Presentations are often the most feared requirement in both the academic and professional workplace. This fear is often found in individual as well as group presentations. However, with proper planning, a group/individual presentation can become less fearful. A listing of specific guidelines as outlined in the course textbook along with personal experiences will be discussed later within this blog. First, I would like to discuss the overall group progress. Currently, our group has created a draft brochure. The purpose of this brochure is to successfully assist incoming online English 333 students. The brochure consists of different sections (i.e. technological requirements, frequently asked questions, etc) with the common goal of making the online course experience an easy transition. The group is in the process of providing one another feedback and making the necessary final edits. Our next step will be the group presentation. Listed below are steps to take prior to and during group presentations (as paraphrased from the Writing in Academic, Professional and Public Contexts, 2008 along with personal experiences):
1.Know your audience
2.Relax
3.Create an outline with the responsible person
4.Respect each other’s opinions
5.Decide on format to use (handouts, PowerPoint, etc.)
6.Rehearse
7.Do not rely on technology as a crutch (maintain eye-contact)
8.Include a copy of the document being discussed
9.Offer reasonable time for audience discussion
When the aforementioned steps are utilized, a presentation is typically viewed as a success. In other words, pre-planning is essential in a presentation that is successful and maintains the audience’s attention.
After group discussion and following the previously mentioned steps, I created a draft outline. The outline is as follows:
I. Introduction
A. Who we are?
B. Online Course Pros and Cons
C. Distance Learning at USM
D. English 333 (Technical Writing) Course Description
II. Brochure
A. Purpose
B. Process
C. Components
III. Words of Wisdom
A. Quotes
B. Concepts
IV. Miscellaneous
A. Basic Writing Tips
B. Frequently Asked Questions
V. Next Steps
The above outline is only a draft and will be finalized after more group discussion this week. However, the outline will retain its five components due project management concerns. In other words, keeping the approach simple and to the point.
It is anticipated that our discussion will be 15-30 minutes, unless otherwise noted by course requirements. Of the 15-30 minutes, equal time will be divided among each member of the group. This will be accompanied by sufficient time allotted for any questions from the audience. Upon completion, we hope the brochure and related project material (podcast) will be uploaded to the English Department’s website or a component of future English 333 classes.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Blog Six Group's Project
The purpose of Group 4’s project was to create a document that will successfully assist incoming online English 333 students. The final document produced will be a brochure with the intent of being placed on the English Department’s website. An online course is often seen as a convenient and self-paced alternative to the traditional classroom setting. However, an online course can also be seen as difficult and frightening for those that have little or no computer experience. The brochure and the information within will equip the individual with checklists, facts and proper technological requirements. Currently, a template for the aforementioned brochure has been selected. The next step is data gathering and publishing of the printed media. This report will give details of the work performed to date along with providing any possible issues that may arise/exist.
The work completed thus far on the project has gone relatively well. However, as with any group effort, there is always the possibility of issues that arise. It is imperative to have established or follow specific group dynamic principles to have a successful effort. In working within this group, I have adhered to the following principles:
•Make sure that everyone within the group understands the overall purpose of the project;
•Identify the strengths and weaknesses of each participant;
•Agreement on the form of media or product to be produced (print or digital);
•A list of tasks that will be done by each person;
•Select specific times for group meetings (in-person, email,telephone or other for of technology;
•Distribute progress reports or drafts within the group and
•Decide on which individual will submit the final document or other form of media to the proper individual
As stated earlier, there have been no major problems related to group communications/dynamics. However, the only problem (minor in nature) was how to gain input from other members of the class. It was discussed among those within the group whether to develop a survey and distribute to current class members or a mixture which included outsiders. The decision reached among group participants was to survey only those within the class. Input gathered to make this decision was done through email and phone conversations and didn’t consist of one individual having sole authority. The entire group decided to keep the survey short and allow for some questions that required participants to type responses. Instead of upgrading current software, SurveyMonkey (http://www/surveymonkey.com) was utilized. This is free software that is used to generate surveys that can be distributed to individuals. The only other minor problem is the difficulty in bringing everyone together at a specific time. However, this isn’t uncommon among those with children and hectic work schedules. However, extra effort has been made to select meeting times which doesn’t interfere with work or obligations at home. All three members within the group have communicated through email and telephone. In summary, there have been no major setbacks. It is anticipated that the project will be completed on or prior to July 31st.
The project is now almost 50 percent complete. Among the tasks completed related to this project have been: agreeing on a common goal (creating a brochure to assist incoming online English 333 students), designing a survey to be distributed among class members, distributing the survey and selecting a brochure design. Once information is obtained and tabulated from class members, more text will be placed within the document. A draft will then be completed and distributed among group members in an effort to give a final version to Professor Bandy. Everyone within this group is communicating either via email or phone. The aforementioned action makes a group process a successful venture. When a group communicates—success follows. However, if communication is lacking and a lack of concern exists; a project becomes a burden and will prove to be unsuccessful.
