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E-Portfolio
May 4, 2014 by Lauren Freeman
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Advocacy Project Idea
April 9, 2014 by Lauren Freeman
For the Advocacy Project, I plan on working with Jaden and the idea that we are going to use is to address the issue of the lack of nutritional information on the touch-screens in the commons. There are a number of different eateries that utilize this touch screen such as the Mix at Pollock and the Big Onion in East and people order food off of them constantly. However, there are no nutritional values for any of the food items on the touch screen. All of this information can be found online but it is not in plain sight of the purchaser. We plan on implementing this information onto the touch screens for the different eateries that use them. In order to research it, we need to find out how many of these systems there are and the cost of adding more information to them. We will also survey students to see whether or not they would like to see this information when they are purchasing food and whether or not they believe that it would affect what they are purchasing.
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Public Policy/Persuasive Essay Topic
March 26, 2014 by Lauren Freeman
Topic: The culture of working mothers vs. childless women
Plan: Create a law that prohibits employers from asking any personal questions related to marital status or parenthood during the interview/application process. These questions may only be posed once a candidate is hired (for tax purposes, etc.). Also, change corporate policies regarding mandatory meetings and after-work work where employers can work from home if needed or participate in meetings via Skype or some other form of communication.
Main Source of Research: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/07/why-women-still-cant-have-it-all/309020/
This is appropriate for the assignment because it identifies a clear problem that society faces and I am posing a solution to the problem through the implementation of a law and other regulations within corporations to change how they function on a day-to-day basis.
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This I Believe
February 5, 2014 by Lauren Freeman
I believe in the power of language. I am not talking about the language you use just to make yourself be heard. But, that’s the kind of language that my family and I use the most. Everyone in my family always has something that they feel is so important to say right at that exact moment, that two people often try and talk loudly over each other because neither one can imagine not getting his word in. When we are rushing to finish our thought and add our two cents, many times we do not put the time in to carefully select the right words or phrasing. Growing up in this lifestyle, I never really thought twice about the way I spoke or how carefully I crafted my sentences. That was until I said goodbye to my grandfather for the last time. People say that it’s easier to know when something is going to be for the last time, and in some ways I agree. When I saw and spoke to my grandfather for the last time, we both knew it. That made me stop in my tracks and for one of the first times in my life, I thought through everything I said before I said it because I did not want to leave anything left unsaid. That was when I first realized the power of language. There was so much to say, so little time, and so many ways to do it all. I used this power not only when I spoke, but I used it when I interpreted what my grandfather said to me as well. And when both of us ran out of things to say, our body language suited just fine. I left the room with my shoulders hunched over and my hands over my eyes, but I felt satisfied that my language hadn’t failed me. I know that not everything I say can be so well thought out, and I don’t think that it should be. But it is comforting to know that I have the ability to speak articulately when it counts the most.
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Homework #1 (Semester 2)
January 17, 2014 by Lauren Freeman
Passion Blog Ideas
1. New Year, New Beginnings
2. A Baker’s Delight
Civic Issues Blog Ideas
1. Women’s Role in Society: Has it Really Changed?
2. Racial Prejudice in the Modern World
This I Believe Topic Ideas
1. The Power of Language
2. Seeking Out Challenges
For my blogging this semester, I will try and invite the audience’s response more. Looking through my blogs from last semester, I often gave my input and ideas but rarely allowed the audience to comment or add their own input to my comments. However, I think that I did a good job of using a more personal tone of voice in my writing. I tried to write in a manner that was easily readable and more personable than an audience and I think that I achieved that successfully.
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Homework #7: Option 2
December 2, 2013 by Lauren Freeman
One of the rhetorical implications that I found interesting from the video clips was the suggestion to place the subject of the filming manner in one of the “thirds” of the shot. In my English classes in high school, one of my teachers (who I had for two years) always commented on this exact rhetorical decision whenever we watched films in class. I think that his commentary makes a lot of sense in this context. He always said how typically, shots are filmed in this manner so that visually, it shows the viewer that there is room (whether metaphorical or literal) for another person in the shot as well. However, whenever we watched a scene where the subject was in the direct center of the shot, my teacher would explain how this visually shows that there is no other room (again metaphorically or literally) for any other person or subject matter in this shot. The main subject takes over every aspect of the scene and is all that the viewer can and should focus on. I think that this is a good rhetorical implication that my group can consider using for our project – both forms of shooting (or compiling) a scene.
I also liked the information regarding panning and tilting as a rhetorical implication or choice. It is so simple to completely alter the viewer’s perception of a person or image in a video by simply changing the angle at which the viewer gets to see it. For instance, a small tilt upwards of the camera makes the subject manner feel much larger and more important. Consequently, it makes the viewer feel less important in comparison and smaller. The opposite is true of tilting the camera downwards. Additionally, panning brings a greater sense of movement to the film and helps make the viewer really feel like they are moving along with the subject(s) rather than keeping the camera still and having the subject(s) move throughout the frame.
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Technology… something’s not right
November 20, 2013 by Lauren Freeman
It seems fitting to make this post about something that I discussed both in my paradigm shift paper as well as my TED Talk. My topic was technology and how it has changed how people value relationships. While creating my TED Talk, I came across the following picture that has stuck with me ever since.
The first thing that you can notice in this image is the trajectory of the human form and how it has gone back to almost exactly the same physical position as it had when humans were not even humans, but rather apes. Although it may be an exaggerated image, it seems to generally outline the progression of humanity. The image of the last man sitting hunched over his computer looks quite accurate to me. I often find myself completely hunched over when I am on my computer because I am so invested in what is directly in front of me.
