Different audiences, different writing styles

In February, my PCM 300 class studied how to write differently for different audiences. We chose to write an advertisement for an object that would be found at 15DollarStore, Land's End, and the J. Peterman Catalog. I wrote three descriptions of a pink jacket in the different style each business uses.

Audience 1: 15 Dollar Store
EStudio Pink “Suede” Jacket
Estudio Pink “Suede” Jacket has a high collar and long sleeves. The jacket is lined with imitation fleece, and is accented on the outside with thin strips of imitation fleece on the arms, sides, back and neck.

*100% Polyester
*Machine Wash Cold



Audience 2: Land’s End
EStudio Pink “Suede” Jacket
This jacket has all the beautiful looks of suede, but none of the hassle – just throw it in the washing machine when you need to clean it. It’s also decorated with imitation fleece for a flattering look. This jacket is wonderful for fall and spring when you need both extra warmth and style. 100% polyester. Machine wash on cold.



Audience 3: J. Peterman Catalog
I came to Venice in February to see Carnivale, a more civilized version of Mardi Gras. People come from around the world in fabulous costumes to celebrate, as well as to freeze in Venice’s surprisingly chilly winter.

I sat in Piazza San Marco, watching the troupes of elegantly dressed people flood in – a Medieval–themed group, another bunch disguised in flowing robes and masks – when I noticed a woman out of the corner of my eye. Probably an American tourist, she was laughing and joking with a set of living chess pieces.

Her pink suede jacket seemed out of place with the ornate costumes, but perhaps she had the right idea after all. I drew my scarf closer around me as I was reminded of the cold. After all, sheer elegance can’t hold off the elements.

The Pink “Suede” Jacket is beautifully casual and appropriate for all sorts of occasions. It compliments your curves with fringes of fleece and flattering seams. No fussy patterns or pockets, just an effortless and elegant design.

Proposal

As part of my PCM 300 (Professional Writing) course, I wrote a sample proposal. This document is just a sample of my writing ability.


Proposal for Reducing Paper Towel Waste at Alverno College










For




John Doe
Director of Plant Operations at Alverno College











By Katie Alverno




April 20, 2009

Dear John Doe:

I am senior at Alverno, and I am interested in the environment. I have noticed the efforts to reduce waste in places such as the cafeteria (through their Tray-less Tuesdays and bins to collect compost scraps). It came to mind that there is another place we can reduce waste as well – our many restrooms.

Each restroom at Alverno is equipped with paper towel dispensers and trash cans. Paper towels cost money to replace, frequently end up as litter in some of the busier Alverno bathrooms, can be a hassle to the cleaners, and can’t be recycled. In addition, some bathrooms also have hand-dryers, but they are old models; some don’t work properly or even turn on at all. Also, old models of hand dryers use much more energy to operate than more modern ones.

I propose that there are ways to change our restrooms for the better – cosmetically and environmentally with a two-pronged attack to help reduce waste:

• Start a campaign encouraging people to use one paper towel to dry their hands instead of two
• Begin replacing old hand-dryers with new, more efficient models and starting a campaign to promote their use


I appreciate your consideration in my proposal.

Sincerely,
Katie Alverno




Background:

Our standard American way of living consumes huge amounts of resources and energy. To combat it, Alverno has started some efforts to become “greener”, such as the measures in the cafeteria I detailed above. An additional way we can reduce our waste is by replacing our old hand-dryers with new, more efficient models.

Scope and sequence:

The campaign to use one paper towel instead of two is a fairly small undertaking and could be done within little time. However, the issue of replacing and promoting the dryers is much larger. In this proposal, I will present:

• Benefits of the paper towel and hand-dryer campaigns

• Resources for calculating the costs and savings

• Timeline for the conversion

• Expected results

Benefits:

Paper towels cost money to clean up after and have to be continually restocked. In addition, the towels have to be created from trees and cannot be recycled. Promoting half the usage of paper towels will reduce their negative impacts.

Hand dryers don’t generate paper waste or litter and are always ready to perform. However, old hand-dryer models consume much more energy to operate. Newer models of hand-dryers take less energy to operate and some dry hands much faster.