In regard to future projects, I recommend the professor assign personality tests or team building projects to those within the class. These projects will be both fun for class members but also assist in assigning individuals to specific groups. I realize that team building can be difficult to undertake in an online course. However, an in-class session would possibly need to be added to the curriculum. The interaction and results would benefit the instructor and those involved by further strengthening the group dynamic.
The work completed thus far on the project has gone relatively well. However, as with any group effort, there is always the possibility of issues that arise. It is imperative to have established or follow specific group dynamic principles to have a successful effort. In working within this group, I have adhered to the following principles:
•Make sure that everyone within the group understands the overall purpose of the project;
•Identify the strengths and weaknesses of each participant;
•Agreement on the form of media or product to be produced (print or digital);
•A list of tasks that will be done by each person;
•Select specific times for group meetings (in-person, email,telephone or other for of technology;
•Distribute progress reports or drafts within the group and
•Decide on which individual will submit the final document or other form of media to the proper individual
As stated earlier, there have been no major problems related to group communications/dynamics. However, the only problem (minor in nature) was how to gain input from other members of the class. It was discussed among those within the group whether to develop a survey and distribute to current class members or a mixture which included outsiders. The decision reached among group participants was to survey only those within the class. Input gathered to make this decision was done through email and phone conversations and didn’t consist of one individual having sole authority. The entire group decided to keep the survey short and allow for some questions that required participants to type responses. Instead of upgrading current software, SurveyMonkey (http://www/surveymonkey.com) was utilized. This is free software that is used to generate surveys that can be distributed to individuals. The only other minor problem is the difficulty in bringing everyone together at a specific time. However, this isn’t uncommon among those with children and hectic work schedules. However, extra effort has been made to select meeting times which doesn’t interfere with work or obligations at home. All three members within the group have communicated through email and telephone. In summary, there have been no major setbacks. It is anticipated that the project will be completed on or prior to July 31st.
The project is now almost 50 percent complete. Among the tasks completed related to this project have been: agreeing on a common goal (creating a brochure to assist incoming online English 333 students), designing a survey to be distributed among class members, distributing the survey and selecting a brochure design. Once information is obtained and tabulated from class members, more text will be placed within the document. A draft will then be completed and distributed among group members in an effort to give a final version to Professor Bandy. Everyone within this group is communicating either via email or phone. The aforementioned action makes a group process a successful venture. When a group communicates—success follows. However, if communication is lacking and a lack of concern exists; a project becomes a burden and will prove to be unsuccessful.
In regard to future projects, I recommend the professor assign personality tests or team building projects to those within the class. These projects will be both fun for class members but also assist in assigning individuals to specific groups. I realize that team building can be difficult to undertake in an online course. However, an in-class session would possibly need to be added to the curriculum. The interaction and results would benefit the instructor and those involved by further strengthening the group dynamic.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Beginning the Job Search
A job search is considered one of most stress-related activities that college graduates face each year. There are many externalities that exist that make this part of life difficult. For example, no one knows what the economy will be like at a certain point or if moving is really an appropriate form of action. I selected Criminal Justice because of my interest in people and making communities safer, better places to live. However, I also realize that this interest will someday undoubtedly take me outside the limits of this city and the state. There is also the idea of moving my children to an unfamiliar city and the challenges that go along with that action. With the aforementioned in mind, I selected the following four employment opportunities for which to discuss:
•Shelby County, TN (Program Coordinator—Division of Corrections)
http://www.jobs.shelbycountytn.gov
•Lincoln City, OR (Police Officer—Lincoln City Police Department)
http://www.jobs.copcareer.com
•Duluth, MN (Police Officer—Duluth Police Department)
http://www.jobscopcareer.com
•Forrest County, MS (Crime Scene Analyst—Bureau of Forensic Services)
http://www.forrestcountyms.us
All of the above mentioned sites are obviously in different parts of the country but also have many differences in regard to scope. For example, the Shelby County, TN position is a grant-funded position as opposed to the others listed. With all being in different parts of the United States and differences in scope; there were many similarities in regard to their qualifications. These similarities are as follows:
•Associates degree or bachelors degree as the minimum education
•Two years experience
•Good communication skills (oral and written)
•Analyzing facts as a qualification (Crime Scene analysis)
•People skills (general public or elected officials)
•Knowledge of applicable laws
•Computer skills (personal computer or police equipment)
•Passage of a background check
•Basic physical skills (i.e. ability to pick up 75 or 150 lbs.)
Prior to selecting the job four job openings, I assumed my qualifications would not be sufficient or match unevenly with others from those respective jurisdictions. However, I realize that when applying for a job, you must remain positive and better access your strengths and weaknesses. For example, if you are a year from graduating; effort should be made to look at various openings and see what potential employers are looking for in an applicant. If the trend is weighed more towards those with CPR certification, then contact local hospitals and the American Red Cross and inquire about upcoming courses. In analyzing the positions, I researched my previous employment history and coursework— and list the following as skills favorable to an employer:
•Good interpersonal skills—I managed up to 40 people in both of my previous jobs which included two check cashing businesses along with debris workers during a natural disaster clean-up.
