Response: First Mt. Zion visit

Mt. Zion seemed to be operating very smoothly and productlivly. I didn't expect the environment to be like a classroom; I pictured kids acting like they were in an extended recess or something. It was good to talk to the bus driver because he was able to give me technical information, such as, the room's capacity is 100 kids (including adults). I learned that there is a waiting list to get into Mt. Zion, several kids are referred by the church, and all kids are chosen on a need base. I'm interested in the area they have for teens. I'm curious if there's a sex education program at Mt.Zion and I would like to talk to (Pat?) about my ideas reguarding this.

response to homeless coalition training

What I thought was effective about the speech/ training on St.Pete homeless count:

• Defining "homeless." Sometimes people spit out commonly used words, such as homeless, without having a clear understanding of the word. I liked that we had to deifne "homeless" then give examples of people defined in this category. I think most of us had to brush aside our immediate vision of a soiled man gripping a cardboard sign, and think of a homeless person as a friend, aquaintane, or family member who doesn't have a permanent place to live.
• The guest speaker who was formerly homelss for 14 years or so. This man's story changed my mind about homeless people being just plain lazy. Hearing what an incredible and idol worthy life he lead before becoming homeless made me realize that homeless can happen to almost anyone- willing or not.

This purpose of this presentation was to ask for our help in aquiring an accurate count of the homeless in St.Pete. The larger meaning is that the homeless population is so large, the organization is reaching out to college students to help with the count. Technical communication is the means of attaining the correct number in this situation. Questionarres are carefully designed with proper wording and rhetoric, in order to make the counting process as smooth and successful as possible.

Ch. 3 Response- Service Learning Text Book

One point this chapter emphasized was the audience based orientation of technical/professional writing and the writer's responsibility to meet the values, needs, and expectations of the reader. I realize that there needs to be such a focus on the audience because the audience determines whether or not a technical piece of writing is successful. This relationship between writer and reader made me feel a bit intimidated. Then, the book used the term "audience advocacy" and this added a whole new dimension to my understanding of technical communication. Thinking of myself as an advocate and a writer, or someone who's advocating for a group of people through written language, I immediately saw the connection between writer and audience.

Another valuable point raised in this chapter was the importance of cultural awareness. "Socially constructed behaviors, values, and conditons" will vary greatly bewteen the targeted groups (audience), as well as within the groups. Investigating the values and outlooks of our audiences, which are unfamiliar to us, is necessary in order to obtain this cultural awareness. One question I have is: How exactly do we go about investigating cultural/sociological differences? I have ethnographic research in mind, but are questionarres also involved?

Ch. 2 Response- Service-Learning Text Book

Chapter Two defined technical communication as "...applied communication, communication designed to perform specific tasks or help the audience solve specific problems." Since the audience is the central benefiter of tech comm, it will be essental to keep the audienence's needs in mind. Attention to the audience's literacy level, access to information, and primary concerns will result in more successful communication.

I learned a couple (personal) benefits of doing a service-learning project: documents published by the organization and used by actual readers will make impressive additions to a writing portfolio; and valuable contacts in one's field of iterest can be made. These benefits are aside from the fact that one is helping (a non-profit agency perhaps) create documents they need, but aren't able to produce because of lack of workforce or expertise.

After reading Chapter Two, I have my mind set on working with a non-profit agency. One concern that I have with this project is the possiblity of a difference between the expectations of the organization and my instructor. What if the organization has more demands than my instructor is requiring? I'm sure that a simple compramise would solve this conflict.

Job Advertisement/ Cover letter/ Resume

Job Advertisement:
Post on Social Networking Sites (wesley chapel)
Reply to: job-990692259@craigslist.org [?]Date: 2009-01-12, 9:57PM EST
I am looking for several people to create and post on social media sites, Myspace, Facebook linkedin and more. It is very simple work. I need these sites to help us link our client sites for Search Engine Optimization. Flexable hours.
Location: wesley chapel
Compensation: $7 to start
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.PostingID: 990692259
*I found this job advertisement on Craigslist 1/20/09. http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/wri/990692259.html

Cover Letter:

January 20, 2009
Ms. Jane Doe
Somewhere, Wesley Chapel

Dear Ms. Doe,

I'm interested in the social networking positon you have posted on Craiglist. I'm familiar with the social media sites you mentioned in the ad and spend a good amount of time on these sites each day. I'm also taking a tecnical writing course at the University of South Florida and will be able to apply these skills to a social networking position.

Sincerely,
Amanda Sliby

Resume:

Amanda Sliby
My Address
My Phone Number

Schooling:

University of South Florida:
2007-Present
Dixie M. Hollins High School
2003-2007

Occupation:

Cody's Original Roadhouse
2005- Present

Academic Interests:

Rhetoric and Composition, Anthropology, Research, Study Abroad, Linguistics, and Communication.

Ch.1 Response Service-Learning Text Book

Chapter One defined service learning as "a method by which students learn through active participation in thoughtfully organized service; is conducted in, and meets the needs of the community; is integrated into and enhances the academic curriculum; includes structured time for reflection and helps foster civic responsibility." This definition helped me begin to set goals for this semester in technical writing. In order to learn through service, there are objectives that need to be met and these are stated within the definition of service learning.

The Stanford University model (p.4) added the idea that "students mainly write as their community service rather than about it." I love this ethnographic approach and believe it's a valuable mind set to have from start to finish. Also, the phrase "address a need in the community rather than meet a need in the community" is an important mindset; it offers a realistic point of view, puts less stress on the project, and reiterates that this is a learning process.

After reading Chapter One, I realize that one challenge I will face is "the seduction of empathy." The text argues that we'll never completely understand the lives of the people with whom we're working. I like to think that this is something that can be accomplished at the end of a servic-learning or civic engagement project.

Civic Engagement Fair Response

At The Civic Engagement Fair, I got a glimpse of the wonderful community organizations of St. Pete. The Barlett Community Garden is a fairly new project but is quicky taking root in the USF neighborhood. I spoke to the Garden's representative about a technical writing position and was given the following opportunities: write up a manual of how to work the water pump, and/or interview the knowledgable organic garneners on how to properly maintian a garden plot. I'm interested in being a part of this project, however, I'm naturally more drawn to human services organizations.

Journal 1- What is technical communication?

Amanda Sliby
Journal#1

The word technical means a cut-dry, usually without an aesthetic purpose, way of analyzing or explaining something.

The word communication is seeking to relate a collective or individual thought, idea, or acquired knowledge.

Technical Communication is relating information in a practical way.
The concept of technical communication relates to my education because I will learn how to write in terms of efficiently explaining instructions, facts, etc. This concept relates to my life because I will be working towards my overall goal of becoming an affective communicator to anyone and everyone; I think technical communication will be especially effective in communicating with the public.