Major Project 4 – Research project

Posted on by
Reply

Audrey Bachmann 

Professor Weaver 

English 1102 

April 18, 2023 

 

The Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944, also known as the GI Bill, signed in 1944, still has its influence on America today. This helped veterans start a new life after World War II by providing them with the education and basic needs needed to build a life in America. This Bill affected millions of veterans around the United States and was an important factor in the availability of post-secondary education, no matter what direction veterans took.  

 

The G.I bill impacted American lives more than imagined. The GI Bill : The New Deal for Veterans by Glenn Altschuler and Stuart Blumin says, “formally known as the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944, it was far from an obvious, straightforward piece of legislation, but resulted from tense political maneuvering and complex negotiations.” The GI bill passing the legislature was more complex than just being able to enact it. It caused democrats and republicans to come together who have previously opposed Roosevelts “New Deal.” The returning soldiers were more supported than they have ever been and were getting the support they needed to build new lives in America. This bill provided veterans with job training, unemployment compensation, assistance in tuition, and housing loans.  

The BI Bill affected the whole family at home. In the book The GI Bill Boys : A Memoir by Stella Suberman, it accounts a personal anecdote of how the War, Great depression, and other major events during this period of time affected her family, friends, and herself. I focused on Chapter 12, which is all about how the GI bill affected the veterans she knew. Some of them were relatives, others just peers. When the news came out about this new document, the people all gathered together and read through this bill over and over again, showing its significance. The bill included everyone who participated in the military, which was very inclusive to everybody. “All enrollees got the same benefits, no matter their rank…the bill did not state who were not eligible but who were.” (The GI Bill, 179) The government officials who were in charge did a decent job at trying to include everyone to get good benefits from this, but it was not 100% inclusive. There was still discrimination against Jewish people and people of color, which was not supposed to be the case.  

Jack, who served four years in the military, got covered by the GI Bill for four years, which would cover his Ph.D. It would also cover the new people to college to get their undergraduate diploma, which was great. It seemed to cover everything, as the preparers knew the war took a lot of time apart from families. It also offered a home loan which was guaranteed with a zero down payment and a low interest rate. This was a really good deal for returning veterans as it offered so much.  

After the War, an estimated 15 million soldiers would be unemployed. Its official name was the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act, which was pushed through the congress. The National Archies, Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (1944), states “President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law on June 22, 1944, just days after the D-day invasion of Normandy,” This was put into place quick, right after the scraps of World War II. This bill was proposed since before the war was over. The name “The GI Bill of Rights” is the public name for it, as it explains more of what it is in the title. The areas it focused on were hospitalization, business and home purchases, and education, which was its main focus. Around 8 million veterans received benefits to help with their education, around 2,300,000 attended a secondary institution, 3,500,000 received training for school, and 3,400,000 received training for jobs. Although this was not everyone who participated in the war, there were a decent amount of people who used the benefits of this bill. The degrees given to post-secondary institutions doubled between 1940 to 1950, and the percentage of Americans with advanced degrees rose from 4.6% to 25%, which is a drastic rise.  Not all veterans were able to use this bill to the best of their abilities, as Black vets were not often able to get loans from banks for mortgages in Black Neighborhoods, but also could not really buy homes in suburban white neighborhoods because of the discrimination they received. (Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, 1) 

Nowadays, the original GI Bill is not still around, but programs and deals used to benefit veterans stemmed from this bill. There is something called the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which is very similar to the old Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (The GI Bill of 1944). In the article, Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) by Veterans Affairs explains the qualifications for this newer bill. To be eligible, veterans must meet at least one qualification. Some include serving 90 days (about 3 months) on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, receiving a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged, or a dependent child using benefits transferred by a service member that is qualified. (Post-9/11 GI Bill, 1). Some benefits can include, “Tuition and fees…. Money for housing (if you’re in school more than half time) … Money for books and supplies… Money to help you move from a rural area to go to school.” (Post-9/11 GI Bill, 1). These benefits do expire though after a certain amount of time. If the service a veteran did, ended before January 1, 2013, the benefits will expire 15 years after their last separation date from the active service. If they ended after/on January 1, 2013, the benefits would not expire, due to the law called the “Forever GI Bill – Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act.” (Post-9/11 GI Bill, 1) 