Resources:

Below are a pair of articles that discuss the benefits of using newer-model hand-dryers versus paper towels.

http://www.cleanlink.com/sm/article/Will-Hand-Dryers-Blow-Away-Their-%E2%80%98Green%E2%80%99-Competition--3364
http://www.slate.com/id/2193740/

Below are a pair of businesses that sell newer-model hand-dryers.

http://www.dysonairblade.com/homepage.asp
http://www.exceldryer.com/Products/xlerator.asp

Timeline:

The project to create a campaign for using less paper towels is a simple affair and would take little time and money to execute. Posters can be designed and printed quickly and placed above towel dispensers in our bathrooms. Replacing dryers, however, will take more time.

• First, research will need to be done to determine whether the dryers are a good investment.
• If a brand of dryers is chosen, funding needs to be obtained to purchase them.
• We have many bathrooms at Alverno, scattered throughout several buildings. Perhaps it would be best to try the new dryers at just one of our busier buildings to begin, such as the Liberal Arts Building (which has eight bathrooms), to gauge the effectiveness of the new technology and the patron’s reactions to it.
• Once the dryers would finally be placed, a sign can be added above them, advertising their newness and their lesser environmental impact.
• If the reaction is positive, then the dryer conversion can expand to other buildings too.

Costs:

Supplying paper for the posters to place in bathrooms will only have a small cost; the issue of most concern is the new dryers. There will be an initial price for each dryer Alverno will need to purchase, as well as electricity usage to run the dryers. I investigated two kinds of efficient dryers, the Dyson Airblade and XLerator, to find their costs. However, I was unable to find prices for the newer units of hand-dryers themselves because both only give a price when contacted with the number of dryers the purchaser is interested in. Both suppliers claim that operating their hand-dryers is significantly cheaper than shipping and stocking new paper towels and supply charts on their websites that will calculate savings based on how many dryers will be used versus towels. I encourage you to visit these websites and calculate the costs and savings.

Expected results:

With more efficient, more modern looking hand-dryers promoted, people will be inclined to use them more. In addition to the campaign to use less overall paper towels, it will cut down on the waste and litter Alverno College generates and be less expensive.

Conclusion:

Changing people’s preference for paper towels will take some time, and updating our old hand-dryers will as well, but in the end, we would have cleaner, more beautiful and less wasteful bathrooms. It would benefit both the environment and Alverno College.

My writing habits throughout college

I've written so many documents in the years I've been attended Alverno that they've run together in my memory. A quick look through my "School Documents" folder reveals articles running from the impact of zebra mussels on the ecology of the Great Lakes, an analysis of how the movie Dead Man Walking changed my opinion on the death penalty, a PowerPoint illustrating the threat of white-tailed deer to Wisconsin drivers, and a list of why Edith Wharton is a progressive writer.

Most of what I've written throughout college could be split into two camps: interpretations of movies, books, poetry, and other media, and more factual documents intended to present concrete evidence about things such as psychology and the natural world (and oftentimes convince an audience). Although some of the assignments in both camps have given me trouble, it's a formula I'm comfortable with.

Oddly, though, I have two classes this semester that typically deviate away from this style. My creative writing class challenges me to create media such as poetry, short stories, and screenplays, things I would normally never touch. (The last time I made poetry on my own was middle school!) And my professional writing class is attacking a different and important front as well; proposals, news stories, advertisements.

The two are on very different ends of the spectrum, but both are poking and prodding on my writing abilities, making me attempt some styles I've never tried before. It's not easy, but in the end, I know it's for the best. I can't have a rigid style; I need to be flexible. And, at the conclusion of both my writing classes, I'll have acquired practice and information on how to do both kinds. It makes me happy to know that my abilities are expanding so that I can perform better work.

Feature News Article

As part of my PCM 300 (Professional Writing) course, I wrote a feature news-style story. This article is fictional and will not be published; it's just a sample of my writing ability. It's written in a style intended for a school newspaper.