One could even say, that the more focused people are on what is right in front of them, the less of the need to stand upright. (This is probably a stretch but I’m going to see where it goes anyway). When I look at the photo, the human that is standing the most upright has a long spear that will be used for throwing to hunt. When hunting with a spear, one needs to stand upright in order to be able to see far distances and throw well and accurately.
As technology has advanced, there is less of a need to work as hard at hunting or doing any daily activity. Consequently, posture is a secondary thought to most people. The technology does everything for us, so as long as we have it at our disposal, there is no reason to strain ourselves to achieve our ultimate goal.
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TED Talk Reflection
November 15, 2013 by Lauren Freeman
Link to TED Talk video:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8A4YbMBNwI8VXJCeU4yWWNEYkk/edit
My preparation process for the TED Talk included a variety of different methods. From our discussions about rhetoric in class, I tried to incorporate a method of speaking that would engage the audience and that would allow the audience to easily relate to me and the topic that I was discussing. In order to do this, I wrote my script in a more informal manner so that my point was conveyed easily and that the audience would be able to focus more on my points rather than the formal manner of my speech. I struggled in the preparation process to make my TED Talk include a story that began in the beginning of my talk and concluded in the end. I was having difficulty incorporating this strategy that we discussed in class. However, in order to overcome that I incorporated two mini stories or anecdotes that I had come across in my research for the subject. Another thing that I struggled with was the memorization techniques that we discussed and watched in class. I could not think of a good story that I could use to help me remember my main points and that definitely hurt me in the long run. Although I only had three main points that I needed to convey, I had a hard time remembering them and in which order I wanted to discuss them. (This may have been simply because my nerves were getting the best of me). Looking back, in order to strengthen my performance for future talks I would write my script earlier so that I would have more time to memorize or come up with memorization mnemonics so that I would be sure to feel absolutely comfortable with the topics I would be discussing.
After watching my TED Talk, I think that the most successful parts of my presentation were the images/gifs that I chose to include. I think that they helped me to convey my point and were funny and relatable to the audience. Also, I think that my informal tone of speech was easy for the audience to connect to rather than a more formal speech form.
Some points of improvement include my eye contact. Although at the time, (and still looking back) I feel that I made a good amount of eye contact with everyone in the room, the video shows that I also looked at the monitor a lot. I know that at the time, I was looking at the slide that was coming up next to make sure that I knew what I was planning on saying next and that I knew when I needed to change slides. However, I think that this may have thrown me off a little bit and distracted me. Next time, I would try and not look at the monitor as much. Also, I will try and enunciate and speak slower and more clearly next time. There were times when I tripped over my own words because I was trying to get the words out so fast that I wasn’t really thinking. These are my main critics of my TED Talk.
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TED Talk
October 30, 2013 by Lauren Freeman
For my TED Talk, I am going to discuss how technology has completely changed the way in which people go about forming relationships. In order to do this, I am going to first address the audience by explaining to them/showing them how dependent we all are on our phones. I’m betting that up until my presentation starts, everyone else will be sitting and playing with their phones until they have to put them away. No one seems to know how to hold a conversation with someone they are not fully comfortable with. I am definitely guilty of this as well. In this way, I will be able to connect with my audience by showing them that it is a widespread problem that has been occurring and they are not alone.
I will address how relationships were formed/valued prior to the advent of technology like cell phones, texting and the Internet. Afterwards, I will compare this with how relationships are formed/valued/continued/ended with technology. For example, people now “talk” to someone. They say “yeah, I’m talking to him right now.” This means that they text or talk over the Internet often and usually in a flirtatious manner. Before this was possible with technology, people had to do this in person. That is like a form of torture for most teenagers nowadays.
I will also discuss how technology has changed the way in which people value their relationships. People now have a different type of control over their relationships. Relationships, friendships, etc. can be ended abruptly over text or instant message without much thought. Before technology, ending a relationship was much more difficult because there was no alternative but to do it in person. This makes both parties more uncomfortable because they have to deal with the other’s emotions face-to-face.
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Should you roll the dice?
October 30, 2013 by Lauren Freeman
I’m sure plenty of you have seen commercials for toothpaste. Each one claims to be the best for your teeth. #1 dentist recommended, which can’t be true if each toothpaste says that… Anyway, I’ve seen my fair share of these commercials. However, I’ve never come across an advertisement for toothpaste in poster form (at least not that I know of) until recently.
I came across this poster for Crest toothpaste and I was instantly intrigued. First, by the image and then once I realized that it was for toothpaste. It was a whole new experience for me. Here is the ad:
I think that this poster conveys a very clear message in a clever and eye-catching way. The first thing that my eyes were drawn to was the image of the two teeth that looked like dice. Right from the image I got the message. I knew right away it was something along the lines of “don’t gamble with the health of your teeth.” I didn’t even need to read the text underneath because the image had such a clear message.
However, I later did look at the text and it only further pushed the idea behind the dice – teeth. “There are some things you just can’t afford to gamble with.” Simple, crisp, right to the point. That is a great message that is easy to stick in your mind. It reminded me of the memory Ted Talk we watched. This ad makes it easy for consumers to remember it. The dice – teeth are funny looking, weird and cool. Remember that simple image and it’ll bring you to the catchy phrase. Once you remember the catchy phrase, you’ll know right away that it is for Crest. What other toothpaste could it be?
It is also important to note that the main claim “There are some things you just can’t afford to gamble with” is in larger font, which obviously makes it more attractive to your eye. It isn’t even necessary to read the little blurb of information below that because with the image of the teeth, the slogan in large font, and the colored toothpaste bottle/package in the bottom, you’ve got all the information you need about the product.
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