Our PSA project was regarding the hashtag. The target audience that was intended was teen social media users in general, more specifically, Twitter users. I believe that the intended audience was made clear in our video, as most of the opinions were from teenagers. We also have created an advertisement campaign that is also targeted at teenagers through sarcasm and humor. Our project was not totally successful in targeting our intended audience. In a couple of our advertisements, it seemed that the target audience was either parents or older people who are not technologically caught up as teenagers are. Also we did not target teenagers that are not social media users, but it could be possible to extend our project in order to do so.
The ultimate purpose of our PSA project was to educate social media users on the correct usage of the hash tag that was made popular by Twitter. In the introduction of our video, we explained the history of the hash tag and how it was meant to be used by the creator and Twitter in general. Our advertisement campaign also had many links to websites that explained how to properly use the hash tag and how to avoid using it incorrectly. The main rhetorical strategy that we used was the process of interviewing people. In total we interviewed 4 people, 2 Twitter users and 2 non Twitter users, but in the final video one non Twitter user was edited out. We also used some color contrast in the advertisements that we created. The goal was to make the advertisements pop and spark the interest of the audience.
The most difficult part of the project was coming up with a solid plan for the project. We had trouble deciding on one specific project to do because we all had some different ideas. For example, I wasn’t totally on board with the advertisement campaign and only wanted to do the interviews, but Howie was able to convince me by showing some effective examples he created in high school. Even after the idea for the project was finalized, we had trouble writing the scripts for the introduction and conclusion. At first, we were unsure if we even wanted to do a conclusion, but after some thought it seemed that it would be necessary to finish up the video.
This PSA project, as well the whole English 125 class, has taught me how to use rhetorical strategies in digital media, as well as become familiar with digital literacy. Before this class, I was unaware that literacy could be applied to mediums that was not reading and writing like I had originally thought. Also I was unaware that blogs, advertisements, and online articles paid attention to rhetorical strategies to gain the audience’s attention. Our project on the hash tag also taught me more about digital literacy and mediums that can be used to communicate. I learned that the hash tag is not only a symbol used on Twitter, but an article of speech that has proper and improper usage. Hash tags can be an effective way of communication by shortening long sentences into only a few words that explain the main points of the sentence. This project also taught me how to effectively use film as a way of communication in an academic context. I always thought that educational films were all documentaries and were slow to get the point across, but I learned that there are many short videos out there that effectively teach the viewer important information. From our project, I learned that there are many different and conflicting views on the hash tag that I never thought existed. I also learned that the hash tag is so widely used that it has established itself as a valid form of communication. From my total experience in English 125, I learned that digital media and writing utilizes rhetorical strategies as well, if not better, than traditional written work. Digital media is no longer a novelty to the world and it can be extremely effective in academic or social contexts.
- Where you were in your project before the session.
Before our session we had all the interviews and the advertisements completed.
- Where you are in your project right now, as the session wraps up.
We did some preliminary editing to the film but mostly we completed the conclusion for the film.
- What you accomplished during the session. So, tell me what footage you edited, what research you conducted, what technological mishaps you encountered, what interviews you recorded, what conversations you had, what writing you completed, what captions you created, so on and so forth.
During this session, we did some finalization to the advertisements then we decided to film the conclusion. We wrote out a script and then Rohan voiced it over the film. At the end of the session we have all the film done so now only editing remains.
- Your goals for future sessions.
Our next class period is the presentation day, so we will have to meet over the weekend to finish the editing.
- Where you were in your project before the session.
Before our session we only had the introduction filmed and the hashtag was researched enough to begin making the advertisements.
- Where you are in your project right now, as the session wraps up.
After the session was over, we had filmed 3 interviews and the advertisements for the hashtag was mostly completed. We had not done any editing so far, but we have most of the raw footage.
- What you accomplished during the session. So, tell me what footage you edited, what research you conducted, what technological mishaps you encountered, what interviews you recorded, what conversations you had, what writing you completed, what captions you created, so on and so forth.
During this session, we completed the research we needed in the first couple minutes. Then we printed out our script for the interviews and Rohan and I went out to film some interviews. We were able to obtain 3 interviews. Howie was able to complete the 3 advertisements that we had planned for our presentation.
- Your goals for future sessions.
For our next session, we wish to obtain the final interview. Then we hope to have the conclusion written and filmed. If time permits, we will begin editing the footage and putting together the final film.
- Where you were in your project before the session.
We had not done any work on the project before this session. We had a plan, but no actual work towards the film was done.
- Where you are in your project right now, as the session wraps up.
We have filmed the introduction and background for our film. We have a plan for the rest of the film as well.
- What you accomplished during the session. So, tell me what footage you edited, what research you conducted, what technological mishaps you encountered, what interviews you recorded, what conversations you had, what writing you completed, what captions you created, so on and so forth.