•Excellent Communication skills—managing people in both the private and public sector requires good oral skills as well as written. This includes talking to the general public and writing reports for regional managers and elected officials.
•Knowledge of applicable laws—being manager of a check cashing establishment required me to learn local laws as it related to personal property laws and credit laws. Knowledge of local laws be obtained through research; both online and in the local law library.
•Computer skills—extensive knowledge in all of the Microsoft Office Suite along with municipal and county related accounting software.
•Skillful in analysis—working with FEMA after Hurricane Katrina allowed me to quickly analyze during hectic situations and apply knowledge learned through training to apply to situation(s).
All of the aforementioned skills would be addressed in both my cover letter and resume. In my cover letter, I would concentrate on the skill sets along with my working attributes (i.e. hardworking, attention to detail). The resume would simply outline the duties of those jobs in a way to address what the employer was seeking in an applicant. A heading titled skills would be added in bulleted form in an effort to highlight those skills; thereby, making it easier for an employer to find as opposed to reading through text and paragraphs.
I feel that with the requirements set forth in the announcements, the Lincoln City, Oregon job is more applicable at this time. This decision was based on the minimum requirement of having a high school diploma or GED. I would have preferred the Shelby County, Tennessee job due to its work with fathers and help the families function in more productive environments. Again, this is what motivated me to this major was the idea of making a difference in the community. However, that does not mean that the Lincoln City job would not allow me to make a difference. The difference is that Shelby County would allow more one on one counseling type situations. However, I would mention in an interview with Lincoln City, my desire to pursue community outreach in my position in order to make an immediate and lasting impact in the community. This would be mentioned in the cover letter along with concentrating on my analytical and other skills as outlined above.
•Shelby County, TN (Program Coordinator—Division of Corrections)
http://www.jobs.shelbycountytn.gov
•Lincoln City, OR (Police Officer—Lincoln City Police Department)
http://www.jobs.copcareer.com
•Duluth, MN (Police Officer—Duluth Police Department)
http://www.jobscopcareer.com
•Forrest County, MS (Crime Scene Analyst—Bureau of Forensic Services)
http://www.forrestcountyms.us
All of the above mentioned sites are obviously in different parts of the country but also have many differences in regard to scope. For example, the Shelby County, TN position is a grant-funded position as opposed to the others listed. With all being in different parts of the United States and differences in scope; there were many similarities in regard to their qualifications. These similarities are as follows:
•Associates degree or bachelors degree as the minimum education
•Two years experience
•Good communication skills (oral and written)
•Analyzing facts as a qualification (Crime Scene analysis)
•People skills (general public or elected officials)
•Knowledge of applicable laws
•Computer skills (personal computer or police equipment)
•Passage of a background check
•Basic physical skills (i.e. ability to pick up 75 or 150 lbs.)
Prior to selecting the job four job openings, I assumed my qualifications would not be sufficient or match unevenly with others from those respective jurisdictions. However, I realize that when applying for a job, you must remain positive and better access your strengths and weaknesses. For example, if you are a year from graduating; effort should be made to look at various openings and see what potential employers are looking for in an applicant. If the trend is weighed more towards those with CPR certification, then contact local hospitals and the American Red Cross and inquire about upcoming courses. In analyzing the positions, I researched my previous employment history and coursework— and list the following as skills favorable to an employer:
•Good interpersonal skills—I managed up to 40 people in both of my previous jobs which included two check cashing businesses along with debris workers during a natural disaster clean-up.
•Excellent Communication skills—managing people in both the private and public sector requires good oral skills as well as written. This includes talking to the general public and writing reports for regional managers and elected officials.
•Knowledge of applicable laws—being manager of a check cashing establishment required me to learn local laws as it related to personal property laws and credit laws. Knowledge of local laws be obtained through research; both online and in the local law library.
•Computer skills—extensive knowledge in all of the Microsoft Office Suite along with municipal and county related accounting software.
•Skillful in analysis—working with FEMA after Hurricane Katrina allowed me to quickly analyze during hectic situations and apply knowledge learned through training to apply to situation(s).
All of the aforementioned skills would be addressed in both my cover letter and resume. In my cover letter, I would concentrate on the skill sets along with my working attributes (i.e. hardworking, attention to detail). The resume would simply outline the duties of those jobs in a way to address what the employer was seeking in an applicant. A heading titled skills would be added in bulleted form in an effort to highlight those skills; thereby, making it easier for an employer to find as opposed to reading through text and paragraphs.
