Advanced Compsition

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11/4 Writing Journal

The two Online Articles, Accessibility Guidelines for UX Designers and 7 Things Every Designer Needs to Know about Accessibility focuses on the matter of accessibility on digital interfaces and web pages. Disabilities come in many forms, and as stated in Accessibility Guidelines for UX Designers, accessibility isn’t just limited to someone with a permanent disability. It can range from permanent intellectual or physical disabilities to anything short term. Considering that I am going into field that deals extensively with disabilities, I was able to connect with both of these articles. Technology should be accessible to all individuals whether it be for intellectual purposes or for reasons such as vision or audio difficulties. 7 Things Every Designer Needs to Know about Accessibility discusses the topic of visual limitations regarding technology. The way web platforms are laid out in regards to color, images, font sizes, and closed captions for those who may be deaf/hard of hearing all play a major role in accessibility for some individuals. I found this interesting because these aspects are not necessarily typical things we think about when making posts, reading online articles, or even playing online games. As a future educator I find these concepts of accessibility to be extremely important and I feel as though these articles did an excellent job at elaborating on such issues with technology. I also liked how these articles, especially Accessibility Guidelines for UX Designers, highlighted specific aspects of technology that relates to accessibility among  individuals with disabilities. 

For my two modes I chose linguistic and visual. By using linguistics I was able to write and express my understanding of the articles and relate it to my field of studies. Visually I was able to sue this gif to catch the readers attention and connect it to what I wrote. I chose this gif of Jj DeMeo from the TV show Speechless. The show is about a high school boy with Cerebral Palsy, and his mom is constantly fighting for equal accessibility for Jj. I thought it tied well with the concept of accessibility and technology. 

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Professor Conferences and Peer Review Sessions

Due to past experiences, I have mixed emotions about professor conferences. I’ve had certain professors and teachers where meeting face to face, one on one, was extremely beneficial for me, especially when it was about a paper. I’ve met with teachers in the past who have helped me understand what I was doing right and what I could use improvement on. I like being able to meet and take the time to review my work or paper and go through each detail so that I know what I need to fix. I like when the professor takes the time to look deep into my work with me and help me gain an understanding as to what needs to be fixed and why. Getting explicit feedback from professors is also incredibly useful because when I go back to edit my work I’ll know exactly what they are looking for. In turn, this will obviously help me to boost my grade. However, I’ve also had my experiences with professors who don’t care too much about what you’re doing. They either don’t like to actually review your work, or they don’t provide you with good feedback. At that point I feel as though the conference was just a waste of time and in no way would help me to better my work or paper. 

As far as peer review goes, I don’t typically find it beneficial. The only time it may be helpful is if you were to peer review/edit with a friend. Typically when you pair up with random classmates, you won’t get useful feedback because they simply don’t care to put in the effort to fully read and edit someone else’s work. It’s not the most exciting task, and it’s not their work, so in my experience others usually don’t care enough to properly review a classmate’s paper. Going back to what I said about the benefits of pairing with a friend, I feel as though each person is more willing to help out their friends’ opposed to a random classmates’. From personal experience, a friend is more likely to fully read and give constructive, honest feedback on your work. Overall as long as the professor is good, I think the conferences can be beneficial, however, I’m not too fond of the peer review sessions. 

I used linguistic and visual as my two modes because by writing I was able to explain my thoughts and ideas, and visual I can catch the viewers attention and make a symbolic representation of my ideas. I chose this gif because it’s an accurate representation of how I feel when my professors are no help. 

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10/16 WRITING JOURNAL

I found the reading, Sustaining Critical Literacies in the Digital Information Age: The Rhetoric of Sharing, Prosumerism, and Digital Algorithmic Surveillance, interesting because it dives in with questions abut how the internet and social media monitors what it’s users do/like. The reading asks the question as to how social media companies  benefit from user-generated data, and how sharing metadata with third party advertisers is useful. Personally I think they benefit because social media companies can see what users are into and what they like, and they c an then pair up with advertisers who target ads at each user via their social media pages. This entices users to click on the ad and possible buy from that third party company. Eventually this earns the social media company money, and allows them to keep track of what their users like to see. For example, when I was shopping online for a hoodie, the following day when I logged onto Tumblr oddly enough I had ads popping up for the same hoodie I was looking at from the same store.  Further on in the reading and in the video,  Danah Boyd on the Spread of  Conspiracies and Hate Online, they both discuss the concept of the internet and social medias being a darker place than most may think. In the reading, Estee discusses how people on the internet can put  on a digital face, showing only what they want other people to see. This digital platform allows people to express their personal views and ideas, however, it’s tricky to know who’s being true. In Danah’s video interview she discusses the points of how the internet is a mass void where everything forever stays, including the negative hate, bad terms, conspiracies, etc. I found it incredibly interesting when she’s talking about the shooting conspiracy because it really highlights the concept of fake news and public panic. Social Media and other digital platforms are open spaces that allow people to take advantage and control certain people through conspiracies, hate, etc. Overall I found both the reading and video to be both informing and fascinating. There’s a lot that I can relate to and I’m sure most other people can as well, but it’s also eye-opening to all of the negative aspects of the internet and social media. 

