Connecting: A Poetic Response

Connecting: A Poetic Response

            Poetry, when felt rather than simply read, can be powerful. The poem, She dwelt among the untrodden ways, is one that was able to establish strong feelings that I could connect with. The author, William Wordsworth, created a poem that utilized poetic tools in order to create a visual of a woman by the name of Lucy. These tools not only helped to create a visual of her but also to establish an understanding and acknowledgement of both her great beauty and her extreme loneliness. The connection that I felt with this poem was created by the tools used by the author and further developed as a result of the use of language.

            The power of this poem and its ability to create feelings within me were, in part, due to Wordswoth’s ability to effectively utilize metaphors. The use of metaphors stirred up memories of a loved one whose internal beauty was beyond belief even though the world failed to notice her. Lucy is described as “a violet by a mossy stone half-hidden from the eye” (as cited in Clugston, 2010, section 9.2). Lucy is beautiful but goes unnoticed, hidden by that which surrounds her. Wordsworth went on to write that Lucy was “fair as a star, when only one is shining in the sky” (as cited in Clugston, 2010, section 9.2). Again, the author identified the beauty that Lucy owned even though it went unnoticed because of her surroundings. His suggestion was that she would only be noticed were she the only in the sky.

            Additionally, the power of this poem was felt even though the language was not modern. In the title and the first line of the poem the author writes that she, Lucy, “...dwelt among the untrodden ways” (as cited in Clugston, 2010, section 9.2). This particular poem was written over 200 years ago, which could play a large role in the differences in speech between this poem and what is now considered everyday or modern. Other than the initial line, the words in this poem are simple and could be considered everyday speech. The way in which the words are grouped together and utilized is slightly different. An example would be the way that Wordsworth decides to tell the reader that Lucy has passed. Instead of simply writing Lucy has died, he writes that “...Lucy ceased to be” (as cited in Clugston, 2010, section 9.2).

            The difference in the title and first line of this poem, regarding everyday speech, forced me to focus on the initial line of this poem more intently. The first line revealed a lot about Lucy which was important in strengthening the view of Lucy’s worth throughout the poem. The first line identified that Lucy was among people and was untouched. The fact that the language varied caused me to take pause and ensure that I was correctly grasping the meaning and intent behind the initial line and the title before I continued on to the rest of the poem whose language became more common and understandable, as it further progressed in the story of Lucy.

            Wordsworth’s ironic twist, in the last stanza, further bound me to this piece by strengthening the connection that I had established throughout the first two. He emphasized, again, Lucy’s loneliness and the way that others ignored her presence so much so that her death went nearly unnoticed when he wrote “...and few could know, when Lucy ceased to be” (as cited in Clugston, 2010, section 9.2). This line drew on my memories of the important female in my life and the fact that she has passed. “But she is in her grave, and oh, the difference to me” (as cited in Clugston, 2010, section 9.2), was the line that most established connection. Even though the wording varied from how the same thing might be said now, the meaning did not change. There was a love and strong connection for Lucy by the poem’s persona. Even though the world might not have noticed Lucy, he did, and her loss is felt deeply.

            In conclusion, She dwelt among the untrodden ways, created high levels of emotions when it was read. The content within created a personal connection and the use of metaphors helped to further identify the importance of the poem’s main focus which, in turn, continued to stir personal feelings of someone that I love. This connection was intensified through the use of language that seemed very different than my personal everyday speech in the title and first line of the writing which seemed to develop a more attentive eye and helped to maintain focus through the rest of the piece. Overall, the piece was able to grasp me as a reader and keep me contained through the effective use of poetic tools and language.

Reference

Clugston, W. (2010). Journey into Literature. Bridgepoint: San Diego, CA

           

Visual Communication

September 11th

It is likely that if you ask anyone where they were on September 11^th, when the Twin Towers were brought down by terrorist attacks, they will be able to tell you.  Personally, I was in my high school cafeteria when I was told of the tragedy.  When the images of the attack were viewed, emotions followed. 

For me, the images brought a great sadness.  The smoke that encompassed the buildings coupled with the images of human beings either leaping or falling to their deaths was nearly unbearable.

