Expressing feelings or simply making a point is something some people stuggle with. They do not realize that this can be done by writing.Anyone can write and they can choose to keep it to themself until they are sure it is how they want it. Writing is something that can improve as one gets more experience. My writing process has been changing since the start of this semester. I have been so used to writing in a specific format that I forgot different topics sometimes require a different perspective. When I wrote my first essay I wrote an outline with the basic introduction with the thesis, body paragraphs and then a conclusion paragraph. As the semester progressed I found that writing didn’t have to be exactly like the outline that I made beforehand. That was just a rough guide to get me started. I got more used to not writing my introduction first. I would write some of the body paragraph and then go back to the introduction. Sometimes I would even write the conclusion before I wrote the topic sentence and introduction. I found that this helped me develop my feelings and thoughts about what I was writing, so my thesis was accurate and fully supported my essay’s makeup. In the future I would like to improve my writing by writing with stronger transitional sentences and paragraphs. That is something that I struggle with and that would make my work even better.
Revising my work would be another way I could improve my writing skills. Revision is not something that I have had too much experience with. This semester especially I learned a lot about revision and how helpful it can be with writing a better paper. I liked how I was able to write a rough draft, turn it in and get responses about the good and bad aspects of my writing. I found it very helpful and it made me feel much more confident with my final product. I revise my work by finding the things that are unclear and reworking them to make them more understandable. I check to make sure that my thesis statement is supported by the essay. The biggest part of revision for me is looking at what my peers and others who read my paper have to say. Many times the areas that I question when writing, get pointed out as confusing or unnecessary by my peers. That helps guide my decision of whether or not to leave something in or change what I already have. I take this approach because I know that my audience will have similar thoughts as my peers and proof-readers. I want my essay to be as clear and interesting as possible.
When I receive peer response or comments from an instructor, I try to look at the paper as if I hadn’t written it. I try to see from their point of view. Once I do this, I see things in a different light sometimes. I then make the changes needed to make my work better. If I don’t agree with their responses after taking this approach, I try to come up with a way that I can interest them or make them understand the purpose of this specific part. I want my audience to feel connected with what I am presenting to them in my essay. I don’t want them to question what I am talking about. If they can’t do that, then I don’t feel that I have successfully done my job as the author of the essay.
At the beginning of the semester, my strongest mode of communication was writing. I think that throughout the semester that I have grown in what I thought was my strongest category. I did this by learning how to successfully use peer response and revise my work. I also believe that I am now better at visually communicating. I learned that I can use minimum amounts of words to promote an action, feeling, or idea. For example, the advertisement project when doing the culture jamming advertisement project. By displaying a simple picture with few amounts of dialogue, I was able to share my idea with someone about what I thought an advertisement was saying about its product. I also got to share what I thought the advertisement should be saying about the product. I found that this kind of communication is actually very powerful.
I enjoyed writing the Critical Personal Place Narrative Essay the most. I liked being able to be descriptive about a place that I have so many feelings about. I love to share my positive experiences with people. I find it challenging yet fulfilling to only have the use of words on paper in doing this. I enjoy using description in my essay. It is fun to try and paint a picture in someone else’s mind while describing a place and the activities that go on there. I think I also enjoyed this one the most because I also enjoyed reading other people’s essays about a personal place. I am most interested by essays with that descriptive nature.I think this is because not only do I enjoy writing in this manner, I like to be the reader and imagine the scene that the writer is setting. I like to use my imagination and descriptive essays seem to hold my attention the most.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Written Communication
The purpose of written communication is to share something with the audience whether it be a feeling, place or an idea. This type of communication can present to the reader, the author’s perspective of certain categories. It can create an understanding between the author and the reader. We often learn things from reading an essay. We learn about the topic the author presents and sometimes we learn the feelings the author has towards the topic. The reader is also allowed to create their own opinion of the topic. Sometimes the written communication helps them form that opinion. This written communication sample was created to share a place and the events that occur in this place with the reader. It is full of description and was written to create an image in the reader’s mind as though they are actually experiencing this place.
Whispering Pines
Imagine you are going on a week- long vacation in a different state nine hours away. Yet, this place does not seem to only be in another state it seems that you enter into a completely different world. A world where time does not exist, except for the rising and setting of the sun. Here you are oblivious to all other life except that of those with whom you share this same place. The anticipation of arriving there is barely manageable.
