Possible Advocacy Project Idea

For the advocacy project I plan to team up with Lauren Freeman.  We would like to do our project on adding nutritional information to the touch screens at different take out locations on campus (such as the Mix in Pollock).

We plan to write up a report and submit it to each location on campus that utilizes touch screens.  At this point we do not know exactly who will receive these reports, but we will research it.  In order to add substance to our reports, we plan to take surveys.

Our surveys will include the following questions:

How often do you order food at x location?

Would you like to have the option to have nutrition information available on the touch screen when you go to order?

For some people we will also do the following:

Group 1: We will present them with the nutritional information before they order and see if what they will get changes.

Group 2: We will present them with the nutritional information after they order and see if they would have liked to know the information before hand.

When it comes to writing up our proposal we are going to have to research how they put the information on the machines and how much money it would cost to add more.  Also we may have to prepare for an interview.  A proposal is fine, but we need to make sure it is actually reaching the people we need it to.

This project idea is not finalized, but I think it will be the one we go with.  Furthermore, in order to actually cause a change the amount of work this is going to be will warrant two people.  For example when taking surveys we can get more people between the two of us.  Also there is more than one food location we will be looking at.

Persuasive Essay

Persuasive Essay Topic:

Reduction of harm to the Virgin Island Coral Reefs (if the research and policy seems to be too broad they I will focus specifically at St. John’s Coral Reefs.

Policy:

The overall policy is going to consist of smaller policy changes.  These policy changes will focus on vacationers in visiting the Virgin Islands.  The first will be greater implementation of signs and heavier fines of people who do not listen to them.  The type of boat allowed to be used will be limited (further research needs to be done to state what exactly needs to be further banned).  Also mooring rules for boats will become stricter in addition how boats are stored during emergency weather warnings.

Quick Summary of Research:

Like many coral reefs, the Virgin Island Coral Reefs are in danger and listed in the top of the most threatened coral reefs.  There are already restrictions and safety precautions put in place to protect them, but they are still receding.  The issue is complex because numerous small factors are leading to their destruction.  To combat this issue I want to pinpoint the top two or three issues and try to implement policy that will reduce the harm.  An example is that whenever a hurricane hits the islands there is extensive damage done to the coral reefs when a boat gets lose and hits them.  By changing the mooring rules, hopefully this will limit the amount of boats that get lose.

Why Is This Appropriate?:

This is appropriate because there is a problem.  The destruction of the coral reefs needs to stop.  However, there are many ways to try and approach this problem.  The goal of this essay will be to persuade you that this is a program that will work and that it is worth adopting.  For a persuasive essay I think this meets the criteria.

This I believe

Script:

I think it’s funny in life that sometimes the little things you do teach you more than the big things.  Time wise gardening has been a small portion of my life, but the effects are big. Gardening has always been one of those things in life that some people are naturally good at, and some, like me aren’t. Gardening, for me, requires work. It’s about getting your hands dirty, putting all your effort, all your patience, and your love into a single goal.

You have to turn over the soil and dig to plant the seeds. You have to fight off the never ending amount of weeds that try to block your goal.  Then comes the watering, too little and the plant can never grow, but too much can rot the roots of the plant.

After all the time I spend trying to get the flower to bloom sometimes it never does. I have followed the directions to a “Q”, but sometimes the seed never blooms into the flower I expect.

At points like this it’s frustrating. It feels like a waste of time. And when I am standing in my dorm room, starring at my empty flower pot, I am face with a choice.  Dump out the soil and burry my flower pot beneath clothes in the back of my closet or start the process over.

The first time I tried to grow seeds nothing happened.

The second time nothing happened again.  The third time they sprouted, but didn’t bloom.  The more I tried the more the more I learned.

Earlier when I was giving the option to give up or to start over I originally wanted to say to start over from scratch, but that’s not true.  Every time I messed up I learned.  I learned wild flower seeds are not supposed to be buried deep in the dirt.  I also learned I can’t forget to water them.  Even our failures teach us something.