However, through the tragedy, there was such great unity. When images were shown of the crowds that surrounded the towers, you could not tell what race anyone was. Their faces were covered in ash and they clung to one another as they struggled to find their loved ones and the loved ones of complete strangers. Men and women, white and black bonded on that day and worked together toward a greater cause, pushing aside their differences. “People everywhere are united now in being possible or actual targets or victims of terrorism and it is terrorists who now occupy the attention of police agencies and military everywhere, since terrorism is now a global menace” (Berger, 2008, p. 66).

Additionally, 9/11 and the images of death and destruction that were portrayed also made us more aware of the fact that there are true threats that exist in this world.  Berger (2008) also states that “…it is through images that…we are increasingly aware of the existence of terrorists and the danger they pose to democratic societies” (p. 67). 

From this knowledge, security measures have increased and travel, at one point, decreased at our airports.  Societies’ method of travel changed for a time because of people’s general fear of flying. 

In my opinion, many American’s felt that they were “immune” from such acts of terrorism.  I believe that it was seen as an occurrence that only happened in faraway lands.  9/11 put into perspective how there is no immunity from terrorism and it changed our culture from being one that feels safe from threats and instead transformed us into one that is much more aware of the fact that we are surrounded by them.

Reference:

Berger, A. (2008). Seeing is Believing An Introduction to Visual Communication.

Literary Analysis: Cathedral

Cathedral

            Narrations allow authors to present their thoughts and feelings in a way that can, hopefully, create change in the reader. A message suggested through the writing, when done correctly, is one that the reader receives appropriately. The message, or theme, presented in Cathedral propels itself forward through the use of key elements The use of the key elements in narrative stories, such as the point of view and symbols, can help to pull the writing together and push the theme forward, propelling the message that the author intended for their readers. The theme of this writing is revealed through the use of the point of view that allows the reader to understand the narrator's blindness as well as symbols that relate to the important events of the text.

Theme

            Cathedral, written by Raymond Carver, seems to house a number of themes. The writing touches on the stereotypes that the world has to those that are considered handicap and how these stereotypes can be so wrong. Also, the writing touches on isolation and the pain associated with such isolation as well as the power of connections that can help pull on through those feelings. However, the theme that seems strongest in this particular writing is that one may be too blind to see the flaws within themselves but their flaws can be evident and pushed to change by the least likely observer.

            The story follows a narrator that sees the world through blind eyes, failing to take the time to truly know someone before making judgments about who he believes them to be. The narrator believes that Robert, the blind man, is less capable or able than himself. When he realizes that the man smokes, his thoughts were revealed because he believed "...that the blind didn't smoke because...they couldn't see the smoke they exhaled" (as cited in Clugston, 2010, pp. 160). Another comment made about Robert was that the narrator "...always thought dark glasses were a must for the blind" (as cited by Clugston, 2010, pp. 159). These particular thoughts, shared by the narrator, reveal that he is blind to the world around him.

Point of View

            Cathedral's story progresses via the first person narrator. This particular narrator remains nameless but their personality reveals itself through their thoughts and actions throughout the writing. The use of first person narration for this piece helps to reveal the theme and show the lack of insight that the narrator holds. His prejudice, stereotype-drive thoughts, and insensitivity toward others push the story forward and create, in the reader, a strong desire to see his ways change and become a prelude to the change that eventually does happen.

            The narrator's personality traits become obvious throughout the thoughts, actions, and comments made by the narrator throughout the majority of the piece. He, the narrator, seemed to have no connection to the emotions that others experienced. When he initially introduced the idea of Robert's visit, he said that his wife had died and that "..he was visiting the dead wife's relatives..." (as cited by Clugston, 2010, pp.154). The way in which he spoke of this stranger's wife made the event seem almost meaningless. His insensitivity does not just extend to the blind stranger but, also to his wife when he makes a comment about her writing. At one point, he speaks on his wife's poetry, which she writes about experiences that are very meaningful and important to her, by saying "I can remember I didn't think much of the poem” (as cited by Clugston, 2010, pp.155).

