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Spencer’s “The Potential of the Internet for Non-Profit Organization” discusses the possibilities of organizations using their online presence for various ways to benefit the organization. Such as fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and community building could create some form of assembly and support amongsts an organization’s followers. By successfully doing so, an organization has the capacity to create a strong website that can promote engagement amongst members.

However, looking at the report from A Crucible Moment, it argues that education prior to college doesn’t do a good job of creating civically engaged citizens. We could suggest that it would be hard to engage an audience that is in elementary, middle, or high school because of the fact that they won’t be looking for opportunities to civically engage through nonprofit organizations.

To improve this, we could improve the framework for effective education in the 21st century includes civic ethos, civic literacy, and civic Inquiry, and civic action. However, depending on the audience, the implementation of this framework might need to be embedded into nonprofits. Especially if the goal is to create a more informed and engaged citizen. Education levels may vary, with Austin Free-Net, the audience tends to be older and education levels could vary. When I did my analyzation of Open Austin, the audience looked to be Austin residents who wanted to be more educated in government. Taking these into consideration it might be important to stress this framework through our own work.

-Jovahana Avila

#Module3

Understanding communication

Reflecting on the course readings and understanding my position as both a reader and a rhetor, I am more equipt to provide some insight on how to effectively produce a webpage for nonprofits. Since, I, too, am a reader and contributor to a nonprofit organization.

It is evident that creating these webpages are a kind of multimodal project, since they use various forms of the five modes of communication: linguistic, visual, aural, spatial, and gestural. Doing so will help create a strong web page that is effective for its purpose.

Additionally, looking at the way these modes are used across different platforms other than a website or web page can help us understand various expectations from readers. Understanding these limitations and potentials can help rhetors produce content that is meaningful and engaging to the reader. Rather their goal is to get the message out about a new event or a press release, understanding these modes and using them effectively, will allow the product to be more meaningful and reflective of the purpose.

Moving forward into our projects with Austin Free-Net, we should consider these modes of communication as tools for creating our videos. Understanding how to layer these modes will be both a learning opportunity and a challenge that will allow us to create compelling multimodal projects

Jovahana Avila

#Module2

Meeting the design demands of the rhetorical situation

The reading talked about preforming rhetorically based off of the situation described by the author, purpose, audience, genre, and context. Doing so will allow the rhetor to meet the elements needed to produce the appropriate product for the situation.

One of my least favorite web pages is our “MyHilltop,” which, I believe, fails to focus on organization and emphasis. At first, the website is disorganized and difficult to use. It takes time to find what you need. There is an overload of visual emphasis with all of the icons, that it can get confusing and overwhelming. It’s not coherent and the alignment makes it difficult to work with.

My suggestion would be to place icons under categories so that there are more organized content and fewer items on each page.

It is important to keep examples such as these in mind when looking at ways that we can work on our own projects. Looking at methods that we can avoid using in order to produce a better product for our own client. It doesn't matter how good the content if the design and organization of the website aren't well-done then the web page will not be as effective. SpencerandSheppard

-Jovahana Avila

#SpencerandSheppard

The reading mentioned, “A major principle of rhetoric, then, for explaining human interaction, is that is always motivated by particular purposes, needs, and values” (Wardle). I made this meme in my class last year which explains how different people have different concepts of me based on interaction and observations of me. I, as a person, have used my performance as a person to influence how others think of me.

#wardle

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Sullivan and Porter Remapping - How can I use professional writing as an aspiring journalist?

Sullivan discusses the mobility of professional writing in “Remapping Curricular Geography,” and how it intertwines with other territories in English—whether it be rhetorical, business or technical writing. A commendable aspect of professional writing is its lack of definition. The obscurity of the definition makes professional a malleable skill; therefore, making those studying English (who have taken professional writing classes) more marketable. The differentiation between “defining” and “locating” professional writing is especially valuable. Failing to define professional writing excludes its participation in other aspects of English writing; however, the concept of “locating” this type of writing makes professional writing easily accessible to more professionals who study English.

There’s a notable connection between the comparison of professional writing and business writing. This pair and their similarities/differences tie into this class very well. In Technical and Business Communication, we can see the applicability in no matter what field we enter. I want to enter the journalism and/or magazine writing after graduation. I am catching a glimpse of how this class can help me in my field. It’s valuable to know the business side of writing in journalism and magazine writing—as it is just as valuable for me to understand the technical aspects. This in turn develops me into a much more marketable journalist. This class will (hopefully) create the same results for the other concentrations: professional or creative writing. Something that was especially thought-provoking came from Myra Kogen, who stated that professional writing can be analyzed just as much as expository writing, journalism or literature can be. Understanding the “why” behind the sort of ambiguous definition of professional writing creates a deeper appreciation for its mobility.

While the exact placement of professional writing in curriculum is still in the works, it’s exciting to see where it will go. It’s already proven that professional writing is becoming a more desired study within English majors—and for a good reason. Professional writing makes the English major well-rounded. To understand creative aspects and the rhetoric is surely important. However, having the background in technical aspects that concentrate on workplace writing, learning from outside resources (human-computer interaction, graphic design, typography, computer technology) and overall development can help each writing stand at a somewhat united front; no matter how different their concentration is.

Elizabeth Ucles

potatopatato

Very fascinating