I feel that with the requirements set forth in the announcements, the Lincoln City, Oregon job is more applicable at this time. This decision was based on the minimum requirement of having a high school diploma or GED. I would have preferred the Shelby County, Tennessee job due to its work with fathers and help the families function in more productive environments. Again, this is what motivated me to this major was the idea of making a difference in the community. However, that does not mean that the Lincoln City job would not allow me to make a difference. The difference is that Shelby County would allow more one on one counseling type situations. However, I would mention in an interview with Lincoln City, my desire to pursue community outreach in my position in order to make an immediate and lasting impact in the community. This would be mentioned in the cover letter along with concentrating on my analytical and other skills as outlined above.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Website Evaulation
Dear Sir or Madam:
My name is Stacey Oatis. I am a Sophmore Criminal Justice major at the University of Southern Mississippi. The purpose of this letter is to offer comments/suggestions to improve your website. As stated earlier, I am a Criminal Justice major. The aforementioned major was chosen based on my interest in the justice system. I feel that we have one of the best justice systems in the world. However, that does not mean that is free of errors and mistakes. With that being said, not everyone has equal access to an attorney. This lack of access is due to many factors, which can all be traced to socioeconomic status/conditions. In other words, financial hardships prevent many individuals the right to an attorney.
Upon my research, I came across your site http://www. Mslegalservices.org. Prior to my comments of your site; I applaud your effort to help those considered less fortunate. For example, your office is funded through the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). According to its website, LSC is considered the largest provider of civil legal aid for the poor in the nation. It promotes equal access to justice and provides grants for high quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans (95% of its funding goes towards independent programs). Also, the typical clients are women, people with disabilities, veterans and victims of domestic abuse. These type of clients are all of which have been identified as the most studied groups in Criminal Justice research. In 2008, LSC provided $4,992,765 in funding to the State of Mississippi. This total was split between the North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, Inc., Mississippi Center for Legal Services and the Choctaw Legal Defense. However, on their website (http://www.lsc.gov), no direct link was provided for the local Hattiesburg field office. This makes it difficult for those seeking your services and lead to lack of equal representation. The later is your sole purpose for being in existence.
I found your site through the use of a search engine. This was based upon my general knowledge of the criminal justice profession and Hattiesburg. However, one without an intimate knowledge or the city or the profession itself, would become frustrated and confused. Upon analyzing your site, I’ve made the following observations related to its strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths
The URL can be considered easy to remember for prospective clients
A toll-free number is listed and easily found on the page
Topics related to the client and their needs are provided
Simple design (reader will not become lost in text or useless facts)
Help section is given that lists types of helps available (i.e. full representation, brief advice, legal clinic, pro se clinics, self-help and other information)
Lists income guidelines (important for those seeking to qualify for services)
Advanced section (section that can be completed to accelerate selection process)
Physical/mailing address of facility is not clearly identifiable (many clients have to utilize mail or show up in person for information)
Weaknesses
Poor layout (no heading or menu bars that would make website more navigable and user-friendly)
Lack of pictures (building with address, attorneys working at their desk or with a client)
No clear mission statement listed
The history of the program (success rate, beginnings and presence within the community)
No Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) Section (this would make answer a prospective client’s question prior to calling or writing)
Information is lacking upon clicking on section topics (effort should be made to include at least one link to document)
Lack of related links section (other social service programs should be linked)
Checklist is not offered (checklist should be when to seek an attorney or characteristics of good a attorney)
The above referenced comments are simply suggestions. You offer a good service to the community and they were made only to further your good work. However, I feel that since you provide a website; it should both offer more information and be user-friendly. I recommend you also consider talking with the local libraries. This suggestion is made based upon your client composition. A majority of them lack the financial resources to purchase a personal computer. Therefore, a public computer should be dedicated to legal research that can be utilized upon library visits. Again, these are just suggestions and not meant to be overly critical of your site. If you have any questions, contact me by email at sdoatis@yahoo.com.
Sincerely,
Stacey Oatis
My name is Stacey Oatis. I am a Sophmore Criminal Justice major at the University of Southern Mississippi. The purpose of this letter is to offer comments/suggestions to improve your website. As stated earlier, I am a Criminal Justice major. The aforementioned major was chosen based on my interest in the justice system. I feel that we have one of the best justice systems in the world. However, that does not mean that is free of errors and mistakes. With that being said, not everyone has equal access to an attorney. This lack of access is due to many factors, which can all be traced to socioeconomic status/conditions. In other words, financial hardships prevent many individuals the right to an attorney.
Upon my research, I came across your site http://www. Mslegalservices.org. Prior to my comments of your site; I applaud your effort to help those considered less fortunate. For example, your office is funded through the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). According to its website, LSC is considered the largest provider of civil legal aid for the poor in the nation. It promotes equal access to justice and provides grants for high quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans (95% of its funding goes towards independent programs). Also, the typical clients are women, people with disabilities, veterans and victims of domestic abuse. These type of clients are all of which have been identified as the most studied groups in Criminal Justice research. In 2008, LSC provided $4,992,765 in funding to the State of Mississippi. This total was split between the North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, Inc., Mississippi Center for Legal Services and the Choctaw Legal Defense. However, on their website (http://www.lsc.gov), no direct link was provided for the local Hattiesburg field office. This makes it difficult for those seeking your services and lead to lack of equal representation. The later is your sole purpose for being in existence.
