Running head: FIGHTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Publishing Domestic Violence

Andria L Kester
Antioch University Santa Barbara

FIGHTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Publishing Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara is an organization that has been a pioneer
in helping our community better its self. They come to the rescue of the countless women and
sometimes men that need assistance in finding a safe place to live while they get their lives
figured out. Domestic violence is something that happens more often than we think. A lot of
people are affected by this troublesome issue daily, we are just not exposed to it like we should
be. This organization helps the public get familiar with the goings on of this community. For
years domestic violence has been an overlooked social justice issue, now Domestic Violence
Solutions for Santa Barbara has put together programs, and various types of media, to get their
word spread.
Into The Organization
Social justice issues occur all over the world. These are problems that are unjust for a
certain group of people that cant help their situation. We can try to help them by bringing

Zack De Piero 3/5/15 4:49 PM

Comment [1]: Nice job formatting this,
Andie. (I think you mightve used the wrong
word here though Publishing/Fighting)
Zack De Piero 3/5/15 4:49 PM
Comment [2]: 1 word

Zack De Piero 3/5/15 4:50 PM

Comment [3]: Who is we here? You and
me? Using pronouns can be tricky, and you
might want to steer clear of using too many
yous/wes.

Zack De Piero 3/5/15 4:53 PM
Comment [4]: What do you mean here,
Andie? DVS helps Santa Barbara get in
touch with itself?

Zack De Piero 3/5/15 4:53 PM

Comment [5]: I need more of a specific,
driving thesis statement. What, exactly, are
you going to be arguing here? And what
specific points are you going to use to make
that case? What genres/documents are you
going to be analyzing? What audience(s) are
you/they focusing on?

attention to the issue at hand, and spread the word that it is a social justice issue. A lot of people
can associate a social justice issue as hunger, homelessness, poverty, and hate crimes. I have
chosen domestic violence because it is an issue that I hold close to my heart. My cousin was a
victim, and I feel the need to call attention to this in our community.
DVS for Santa Barbara has been able to intergrade their system of fighting against this
horrible crime in many ways. One way is being an active part in crime scenes as is needed.
Often when the police are called to a domestic violence scene, they are confronted with the issue
of where and who to go to about giving the abused a safe place to go. This is where DVS for SB
comes into play. They have volunteers come to the crimes scene and take the victims to the
closest anonymous shelter. They will follow up with them, and help them get back on their feet.

Zack De Piero 3/5/15 4:56 PM

Comment [6]: Andie, I dont know if this
is relevant. This is too issue-y. Remember:
this paper isnt about the importance of the
issue, its about how writing functions
within/for a specific organization.

FIGHTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Everything the volunteers do is confidential and secure. This is one of the reasons why so many
victims become volunteers after they get help. They see that they can make a difference in the
lives of people just like them.

Zack De Piero 3/5/15 4:57 PM

Comment [7]: Does any of this have to do
with writing/rhetoric? If it doesnt, its
irrelevant

DVS for SBs mission statement is Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara
County works to end the intergenerational cycle of domestic violence by providing prevention
and intervention services and by challenging society's attitudes, beliefs and behaviors to effect
social change (2014). This gives the readers a clear picture of what the organization does. It
lets the public know that they have a variety of goals that they are working towards fixing in our
society. They tell you that they want to change the way the society is affected, and make others
want to join the cause. This mission statement encompasses every aspect of their goals.
They appeal to the community by giving them ways to get educated about domestic
violence issues. They give out brochures that are up front, and to the point. This is helpful
because when you are in a situation that needs urgency you often arent thinking straight. By
giving clear and concise information- rather than trying to make it pretty-it is more effective in
getting their message across. This theme spreads across their whole advertising scheme. Their
website gives all the information needed in an orderly fashion to convey a convenient way to
find information. They use red font and boxes around their most important information because
it is the universal symbol for urgency.
I met with Ddalo Purificao at the Handel Bar caf in downtown Santa Barbara. He
came with the writing artifacts that I will be addressing. Such as the Safety Plan, the
Newsletter, and the Alexandra Tang Volunteer Program. I was very impressed with how
young he was, and how much he has accomplished. He was very insightful in answering my
interview questions, and seemed to be excited that I was addressing this issue. He elaborated on

Zack De Piero 3/5/15 4:58 PM

Comment [8]: OK, this is the first real
writing-focused piece in your paper.
Zack De Piero 3/5/15 4:58 PM
Comment [9]: Did they really tell you?
Tell implies spoken out loud, doesnt it?
Zack De Piero 3/5/15 4:59 PM
Comment [10]: Whats the connection
here, Andie? This was an abrupt/non
transition for me.
Zack De Piero 3/5/15 5:00 PM
Comment [11]: I think you need to get a
lot more specific in this topic sentence. How
are they educating folks? Through what
rhetorical/persuasive strategies?