This brings me to the newest GI Bill, called the Forever GI Bill. This was signed by Donald Trump in 2017, and this bill officially called the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, but the shorter name is the Forever GI Bill. The article, G.I. Bill – Definition, Forever GI Bill & Benefits states that, “The bill also helped build America’s Middle class, although it left many minority veterans behind… decades since President Roosevelt signed the first GI Bill, yet it continues to empower and enable veterans and their families to reach their goals.”  This bill contradicts the 15-year limitation put into place by the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the benefits veterans got from that older bill. This Bill provides more benefits, like inputs a rehabilitation program to students across the country, helps veterans with educational counseling, and offers veterans who lost eligibility under the Post-9/11 GI Bill program. (G.I. Bill – Definition, Forever GI Bill & Benefits) 

Even though the original GI Bill that was signed into law in 1944 expired in 1956, it influenced other Bills to take its place and prosper today to still help the service members of the country today. There are still benefits for veterans, which did not end in the 1950’s, and still provide useful resources to live a healthy and educational life.  

Sources Cited: 

Glenn Altschuler, Stuart Blumin. The GI Bill : The New Deal for Veterans. Oxford University Press; 2009. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=nlebk&AN=273843&site=eds-live&scope=site 

Stella Suberman. The GI Bill Boys : A Memoir. Vol 1st ed. Univ Tennessee Press; 2012. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=nlebk&AN=471648&site=eds-live&scope=site 

Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) | Veterans Affairs. (2023, March 9). Veterans Affairs https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/ 

G.I. Bill – Definition, Forever GI Bill & Benefits. (2019, June 7). History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/gi-bill 

Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (1944). (2022, May 3). National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/servicemens-readjustment-act 

Fisk University Project 3

Posted on by
Reply

Mahasin Nasir

Dr. Weaver

English 1102 Section 328

March 30, 2022

 

Summary

Fisk University is the oldest Historically Black University in Nashville, Tennessee with an exceeding and authentic academic and social profile. A large part of the university’s profile is how they have maintained academic excellence since 1866 and its cultural significance with the upbringing of black leaders. Because this is a major part of their website, Fisk uses tone to draw in their ideal audience who want to continue the upbringing of black excellence and legacy. These students would know that their attendance at Fisk University would continue to allow greater experiences and opportunities for black students to add to the historical legacy and leading academic culture.

Analysis

The impact of history has provided Fisk with an abundance of information and detail to use when advertising their school to prospective students. This history engages their readers/students to want to learn more and contribute to the culture. Coincidently, the use of context from their upbringing is a large part of attracting their students. With this, the website has a specific tone to appeal to a narrow audience of students who would seem to be intrigued or related to the history of the university. Further, the ideal readers imagined should take pride in maintaining the social and academic view of young, black intellectuals and continuing to diversify their community. Readers are drawn in by the statement, “Here, we produce true leaders and scholars that are ready to change the world” (Fisk University Welcomes). This statement being on the opening page draws in those prospective students who are about making change and being welcomed into a new community.

Seemingly, Fisk’s website uses a very influential and hospitable tone to draw in its audience. This tone goes hand in hand with the context they give about the university. History plays a big role in the creation and accreditation of the university. To show this, the website includes history all throughout its about page with 9 different subcategories detailing how they came about and what they are thriving for. With a welcoming tone on the history page, the founders emphasized how the university “would be open to all, regardless of race, and that would measure itself by ‘the highest standards, not Negro education, but of American education’” (Fisk University History). The overall tone in the ending sentence in the section is used to show the readers how education is inclusive, and race has no effect on who can further their education. It uses common, and in some cases relatable, racial history to appeal to its readers with a sense of familiarity about how anyone can make a change in a community that was originally meant to be segregated. This idea is accentuated on the missions and values page. The acronym “D.E.T.A.I.L.S.” is used and under the “D,” the idea that “individual differences…aids us in building a collective wisdom that results in more powerful and relevant solutions to our challenges” (Mission & Values) is used to show the prospective students that Fisk is referencing their own history to further this embracing tone throughout their website. These features combined show the influence and continuities history has on Fisk. It does the job of appealing to students who find value in being change-makers and building on a legacy.