I found your site through the use of a search engine. This was based upon my general knowledge of the criminal justice profession and Hattiesburg. However, one without an intimate knowledge or the city or the profession itself, would become frustrated and confused. Upon analyzing your site, I’ve made the following observations related to its strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths
The URL can be considered easy to remember for prospective clients
A toll-free number is listed and easily found on the page
Topics related to the client and their needs are provided
Simple design (reader will not become lost in text or useless facts)
Help section is given that lists types of helps available (i.e. full representation, brief advice, legal clinic, pro se clinics, self-help and other information)
Lists income guidelines (important for those seeking to qualify for services)
Advanced section (section that can be completed to accelerate selection process)
Physical/mailing address of facility is not clearly identifiable (many clients have to utilize mail or show up in person for information)
Weaknesses
Poor layout (no heading or menu bars that would make website more navigable and user-friendly)
Lack of pictures (building with address, attorneys working at their desk or with a client)
No clear mission statement listed
The history of the program (success rate, beginnings and presence within the community)
No Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) Section (this would make answer a prospective client’s question prior to calling or writing)
Information is lacking upon clicking on section topics (effort should be made to include at least one link to document)
Lack of related links section (other social service programs should be linked)
Checklist is not offered (checklist should be when to seek an attorney or characteristics of good a attorney)
The above referenced comments are simply suggestions. You offer a good service to the community and they were made only to further your good work. However, I feel that since you provide a website; it should both offer more information and be user-friendly. I recommend you also consider talking with the local libraries. This suggestion is made based upon your client composition. A majority of them lack the financial resources to purchase a personal computer. Therefore, a public computer should be dedicated to legal research that can be utilized upon library visits. Again, these are just suggestions and not meant to be overly critical of your site. If you have any questions, contact me by email at sdoatis@yahoo.com.
Sincerely,
Stacey Oatis
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Defining Your Website's Objectives
I looked at several different websites that were related to Criminal Justice. Upon performing this research, I found that some were stand alone departments while others were combined with other majors such as Sociology. In an effort to meet the requirements of this assignment, I selected three websites to analyze. They are as follows:
• Northeastern University (http://www.cj.neu.edu/)
• Hampton University (http://www.hamptonu.edu/academics/schools/libarts/sociology/index.htm)
• Florida State University (http://criminology.fsu.edu/p/academic-major-req.php)
The aforementioned universities vary in size, course offerings and history. For example, Florida State has the largest enrollment (40,000). Hampton has a total enrollment of 5,402 is classified as a historically black university. Northeastern University is classified as private (23,000) and located within a large urban area (Boston). All three websites exhibit both strengths and weaknesses upon review. With that thought in mind, the following were all questions to consider prior to my analysis:
• Is it user-friendly?
• When the webpage was last updated?
• Are there comments from current and past students?
• What are the course requirements?
• How do I contact the department?
• Is the intended audience for those that already know they want to major in or those undecided?
• Are there any specialization areas for undergraduates?
The previously mentioned points can be considered viable and reminders when looking for information related to a college choice. The following outlines the strengths and weaknesses of each department:
Northeastern University
Strengths
• Mission of department listed
• Calendar of upcoming college and department events
• FAQs Section
• Ask a question component
• Link to newsletter
• Different article that relates to criminal justice upon each site visit
• Centers and institutes within department in which students have access
• Access to course syllabi
• “Is our Program for You” portion
• Link to what current and alumni say about program
Weaknesses
• Information becomes lost under sub-headings
• No email contact or lack of student representatives
• No mention of when last updated
• Lack of reference to social networking programs (Twitter, Facebook, etc)
Hampton University
Strengths
• Simple, good layout
• Lists founders of African-American sociology
• Lists what alumni are doing
• Has link to curriculum
• Date of last update
• References available scholarships
Weaknesses
• Not thorough enough for incoming freshman or someone wanting to change major
• Even though Criminal Justice is concentration, it becomes lost (placed at end of page)
• List social organizations, but no contact person(s)
• Lack of pictures to social events, functions
• No newsletter
• No course syllabi
• Lack of reference to social networking programs (Twitter, Facebook, etc)
Florida State University
Strengths
• Gives links to about the university, college and other programs
• Includes a link to course syllabi
• Links to Centers related to criminal justice and journals edited by department
• Link to schedule of classes
• Possesses links to different forms of financial aid
Weaknesses
• Too much information (not concise)
• Too many external links to other departments
• Page appears to jumbled and reader can become lost in text
• No apparent link to mission of college or department
• No mention of departmental newsletter or student organization
• Lack of alumni section or what current student say about program
• Lack of reference to social networking programs (Twitter, Facebook, etc)
In summary all of the aforementioned sites have their good and bad attributes. However, for a site to be successful, it must assume the reader has limited knowledge. This would allow for most questions to be answered. In today’s society, the last thing someone wants to do is utilize the telephone or snail mail to get questions answered. To be specific, simple questions that could have been addressed through effective web design and the content within each site.
