adaptationDionnaSmith









I was sitting on outside around the water fountain near the quad between one of my classes in the afternoon. There are benches that make a semi-circle around the fountain and you are able to sit on the outside of the fountain**.** People that were sitting here mostly are by themselves but there were some groups that arrived here. The students are doing homework or writing inside of a notebook were still there when I finished my observation. Some are listening to music or talking on the phone. There are also some TV and art students out there taking pictures or drawing the environment around them or the people sitting around. These students seemed to have been sitting there for a while because their drawing was almost completed. There was a group of four people that were casually talking about school and at the end of the conversation they split up and went in different directions. They spent around ten minutes talking two went to the shuttle to Upper Campus, one went to the library, and one went towards the Student Service Center towards lower campus. I feel this is a common meeting spot for people who meet and talk for a minute before they go in their different directions. Most of the students that sat on the edge of the fountain were the ones to leave after a few minutes to get on the downtown or Upper Campus shuttle or library. Finally there were just some people that seemed to sit there as if they were taking a rest from the hustle and bustle of classes. There are many different people sitting here which can show the diversity one common spot has to offer different type of students. No student is the same and with different intentions by each student a facility is used in a diverse and unique way.
 * INVESTIGATION OF A PUBLIC PLACE**
 * Reading Response about Community**

I think all universities, like the ones in the reading, should promote extracurricular activities to students, especially to freshmen. I think engaging in an activity where people have the same values and are interested in the same things you are is a good thing to accomplish while in college. You get to know different people, become well-rounded, and can create networking opportunities. Since my freshman year I made sure to be in some type of activity outside of classes even if it was the same one. I have been on the Bloomsburg gospel choir since freshman year and I was even on the executive board as the Public Relations officer for one year. I am in a religious group called Impact and now I have joined the African Student Association. I have volunteered at different places such as the blood drive, the women’s resource center, and the Salvation Army. I am even becoming a mentor this year. All of these things can help to be a better person. Freshmen need other things to do besides classes and party because college is more than that. When you get older and reach your junior year you start to want independence and college is where all of that happens. You start out in a dorm where you learn how to live with other people, and then you graduate to living in an apartment and sometimes go as far as living off campus. College is a process and you should go through all the phases.

I think that international students do have difficulties breaking through the American social barrier. All the international students I have come across all seem to hang out with each other.  It’s not because they don’t try to talk to other people it is because the American students act disinterested when they talk to them. The students see them as a burden because they are different or they cannot understand them. Not all Americans are closed minded but it is harder to find the ones that will embrace people of a different culture. Even being at college I notice people who that talk to other people who are just like them and will not branch out. They will hold conversations with people who are different but will not necessarily hang out with them outside of class. I agree with the accounts that Nathan made in her book about Americans friendship being superficial because we can be very cordial to people but that is where the friendship stops. My friends from Africa are different because when they become your friend they are your friend for life. It’s not a onetime deal they will be there for you through your hard times and will even come to visit or keep in contact with you no matter how far away you move. I personally love talking to people from other countries because they are very hospitable, are there for you when you need them and also are great friends in general. Most of the ones I met have the characteristics that you want in friends. I think America needs to get off their high house in thinking that they are the best and do not need to embrace any other culture because everybody, including inte4rna tional people, can contribute to your growth as a person.
 * How Poeple See Us**





















I used the technique of the same color or theme background as the example. This audience needs to know what is offered and what they can do if they were to come here. Students like pictures and and to see a variety of activities that could pertain to them. Students may not care about how to keep in to touch with Bloomsburg if they are already attending or how about the student to faculty ratio. Students want to see how to have fun, which is why I included Greek life, they might find this as a persuasive factor. A PowerPoint is a suitable type of communication for this audience because this generation is all about technology.



I used the technique of text boxes to show uniformity and used bold font to show contrast. The audience of this genre needs to know the facts and how they can contribute to the university. This is why I included the student to faculty ratio and the majors and minors offered. If a parent sends their child to the university they want to know ways to keep in contact with them; they want to know what they can do to participate. This is why I felt it necessary to add activities that parents can get involved in on the campus. This concept is persuasive because parents always want to be involved with their children and college is another opportunity to stay connected. A Newsletter is an appropriate type of communication because these usually get sent home and the parent can read about new events coming. This means the parents will not have to look in the internet they will have the information in their hands.



I used the technique of left alignment from the example to show good alignment. The audience of this genre needs to know the qualifications I have to contribute to their institution. Employers want to know your best qualities and your interest in the position. Also employers want to see that you will fit into the structure that is already instilled. Employers like to see that you are interested in the university by visiting it and by doing the proper research; this shows your interest level. This letter is persuasive because of the heighten interest in the school, direct facts used, visiting the school, and the qualities demonstrated by past experiences. This genre was appropriate because letters are formal; employers’ value professionalism and it is exhibited in the style of the letter.