Think about the big composition/writing
buzzwords in our coursethese need to be
the ideas through which youre analyzing
whats happening in DVS.
Zack De Piero 3/5/15 5:00 PM
Comment [12]: This is very good, but Im
wondering (1) if its properly placed in this
paragraph, and (2) if its worth expanding
on.
Zack De Piero 3/5/15 5:02 PM
Comment [13]: I feel like this is
misplaced, Andie. Youve been analyzing the
website for a paragraph or two, and now
youre talking about your interview.

Do you think thats the best way to organize
this? The tough part about writing, I think,
is that we have to get outside of our heads
and consider our readers. Think about
someone might be understanding this paper
(and every paper/piece of writing) piece by
piece, one move at a time.
Zack De Piero 3/5/15 5:02 PM
Comment [14]: Why is this relevant to
your argument? (And.. what is your
argument?)

FIGHTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

the questions that I brought to the point where I wouldnt have thought of it going. A lot of the
questions that he brought up and answered were ones that I dont think he had thought about
either. We had a great conversation that almost seemed like a brainstorming project from his
end. I think this is because being a non profit organization they dont always seem to get down
to the nitty gritty, they are more about just discussing the issue loud and clear. By asking the
questions I did I think that he was able to reach deeper, and give more personal answers to his
own work. Purificao is the outreach coordinator for DVS for SB. I was very surprised by how
multifaceted his job was on a daily basis. He manages transition programs, support groups,
concerns on site, and 40 HDV training. He generally walks through out the office helping
where need be, and being a non-profit that is in a lot of departments. One thing that really
struck a cord with me was that he helps with getting victims tattoos removed. Meaning they
have a tattoo of the name of their pimp tattooed on them because they were owned. Purificao
mentions, This was a program that was initiated and made possible by past victims themselves
and approved by myself.
When constructing any sort of media to be presented to the public the writer must think
what the most effective way to get their point across is. Depending on their audience they can
use different sets of genre to make their message heard. Drik states, Because you know how

Zack De Piero 3/5/15 5:04 PM

Comment [15]: This is pretty informal
language for a standard academic research
paper. For this specific genre, I think you
should steer clear of casual/conversation-y
language.

Zack De Piero 3/5/15 5:04 PM
Comment [16]: Misplaced?
Zack De Piero 3/5/15 5:04 PM
Comment [17]: Youre changing gears a
bit here, so Id consider starting a new
paragraph.

Zack De Piero 3/5/15 5:04 PM

Comment [18]: This is an incomplete
sentenceit lacks a subject/noun (who or
what the sentence is about) and a
verb/predicate that, together, form a complete
thought. I strongly recommend that you check
out this resource:
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/sentence
-patterns/. Incomplete sentences generally
arent valued in academic writing, although
theyre still common in creative writing,
magzine/op-eds, advertisements/slogans, etc.

these genres function as social actions, you can quite accurately predict how they function
rhetorically (p.253, 2010). Meaning the public will receive the point you are making based on
their past experiences and allocate them towards your new point. When writing they might want
to tug on the heartstrings of the reader, then they can use pathos. Pathos is the use of emotion in
debate or argument (Losh, Alexander, Cannon& Cannon,p.44, 2013). This will make their
writing or photo very memorable because your point emotionally affects the reader. A more

Zack De Piero 3/5/15 5:05 PM

Comment [19]: Genre is a pretty huge
term that, really, is the backbone of what
were studying. Is it worth including this in
your paper earlier on? Would/could
establishing this earlier help your reader
understand the material more as the paper
progresses?

FIGHTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

direct way that the media uses would be the use of logos. Logos is the appeal to reason to the
forcefulness of a well-thought-out and well-structured position (Losh, Alexander, Cannon&
Cannon, p.44, 2013). When there is a matter that involves great importance, the public needs to
see a trusted and reputable person they will use ethos. Ethos is the credibility that a speaker or
writer brings to the subject that he or she is communicating about (Losh, Alexander, Cannon&
Cannon, p.44, 2013). All of these forms of writing go back to the art of writing and argument,

Zack De Piero 3/5/15 5:13 PM

Comment [20]: OK, so this is good and
necessarybut I want you think about how
this is functioning (and why its functioning)
within your paper. I want you to think
about what you want this material to DO.

which is rhetoric So an argument can be any text- written, spoken, aural, or visual- that
expresses a point of view (Lunsford, Ruszkiewicz, & Walters, p.3, 2010)
Writing Artifacts Explored
They use a modern genre and feminine colors to represent the people they serve most.
They have to appeal to the mainstream culture, and be up to date with their advertisements. For
example in their Safety Plan pamphlet their colors are mostly light shades of purple, giving a
mellow and non-jarring feel. Most of the page is taken up by their butterfly logo that is
recognized as a their organization. Their information is upfront at the bottom of the page with all
the 24-hour hotline numbers listed. Inside we find a clean 3 page layout giving information on
what to do if you come across a domestic violence situation, all the phone numbers that you can
call in various counties, and tips on how to stay safe in your own home. All of these points are
separated with bullet points or clearly underlined headings. This provides insight into the logos
argument they are making. When you turn the pamphlet over to the back it is focused on helping
you move forward in your life if you are leaving your abusive situation. Purificao explains,
They provide a small but concise checklist for quick access if leaving in a hurry, with a space
for other so you can make it personal and write in what you feel is needed. They also are

Zack De Piero 3/5/15 5:14 PM

Comment [21]: Who is they? And in what
genre?