The journey begins with getting up entirely too early in the morning. Dad finishes loading all of our suitcases and then sits in the truck drinking his morning Pepsi, waiting for everyone else. Once we finally get all five members of my family into the truck we take off. Even though I have been going to Whispering Pines Lodge in Wisconsin for over ten years, I still get the same feeling of excitement.
We drive to meet our cousins in Dubuque where I switch vehicles so I can be with my cousin Spencer. Then we cross the Mississippi on a bridge that seems to take miles because we are holding our breath. We’ve always had the tradition of holding our breath while crossing the bridge. I don’t remember how it ever started. We finally enter the wonderful state of Wisconsin and breathe again. You wouldn’t really know you were in a different state unless you saw the sign that says, “Welcome to Wisconsin.” The land is still kind of hilly like Dubuque and there are cornfields and farms tucked back away from the road yet still visible. Spencer and I usually pass the first hour or two talking about our year and the exciting things that have happened. We only get to see each other once a year so it is kind of a catch up on each other’s lives time. When we get tired of talking we put a movie in and the towns of Southern Wisconsin whisk past us.
Normally someone in our party has to go to the bathroom after a good four or five hours so we stop at a Culvers Restaurant, get a bite to eat and use the bathroom. When we were really little we stopped at Culvers and Papa Bud bought us the most enormous cookies I have ever seen. It is tradition to stop there to eat now. Once everyone has gotten something in their stomach, we pile back into our vehicles and start off again. We travel what seems like an eternity and the anticipation grows stronger as the miles pass. Every once in a while I stop watching our movie and look out the window to check for signs that we are making progress. I get a chill of excitement when I look out the window now. I can’t remember the first time I ever noticed, but the gravel on the shoulder of the highway goes from white to this yellowish color. When this happens it means we are getting closer. A couple more hours down the road I begin to look at the trees. There is a certain type of tree that grows in Northern Wisconsin that has a skinny trunk at the bottom and no branches until the very top part of the tree. We call these “Wisconsin trees.” It is a sign that we are getting closer yet to our special place.
We stop at a cheese factory called “Mullin’s Cheese.” They have remodeled this factory since we started coming here for vacation. There used to be a window where you could watch as they squeezed all the cheese curds together. Then they would go on a belt to a huge tub. Spencer and I used to love to watch the process. The cheese factory is the last big landmark signifying the closeness of our destination. After another hour passes we cross Eagle River. It is the last town we have to go through until we are finally at the resort!
The road begins to wind and curve. My stomach begins to flip-flop because I know we are so close. The road suddenly seems to become encased by tall pine trees. The sun flashes in thin bars on the road as it squeezes through what trees it can. Finally we come to the sign that says, “Whispering Pines,” with an arrow pointing in the right direction. Your eyes follow the sign down a shady paved road completely drowning in pine trees. Now I can hardly wait to see that first glimpse of the lodge, and the calmness of the lake. The road turns and narrows and then the sign for the lodge appears. It reads, “Welcome to Whispering Pine Lodge.”
The first sight of the lodge is the most exhilarating feeling. It is a huge log cabin with dark forest green shutters that frame all of the little windows and the big one downstairs. A big stone chimney peaks from the top of the roof. This lodge used to be an old logging camp that the lumberjacks would stay in during the winter months. It is such a neat building. I can hardly wait to jump out and run inside the lodge. As I step out of the car the little red gravel beneath my feet makes a crunching noise as it supports my weight. Inside of the lodge there is a huge living room when you first walk in the door. There is a doorway which leads to the kitchen and dining room. I lug my bags up the curving stairs and into my room. Each room has a name printed on a piece of driftwood above the door. Spencer and I always share the room called, Fisherman’s Pier.
After we throw our suitcases into our room, Spencer and I run for the lake. It is the most breathtaking and relaxing view after a whole year’s time. I take a deep breath in and smell the lake water and pine tree smell. The lake is surrounded by evergreen and birch trees. Some of the other cabins around the lake are somewhat visible. The docks stretch out into the water as if inviting us to take a running leap off the end. We roll up our pants and wade into the cool water. The instant we touch it, we become part of the lake. It is like a magnet that is pulling us in. We run inside and throw on our swimming suits.
