberate which sin I should commit this evening. I see the waiter walk by with a cocktail decorated by a wedge of pineapple and I decide to quench my thirst with a pineapple mojito. I look up at the painting, raise my glass, and enjoy every sip of the most delicious blessing on earth. As I pick the last piece of mint out of my teeth, I hit the dance floor, hopping someone will notice my subtle charm and offer to occupy the rest of my night.

Word of the Week #2

Jennifer Bilek
Mass Com 100W M/W 12pm
Word #2

Word: Precarious

Source: Paskin, J. (2008). What Your Fund Might Be Hiding: Smart Money, 17(4), 24.

How it was used: “And in these precarious economic times, such optimistic-sounding investments are all the range: Almost half of the funds advertising one of these so-called return strategies were launched in the past five years.”

Definition: 1. (adjective) Dependent on circumstances beyond one’s control; uncertain; insecure: a precarious livelihood.
2. Dependent on the will or pleasure of another; liable to be withdrawn or lost at the will of another: He held a precarious tenure under an arbitrary administration.
3. Exposed to or involving danger; dangerous; perilous; risky: the precarious life of an underseas diver.
4. Having insufficient, little, or no foundation: a precarious assumption.

Your sentence: When looking for a new apartment, I felt frustrated because the high rent prices. The manager explained that the prices were a precarious consequence from the inflation over the last few years.

My Favorite Writing

Jennifer Bilek
Mass Comm100W M/W 12pm
My Favorite Writing

Although I do care about the environment and all living creatures here on earth, I am not the type of person who will cry over beached whales when it is broadcast on the news. However, this article did impact me much more than I thought it would. The article is entitled “The Pink Plague” and it discusses the sudden death of thousands of flamingos in Eastern Africa. The picture of the lifeless flamingo shown directly above the article was depressing enough, but it was the visual images that this author evoked that really impacted my emotions.

As I continued to read I began to yearn for a reason why these beautiful creatures were dieing so suddenly. The article provides a few speculations but does not contain any concrete evidence proving to be the cause of the misfortune. At first I felt very unsatisfied by this lack of resolution, but I began to realize that acknowledging the problem is the first step to solving it. This revelation is what caused me to choose this article as my favorite piece of writing because the majority of editorials are centered on the criticism of an event that has already happened and thus cannot be change. This article stresses a problem in a time where people can still take action and make a difference. This concept was refreshing and I hope to see more of it in the future.

Koenig, R. (2007, April). The Pink Plague. National Geographic, 211. 21.

Word of the Week #1

Jennifer Bilek
Mass Com 100W M/W 12pm
Word #1

Word: Inaugurated

Source: Filler, M. (2008). New Museums: The good, the bad, and the horribly misguided: Architectural Records Magazine, 196 (5), 51.

How it was used: “An almost audible sigh of relief wafted through the art world when Rafael Moneo’s Prado wing was inaugurated last October.”

Definition: 1. (Verb) To make a formal beginning of; initiate; commence; begin.
2. To induct into office with formal ceremonies; install.
3. To introduce into public use by some formal ceremony.

Your sentence: As of August 25, 2008, school was officially inaugurated for the fall semester.