(Have you established what genres youll be
analyzing in your paper? Readers need to
know this stuff upfront.)

FIGHTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

generous enough to give instructions on filing a restraining order if need be. By giving this extra
information DVS for SB is providing a doorway to logos.
Their logo is a butterfly- that is seen in all of their writing artifacts and on their websitebecause it symbolizes the growth of a person. This was brought to my attention in my interview
when Purificao suggests We start as caterpillars and then grown and change into a beautiful

Zack De Piero 3/5/15 5:15 PM

Comment [22]: Why are you bringing up
logos and butterflies? (Its OK that you are,
but I think you might want to first explain
WHAT YOURE DOING here.)

butterfly. This message is conveyed to help the victims have hope. Trying to keep them of
anonymous they hardly single out people using photos or names. This gives a good feel to the
people who are looking for a safe place to provide them with support.
They produce a seasonal Newsletter that is targeted for the people who have donated
and appeals to the donor and readers ethos, pathos, and logos. This is a valuable writing artifact
because it is infrequently published and constantly changing. This gives the donors a chance to

Zack De Piero 3/5/15 5:16 PM

Comment [23]: Based on what?

see where their money goes and how they are helping the community. Inside it gives a
description of the most recent events and photos from them. Along with a pie chart to clearly
show where their money goes that is raised, as well as a long list of the names of the people who
have donated and how much they contributed. This is important because you can put a face to a
name of the generous supporters, therefor showing pathos.

Zack De Piero 3/5/15 5:16 PM

Comment [24]: Watch your yous.

In their most recent pamphlet Alexandra Tang Volunteer Program they break their
norm and give a photo, and a story with their publication. They show Alexandra Tangs photo,
who has sadly died as a victim of domestic violence. In the background they tell of Alexandra
they touch everyone-especially locals- ethos. Born on July 2, 1988, Alexandra spent her
childhood in Santa Barbara. Her love of the city and her family kept her there though college.
She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology. Alexandra was
full of compassion and love towards other people; she was a girl with a beautiful spirit

Zack De Piero 3/5/15 5:18 PM

Comment [25]: Is any of this relevant to
your argument?

Remember: everything you include in a
research-based argument must clearly and
directly come back to your thesis statement.

FIGHTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

(Alexandra Tang Volunteer Program). There is a graphic in their normal purple but this time
darker to signify an important point. It shows how the cycle of abuse works and what to expect
next, showing their logos. The next main point this makes is how you can become a volunteer.
There are 5 requirements that you need to accomplish to become a 40-Hour Volunteer. This
shows that everyone must be qualified, and responsible to be a part of this organization, while
drawing interest.
Closing
Through the use of all of these kinds of media DVS for SB is appealing to the pathos of

the public. This means that they are tugging on the heartstrings of the readers. They can use this
to their advantage because then the public will feel more compelled to donate to help the cause.
Another side that they convey to the public is ethos. By using ethos the victims are related to the
public and the communities morals.
DVS of SB is an organization that is multifaceted within the community. Whether it is
helping domestic violence victims to a shelter, or the victims coming back to be a volunteer.
DVS for SB is a place to feel safe and secure in your time of need. You can take comfort in this
by their professional staff, and the writing artifacts they produce. Their role is not only helping
the local community, but it is helping anyone who needs it. Their website and shelters are open
to anyone with complete anonymity. This provides a wonderful environment in which growth is
possible. If you find yourself in need of their services they can be contacted through this direct
link http://www.dvsolutions.org/programs/EmergencyShelter.aspx or this number (805) 9645245.

FIGHTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

References
Losh, E., & Alexander, J., Cannon, K., Cannon, Z. (2013). Why Rhetoric? In
Understanding rhetoric: A graphic guide to writing (1st ed., Vol. 1, p. 44).
Bedford/St. Martin's; First Edition edition (March 15, 2013).
Lunsford, A., & Ruszkiewicz, J. (2013). Reading and Understanding Arguments. In
Everything's an argument (6th ed., p. 3). Boston, Mass.: Bedford/St.
Martins.
Lowe, C., Dirk, K. (2010). Navigating Genres. In Writing spaces: Readings on
writing (Vol. 1, p. 253). West Lafayette, Ind.: Parlor Press.