Together we run to the beginning of the dock. The sap from the pine trees makes the sand stick to the bottoms of our feet. We take a deep breath and run down the swimming dock, the wooden boards creaking as we take each step and JUMP! Splash! The temperature of the water always knocks the breath right out of me. It is so chilly! We do not waste one minute at Whispering Pines. Our mothers somehow lure us out of the water every night, always with the promise of a good meal. Night falls and we settle down in bed knowing the whole cycle will repeat the next day. As the sun rises up over the trees it shimmers brightly on the lake. The morning fog rolls off of the surface of the lake and the loon’s low call beckons us once again to the water’s edge.
The journey begins with getting up entirely too early in the morning. Dad finishes loading all of our suitcases and then sits in the truck drinking his morning Pepsi, waiting for everyone else. Once we finally get all five members of my family into the truck we take off. Even though I have been going to Whispering Pines Lodge in Wisconsin for over ten years, I still get the same feeling of excitement.
We drive to meet our cousins in Dubuque where I switch vehicles so I can be with my cousin Spencer. Then we cross the Mississippi on a bridge that seems to take miles because we are holding our breath. We’ve always had the tradition of holding our breath while crossing the bridge. I don’t remember how it ever started. We finally enter the wonderful state of Wisconsin and breathe again. You wouldn’t really know you were in a different state unless you saw the sign that says, “Welcome to Wisconsin.” The land is still kind of hilly like Dubuque and there are cornfields and farms tucked back away from the road yet still visible. Spencer and I usually pass the first hour or two talking about our year and the exciting things that have happened. We only get to see each other once a year so it is kind of a catch up on each other’s lives time. When we get tired of talking we put a movie in and the towns of Southern Wisconsin whisk past us.
Normally someone in our party has to go to the bathroom after a good four or five hours so we stop at a Culvers Restaurant, get a bite to eat and use the bathroom. When we were really little we stopped at Culvers and Papa Bud bought us the most enormous cookies I have ever seen. It is tradition to stop there to eat now. Once everyone has gotten something in their stomach, we pile back into our vehicles and start off again. We travel what seems like an eternity and the anticipation grows stronger as the miles pass. Every once in a while I stop watching our movie and look out the window to check for signs that we are making progress. I get a chill of excitement when I look out the window now. I can’t remember the first time I ever noticed, but the gravel on the shoulder of the highway goes from white to this yellowish color. When this happens it means we are getting closer. A couple more hours down the road I begin to look at the trees. There is a certain type of tree that grows in Northern Wisconsin that has a skinny trunk at the bottom and no branches until the very top part of the tree. We call these “Wisconsin trees.” It is a sign that we are getting closer yet to our special place.
We stop at a cheese factory called “Mullin’s Cheese.” They have remodeled this factory since we started coming here for vacation. There used to be a window where you could watch as they squeezed all the cheese curds together. Then they would go on a belt to a huge tub. Spencer and I used to love to watch the process. The cheese factory is the last big landmark signifying the closeness of our destination. After another hour passes we cross Eagle River. It is the last town we have to go through until we are finally at the resort!
The road begins to wind and curve. My stomach begins to flip-flop because I know we are so close. The road suddenly seems to become encased by tall pine trees. The sun flashes in thin bars on the road as it squeezes through what trees it can. Finally we come to the sign that says, “Whispering Pines,” with an arrow pointing in the right direction. Your eyes follow the sign down a shady paved road completely drowning in pine trees. Now I can hardly wait to see that first glimpse of the lodge, and the calmness of the lake. The road turns and narrows and then the sign for the lodge appears. It reads, “Welcome to Whispering Pine Lodge.”
The first sight of the lodge is the most exhilarating feeling. It is a huge log cabin with dark forest green shutters that frame all of the little windows and the big one downstairs. A big stone chimney peaks from the top of the roof. This lodge used to be an old logging camp that the lumberjacks would stay in during the winter months. It is such a neat building. I can hardly wait to jump out and run inside the lodge. As I step out of the car the little red gravel beneath my feet makes a crunching noise as it supports my weight. Inside of the lodge there is a huge living room when you first walk in the door. There is a doorway which leads to the kitchen and dining room. I lug my bags up the curving stairs and into my room. Each room has a name printed on a piece of driftwood above the door. Spencer and I always share the room called, Fisherman’s Pier.