In comparison with the history of the growth of Fisk, the history of music in Nashville displays a strong impact on the ideal community of students that the university advertises to. Historical artists like Etta James and James Brown recorded some of their biggest hits in Nashville. Considering that Nashville has a lot of musical significance and is home to the Ryman Auditorium, known for its raw auditory capability, Fisk embraces that history and attracts their ideal students as they promote their Fisk Jubilee Singers. There was a performance at the Ryman Auditorium for the 150thanniversary of the jubilee singers. They are promoted throughout the history page and even have their own page under the campus life category. Rising musicians who are potentially interested in the university can see the impact Nashville has had on music and how Fisk is maintaining that impact on their website. To further show this, under the Fisk Jubilee singers tab, their Grammy for “Best Roots Gospel Album” (Fisk Jubilee Singers) is the leading cover of the page. By including these small, yet significant, details, the website encloses its ideal prospective students and emphasizes their impact on today’s culture and history.

Another way the website imagines its ideal readers is by weighing the many interests students may have when starting college. College is a learning experience and students want the best outcome to be able to pursue their top interests. To acknowledge this idea about prospective students, the website advertises a dual degree program in collaboration with Case Western Reserve University and Vanderbilt University (Fisk Dual Degree Programs). By endorsing such a program, Fisk’s website engages their ideal students through lightly addressing the fact that some students come into college with more than one compacted interest. Fisk being aware of this shows prospective students that the university is encouraging them to take on all their interests and explore the opportunities and programs that they have to offer.

Response:      

While exploring the Fisk University website and analyzing the rhetorical strategies used, I would say that I would attend this university. I value history and how it has an impact on the future and Fisk prioritizes that throughout its website with its own history. With the South being a very influential region in the U.S., I have no doubt that I could create, change, and influence history in the future by attending Fisk. Being that the university is also an HBCU, I would have a sense of belonging knowing that I am surrounded by people who look like me and not too far from my home in Georgia. My greatest admiration about Fisk’s website is the inclusion of the student-to-teacher ratio. As someone who tends to ask questions about the things I’m most interested in, the low student-to-teacher ratio makes me feel comfortable asking those questions and engaging more in my studies. Knowing that this university has the #1 Academic Stewardship Award, I would feel more than likely to be successful in my future endeavors. Embracing all of these details, Fisk has drawn me in through their rhetorical strategies and I would undoubtedly attend this university.

Sites: Fisk University. https://www.fisk.edu. Nashville, Tennessee. 

Brandeis University SAR MP3

Posted on by
Reply

Summary 

Brandeis University is a Liberal Arts college that finds value in challenging what you know and expanding your knowledge and how you think about majors and desired classes. This University is for students who want to challenge their thinking, find rigor in education as a means to challenge themselves, and don’t follow society’s trends of what’s acceptable—going back to when the University was initially founded in 1948 by the Jewish community in support of their pursuit for higher education, in a time where that was heavily discouraged for this group of people. When the University opened it also welcomed women, another group ostracized and not considered fit to attend universities. From the beginning, Brandeis’s mission has been about inclusion and forming a community of challenged thinkers where they have the space to “answer questions and have your questions answered.” (BU1), Through the analysis of Brandeis University’s website using the ideal reader and purpose analysis techniques, a perfect candidate for Brandeis will be represented, a student looking to expand their thought bubble and look beyond society’s perspective of acceptable and unacceptable. 

 

Analysis

At Brandeis University, they are building a community of forward thinkers who challenge schools of thought and belief. “A Brandeis education is a vigorous exploration in critical analysis, creativity, and self-expression.” (BU1) Throughout the academics page of the website, the University shows how it’s looking for creative thinkers who don’t want just a textbook secondary education, but a place in which they can further question what they know and learn what they do not. Academically you have to be willing to work hard as a student at Brandeis because education and the fostering of learning are held at an extremely high value, unlike other universities where you are there just to get a degree. 

What is the Brandeis population actually like outside of academic boundaries? In the second sentence of the About page, they paint a picture of what they are looking for: “There is no other place like Brandeis. As a medium-sized private research university with global reach.” By starting the first paragraph of the page in what Brandeis is and who they are as a university, you are clued into what Brandeis demographic is as a student body. Starting with the primary identifiers for the student population at Brandeis, through a perceived mission statement, letting us know three prominent identifiers of what a Brandeis student is. Firstly they say, ‘there is no place like Brandeis,’ showing that these students defy the normal bounds of what is perceived as higher education. The next part of their opening stance is ‘private research universities’ showing that a typical student has the means to pay for a private university education. The last part of the statement is that it is a ‘university with global reach.’ They state this throughout the website, but it is genuinely reinforced with their statement on ‘global reach,’ letting you know that this University has a diverse population of students and is socially conscious on a global scale.