Symbolism

            Another way that the author pushes the story forward to help promote its theme is through the use of symbolism. The first symbol that seemed to stand out was the touching of the narrator's wife's face by Robert. This particular event was one that proved to be extremely important to her. The narrator tells us that "she even tried to write a poem about it"(as cited by Clugston, 2010, pp. 155). This particular act seems to solidify the importance of the relationship that the narrator's wife and Robert share. This is also why the narrator's lack of interest in his wife's poem show his insensitivity toward her. Not only is the poetry important but, Robert is as well. The touch between them showed the comfort and trust that existed.

            Additionally, the cathedral was a symbol within this writing. The "cathedral is a symbol of great human achievement and spiritual devotion: the result of a community effort, cooperation, and trust" (Clugston, 2010, pp. 164). The explanation that Robert asked the narrator to provide of the cathedral is what brought about the cooperation between the two of them and eventually the trust that the narrator gave to Robert. The narrator begins to trust Robert when told to close his eyes and continue to draw  with his eyes closed. The narrator does so narrating, "I closed them just like he said" (as cited by Clugston, 2010, pp. 167). Through this act of trust and cooperation, the narrator continues to draw the cathedral and is finally able to "see" and move toward a change.

Conclusion

            In conclusion, the use of elements such as the point of view or symbols can help to reveal the theme to the readers and give the understanding of the piece that the author intended. The theme of this story moved forward and revealed through the author in first person as he went from being blind to finally being able to see. His negative thoughts about the person that helped him turned into trust and, as a result, led to gained insight.

Reference

Clugston, R.W. (2010). Journey Into Literature. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Technical Writing

Brushing Your Teeth: An Educational Tool for Parents

            As a parent, it is important to provide your children with the knowledge and understanding to properly maintain good oral hygiene. One way of doing this is by providing them with the tools necessary in order to effectively brush their teeth so that these skills can be used for years to come. There are steps in order to do so, and knowing these steps and a simple way of explaining them can help to open the door to the education process.

Step 1: Place the toothbrush on a hard, flat surface with the bristles facing upward. This will allow for proper application of toothpaste in the steps to follow.

Step 2: Place the appropriate amount of toothpaste onto the bristles of the toothbrush. The amount needed for your child can be found on the toothpaste label.

Step 3: Once the toothpaste is secured on the bristles of the toothbrush, gently lift the toothbrush from its handle and insert the head of the toothbrush into the mouth. At this point, the bristles of the toothbrush should be facing the inside of the mouth while being gently pressed to the teeth.

Step 4: Now, it is time to begin the act of brushing. Move the toothbrush up-and-down then side-to-side within the mouth ensuring that all of the teeth are given a few seconds of attention. Remember to brush all sides of the teeth and not just those parts that are visible. This step should take approximately two minutes time.

Step 5: Once the teeth have been brushed, lean over the sink and spit the excess toothpaste down the drain. Be sure not to swallow this liquid.

Step 6: Turn on the faucet to rinse the spit and toothpaste down the drain. While this is happening, scoop some water into the mouth with a cupped hand. Swish the water vigorously in the mouth for ten seconds and then discard this liquid into the sink via spitting. This will help to clean any excess toothpaste that may have been left in the mouth.

Step 7: Rinse the toothbrush thoroughly under running water. Once this is complete, turn off the faucet and return the toothbrush to its place.

            Introducing your child to these simple steps can help to establish proper brushing habits that could benefit them for many years to come. By giving them the necessary tools at an early age, they can take ownership of their oral health. Following these step-by-step instructions will help to open the window of education between yourself and your young one.

Got Ethics? (Part II)

The Dilemma—Lunch Reservations
Ever since you took the job last year, your boss has asked you to schedule a weekly lunch date with his mistress. You don’t like doing it, but you’ve made the reservations anyway. Last month you met his wife at a business luncheon. Now that she has met you, whenever she calls and he is out, she asks, “Can you tell me where he is?” You can’t stand being an accomplice. What will you do?

My Solution

This situation is wrong, according to my personal ethics. However, this is more of a personal situation than a business one. I would have to accommodate the situation. Abigail & Cahn (2011) describe accommodating as “...smoothing over conflicts, obliging others, and not making waves” (pp. 49). I would have to let the manager know that his wife is calling and inquiring on his whereabouts. Additionally, I would have to advise him that I would not make up any stories but, that the situation did not involve me and that I would also not inform her of where he was for lunch. My boss’ personal indiscretions, so long as they do not interfere with work, are not something that I feel is appropriate to be concerned with even if I am the person setting up the weekly date.