After we throw our suitcases into our room, Spencer and I run for the lake. It is the most breathtaking and relaxing view after a whole year’s time. I take a deep breath in and smell the lake water and pine tree smell. The lake is surrounded by evergreen and birch trees. Some of the other cabins around the lake are somewhat visible. The docks stretch out into the water as if inviting us to take a running leap off the end. We roll up our pants and wade into the cool water. The instant we touch it, we become part of the lake. It is like a magnet that is pulling us in. We run inside and throw on our swimming suits.
Together we run to the beginning of the dock. The sap from the pine trees makes the sand stick to the bottoms of our feet. We take a deep breath and run down the swimming dock, the wooden boards creaking as we take each step and JUMP! Splash! The temperature of the water always knocks the breath right out of me. It is so chilly! We do not waste one minute at Whispering Pines. Our mothers somehow lure us out of the water every night, always with the promise of a good meal. Night falls and we settle down in bed knowing the whole cycle will repeat the next day. As the sun rises up over the trees it shimmers brightly on the lake. The morning fog rolls off of the surface of the lake and the loon’s low call beckons us once again to the water’s edge.
Oral Communication
Working in groups has never been an easy thing for me. I have always felt uneasy about working with others because I was afraid that I would be the only one working. I developed that fear from earlier experiences where I end up doing all the work while the rest of my group rides on my shoulders. This semester I learned to put trust in other people. I found it easier to work within a group because people were willing to share their ideas. They contributed within the discussions and volunteered to do a segment of the work. This made things much easier than in the past where I would find myself having to ask the other group members what they thought and getting no reply. I am more comfortable sharing my ideas because they are actually considered by the group. Working in a group has also taught me to take into consideration other people’s thoughts and ideas. I am so used to being the one who has to come up with everything and when I would ask for people’s opinions, they didn’t care because the job was getting done. This semester has definitely given me a more positive outlook on working within a group.
Visual Communication Introductory
The purpose of this visual communication style was to point out the different objectives that businesses use when advertising. It was also to show people that when analyzing something, sometimes things that weren’t intended to be in the message are found. People interpret things in different ways sometimes. During this project we were able to express our thoughts about an advertisement. It is interesting to see how many ideas one can come up with. There are so many different perspectives that can be taken on various advertisements. It is also interesting to see if you share the same mind set as someone else. The topic of my visual communication sample is the analysis of an advertisement. In this project, I chose an advertisement found in a public place and analyzed what I thought the ad was trying to portray to its viewers, as well as the meaning behind the company.
Visual Communicaton
How do you Live your Life?
Do your clothes offer you a life of independence and freedom? Careful scrutiny of advertisements might lead one to think so. Some retailers use incentives and lifestyles to lure a consumer into purchasing their product. I found an advertisement for, American Eagle Outfitters, a brand name of clothing. I chose to analyze it and discovered much more than I would have expected. When an advertisement is analyzed, one discovers that there is much more message present than the few words printed in the margin. Subtle use of color, text, props, and subjects, along with their arrangements create thoughts and images in a consumer’s mind. These are a few things that will create a larger horizon for thought and analysis.
American Eagle is a small store for young people and sometimes for those who want to feel young. They sell shoes, purses, jewelry, cologne, perfume, and clothing for both men and women. This specific American Eagle advertisement shows a college aged girl of about nineteen crossing a road with books cradled in her arms. She is looking over her shoulder which suggests that she may be going to class. She is dressed in American Eagle clothing, and is sporting an American Eagle purse. The bottom of the ad reads, “LIVE YOUR LIFE,” the slogan of American Eagle. The symbol of this store is also incorporated into the ad to creatively display the emblem in public places such as a shopping mall. People will hopefully begin to associate the emblem and the name of the brand with the products.
