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WID: How would you self-assess your thesis now? What SLOs have you been working with
in writing and revising it?
I would say my thesis is going really well. Ive tried to incorporate all the SLOs
inside my thesis paper. I took advantage of all the resources of my ABs and mixed them
into my paper. Using my critical reading skills I also found some really interesting websites
that I thought would help capture the attention of my audience. Incorporating my voice
inside the essay was easier than I thought. For the Composing Processes I made an outline and
then filled in the information. Knowledge of Conventions was a little hard for me to do. I had to
reread over my paper in order to feel like I used the correct rules and guidelines. Overall I feel very
proud of my essay and how advanced my writing has improved.

Ayana Ruffin
Professor Thomas
UWRT 1103
4 April 2016
Reflection: I tried to put the suggestions that I got during the small group conference into my
paper. The group suggested that I put different examples of restaurants of yellow/ red,
Connect back to last sentence in first paragraph, put pictures of the caves, and use words like
manipulating and controlling into my paper. It was difficult to focus while typing this draft. I
really tried to put as much information into this essay that I could without seeming to boring. I
hope you enjoy!
Color Under Cover
You know the days when you get the mean reds?
Paul Varjak: The mean reds. You mean like the blues?

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Holly Golightly: No. The blues are because youre getting fat, and maybe its been raining too
long. Youre just sad, thats all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly youre afraid, and you
dont know what youre afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?
Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany's
It is often said that color can manipulate moods and behavior. Everyone has a different
concept on what color actually means, but overall color plays a significant role in the world. The
effects that color has on a person is still a growing area of study. In my opinion, I believe that
color has a significant influence on people's everyday lives. Numerous study show the different
ways individuals react when exposed to certain colors. Color has been known to change the way
we think, react and our actions. Color is a form of universal communication. For example red
means stop and green means go. It is important to know the meaning behind color. Every
color, every shade, and every name has hidden meanings behind it. Color is like the secret
weapon to everything we do. It is an aspect thats always seen but not always thought about.
The History
In order to get a good understanding of how color is so widely used, it's important to
know some background history. According to the dictionary, color is the property possessed by
an object of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way the object reflects or
emits light. In art class and science class teachers teach that Sir Isaac Newton created the color
wheel in 1672, but have you ever wondered how people used color before that time? How we
name and classify color? The fun facts about the history of color that is not always taught in
school. I believe that it can be very insightful to know the interesting ways color was used and
created.

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Some researchers believe that they have found cave paintings that date back as far as
17,000 years. 2,000 year old records were uncovered that showed evidence of colors being used
as treatments for multiple things from headaches to depression. Ancient Egyptians have been
recorded to have used color as a form of therapy. Greeks considered color as a science. They
were fascinated with the healing powers of color. The Chinese have also been recorded to use
color as a form of healing. Records of rooms being painted different colors have been found that
supports the evidence of color being used as a form of healing (Colour History, 2016).

A discovery that took place on Thursday, September 1940 changed the way the word
looked at color .Four boys and a dog were the first modern people to see paintings dated back to
the end of the Ice Age; thats about 17,000 years ago. The boys found the paintings while
exploring a hidden tunnels in the woods during the Second World War. It was in those tunnels
that the first known artwork was discovered. The colors used in the drawings on the walls on the
tunnels were red, yellow, black, white and brown. All of those colors were easy to come by
during the Ice Age; they were a mixture of iron, charcoal, soot (from a fire), chalk, and animal fat
pounded together (Finlay 8-11).
Records show that fabric dyeing dates back to 2600 BC. Most dyes that are admired
today were created by accident. For example, Russian blue was created when a die maker
accidently mixed his blood into the mix. Now the color Russian blue is most commonly known
to have been used for blueprints and Japanese artwork. Indian yellow was made from the urine of

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cows. In 1910, Indian yellow was outlawed because of the cruel production methods that went
into collecting the urine. Lead white was a poisonous mixture that woman used as make-up.
Lead white was also used in paintings for the natural glow. Although it was a favorite with the
women and painters, it was banned in the US in 1977. Tyrian purple, Cleopatras favorite color,
was made from thousands of dead shellfish (Gettytrust and Victoria, 2014).
Catherine McNiff is the author of The History of Color, a scholarly article published in
2015. McNiff is a writer and editor at FEN and used to work for Pearson Education. She did
research on color throughout history, focused on the Greeks and Romans. McNiffs research was
centered on the making of color before machines and advanced technology. She explains how
people have been using color to attract people for years. McNiff concentrated on four colors;
blue, purple, red and yellow. Most dyes that were used came from plants and animals. Blues and
purples came from mixing a variety of items, including urine, and were laid out to dry. Purple
was one of the hardest colors to make because the hard labor that went into creating the color and
it was very time consuming. Purple was made from the mucous gland of a mollusk. McNiff
believes that a pound of dye required four million mollusks (2015). Because of the hard
process that went into making the color purple it was considered a color only the rich could
afford. For the poor there were the lichen orchid, poor persons purple, which took around four
weeks to make. Red was made by mixing Henna and alum. Egyptians used female scale insects
to make a vivid red. Yellow was the easiest color to make. Yellow was made by a mixing seeds,
stems and leaves; which is why it was the most common color.
Color and your Behavior
As stated before, every color has a different effect on people. Not everyone will feel the
same way when they're exposed to a certain color. We all see color differently. How I see pink,