What would you do?

References

Abigail, R. & Cahn, D. (2011). Managing Conflict Through Communication: Fourth Edition.           Allyn & Bacon: Boston.

Creating the Visually Appealing Blog

Design

In order to impress your audience, blogs need to be created with design in mind. They must be visually appealing so that the reader is interested in continuing to view the related content. There are a few elements to consider when creating a blog.

Theme

The blogs theme is the background or the visual elements that encompass the blog’s content. Zac Linzmeier (2008) considers this to be the most important element of any visually effective blog. This is the first element of the blog that is recognized by the potential audience so it needs to be strongly considered. Relating the background to the content can help add value to the blog itself.

There are sites available to assist in the creation of one’s blog that provide free themes such as Jump2Top and BloggerTemplatesFree. These sites can be used to help to create a blog that stands out from the other blogs on the site that is being used.

Header

            The header will include the title of the blog and give the reader’s a quick idea of the blog’s content. This is the first content that is recognized by the reader as they are looking to understand what your blog is about and why that matters to them. “If you do not have superb Photoshop skills there are many professionals to be hired for as little as five dollars per graphic” (Linzmeier, 2008).

Layout

            Though the theme sets up a blog by its preset standards, there is always an opportunity to customize the layout and make it your own. You can do this by deciding where elements of the blog will be, such as your profile, or by deciding “…how many blog posts you want on your front page” (Linzmeier, 2008). These decisions help to create a blog that suits the needs of your potential audience.

Content

            The visual element of the blog’s content cannot go ignored. “It is good to add at least one image to each blog post” (Linzmeier, 2008). Images help to add value to the written work and provide the reader with a chance to get an understanding of what they are going to read prior to even doing so.

            Also, consistency in content is important. “Keep your formatting, your fonts, paragraph style, etc. consistent on each and every blog post you write” (Linzmeier, 2008). This will make the content flow from one piece to the next and link the blog’s writing by its visual elements.

Evaluation of Peers' Blogs

Communication is Key

            In this blog, the author has found a more personalized theme to add to their blog. This helps to set them apart from other blogs as they have gone beyond the themes available on this particular site and found one that relates to their content. The author went the extra step to include the theme design’s element of a key in the title of the blog. This is one of those little additions that add large value.

            This blog could gain some visual appeal by following the above guideline of consistency. Some of the content has different backgrounds to it which take away from the overall look of the site. Some of them are completely surrounded by a white background while others are not.

Laughter is the Key

            This blog houses a dark theme which is a stark contradiction to the title, Laughter is the Key. Generally, when laughter is considered, the thoughts of light and happiness follow. This blog has given the reader the opposite. This can be an element of this blog that pulls the reader in by sheer curiosity.

            Images are not present in this blog. As previously suggested, at least one image should be present in each of the blogs and, unfortunately, this did not happen. This forces the reader to find out what each blog is about by reading its content. By adding images to each blog and providing the reader with an idea of the pieces content, value can be added and readership can potentially increase.

Communication is theKey to Success

            This blog is light and visually appealing. The color scheme and layout create a professional image. The image of the road in the background could, potentially, be this author’s road to success.

            Regarding the visual aspects of the content, there is room for improvement. The font and paragraph styles are not consistent. The lack of consistency takes away from the blog’s overall imagery.

            Also, like the previous blog review, there are no images added to the content. The addition of images could improve upon the written work and provide the blog’s audience a chance to review the content of the blog prior to actually reading it.

Reflection

            From these reviews and the information found regarding improving upon the visual aspects of a blog, I plan to continue to work to improve my work. I want to ensure that the content of my work is reflected by at least one image. I believe that most of them already are but, I will continue to ensure that any future blogs adhere to this.

            Additionally, I will continue to ensure that the font and paragraph styles of my blog are consistent. I see how this adds value to a blog and creates a visually appealing blog page. I will review what I have already written and make changes where necessary while ensuring that I consider this in all future blogs.