The field of Criminal Justice is a fascinating and rewarding career. However, in order for it grow even more, effective recruitment of new students is necessary. If I were the chair of a Criminal Justice Department, the following objectives would be considered: the audience would be to incoming, transfer and nontraditional students; the desired outcome would be to increase enrollment from its current state; place graduates into workforce; to not only attract the students with effective web-design—but their parents/guardians; provide photos of departmental functions along with newsletters; link to social networking websites; providing a web page/resource that is user-friendly so the reader doesn’t get lost in text and seek to grow individuals that positively reflect the department as well as the university as whole. The major constraint to the web page design would be knowledge of software and possible oversimplification or over abundance of text.
In looking at the previously referenced websites, I learned that simplicity is the key along with knowing what additional tools/resources to incorporate. For example, those sites that included newsletters, photos and course syllabi were seen as stronger. On the other hand, the lack of the aforementioned or reference to alumni (current jobs) were seen as weak. Effective web page design is a delicate balancing act and requires preparation and general knowledge of your intended audience.
• Northeastern University (http://www.cj.neu.edu/)
• Hampton University (http://www.hamptonu.edu/academics/schools/libarts/sociology/index.htm)
• Florida State University (http://criminology.fsu.edu/p/academic-major-req.php)
The aforementioned universities vary in size, course offerings and history. For example, Florida State has the largest enrollment (40,000). Hampton has a total enrollment of 5,402 is classified as a historically black university. Northeastern University is classified as private (23,000) and located within a large urban area (Boston). All three websites exhibit both strengths and weaknesses upon review. With that thought in mind, the following were all questions to consider prior to my analysis:
• Is it user-friendly?
• When the webpage was last updated?
• Are there comments from current and past students?
• What are the course requirements?
• How do I contact the department?
• Is the intended audience for those that already know they want to major in or those undecided?
• Are there any specialization areas for undergraduates?
The previously mentioned points can be considered viable and reminders when looking for information related to a college choice. The following outlines the strengths and weaknesses of each department:
Northeastern University
Strengths
• Mission of department listed
• Calendar of upcoming college and department events
• FAQs Section
• Ask a question component
• Link to newsletter
• Different article that relates to criminal justice upon each site visit
• Centers and institutes within department in which students have access
• Access to course syllabi
• “Is our Program for You” portion
• Link to what current and alumni say about program
Weaknesses
• Information becomes lost under sub-headings
• No email contact or lack of student representatives
• No mention of when last updated
• Lack of reference to social networking programs (Twitter, Facebook, etc)
Hampton University
Strengths
• Simple, good layout
• Lists founders of African-American sociology
• Lists what alumni are doing
• Has link to curriculum
• Date of last update
• References available scholarships
Weaknesses
• Not thorough enough for incoming freshman or someone wanting to change major
• Even though Criminal Justice is concentration, it becomes lost (placed at end of page)
• List social organizations, but no contact person(s)
• Lack of pictures to social events, functions
• No newsletter
• No course syllabi
• Lack of reference to social networking programs (Twitter, Facebook, etc)
Florida State University
Strengths
• Gives links to about the university, college and other programs
• Includes a link to course syllabi
• Links to Centers related to criminal justice and journals edited by department
• Link to schedule of classes
• Possesses links to different forms of financial aid
Weaknesses
• Too much information (not concise)
• Too many external links to other departments
• Page appears to jumbled and reader can become lost in text
• No apparent link to mission of college or department
• No mention of departmental newsletter or student organization
• Lack of alumni section or what current student say about program
• Lack of reference to social networking programs (Twitter, Facebook, etc)
In summary all of the aforementioned sites have their good and bad attributes. However, for a site to be successful, it must assume the reader has limited knowledge. This would allow for most questions to be answered. In today’s society, the last thing someone wants to do is utilize the telephone or snail mail to get questions answered. To be specific, simple questions that could have been addressed through effective web design and the content within each site.
The field of Criminal Justice is a fascinating and rewarding career. However, in order for it grow even more, effective recruitment of new students is necessary. If I were the chair of a Criminal Justice Department, the following objectives would be considered: the audience would be to incoming, transfer and nontraditional students; the desired outcome would be to increase enrollment from its current state; place graduates into workforce; to not only attract the students with effective web-design—but their parents/guardians; provide photos of departmental functions along with newsletters; link to social networking websites; providing a web page/resource that is user-friendly so the reader doesn’t get lost in text and seek to grow individuals that positively reflect the department as well as the university as whole. The major constraint to the web page design would be knowledge of software and possible oversimplification or over abundance of text.
In looking at the previously referenced websites, I learned that simplicity is the key along with knowing what additional tools/resources to incorporate. For example, those sites that included newsletters, photos and course syllabi were seen as stronger. On the other hand, the lack of the aforementioned or reference to alumni (current jobs) were seen as weak. Effective web page design is a delicate balancing act and requires preparation and general knowledge of your intended audience.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Analyzing a Rhetorical Situation
The article I chose for the assignment was used in Sociology 101 course. This article along with others was used to write a paper titled, “Concepts of Deviance.” For those that are unfamiliar with deviance, the universal definition accepted among sociologist is—a concept of not only the laws and behaviors that are expected of people, but also groups in which they include themselves. The subject for the assignment was new to me. My background prior to going back to school was business management and working for a local unit of government. In selecting criminal justice a major, one must study the effects of drugs on an individual as well as the community. In other words, this course and assignment helped me to further understand the concept and role of deviance in society.