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my favorite color, may not be the same as someone who hates the color pink. The Top Ten
Writing Team, educational YouTube bloggers, created a 6:22 video on March 26, 2015
explaining how color can influence your choices and change your feelings. In this video the team
explained the special characteristics in color that cause an emotional reaction. Yellow is said to
cause your eyes to feel tired but it is also said to cause a feeling of warmth and happiness. Babies
are known to cry more often if theyre exposed to the color yellow. Couples are known to fight
more when in a yellow room. Blue is considered to be a peaceful color. Blue is most common
with men and office spaces. The reason being is because of the calming effect on people, it can
cause a feeling of being safe. Top 10 researchers believe that blue encourages the mind to think
outside the box and to be productive and boost performance. This is also why a lot of social
media has a blue theme like Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and much more. Red has been known to
have multiple meanings. Red can mean love, attraction, danger, hunger, anger and is known to
cause bad test grades. Red is most commonly used as a warning/ power color. Even animals have
been recorded to react to colors secret weapon when exposed to different colors. In a color
research experiment, researchers wore red, blue or green before presenting monkeys with
dinner. The monkeys didn't have a problem with blue or green, but they treated the red shirts like
they were the monkey Grim Reaper (Richard, 2012). Red has also been connected to causing
the same reaction to humans. Red has been known to increase physical strength and make you
faster. If you work out with red around you, some people experience a boost in endurance. Red
and blue are very common color when performing light therapy.
Color in advertising
The dispute that has been heavily researched is, what color has the attraction-attraction
concept every advertising company is seeking? Restaurant and business owners have been

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trying to figure out what colors make the secret weapon to more customers using their product.
Red and blue has been known to attract the eyes of consumers. A Harvard University study
conducted in 2012 found food items that were labeled in green evoked a sense of healthiness and
sales shot up, in contrast with the same food items with red labels which declined in sales (Color
Psychology, 2015). Many businesses use blue in their logos to trick consumers into thinking their
product is safe and inviting. Individual color contrasts have been recorded to have a more
appealing effects to users, and some has been known to have adverse effects. Shades of red can
be found in many logos used by fast food restaurants along with the color yellow. The reason fast
food restaurants use this color combo is because red stimulates your mind into thinking you are
hungry and yellow creates a feeling of happiness and can be seen from far away (Branding
Why Red & Yellow, 2011). Examples of fast food restaurants that use red and yellow for
promotion are McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, In-N-Out Burger, Churches, Hardee, Dennys,
Wendys, Pizza Hut and much more. Lately restaurants, like McDonalds, have been changing
their logos to green and yellow. Green has been known elicit feelings of being friendly, healthy
and natural. Thats why a lot of places that promote healthy and economical friendly services are
mostly green, yellow and white.
Color in Decor
When using color to talk about the decor of a room or house, its important to know what
colors will make you and your guests feel most at ease. Certain colors go with certain situations.
For example, the color black is considered dark and depressing when talking about a room color.
Sexy when talking about clothing. If you are trying to sell a house or promote a space, its
important to know how color can almost control how a room feels to you and your guests. Red
can be really good when used in a kitchen and dining room since it stimulates hunger. From

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personal experience, I have been inside a lot of kitchens that have red as the primary color.
People are, sometimes, unintentionally making people feel like they want to eat more when they
walk into a red kitchen. Purple has been known to be a great color to use when talking about
interior design. Its not too attention grabbing but also allows the room to feel classier and
sometimes neat. Brandi Hagen, a principal designer and owner of a design company called
Eminent Interior Design, broke down the colors into sections and explained why each one is
important. Hagen described the effect that warm colors, cool tones, vibrate colors, dark values
and harmony colors can cause. There are certain colors such as red, orange and yellows that can
make a room feel warmer. They have a tendency to stand out more in a room (a pop of color)
whereas, tones like blue, green, and violet can make a room feel cooler. When decorating with
cool tones, it makes a room feel like it's almost retreating from the eye. Dark values can cause a
feeling of a smaller area. That's why when you're in a dark room with lots of dark values it can
almost feel a little suffocating. Light colors give out a feeling of expansion. Adding light colors
to a room can make a room feel more open and inviting. Vibrate color draws attention to
something. If you put a bright yellow pillow in a white room then the pillow would feel like the
main attraction in the room. Its eye catching. Color Harmony is crucial when designing a room.
Small color variety can cause a feeling of monotony while too much color can cause feelings of
chaos (Design, 2011). Blue light in a room helps wake you up; it has even been tested to work on
the blind. Your bodys chemistry changes when exposed to blue light, even if you cant see it.
There are light receptors, has nothing to do with vision, in the eye that detect light and helps
regulate your sleep cycle (5 Crazy Ways, 2012). Blue is easy on the eyes, and thats why most
lights on technology has a blue light that stays on whether the device is in use or not.
Color in fashion