I found this advertisement at the mall where there are many people who are shopping. Many times this ad will be seen in places where teens choose to spend their free time. Who wouldn’t want their advertisement on display where the audience they are trying to target is having a positive experience? A mall is a busy place and many people walk by a variety of stores every minute. Ads have to be catchy and appealing so that people who are rushing to get their shopping done will notice them. Isn’t it true that when a store’s ads in the window catch a person’s eye that person is more interested in and willing to visit those establishments? This advertisement is displayed not only in the store’s window, but also on shopping bags, throughout the store, on gift cards, on fliers and of course, on the actual products themselves. There are many potential buyers in a mall environment, making it the perfect place for advertisements.
Catching the attention of their audience of young people, creating an experience, or eliciting memory of an experience, and promoting their product are the main focus of this American Eagle advertisement. They do this by featuring only their brand of clothing and accessories on the model. They support their slogan of “Live your Life” by having their model participating in an activity that most everyone in their target audience has done. In this case the activity is going to school. Going to school is a common activity, yet as we continue to analyze this advertisement we become aware that based on her age she may be going to a college class. The details behind the model show the tree’s leaves are turning orange, which indicates the season of fall when classes begin. Being in this situation makes the experience rare because not everyone goes to college. The concept of being a college student also portrays the idea that the girl is on her own. Therefore, the purpose of this ad might be to point out that when you wear these clothes, you experience things that not every person has.
Another common life event is the simple act of crossing a street. This is depicted in the ad showing the model “living her life.” As a child, being allowed to cross the street unattended is a milestone. One must be grown up to do so without holding someone’s hand. Showing the girl crossing the street may be symbolic of her independence. Having the model cross the street may be symbolic of her independence. The fact that she doesn’t seem to be watching where she’s going also gives the impression that she is somewhat daring. Maybe she is looking back at her past and crossing that “road” into adulthood or freedom. A consumer might well be persuaded that wearing this brand of clothing will allow them to reach this grown up status in their own life. The model is carrying a stack of books, one entitled, Creating Excellence. This could be another case where American Eagle is attempting to make an association tying their clothing to feelings of intelligence and excellence.
Logos are another item that have a great deal of impact in advertisements. The symbol of the eagle used by American Eagle clothing, has some sort of message behind it. Eagles are independent and strong birds soaring high in the sky, rising above everything below. Our country uses the eagle as a symbol of a free country. The association of the eagle with the slogan, “Living Your Life” is a great way to tie in the appealing sense of living life with freedom. The fact that the model is outside in the elements is another way that American Eagle gives the targeted consumer a sense of freedom and reality.
American Eagle’s advertisement helps form a relationship between their products and the consumer. It expresses reality and emotional ties that their audience can relate to. Their advertising reaches beyond the fact that clothing is to cover the body and keep it warm. In the ad, clothing and accessories introduce the idea that clothing is a way to express oneself, to live in a certain way. Their tactics work!! Doesn’t the way American Eagle portrays clothing sound much more exciting and enjoyable than just the basic buying of clothes to cover the body? Tying emotions to a product makes the advertisement successful. American Eagle has accomplished their goal of making the consumer see their product in a new light.
Do your clothes offer you a life of independence and freedom? Careful scrutiny of advertisements might lead one to think so. Some retailers use incentives and lifestyles to lure a consumer into purchasing their product. I found an advertisement for, American Eagle Outfitters, a brand name of clothing. I chose to analyze it and discovered much more than I would have expected. When an advertisement is analyzed, one discovers that there is much more message present than the few words printed in the margin. Subtle use of color, text, props, and subjects, along with their arrangements create thoughts and images in a consumer’s mind. These are a few things that will create a larger horizon for thought and analysis.
American Eagle is a small store for young people and sometimes for those who want to feel young. They sell shoes, purses, jewelry, cologne, perfume, and clothing for both men and women. This specific American Eagle advertisement shows a college aged girl of about nineteen crossing a road with books cradled in her arms. She is looking over her shoulder which suggests that she may be going to class. She is dressed in American Eagle clothing, and is sporting an American Eagle purse. The bottom of the ad reads, “LIVE YOUR LIFE,” the slogan of American Eagle. The symbol of this store is also incorporated into the ad to creatively display the emblem in public places such as a shopping mall. People will hopefully begin to associate the emblem and the name of the brand with the products.