Out of the articles used for the aforementioned paper, one stands out to me based upon its tone. This article was titled, “Drugs and Deviance” and was found in Reason Magazine. Reason Magazine is monthly magazine that touts itself as an alternative to the right and left wing opinion magazines with a case for liberty and choice (www.reason.com). The author of the article was written by Jacob Sullum and was adapted into a speech that was given to the Libertarian Party during a convention in Columbus, Ohio in May 1995. Sullum is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of two books which focus on drug use and the tyranny of public health related to anti-smoking. The Libertarian Party is classified as one of the smaller political parties within the United States with a platform focused on liberty and individual choice. Sullum looks at the larger picture of drug use and tackles stereotypes and the politician’s role. His call to write was based on an interview in which former Speaker Newt Gingrich gave to Meet the Press regarding drug use among Clinton staffers. Gingrich stated the following,” You’ve got scattered throughout this Administration counterculture people.” This was in reference to those classified as children of the 1960’s and typical drug users. The author then looks at both sides of the argument without being overly critical of the other’s views. For example, in looking at Gingrich’s claim, he uses data from the Federal Government’s National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. The survey was conducted in 1988 and stated that 32 percent of those 18-25 claimed to use drugs within the past five years. While on the other hand, 23 percent of those between the ages 26-34 claimed to use drugs within the past five years. These numbers reflected negatively of the Clinton staff, which was considered relatively young during the claim made by Gingrich.
As stated previously, Sullum outlines arguments and statements that are part of the greater issue, which are drug legalization and the stereotypes that exist towards users. Of great interest was the argument Gingrich gives as being acceptable as part of the way of life in the 1960’s. In other words, it is somewhat acceptable for those that came up in that era. The assumption Sullum gives for arguments like Gingrich and other is that drug use carries baggage. Another argument was based on research done by UC Berkeley researchers that stated use can be traced to developmental history as opposed to cause of personal and social adjustment. If those in the audience still did not understand, the imagery of homosexuality was used. He said laws are passed to not discriminate them based on their sexual orientation. Also, to discriminate against them is considered gauche as opposed to patriotic for hostility towards drug users. The final argument he gave was an article in the New York based that focused upon an executive that had an addiction to heroin. The article mentioned his expensive cars, etc but the writer mentions her drug use as well. Sullum considered the aforementioned article reasonable and measurable.
This was an interesting article/speech in which to refer if wanting to learn more about drug and deviance from a different perspective. The author uses a tone that was mild and did not openly attack anyone personally. Even though the intended audience was those classified as Libertarians; the overall theme was to get people to rethink their view of drug users thereby avoiding generalizations. Sullum and the Libertarians advocate the right to use drugs, not drug use itself. The writer did not assume anything among readers and gave good examples and good arguments/counter-arguments to each issue. However, with his background and views related to government’s role in public health policies; it’s interesting that the author lack obvious antagonism.
Out of the articles used for the aforementioned paper, one stands out to me based upon its tone. This article was titled, “Drugs and Deviance” and was found in Reason Magazine. Reason Magazine is monthly magazine that touts itself as an alternative to the right and left wing opinion magazines with a case for liberty and choice (www.reason.com). The author of the article was written by Jacob Sullum and was adapted into a speech that was given to the Libertarian Party during a convention in Columbus, Ohio in May 1995. Sullum is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of two books which focus on drug use and the tyranny of public health related to anti-smoking. The Libertarian Party is classified as one of the smaller political parties within the United States with a platform focused on liberty and individual choice. Sullum looks at the larger picture of drug use and tackles stereotypes and the politician’s role. His call to write was based on an interview in which former Speaker Newt Gingrich gave to Meet the Press regarding drug use among Clinton staffers. Gingrich stated the following,” You’ve got scattered throughout this Administration counterculture people.” This was in reference to those classified as children of the 1960’s and typical drug users. The author then looks at both sides of the argument without being overly critical of the other’s views. For example, in looking at Gingrich’s claim, he uses data from the Federal Government’s National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. The survey was conducted in 1988 and stated that 32 percent of those 18-25 claimed to use drugs within the past five years. While on the other hand, 23 percent of those between the ages 26-34 claimed to use drugs within the past five years. These numbers reflected negatively of the Clinton staff, which was considered relatively young during the claim made by Gingrich.
