Blog 3
http://www.english.ufl.edu/
http://www.msstate.edu/dept/English/
The University of Florida and Mississippi State University are both large universities in the South. The web links above go directly to their English Department Websites. The University of Florida’s website is a good representation of an engaging and effective website for anyone interested in the English field at U of Florida. For example, the opening page is eye-catching in its use of a book collage as the backdrop. This element is very appealing to those interested in English and literature. Also the format is very organized and easy to navigate. The home page also offers a list of events that the English department will be participating. These events inform the site visitor that the English Department is very active and exciting. The main fault of this website is its “wordiness” the explanations of the events and programs are very lengthy and could easily urge the site visitor to skip important information. Mississippi State’s page is quite opposite of the previously discussed page. The opening page is overwhelming with its deep red color and oversized, under pixelated book background. The organization of the information is hard to locate and the information is minimal. The site visitors are generally looking for interesting easy to locate information on the universities English Department. This particular website is not welcoming or persuasive its tone is that of an exclusive club that is not interested in new members. This site fulfills only the minimal requirements of its purpose.
Overall purpose
The purpose of this project is to create a brochure that effectively promotes and explains the English Department at Southern Miss. Many students with undecided majors or browsing for graduate programs visit department websites that they are interests then. This fact combined with my own interests prompts me to write a brochure. My goal for the brochure will be too create something that will intrigue their interests further than most materials they are viewing. I believe that the are looking for a program that is organized, active, informative and passionate about the same things that they are or hope to be passionate about themselves.
Reader profile
The primary reader of my brochure is a young adult ages 18-24 who is interested in the English department at USM for personal future professional reasons. My relationship to my readers is a peer to peer relationship. We are on the same level and I am a source of insider information into the department. I will take into account the level of interests of my readers first. For example, most readers will be in a decision making mode as they read the brochure therefore I will write it in a more persuasive tone. However, they will be somewhat familiar with the field and its opportunities. I will add internet resources into my brochure keeping in mind that most research is now done online. Other readers may include faculty and peers of the English Department.
Situational analysis
The events and circumstances that affect the way that I write are the very nature of the department. Because it is the English department a publication sponsored by it will need to be top notch in its grammar, tone and word usage. Although this is a nerve wracking feat a small mistake could damage the departments credibility.
Usability objectives
The reader will most likely be asking questions such as what is this department all about? Do I agree with its claims? And what opportunities does it offer me? In searching to the answer to these questions most readers will use the selective reading route, by scanning and only reading the information that pertains to their interests. Key terms my reader will be looking for are “opportunities, You, success, writing, assistance and renowned.” The reader will use the given information to compare to other university departments. Important points of comparison are number of programs/opportunities, staff involvement, and credibility. The information should persuade them that USM’s English department has all the elements that they are looking for.
Persuasive objectives
The reader’s attitude toward my subject is very open and searching they are usually hungry for information that is truthful. Their attitude toward me is similar to their attitude toward the information however, in me they are looking for a fellow searcher who has found the way.
Stakeholders
Other than myself the main stakeholders in this project are the professors and teachers. Their jobs rely on student’s joining in the program if the brochure fails to represent them and the English department in a positive way it could lead to the decline of the department.
Constraints
The constraints are the same as the situational analysis. Outside factors that affect the way I write is the department’s professionalism and critical eye itself.

Blog assignment 2

Blog assignment 2

In the article “Making Community Connections: What does academe Have to Do with the Real World” Dr. Xae Alicia Reyes describes the important role that teacher participation in extracurricular activities plays in a teacher overall effectiveness. Reyes is the Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction of Puerto Rican and Latino studies. She has strong convictions about students’ education not being hindered by the culture they live in. By describing the effect –out of school life- plays in –in school life- Reyes calls for teacher to overcome the challenges by getting involved in the local community and bridging the gap between school life and the real world.

Dr. Reyes seems to be writing in a teaching context; this article’s purpose being to teach teachers. As a Secondary Education major I am aware of the many facets that make up my profession. One important element is the ability to become part of the school community that Reyes discusses. While I was aware that this was necessary, my previous knowledge did not contain the specific information needed to execute this task. This article was written in order to prevent the issue of uninvolved unsuccessful teachers from progressing. It clearly states that the school system has an issue with teachers of that nature and as a result students are failing to realize the value of their education in the real world. Therefore the future of society is at stake.

The article is part of a compilation of articles written specifically for the instruction of secondary teachers. Therefore the author assumes that her readers will have some knowledge of the field as well as convictions about the topic that are similar to her own. Her view may be biased by her obvious Latin background however; all of her points and topics are valid for all ethnic groups.

The call to write is an invitation that all people receive at some point. Sometimes it comes in the form of a school assignment, grocery list, job requirement or a response to an injustice. All of those instances call for writing to take place. In her article Reyes is responding to what she believes is an injustice to students. As, a result she writes to teachers to adopt a new philosophy into their teaching style. Her writing calls for an urgent and immediate change of teachers’ involvement everywhere.

Reyes’ purpose in writing this article is clear. She is persuading future teachers to realize the importance of involvement in their student’s lives beyond the classroom. This is evident by the nature of the title being posed as a question as well as straightforward word choices she chooses in writing the article.

The intended audience of this article are teachers in training. While that group can contain broad and diverse minds; their overall goal is similar. Through her article Reyes attempts to build a mentor-mentee relationship with her readers. She does this by giving facts as well as personal examples of success. Reyes assumes that her audience has the desire not only to teach but to build relationships with students in order to educate them more effectively.

The language she uses is semi- formal. She stays away from the use of common street slang however she uses a teacher specialized vocabulary as well as the informal “you” to relate to her audience. Her word choice reflects that she assumes her readers are well educated in the field of teaching.

Overall, Reyes’ article seemed to accomplish the purpose for which it was written. It is available specifically to her intended audience, it raises awareness about the issue of teacher involvement, and it instructs on how to fix the issue at hand.