When you finally succeed growing your flowers, you realize you what you have created.  Whether it bares flowers, fruits, vegetable, prickly spines, it also produces beauty.  I believe in dirt and working with your hands.  I believe in working to create beauty and realizing sometimes, no matter how much you think something should have worked and didn’t, you should always try again. You have to plant more seeds and put in even more effort and eventually you will grow that flower. Gardening is what I believe in.

 

Semester II: RCL

TIB topics: I believe in the power of small words.  I believe in giving second chances.

The first topic is about taking your time to talk to someone or encourage them, and how simply things have a bigger impact than we realize.  The second chances will be based off a time where I didn’t get a second chance, and I know I could have done better.

CI blog topics: politics; sex gender

Passion blog topics: Being Awkward; The struggles of creating a YouTube Channel

In the end I think my blog is going to cover both of these topics because, so far creating a YouTube Channel has just been one awkward journey (which is partly why I love it).

To improve my blogs I am going to incorporate more visuals.  I also waited longer than I should have to work on them.  In the future I hope to write them at least a day in advance and then use another day to edit and even revise them.  Overall I am content with the quality of blog posts I produced last semester, but these minor changes could create am even better blog.

Homework 7: Video Review

Option 1:

In our video we are not planning on doing any filming ourselves, so the editing basics applied more to our group.  With that being said shooting basics gave us some interesting information to keep in mind when looking at interviews or video clips we want to add into our video.  I think the point of holding on the subject for at least five seconds can be applied to pictures because some of ours flash rather quickly throughout the video.  When the pictures flash too quickly it becomes overwhelming for the audience.

Editing Basics more readily applied to my group’s video.  In this clip it covered a lot of the material we went over the other day in the library, such as saving constantly and fading clips.  The previously taught topics are being heavily focused on in my group already and are not a concern.  In fact I think we do a pretty good job at it, so far.  I was unaware you could fade music in or out and I think this ability might help our video.  Right now the video starts with an introduction to transition, but the music is the exact same level in the beginning as it is throughout the video.  By having the music fade in I think the video will not appear as abrupt.

For more information about actually editing the movie I watched another clip, “Video 101: Editing with iMovie”.  This clip went more in depth about how to work with audio in a video such as fading or changing the volume to be louder than the background music.  The video also covered how to trim the length of the music or cut out the parts of the music that are unwanted.  When going over transitions, the clip taught how to change the duration and type of transition.

“We Are” in the Bathroom

This week in our bathroom room, when exiting the bathroom stalls, there are signs on the wall that say something along the lines of: “Someone who went “above and beyond” to help someone who live here?”  or “Someone who met a personal goal?”  The signs then go on (I just mentioned the ones in the picture in case you can’t read them) and encourage you to write a person’s name on the wall to thank them and publically recognize these individuals.

I think this choice of rhetoric and civic engagement is interesting.  It is civically engaging by getting the people on our floor to recognize someone who has made an impact in their lives.  It’s a small gesture, but it’s the kind that can make a person’s day.  These signs remind me of the concept of “We Are” because they work to solidify the idea that we are one community that is inner connected.  One person will encourage another, or be there to support them, and in return their name will reappear on the paper thanking them for their action, also encouraging them.

From the replies on the signs everyone was recognized from girls making it into sororities, to our floor’s birthday committee, our RA, and even individuals.  The two other signs not pictured in this blog post are covered with individuals’ names.

By publically recognizing people’s achievements it brings notice to things others might not have thought of.  Furthermore it creates more interaction in the community.  People begin to ask, “What is the birthday committee?” or “Who is Angela and what is this extra baggage she let go of?”  People become more in tuned with others on the floor and begin to ask questions to understand what others are going through.  Once again it goes back to the “We Are” concept because it is strengthening the community.