I found this advertisement at the mall where there are many people who are shopping. Many times this ad will be seen in places where teens choose to spend their free time. Who wouldn’t want their advertisement on display where the audience they are trying to target is having a positive experience? A mall is a busy place and many people walk by a variety of stores every minute. Ads have to be catchy and appealing so that people who are rushing to get their shopping done will notice them. Isn’t it true that when a store’s ads in the window catch a person’s eye that person is more interested in and willing to visit those establishments? This advertisement is displayed not only in the store’s window, but also on shopping bags, throughout the store, on gift cards, on fliers and of course, on the actual products themselves. There are many potential buyers in a mall environment, making it the perfect place for advertisements.
Catching the attention of their audience of young people, creating an experience, or eliciting memory of an experience, and promoting their product are the main focus of this American Eagle advertisement. They do this by featuring only their brand of clothing and accessories on the model. They support their slogan of “Live your Life” by having their model participating in an activity that most everyone in their target audience has done. In this case the activity is going to school. Going to school is a common activity, yet as we continue to analyze this advertisement we become aware that based on her age she may be going to a college class. The details behind the model show the tree’s leaves are turning orange, which indicates the season of fall when classes begin. Being in this situation makes the experience rare because not everyone goes to college. The concept of being a college student also portrays the idea that the girl is on her own. Therefore, the purpose of this ad might be to point out that when you wear these clothes, you experience things that not every person has.
Another common life event is the simple act of crossing a street. This is depicted in the ad showing the model “living her life.” As a child, being allowed to cross the street unattended is a milestone. One must be grown up to do so without holding someone’s hand. Showing the girl crossing the street may be symbolic of her independence. Having the model cross the street may be symbolic of her independence. The fact that she doesn’t seem to be watching where she’s going also gives the impression that she is somewhat daring. Maybe she is looking back at her past and crossing that “road” into adulthood or freedom. A consumer might well be persuaded that wearing this brand of clothing will allow them to reach this grown up status in their own life. The model is carrying a stack of books, one entitled, Creating Excellence. This could be another case where American Eagle is attempting to make an association tying their clothing to feelings of intelligence and excellence.
Logos are another item that have a great deal of impact in advertisements. The symbol of the eagle used by American Eagle clothing, has some sort of message behind it. Eagles are independent and strong birds soaring high in the sky, rising above everything below. Our country uses the eagle as a symbol of a free country. The association of the eagle with the slogan, “Living Your Life” is a great way to tie in the appealing sense of living life with freedom. The fact that the model is outside in the elements is another way that American Eagle gives the targeted consumer a sense of freedom and reality.
American Eagle’s advertisement helps form a relationship between their products and the consumer. It expresses reality and emotional ties that their audience can relate to. Their advertising reaches beyond the fact that clothing is to cover the body and keep it warm. In the ad, clothing and accessories introduce the idea that clothing is a way to express oneself, to live in a certain way. Their tactics work!! Doesn’t the way American Eagle portrays clothing sound much more exciting and enjoyable than just the basic buying of clothes to cover the body? Tying emotions to a product makes the advertisement successful. American Eagle has accomplished their goal of making the consumer see their product in a new light.
Electronic Communication
This semester included several various types of electronic communication. At some times I found this somewhat convenient. Other times when I was having internet complications, I found that I wasn’t the fondest of electronic communication. Being able to communicate electronically is a powerful thing. Citizens need to consider when communicating this way that their words may not convey the emotion behind their wording. It is much easier to hear and see emotion when someone is talking to you in person than it is to read it on a computer screen. People need to be aware of this so they can use great care when dealing with an important situation where feelings behind the words may be key to their message. Using electronics such as a power point presentation is a more advanced way to communicate with an audience. This allows the person presenting a topic to use not only themselves talking as a means of communication, but it allows them to incorporate pictures or other visual aids that may enhance their objective. One must realize that appropriate balance is necessary when using this kind of communication. When working with power point for example, being effective means that the presenter limits the amount of wording on the power point, and limiting the visual aids. Sometimes power points aren’t as effective as they could be because the audience is overwhelmed by the amount of things that are happening on each slide. Therefore, using electronics to communicate can be extremely convenient and efficient as long as it is used properly.
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