For my modes I selected visual through video and linguistic. By using the video I am able to catch the viewers attention. It has a title that stands out, and since it’s about social media, most people can relate to it. The video relates to the topic I mention because it deals with how social media is typically fake, and isn’t necessarily a platform for positivity. By using linguistic I was able to express my understanding of both the reading and the video, and explain my thoughts on each. 

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10/2 Writing Journal

Throughout the reading, What is Rhetorical about Digital Rhetoric? Perspectives and Definitions of Digital Rhetoric, the definition, or rather the lack there of, of digital rhetoric was discussed. Indiana University hosted the IDRS (Indiana Digital Rhetoric Symposiums), a labor intensive panel where scholars and researchers gathered to discuss what the true definition of digital rhetoric is. However, during the symposium, the conclusion was drawn that there is in fact no true, valid definition of digital rhetoric. Despite the continuous discussion among some of the smartest people, no-one was able to come to an agreeance on a single, solid definition. Digital rhetoric is limitless and is interpreted differently from one person the the next. However, this is a good thing. Have a lack of boundaries in the world of digital rhetoric allows everyone to create their own viewpoints and be more free with their composition and expression. When watching the attached video, it was clear that most of the scholars weren’t 100% confident, or prepared to give a solid, accurate statement. Despite all the research that has gone into digital rhetoric, we still do not have a clear idea of its definition, however we are aware of the importance it plays in our everyday lives. I thought this article was quite interesting because I never realized that there isn’t a true definition of digital rhetoric. With the way we work with digital rhetoric in class I have noticed that it is free flowing and leaves a lot of wiggle room for our personal interpretation, however, I still assumed that there was a legit definition that was at least used as a foundation for the composition. The way I can relate this reading to my future career as an educator is somewhat abstract. While reading, I related myself to the scholars and the way they were unable to establish a clear answer. As a teacher I may not be able to establish a clear answer for everything, similarly to how all the scholars were unable to come to a conclusion for a definition. 

For my modes I used linguistic and visual. Linguistically I was able to express my understanding of the reading and explain my viewpoints on the topic. I chose this gif as a visual to capture attention and to further represent the reading and my writing. I chose this gif of Zac Efron because he’s confused and has no idea what’s going on, similarly to the way that the scholars don’t exactly know what’s going on with the definition of digital rhetoric. 

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9/27 Writing Journal

The main focal point of chapter 9 from Writing in Knowledge of Societies is the debate between rhetoric and science. Right off the bat I found this chapter to be rather interesting, and it brought up some good conversation about rhetorical tropes such as metonymy and metaphors. One quote that stood out to be was, “it is, in fact, foundational to human experience of the world. Without metaphor, they claim, humans cannot communicate”. The more I thought about this the more I began to realize that without metaphors, metonymy, or analogies, then communication truly wouldn’t be the same. We use these tropes in our everyday language with one another for something as simple as comparing a hot summers day to the burning desert. This book explains how these rhetorical tropes play a major role in the scientific field. This type of language creates a passageway and a passive form of persuasion amongst scientists in the field of discovery. Metaphors and analogies are key in expression and useful in the scientific world as a way to convey ideas and express change. Despite the fact that there is discrepancy in the scientific world about rhetoric and the use of this language, scientists often use it to not only convey their ideas, but to shape it efficiently. I also found it interesting that something as simple as metaphors can serve as “a central tool in the development and creation of new ideas”. The main concept I gathered from this book was that this type of rhetorical language is key to constructing ideas across all faces of the scientific world. This book was something I could read and somewhat connect to because when you really think about it, we use this type of language everyday, whether it be face-to-face communication, or in our compositions. 

I used linguistic and visual modes to represent my understanding of this book. I chose this gif from The Fault in Our Stars because it represents the literal idea of a metaphor. Gus has cancer and in this scene he puts a cigarette in his mouth and states that it’s a metaphor because although it is something that kills, he is not giving it the power to do the the killing. Therefore, it is a metaphor which relates to pretty much everything in life. Life is essentially a metaphor in itself. 

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9/25 Writing Journal

On Multimodal Composing and Women, Rhetoric, and Politics on Pintrest share some similarities on the topic of rhetoric and the display of personality through composition. The way you show your personality in your writing depends on the modes you use, the platform (ie. Pintrest), the topic  you’re discussing, your writing space, etc. On Multimodal Composing, it discusses the different mediums, tools, and interfaces, while Women, Rhetoric, and Politics on Pintrest takes a more in depth approach on the type of writing and the choice of interface. I found it interesting how in DeLuca’s page, she mentions that Pintrest is mainly a women’s space. Comparing the two pages, I mainly focused on the idea of composing in relation to mediums and through bodies. I feel like where you are, what it is you want to talk about, and your personal life all impact your composition. The rhetoric and politics that women can write about on Pintrest are all influenced by these things. Along with the idea of showing your personality in ones’ writing, it’s determined by the situation. One would take a different approach when writing an email to a supervisor compared to writing a blog on social media. For example, I would demonstrate professionalism if I were emailing my boss or a parent of my students, however if I were to use an online platform in my classroom for my students, I might be more lax in my language. In addition, the audience you’re trying to reach effects the way you compose something.

