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Valentina Gonzalez

Professor Erin Ashley Mink Garvey

Composition & Rhetoric IWRD 103 Section 415October 30, 2012

Reflection on Multimodal Forms

My discourse community is the neighborhood that I know better than the back of my hand. I was

born and raised in Little Village which is a predominantly Mexican-American neighborhood in the

Southwest side of Chicago. Little Village is home to me; however, many people do not think it is the

safest neighborhood. Gang violence is nothing new to the neighborhood, but that is not all Little Village

has to offer. The neighborhood is beautiful and full of color and culture. For instance, there are Mexican

traditions, food, involvement in the environment and so much more. For these reasons, I chose to make a

Prezi presentation.

A Prezi presentation would be appropriate to demonstrate how lovely Little Village is because the

website allows me to reveal a process. For instance, there is a linear demonstration from each slide to the

next. This was an important rhetorical decision because it helps me reveal my central claim. For example,

my aim is to illustrate that Little Village is a great neighborhood aside from the gang violence. To show

this through the process, I chose to have the first couple of slides mention a recent incident of gang

violence. Additionally, I was able to add a slide that would transition the bad to the good. I feel that a

Prezi presentation would have that greater affect opposed to a PowerPoint presentation because there is a

greater emphasize on the actual transition which should cause a sense of relief in my audience. After

discussing a sad case, I began to mention the unique aspects of Little Village. For instance, following the

transition slide, I described the Mexican Independence Parade. I also added other unique aspects of the

neighborhood. This appeals to ethos because I am clearly demonstrating my claim, and not part of it. For

example, I am not solely describing the great sides of Little Village, but I also expressed the negative

aspects of the neighborhood.

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Additionally, Prezi gave me the freedom to visually appeal to my audience. For example, the

colors that I used in the presentation are red and green. Red was the color of my background while green

was the color of the slide outline. Both green and red are colors of the Mexican flag which represent Little

Village culture. Additionally, Prezi allowed visual appeal because I was able to include pictures. I used

plenty of pictures because I felt that it would be truly effective. My audience would feel like they really

knew the neighborhood. Furthermore, Prezi allowed me to resize and slant pictures. This was especially

important for my first slide because I was able to make the picture of Little Village bigger than a picture

of gangs. This would appeal to pathos because the beauty is emphasized instead of the danger. My

audience would feel a sense of reassurance knowing that violence is not the only thing that exists in Little

Village.

In addition, I was able to appeal to pathos because Prezi allows one to insert videos. This was

specifically advantageous because I included a video of Aliyah Shells memorial at her local elementary

school. This appealed to pathos because one feels sadness to know that an innocent life was taken away

because of gang violence. However, I also included other footage that would help support my claim. For

example, I included a tour of Little Village. Though the narrators voice is monotone, one can clearly see

how special the neighborhood is. There is a sense of community and togetherness. Also, most

importantly, there is a great sense of Mexican culture.

Overall, through my Prezi presentation I feel that I was very effective in demonstrating that Little

Village is a great neighborhood. It has its downfalls but so do all other neighborhoods.