As stated previously, Sullum outlines arguments and statements that are part of the greater issue, which are drug legalization and the stereotypes that exist towards users. Of great interest was the argument Gingrich gives as being acceptable as part of the way of life in the 1960’s. In other words, it is somewhat acceptable for those that came up in that era. The assumption Sullum gives for arguments like Gingrich and other is that drug use carries baggage. Another argument was based on research done by UC Berkeley researchers that stated use can be traced to developmental history as opposed to cause of personal and social adjustment. If those in the audience still did not understand, the imagery of homosexuality was used. He said laws are passed to not discriminate them based on their sexual orientation. Also, to discriminate against them is considered gauche as opposed to patriotic for hostility towards drug users. The final argument he gave was an article in the New York based that focused upon an executive that had an addiction to heroin. The article mentioned his expensive cars, etc but the writer mentions her drug use as well. Sullum considered the aforementioned article reasonable and measurable.
This was an interesting article/speech in which to refer if wanting to learn more about drug and deviance from a different perspective. The author uses a tone that was mild and did not openly attack anyone personally. Even though the intended audience was those classified as Libertarians; the overall theme was to get people to rethink their view of drug users thereby avoiding generalizations. Sullum and the Libertarians advocate the right to use drugs, not drug use itself. The writer did not assume anything among readers and gave good examples and good arguments/counter-arguments to each issue. However, with his background and views related to government’s role in public health policies; it’s interesting that the author lack obvious antagonism.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Student Profile
My name is Stacey Oatis. I am 34 years old and have been married to Azri Oatis for 14 years. We have two wonderful children—Vivian (13) and Tyler (5). The family dog is a toy poodle named Romeo. I attended high school at Jacob Joshua (J.J.) McLain High School in Lexington. For anyone unfamiliar with town, it is located in the Mississippi Delta in Holmes County. This county is located just above Yazoo County. The school mascot for J.J. McClain was the mustang. My favorite subject in high school was world history. It is always fascinating learning about other cultures and how they advance through time. A majority of the assignments for history and other classes required large amounts of reading.
All the reading prepared everyone for the tests which were mostly multiple choice and fill in the blanks. My interests not only were academics but being involved in various other activities. I have always believed in a maintaining a balance between academics and extracurricular activities. While enrolled at J.J. McClain, I was active in many student organizations. These organizations included: Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Student Body Council (Treasurer) and the Student Welding Association.
Upon graduating, I attended Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi. My major at Alcorn was Computer Technology. I knew history was one of my favorite subjects in high school; but technology was always a part of my life. Each new gadget that was discussed in the local papers or television; I had to find an excuse to have it. The classes at Alcorn were relatively small and the professors knew everyone on a first name basis. The English course there was somewhat challenging and required a lot of time to prepare assignments. Other courses were less strenuous and didn’t require large amounts of writing. However, the English Composition did give me a foundation that was missing from my high school years. I was enrolled at Alcorn from 1994-1996.
After being out of school for 14 years, I decided to re-enroll and further my career. My interest was still technology but wanted a program that was more interdisciplinary. So, I chose Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Forensics at the University of Southern Mississippi. But first a little background on why I chose this specific field at USM. I applied and was offered a job with the South Mississippi Bureau of Forensics (SMBF). However, not completing my degree at Alcorn caused me not to get the job. Based upon that decision by SMBF, I decided to go back to school this past Spring. I finished the aforementioned semester with a 3.0 GPA.
I hope this course further develops my technical writing skills. The field of law enforcement requires not only technical skills related to computers, but requires writing various reports. My fear was that some of my reports would possibly lack the grammar that would be sufficient for my employer. Therefore, I hope to gain valuable knowledge that can be applied to my everyday work assignments.
All the reading prepared everyone for the tests which were mostly multiple choice and fill in the blanks. My interests not only were academics but being involved in various other activities. I have always believed in a maintaining a balance between academics and extracurricular activities. While enrolled at J.J. McClain, I was active in many student organizations. These organizations included: Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Student Body Council (Treasurer) and the Student Welding Association.
Upon graduating, I attended Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi. My major at Alcorn was Computer Technology. I knew history was one of my favorite subjects in high school; but technology was always a part of my life. Each new gadget that was discussed in the local papers or television; I had to find an excuse to have it. The classes at Alcorn were relatively small and the professors knew everyone on a first name basis. The English course there was somewhat challenging and required a lot of time to prepare assignments. Other courses were less strenuous and didn’t require large amounts of writing. However, the English Composition did give me a foundation that was missing from my high school years. I was enrolled at Alcorn from 1994-1996.
After being out of school for 14 years, I decided to re-enroll and further my career. My interest was still technology but wanted a program that was more interdisciplinary. So, I chose Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Forensics at the University of Southern Mississippi. But first a little background on why I chose this specific field at USM. I applied and was offered a job with the South Mississippi Bureau of Forensics (SMBF). However, not completing my degree at Alcorn caused me not to get the job. Based upon that decision by SMBF, I decided to go back to school this past Spring. I finished the aforementioned semester with a 3.0 GPA.
I hope this course further develops my technical writing skills. The field of law enforcement requires not only technical skills related to computers, but requires writing various reports. My fear was that some of my reports would possibly lack the grammar that would be sufficient for my employer. Therefore, I hope to gain valuable knowledge that can be applied to my everyday work assignments.
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