PSA-Sids

Progress Report

This course has brought about assignments that can be later used to help each student when entering into the work field. Over the past few weeks I have had to plan my time wisely to make sure that each assignment was taken care of and done promptly and correctly. By creating a scheduled time to complete all task I was able to focus on each assignment making sure I scored high on the given assignment.  Throughout the course I have enjoyed many of the assignments, but I have also struggled with some of the assignments as well.

                The most difficult assignments throughout the course for me were the quizzes and blogs. The quizzes in itself were not difficult at all it was the fact that I could not focus on each quiz and really take the time needed to search for answers and complete them during the given time. Luckily, our lowest test grade will be dropped giving me an opportunity to remain successful in the course. The blogs were difficult to me because a few lacked clarity on exactly what was expected to be posted to the blog. I also think it would have been easier to simply have discussions on BlackBoard rather than having to create a separate Blogger account through Google. Other assignments that I found very useful were the resume and cover letter assignment. Not only did it help me to focus in on potential jobs that may be available in the future, but it also helped me to pinpoint objectives that could better help me to land a job.

                As the final project approaches I found that it was easier to chose a topic that I hold dearly to my hear. After recently having a newborn son I quickly thought of an issue that many are unaware of but, it is still prevalent among newborns. Since finding a topic was so easy and I had knowledge on the subject it was very easy to complete the task. The only problem was my lack of technology. While there were available resources available on campus to complete the assignment I lacked the time to actually visit campus to use those available resources. With that in mind a friend helped by allowing me to use her cell phone and e-mailing the video once it was completed. So shooting it was fairly difficult, and I had to practice before the actual shoot.

Defining Your Communication's Objectives

Step 1
I researched three different Universities websites and browsed my major of interest: Education the following lists the school's name, the url, and thier strengths and weaknesses

The University of Alabama http://www.ua.edu/
 Alabama provides a colorful and appealing website that would attract any student to further research its academic programs that are cuurrently available. The site is user friendly including a Prospective Students tab that sends an immediate link to their Programs of Study. I focused mostly on education. The college of education lists faculty and staff members who are available to students as well as a calendar of events that potential and current students can use to stay in formed.

University of Mississippi http://www.olemiss.edu/
Ole Miss' website was also very appealing and very similiar to that of USM. Which quickly drew me to it. The site provided a prospective students tab that went on to list the available colleges and majors. There are easy to use links to centers and Special Programs. As an education major of USM I was impressed with how faculty and staff were listed as well as contact information for all education majors to quickly access and use if needeed.

Jackson State University http://www.jsms.edu/
Overall Jackson State's website was less appealing visually to potential viewers and students. They did share similiar features for recruiting students such as the Prosepective Students tab that allows you to visit potential majors. The one thing that sets them apart from the previous two universities is its virtual tour tab. This virtual tour helps to give all potential students and transfer students access to the university and helps them get a feel of what to expect without stepping foot on the campus. A tactic I believe is great for recruiting students.

Step 2
      I chose to browse several different websites and noted what tactics were used to recruit students. Overall, each website as a whole invited prospective students to be apart of the University. Once a major or individual college where the student will pursue his/her Undergraduate Degree is decided then they are able to further explore the website in detail. Each site had both similiarities and differences, but most readers will be attracted or drawn to the college's website that appeals to thier individual interests and needs.
      One major component of Jackson State University's website that I found extremely interesting was the Virtual Tour link. Since the brochure calls for the recruitment of students into my current major of profession of interest it is especially important that students are able to get to know where they will be attending school. As a reader/researcher I found this to be an interesting tool that helped to boost the overall appeal of the University's website.
     An online brochure really helps to keep up with the fast paced technology available in today's world. From observing other universities' websites and comparing them to Southern Miss' I found that there were similiar tactics used in order to help enroll studens. Most colleges try to recruit the students to the school itself first, then it allows them to explore the majors they provide. Another major feature that I looked forward to seeing on any college website in the faculty/staff link. This helps any student familiarize themselves with potential instructions as well as the opportunity to select the elite professionals who instruct at the university.

Step 3
DEFINING OBJECTIVES

1. What are you writing? An effective brochure to help attract student enrollment in my current major or profession.

2. What prompts you to write? I'm prompted to write with this particular assignment, because it is required.

3. What outcome do you desire? A well developed brochure that is appealing to others and helps to recruit prospective students.

4. What outcome does your reader desire? An easy to follow brochure that appeals to the individual interests he/she may possess.