Disabled Alverno Student Shares Her Success Story

Making eye contact. Checking email. Arranging meetings. Remembering names and faces. These things don’t come naturally to people with Asperger syndrome. According to the Mayo Clinic, Asperger syndrome is typified by social awkwardness, intense focus on certain hobbies or subjects, and increased sensitivity to sensations such as light, touch, and sound. Alverno student Jane Doe (not her real name) has endured a lifelong struggle with its challenges.

“I’ve had support through elementary, middle, and high school, but when I decided to go to college, I knew I needed something big to help me get through,” she said. “I’ve been working with my disability for years, but college was the biggest challenge yet.” She investigated her options and found help through a special service offered at Alverno.

Alverno’s Office for Student Accessibility has been aiding students with disabilities since its launch in 1995. Its coordinator, Colleen Barnett, meets with students to tackle a variety of issues, such as learning disabilities, chronic medical problems, and sensory and mobility problems. She employs a wide range of strategies for assisting students which includes alternative testing, tutors, physical access, advocacy, and coaching, as listed on the Alverno website.
“Since I’ve started college, I’ve met weekly with Colleen. Her feedback and assistance has helped me through a lot of tough situations. For example, in my freshman year she helped me get a quiet room for math testing and found an algebra tutor that helped me understand the work. I don’t think I would have been successful if she didn’t intervene,” Doe explains.

Doe is now a senior and is planning to graduate in fall 2009. “I’m really excited that I’ll be graduating soon. I would have never gotten as far as I have without the support offered through Colleen Barnett,” said Doe. “So many assignments – maybe even courses – would have slipped through the cracks in my earlier semesters. Now that I’ve learned how to communicate my needs and concerns effectively to my instructors, I’ve become a much more capable and independent student.”

Students interested in the disability support services can visit Alverno’s webpage for more information: http://www.alverno.edu/campus_resource/Academic_support/disability.html.

Hard News Article

As part of my PCM 300 (Professional Writing) course, I wrote a hard news-style story. This article is fictional and will not be published; it's just a sample of my writing ability. It's written in a style intended for a school newspaper.


Alverno Disability Support Services

Alverno College issued a statement today reminding its students of the disability support services offered.

“When students with disabilities can identify and develop their strengths, they feel good about themselves and take more risks to achieve their goals. So in addition to accommodations, I provide them with strategies and support,” said Colleen Barnett, Alverno’s Coordinator for Student Accessibility.

She estimates 3% of Alverno students have disabilities, which include learning disabilities, chronic medical problems, and sensory and mobility problems. Any student that thinks she may be eligible should contact Barnett and schedule a meeting. “Bring documentation of your issue if you have it. Even if you don’t have documentation, you may still be eligible.”

Many services are offered for disabled students. Alternative testing, tutors, physical access, advocacy, and coaching are just some listed on the Alverno website.

An Alverno student who asked for her name to not be disclosed commented on her experiences with the disability program, saying, “I would have never gotten as far as I have without the support offered through Barnett. So many assignments – maybe even courses – would have slipped through the cracks in my earlier semesters. Now that I’ve learned how to communicate my needs and concerns effectively to my instructors, I’ve become a much more capable and independent student.”

The Office for Student Accessibility is a fairly recent addition to Alverno. According to Barnett, she originally served as a teacher at Alverno. In 1991, one of her students had dyslexia. She began research on dyslexia to teach this student more effectively, which caught the attention of Barnett’s supervisor. Accommodations for disabled students existed but were spread across several departments. Plans were made to merge them into one comprehensive unit. Alverno’s disability services program launched in 1995 when several services were consolidated into the new office.

Students interested in disability services can visit http://www.alverno.edu/campus_resource/Academic_support/disability.html.

My professional career

Over the four years I've attended Alverno College, I've worked hard to find my areas of strength.