During this session, we did more research on the hashtag. We researched the history and origin of the hashtag. After research was completed, we wrote the script for the introduction of our film. After the script was completed, we filmed the introduction.
- Your goals for future sessions.
For our next session, we wish to write the script for our interviews and conclusions. We can film the conclusion during class time, as the interviews will probably be done outside of class if we are unable to find interviewees during class time. We also wish to complete our advertisements during next class period.
This is a point of view shot. This picture is what Rohan was seeing from his point of view. This kind of shot shows what the viewer was seeing at a specific time.
This shows Gestalt’s Law of Continuity because the layout of buttons makes lines and forms a square shape in the mind. Also the way that red is used is to represent life and passion, which is what coke commercials try to emphasize.
This is a picture of flyers that represents the Gestalt Law of Continuity. When we saw this arrangement we immediately thought of the flyers making a continuous line.
Texting has become a very popular form of communication in our technological age. Texting is a form of writing because coherent messages are still being formed in order to communicate an idea to another person. Although the messages aren’t being produced on paper or proper publications, it is still writing because words are still being created and are seen by other people. It is also a form of writing because it has its own dictionary. There are many slang terms that people use while texting and it has become common knowledge to understand what these words mean. I believe that texting is indeed a valuable form of writing. It is a valuable form because it allows people to communicate very easily and efficiently. The idea of being able to instantly message someone on their phone is very valuable especially when phones are now part of everyone’s lives. I personally use texting as a form of communication. It’s much easier than calling someone because to call someone you have to be in a quiet environment and try not to bother people around you. Sending e-mails also isn’t as instant as texting and e-mail is thought of as a more formal form of electronic communication. I do not believe texting is academic writing. Texting will never be used as a form of writing to compose essays and write formally. Texting is not practical when someone wants to write a 4 page essay or write a research paper. Also texting shouldn’t be considered academic writing because texting is usually done without carefully thinking what to say and done quickly to get the message out. Texting doesn’t realy bring anything to academic writing that other technologies cannot. Computers are a much more efficient way to type a long paper or write an academic article, thus texting should not be considered an academic writing form.
Navigating and reading through Re-Inventing the Possibilities was quite difficult and interesting at the same time. It was an interesting way to show information because the viewer can click on whatever they want and choose what articles to read. Every viewer has their own unique experience when they read through this article. I thought it was difficult to read through it, since I didn’t know where to start and stop. I chose to navigate through the article by clicking on random letters and reading the articles that I was linked to. The article about New Media Commonplaces was very informative. The article had many examples on commonplaces such as context, element, and emotion. The path I chose to read this article greatly affected the way I learned about commonplaces. I may have easily missed perfect examples of some commonplaces and reading some articles in the wrong order could also affect how I learned about commonplaces.
In Hugh Burns’ video, the primary argument is about how writing has changed. There is interaction between children and an old typewriter that they have no clue how to operate, thus not being able to write on it. Then the children are interacting with a cell phone and it is shown that they are enjoying themselves with it, showing that writing has evolved to the point that writing on a phone, like text messaging, is the primary way of communication. One topoi that Burns invoked well was that of sequence. Burns was the creator of the video, so he intended for the video to have short clips and then cuts to just words on the screen. His choice of order was his own so he invoked sequence. He also used the topoi link. Link is shown because the children immediately show an affinity for the cell phone instead of the typewriter. Inside the element of his video, there are links being created between the objects and the people that was intended by the creator.
Questions
1. Do you agree with Burns that writing is no longer what it used to be? That technology has dominated and writing articles and papers has no place?
2. Did you think that the way Re-Inventing the Possibilities was organized was successful to get the message across? Did you read every article or did you pick and choose, which could lead to missing vital information?
I was part of the class that had to read Driscoll’s “Introduction to Primary Research”. The kind of research that I am doing characterized by Driscoll is primary research because I am analyzing something straight from the source without using outside sources. Since the poster that I am analyzing came straight from the original source, it is primary research. Driscoll’s strategy to analyzing sources is more of a scientific and rigorous method. First she says that background information is needed before you can start analyzing and then introduce the topic. After all that is done, you should be able to construct a valid thesis based off factual information. For the rest of the research paper, she says that many examples should be provided. For each example, analysis is needed to make the placement of the example needed. There is no point in putting examples that have no analysis because it adds nothing to the paper. Driscoll states that conducting interviews would be helpful in gaining primary research, but for my rhetorical analysis it is quite difficult to conduct an interview with the head of the World Wildlife Fund. Although it would be difficult, the information would be helpful because I can understand why they put out the advertisement in the first place and what was their reasoning. If Driscoll was in the room with me, I believe that she would tell me to further analyze my examples and provide more examples that are relevant to the topic. Having stronger body paragraphs with rich examples would make the essay much more organized and analytical.
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