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Color can almost control peoples thoughts about you. The colors you wear can have a
big effect on how people view you. Close your eyes and picture a big doomsday button. What
color is the button? Almost everyone would automatically think of a big red button. Although
some people might think it's just a coincidence that its red, it's not. Our brain and bodies react to
colors in unique ways. When playing sports, it has been known that if the teams playing the sport
wearing black jerseys seemed to be more aggressive and serious (5 Crazy Ways, 2012). Referees
are more likely to hand out more penalties if they're wearing black. Black is sometimes worn at
funerals and as evening wear. Wearing black can trick the eye into seeing the body as thinner and
more mysterious. Wearing red is aa excellent way to grab attention. Most professionals in the
fashion industry would recommend red as being a color to wear on dates. Gray is a great color to
wear when going on interviews and want to seem professional. Since it is not really attention
grabbing gray is the best color to wear when you want people to focus on what you are saying
and not what you are wearing. Blue is a very popular color; everyone has a pair of blue jeans in
their closet. Vanessa Van Edwards is a Behavior Investigator at the Human Investigator Lab. For
the last ten years she has done research and wrote books on the scientific approach of people.
Edwards believe that wearing blue can show that you are very expert, very wise and very calm.
It is a great color for a man to wear on a first date (Decoding Colors, 2014). Blue also can give
a feeling of loyalty which is why its the common color in hospitals and offices. Yellow is the
most popular wedding color. Yellow eliminates the feeling of safety. Thats why most raincoats
are yellow. Green is the easiest on the eyes thats why you see a lot of hospital staff wearing
green, it helps relax the patients. Brides in Europe in the middle Ages wore green to symbolize
fertility (Color and Fashion, 2013). Color can have different meanings depending on where you
are in the world. White is worn by western brides as a symbol of purity. Wearing white in China

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represents mourning. Since white is easy to see, Doctors wear white coats to show that they
understand cleanliness and care about your health.
The secret weapon of color is a difficult mystery a lot of people want to solve. As stated
previously, color has been used for centuries as a form of universal communication. Dyes have
been used to change clothing, advertisement, hair, eyes, makeup, moods, behaviors, rooms and
much more. You cant run from the magical properties of color, embrace the beauty that is
around you.
Soon it got dusk, a grapy dusk, a purple dusk over tangerine groves and long melon fields; the sun
the color of pressed grapes, slashed with burgundy red, the fields the color of love and Spanish
mysteries. Jack Kerouac, On the Road

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Work Cited
"Branding Why Red & Yellow Is Used by the Fast Food Industry." Web log post. Karen HallerColour & Design Consultancy. Karen Haller, 30 Mar. 2011. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
<http://karenhaller.co.uk/blog/branding-why-red-yellow-is-used-by-the-fast-foodindustry/ >
"Color and Fashion." Color and Fashion. Fact Monster, 2013. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0767755.html>
Design: All About Color. New York, N.Y: Films Media Group, 2011. Internet resource.
<http://fod.infobase.com.librarylink.uncc.edu/p_ViewVideo.aspx?xtid=44036>
Finlay, Victoria. "Earth and Fire." The Brilliant History of Color in Art. Los Angeles, CA: Getty
Museum, 2014. 8-11. Print.
<http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/getty_books/brilliantcolor.html>
Gettytrust, and Victoria Finlay. "The Brilliant History of Color in Art." YouTube. YouTube, 26
Nov. 2014. Web. 22 Apr. 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eoq0rUwk6NU
Logan-Clarke, Valerie. "Colour History." Colour History. Colour Therapy Healing, 2016. Web. 22
Apr. 2016. <http://www.colourtherapyhealing.com/colour/colour_history.php>
McNiff, C. (2015, October). The History of Color. Retrieved March 30, 2016, from
<http://www.infoplease.com/world/art/color-history.html>
Richard, Monte. "5 Crazy Ways the Colors Red and Blue Control Your Life."Cracked.com. 15
Oct. 2012. Web. 22 Apr. 2016. <http://www.cracked.com/article_20039_5-crazy-wayscolors-red-blue-control-your-life.html>

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Top Rated. Color Psychology: 10 Ways Color influences your Choices &
Changes your feelings. Online video clip. Youtube. YouTube, 26 March
2015. Web. 30 March 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=8n9BzzWy4zY >
Vanessa Van Edwards. Decoding Colors How They Affect Behavior. Online video clip.
YouTube. YouTube, Jan 7, 2014. Web. 31 March 2016.