I have always loved history, mythology, literature, and the natural world. I toyed with the thought of being a veterinarian or a paleontologist as a child, but I didn't seriously consider my options until I moved onto college. I was contemplating becoming a biologist when I first enrolled, but those dreams were quickly squashed. Although I love animals, I could never become a Steve Irwin-style naturalist. I'm not much of a traveler and I don't have patience for the eccentricities of the outdoors. Science and math are also closely intertwined. After taking six years of Algebra-level courses, I've vowed to stay far away from math-heavy professions. The studies of a scientist didn't fit me, so I began focusing my interest in my English abilities.

I've been a voracious reader and writer since childhood. I quickly learned the finicky rules of English and expanded my vocabulary. Over my lifetime, I've acquired an uncanny ability to spot grammar and spelling errors in other people's works. I used to be timid speaker, but Alverno's aggressive policy on group-work and presentations have mended that weakness.

Almost everything I've written in college has been papers or feedback for my classes, the majority being focused on literature. However, this semester, I am taking both a creative writing class and a professional writing class. The two classes have challenged me to expand my writing experiences. The first's tasked me with writing original memoirs and stories, and the other, styles of media such as advertisements, newspaper articles and blogs. These new approaches will make my writing abilities more flexible -- a gift that will serve me well.

What kind of a career am I looking for with my experiences and abilities? Together with my planning for a career, I'm currently in the middle of planning an internship. My hope is that I'll be able to find an organization related to history and/or writing to intern in and learn more about the field. (I had been interested in some animal-related organizations, but they didn't work out.) I'm looking forward to applying my abilities in the workplace, and finding more about my potential niche.

Radical Wuthering Heights

One of my current courses is the Gothic Novel, where I am currently studying an interesting novel from the Victorian era.

Wuthering Heights, published by Emily Bronte in 1847 (and originally published under a male pseudonym, Ellis Bell), is a very unusual book from its time. Characters in Wuthering Heights fight, manipulate, have affairs, and even drive each other insane. On top of that, one of the novel's main characters, Heathcliff, is a character that resembles Satan from Milton's Paradise Lost. He behaves wickedly throughout: kidnapping a girl and forcing her to marry his son, raising the child of his rival as a lowly house-servant, and abusing his wife, among other faults. But, oddly, he is ruggedly handsome and sympathetic in his quest for revenge against those who have wronged him and his passion to reunite with the woman he truly loves. These behaviors and character types are no surprise to modern audiences, but in its time, it was shocking.

Wuthering Heights was unpopular to contemporary critics of the time, but things got even worse when it was revealed the book was created by a woman, too. Emily Bronte was raised in a proper middle class family and lived a reserved life in the English countryside with her sisters. Yet, she wrote a novel that horrendously offended Victorian sensibilities of the day. Not only did she decline to blank out most of her character's swearing, as was thought proper, but she also wrote about characters and situations that no lady like her should. Many critics became unnerved. "How could a gentlewoman write this?"

In comparison, another Gothic writer, Mary Shelley, had also written the shocking Frankenstein a few decades before. However, both Mary Shelley and her mother were notorious as active writers and feminists. Radical writings from women like them were not entirely unexpected.

In a preface added posthumously to Wuthering Heights, Emily's sister, Charlotte Bronte, almost sounds apologetic as she explains how her sister created the book's scenario and especially the character Heathcliff. She gives the background of her sister's rustic and peaceful life in the countryside, saying, "...the writer who possesses the creative gift owns something of which he is not always master -- something that at times strangely wills and works for itself." She adds an analogy of a person carving a statue out of rock, "...Hewn in a wild workshop, with simple tools, out of homely materials...He wrought with a crude chisel, and from no model but the vision of his meditations. With time and labour, the crag took human shape: and there it stands colossal, dark, and frowning, half statue, half rock in the former sense, terrible and goblin-like; in the latter, almost beautiful..."

In other words, Emily Bronte's powerful imagination (not experience) gave rise to the provocative character of Heathcliff. This explanation may or may not have soothed nervous readers of the time. No matter how the inspiration for the novel was obtained, however, it is a striking story considering the conservative circumstances it was written in. I think it’s terrible that Wuthering Heights was Emily Bronte’s only novel. (She died not long after publishing it.) I would have liked to see more of her extraordinary writing!