I used linguistic and visual modes for my post. Honestly I just chose this gif cause I thought it was funny and it related because I talked about professionalism, and the way you portray yourself across different platforms. 

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Multiliteracies for a Digital Age was by far one of the most difficult and overly-complex pieces of literature I have ever read. Despite this article being seemingly more directed towards researchers and scholars rather than students, I found it quite wordy for its purpose. However, attempting to read through and summarize, I was able to gather the books key components. Specifically for chapter 5 and the epilogue the main concept Selber relays is learning technology and implementing open communication about it in educational settings. The biggest problems in regards to technology is finding ways to personalize, implement, and teach the technology itself. When using technology in the classroom teachers need to understand that it requires adaptation and understanding, especially for changes in the technological world. Students can’t be expected to fully comprehend tasks unless they are taught how to use the technology first. When it comes to technology, the how-to is more important than the actual piece of technology itself. Another major concept that is discussed is the actual implementation of technology in the classroom. The way teachers teach and incorporate the technology, and the overall institution. For example, in my future profession, I may not need to incorporate much technology, however if I were to use it for an assessment or activity, I would have to be sure to teach my students how to use the technology in which I’m using. I can’t make the assumption that my students will know how to use the technology I give them off the bat. Likewise, for example, the ESU website has its fair share of pros and cons. We have the access to technology such as D2L, however, most of the students as ESU haven’t been properly taught how to use all the functions of D2L. In the end this tends to only hinder the students learning experience. 

I chose this Youtube video as my visual multi-modal technique because I think it helps to simplify and explain some topics discussed in the book. The video can catch the audiences’ attention, and provoke them to read the linguistic part of the post. 

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9/6 Writing Journal

It was very surprising to me when I read that writing is one of the most important aspects of the medical field. Specially to go as far as to say that writing can be the crucial key to treating chronic illnesses. Along with this, I also found it quite interesting when the article mentions that these claims of writing-based interventions cannot only improve the care-delivery for patients, but also create better working conditions for the company’s employees. Reading through the article, I found myself realizing that Opel and Hart-Davidson make some coherent connections between proper writing etiquette and the medical fields. When the article explains how “seeking treatment for a chronic illness never presents itself in real time”, it clicks that a majority of this type of information and research truly does come from the writing aspects. All information is written and recorded whether it be previous medical records, prescriptions, or other visits. I think the article makes a good point about proper writing structure altering the effectiveness of the clinical environment. However, a more formal and scientific approach of writing can cause issues when it comes to interpretation by the patients. Doctor-patient conversations typically have to be broken down into simpler terms in order for the patient to fully comprehend all the details.

Although I am not going into the medical field, writing is an important factor in my future career as a teacher. Specifically, as a special education teacher I will have to fill out an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), for all my students. This requires dozens of pages of well-organized and well-structured writing. Overall this article was very interesting because it made connections to writing that I’ve never thought of before and it was surprising to see how much depth there is on this topic.

I chose this Gif becasue it is a visual representation, and connects with the article. I found it to be funny because he is swarmed with paperwork which relates with what doctors may encounter. 

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Writing Journal 9/4

In both Department of Writing and Rhetoric and Spaces for Writing, rhetoric is a type of persuasian that can be expressed through multimodal platforms. Most commonly rhetoric is used within writings and speeches. Spaces for Writing  discusses the various concepts of Ethos, Pathos, Logos, and Kairos. These concepts are the ways in which a writer or speaker uses rhetoric to prevail their ideas onto their audience. 

The comic focuses on the topic of reaching a target audience. These previosuly mentioned Greek concepts are how the author(s)/speaker(s) appeal to their audience. Ethos deals with ethics and credibility. In my future proffession as an educator, ethos would be demonstrated if say an English teacher were unable to spell properly. This would essentially be ruining their credibility in their proffesion. 

This picture clearly shows the concept of a teacher being incapable of doing what they’re supposed to do. 

Pathos plays with the audiences’ emotions. For example, the ASPCA commericals entice viewers to help the animlas by displaying sad videos of cats and dogs along with the rather depressing background music. Logos uses facts and evidence to portray an appeal to logic. For example, a doctor providing evidence and medical results of an illness you may have contracted. Rather than giving an oppinionated response, the doctor would provide true support to back up his claims. 

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Advance Como Intro

Hey everyone, my name is Christine and I’m a sophomore studying to earn my dual certification in Early Childhood-Special Education, with a minor in English. My interest is in autistic support for pre-K to 3rd grade. I currently work as a manager/waitress at an Italian restaurant and I volunteer in special Ed programs whenever possible.

Outside of school I have a shopping addiction. I probably spend way too much money on shoes and clothes but I can’t help myself. I also love to travel, especially outside of the country. So far I have traveled to multiple cities in both Spain and Peru. I hope to visit Australia soon and some more European countries. Besides that I mostly spend time with friends and listening to music.