Reader Profile

1. Who is your primary reader? Prospective Students (instructor)

2. What is your reader’s relationship to you? That is hard to say I believe they are simply the audience who I should try to appeal to.

3. What are your reader’s job title and responsibilities?  In my opinion the reader has no responsiblites in particular, but to read and keep an open mine.

4. Who else might read your communication? Peers, instructors, and colleagues

5. How familiar is your reader with your subject? Depends on the reader and thier current interest levels.

6. How familiar is your reader with your specialty? Again depends on the reader and thier current interest level.

7. Does your reader have any communication preferences you should take

into account? Yes. Since prospective students are the intended audience think about what they want to see. For example video and audio samples.

8. Should you take into account any other things about your reader when

writing? The things that would appeal to the prospective student; technology, etc.

Situational Analysis

1. What events and circumstances influence the way you should write? What is currently being expected from me. What I think readers want to see or hear while still writing the truth.

Usability Objectives (Reader’s Tasks)

1. What are the key questions your reader will ask while reading? Why should I be interested in this? How will I benefit from it?

2. How will your reader search for the answer? (The reader may use more

than one strategy.)

____ Sequential reading from beginning to end

____ Selective reading, as when using a reference book (what key terms

will your reader look for?)

From Paul V. Anderson’s

Technical Communication: A Reader-Centered Approach

___X_ Other (explain) Question and answer section, or have a link provided for contact of information.

3. How will your reader use the information you provide?

_X___ Compare point by point (what will be the points of comparison?)

____ Attempt to determine how the information you provide will affect

him or her

__X__ Attempt to determine how the information you provide will affect his

or her organization

____ Follow instructions step by step

____ Other (explain)

Persuasive Objectives (Reader’s Attitudes)

1. What is your reader’s attitude toward your subject? Why? What do you

want it to be? Of course the reader should have an interest in the subject at hand. And I would want them to share a passion for the subject.

2. What is your reader’s attitude toward you? Why? What do you want it to

be? I don't believe there should be any particular attitude needed from the reader. I would ask that they simply keep an open mind and venture deeply into the major.

Stakeholders

1. Who, besides your readers, are stakeholders in your communication? Myself

2. How will they be affected by it? Writing may be revised in order to meet goals.

Constraints

1. What expectations, regulations, or other factors limit the way you can

write?
           Mainly society and what they expect to see. When the purpose of writing is to persuade others then the author should try to appeal to potential readers and prospective users.

Overall Purpose

Analyzing a Rhetorical Situation

Throughout my very first undergraduate major there were many articles and chapters from textbooks that I have read and critiqued. Since I am now seeking my second Bachelor’s degree and have recently started  I decided to think about a more recent piece that I was required to read in my Writing and Education class. The piece that I chose was about teachers and how they thrive in individual discourse communities. The piece helps define discourse communities by John Swalyes author of Genre Analysis: English in Academic and Research Setting. The purpose of the document was to help teachers understand their responsibilities as educators. The following excerpt is a piece of my individual reflection on Swalyes definition of a Discourse Community.

                Teachers are apart of a discourse community, because they are involved in various relationships within the school system which include; co-workers, parents, administrators, and students. Teachers not only take on the role of an educator but also as a counselor, parent, provider, and in some cases a friend. Teachers may also share ideas with one another in both personal and professional settings. By being apart of various communities a teacher’s voice is better heard, therefore his or her ability to communicate with other is especially important and he or she should use any available resource to become and effective teacher and communicator.
          Teachers participate in writing in many different ways. A teacher may prepare presentations for students and administrators. Teachers also write lesson plans that are used to help educate students in the everyday classroom. Teachers also use writing to develop and analyze assessments and other learning materials. Writing is also important to convey meaning to students that may have difficulty understanding other forms of instruction that the teacher or teachers may use.

          The writer uses a very professional tone that is triggered to a specific audience, but is useful for all English majors. The piece helps students and teachers reflect on their individual purpose and helps to give writing meaning again. Swalyes does an excellent job relating his thoughts to the reader and helps them to reflect on their individual writing roles as well as the roles they play in the community.

Introduction

My name is Letezia Edwards. I am currently working as an Inclusion Teacher at Laurel Middle School in Laurel, MS. I am a recent graduate of the University, where I obtained a BS in Elementary Edcation/Special Education. I am currently attempting to obtain my licensure in English. I am expecting my first child, a son, this March and am very excited about becoming a mother. My goals for this course are to become a better writer, and to learn how to better utilize technology in English where I may later apply to the classroom. I have participted in several online courses in the past and my best advice to anyone is to keep in contact with the instructor throughout the course and make time to complete all assignments.