References

Harris, B. (2012). Communication is Key. Retrieved May 3, 2012 from, http://communicationiskey-com480.blogspot.com/

Hubbard, J. (2012). Communication is the Key to Success. Retrieved May 3, 2012 from, http://jodiehubbardcom480.blogspot.de/

Linzmeier, Z. (2008). Tips for Making Your Blog Visually Appealing. Yahoo! Voices. Retrieved May 5, 2012 from, http://voices.yahoo.com/tips-making-blog-visually-appealing-2241405.html?cat=15

McCandies, P. (2012). Laughter is the Key. Retrieved May 3, 2012 from, http://philipmccandies.blogspot.com/

Got Ethics? (Part I)

The Dilemma-The Boss’s Expense Report

Your boss conveniently loses his expense report for his last trip. On his way into a meeting, he drops a blank report on your desk and asks you to fill in the blanks, saying, “Make it add up to $300 or so.” What will you do?

Solution

The boss is attempting to get their assistant to, essentially, forge documentation about a business trip. He does not have receipts, for whatever reason, so his assistant is expected to make up the information without any knowledge of what they are writing.

In this particular situation, I need more information to determine my course of action. This could be a simple mistake, on the part of the manager, and something that requires little to no further discussion. If this is not a common occurrence, then simply finding out what types of things money were spent on and making approximate totals does not seem unreasonable. However, if this boss has a history of unethical behavior, than it would be wrong to go along with this request because it would be known that this is probably an illegal action on the part of the manager.

What would you do?

References

American Management Association. (2008, Jan 18). Ethics and the Administrative Professional

Ethics? What is that?

Ethics. This is a word that many may not understand but a word that holds great value in the professional world. Individuals and companies alike rise and fall based on their respect of and dedication to this word and its meaning.

Bing defines ethics as “a system of moral principles governing the appropriate conduct for a person or group”.

Dictionary.com defines ethics as “the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.”

Ethics are an individual's and a company's moral code. They define what is considered valuable to the conduct of either. Good ethics can help to maintain a positive image while poor ethics can create a downward spiral.

Consider the ethics of Enron. This is a company that many know of for their bad behavior. Their ethics were poor and, as a result, they paid the price. This company, along with the individuals involved in the scandal, will continue to be known for the negative decisions that they made.

It is imperative that in both our professional and our personal lives we consider our ethics. We need to ensure that they are good in nature and that they are ethics that cause us to conduct ourselves in a manner that is appropriate. It is unlikely that anyone wants to be known for actions such as those taken by Enron.




Following this post, ethical dilemmas titled "Got Ethics" will be presented. Some will come with a decision path that I would follow while others may not. Please feel free to respond to them.

Communications Pays

Communications Career Fields

Thinking of Taking on a degree in Communications? Here are some fields that the degree can open the door to!

Technical Writer: A technical writer creates documents such as manuals or other technical pieces of communication. “They also develop, gather, and disseminate technical information among customers, designers, and manufacturers” (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

The median income range for a technical writer is $63,280/yr (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Public Relations Managers and Specialists: “Public relations managers and specialists create and maintain a favorable public image for their employer or client” (Bureau of Labor Statistics). They do this through research and by utilizing their communications skills in order to understand and deal with the public appropriately.

The median income range for public relations managers and specialists is $57,550/year (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Writers and Authors: “Writers and authors develop original written content…” (Bureau of Labor Statistics). They create stories that are either read or seen on screens such as television or film. They are creative thinkers.

Writers and authors have a median income of about $55k/year (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Editors: “Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication” (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

This career path houses a median income of $51k/year (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Reporters: Reporters "...inform the public about news and events..." (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

The median income fro this field is 36k/year (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Reference

Bureau of Labor Statistics (n.d.). United States Department of Labor. Retrieved May 1, 2012 from, http://www.bls.gov/home.htm

Is a Degree in Communications for me?

Ashford University Online -- Communications Studies -Here you can find information about obtaining a degree in Communications with an online university. Obtaining a degree online is a great way to balance one's life and educational goals!




Here are some articles that can help give information on the benefits of a degree in Communications Studies:

Why Get a Communications Degree?
Communications Studies
Benefits of Earning a Degree in Communications