Homework 6: Ted Talk Review

A link to my speech on YouTube (this link is needed to watch it): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DamUZp0663g&feature=youtu.be

Part 1:

When preparing for my presentation I followed along the general outlines and ideas we reviewed in class. For my preparation I thought about my idea and how I wanted to present it.  I spent most of my time mulling over my ideas before putting them into draft, so I would not feel like I had to stick with what I was writing down.  Originally I was going to talk about treating the illness behind poverty and not the symptoms, but that was both overdone already and too complicated for a four to five minute long speech.

Once I had my speech written, I revised the way I presented my material in a more understandable method.  I took different sections out and switched the order of topics.  I also approached my presentation in the method of a story.  The beginning is a catchy introduction, then I layout the problem, and I end with an example of my solution.

In order to keep my information interesting I tried incorporating ethos and pathos.  I gave astonishing examples of the abuse of aid for selfish purposes, and by listing specific facts, I tried to build logos.

In future presentation preparations I could strengthen them through more practice.  My biggest problem was nerves.  I think more practice could have calmed my nerves.   I minced my words a few times because of my nerves.  Also practice using the technology in advance could have helped since I got confused a few times with the clicker.  In this case it wasn’t possible, but in the future it might help my performance.

In the end I think the biggest thing I could have done is a few more practice sessions.  I only practiced three times in front of my friends (three different people so I could see my effectiveness each time), so if I did that more I think I would have felt more prepared (practicing in front of people brings out my nerves which allows me to face them head on).

Part 2:

Overall I am happy with my performance.  It was not perfect, I hit many hiccups in my presentation ranging from technical problems to the mincing of words, but my point got across.  I logically set up my presentation, so someone who knows little about my topic could understand where I was going.  I kept comparing the inefficiency of aid in Africa to methods of studying for a test because more people can relate to it and understand my points.  However, I meant to carry through my introduction with studying to the end, but I forgot to.  I think if I remembered my point it would have been more impacting for the audience and my speech would have been more well rounded.

There are other smaller things I could have done upon reviewing my presentation.  I could have added more visual aids to keep people’s minds focused during the speech.  Also, I always looked back at my slide when I could have looked at the computer in front of me.  Another big thing is touching my hair.  I would go to touch my hair and realize half way through and drop my hand.  This appeared to be a bit awkward, so next time when I am practicing if I do it I could turn it into a more natural action.

At the end of the speech and rewatching it, there are many things I could have changed, but I can’t now.  They are all smaller details that do contribute to a bigger idea, but in this speech I think my bigger idea still got through.  When my presentation was over I was talking to a few people about my speech and they were quoting specific facts and sharing their opinions.  My speech might have not been the best, but it made an impact which was my goal.

Homework 5: TED Talk

For my topic I am going to stick to my paradigm shift essay and focus on the greater acceptance of paternity leave in the United States through a changing of women’s role, media perspective, world influences, greater acceptance of same sex marriages, and technology companies leading the pact on benefits.  I want to focus on exactly why the shift is taking place.

For rhetoric I can focus on logos and support my points with specific detail, for example how much paternity leave is provided by what company or examples of different celebrities taking paternity leave.  As for pathos I can use visuals of babies to invoke pity and hold people’s attention.  By continually bringing the point back to the babies affected it plays on people’s emotions.  As for ethos if I present my other points clearly and present in an understandable manner, a positive ethos will accompany me.

For adapting my research to my presentation I need to consider what I can realistically say in the allotted time frame.  If I was to read my paper aloud I would go over the time frame.  I think the introduction and my conclusion from my paper might fit into my speech since they are catchy and relevant.

For my design I am going to go simple.  I want the majority of the presentation to focus on me with my visuals to support what I am saying.  Although a picture of a baby might be appropriate at some points people may pay more attention to the baby instead of me.  I think visuals about data will be a good call and for the rest of the time I don’t have a relevant picture I will put up a black screen.

Most of my ideas are tentative and I am probably going to explore my options, but this is my basic outline.