Brandeis’s academic page is constructed in a way that creates a calling for students they are looking for while managing to not outwardly show what they don’t want in a student. “A Brandeis education is a vigorous exploration in critical analysis, creativity, and self-expression.” (link) The blanket statement of what a Brandeis education is leaves no room to question what being a student at Brandeis is like; making it clear within the first few sentences of their academic page. Immediately stating how a Brandeis education is ‘vigorous exploration in critical analysis.’ Using vigorous to show the difficulty level of their curriculum while hinting at it being self-led through the words ‘exploration.’ The strength of starting with exactly what they are looking for shows how this is a selective university with high academic standards for its students. 

After giving an overall summary of what academics means to Brandeis, they have pop-ups that take you to each of their different colleges that show how many majors each school has. Brandeis initially indicates that because they deal primarily in Liberal Arts, their options in Schools are mostly Schools of Arts and Sciences. Though this is true, the University ensures that they have a wide variety of majors and minors within the undergraduate school and a variety of masters and doctoral programs in the Graduate school. They also use signifying sentences in the blurb, such as, “Almost half our students double major and some even minor in a third discipline” (BU1). The language in the blurbs tells you how high of a degree you can achieve and often what a Brandeis student does to reiterate the idea of increased rigor and high achieving among Brandeis students. Brandeis wants to inform you that throughout the pages; they are a University of rigor and diversity.

 

Response

In life, I want to pursue pediatric psychology, and I enjoy challenging myself academically. I also surround myself with people who like to be challenged and work hard. One of my key characteristics is being socially aware. I believe in civil rights, women’s rights, and equity for all. Due to my stances and academic self, I would want to go to Brandeis. A very equitable University that also intends to challenge students alike. Earlier in the year, we read an Interview, “To This Scholar, For-Profit Colleges Are Lower Ed,” conducted by Anya Kamenetz with sociologist Tressie Colton. In this interview, Tressie Colton spoke on ‘The Education Gospel,’ invented by Economist W. Norton Grubb and Marvin Lazerson. They say, “The Education Gospel is about the faith we have in education and what a significant role that faith plays in what we call our opportunity structure… we trust education will have a positive effect on our lives and society.” (Kamentez, 1) Through my analysis of Brandeis, I believe they reflect the education gospel’s positive effects. Brandeis provides a place of higher education where education is prioritized. All in all, I would attend Brandeis University. 

 

Work cited

Brandeis University. Retrieved March, 15, 2023

https://www.brandeis.edu/ 

Sacred Heart University

Posted on by
Reply

Summary

The Sacred Heart University is looking for highly motivated students that can be molded into the successful adult that they aspire to be. SHU is known for providing students with nurturing environment to imagine, create and appreciate. The ideal student should attend this university to inhabit an outstanding amount of core values and commitment. The college’s website confirms this by using Pathos and Case studies as their rhetorical strategies.

Analysis                     

Sacred Heart University was founded by Reverend Walter W. Curtis. Sacred heart University has been recognized to be governed and administered by laity and is deeply rotted on Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts (SHU 3). There are quite a few ways Scared Heart University attracts their ideal student, and one of them was using pathos, to keep reader attention with using emotion. When visiting the home page, it initially showed me a montage of students being involved in showing school spirit. The montage had a pause button on the left corner so you could pause it to see current student’s involvement. The background on the home page stood out with a question that stated, “Where Will Your Heart Take You”? (SHU 1)

 

The next slide on the home page montage was SHU basketball team dancing with the entire team showing so many emotions during a game, along with representing school spirit. Slides on home page also showed Students that were reciting a play in an auditorium. The home page alone showed how the author used pathos as a Rhetorical Style. Pathos is when the author uses emotions to persuade a reader, & in fact the author did just that to grab & keep reader attention. They know Students will come to the home page of SHU and immediately get emotional invested into reader more of what SHU has to offer. Roaming the home page will have the ideal student asking themselves do they really have what it takes to succeed academically?

They know that the students want to be involved in extracurricular activities would strengthen students’ confidence and academics. Under the Undergraduate page, another montage was present & later noticing a student writing “Gave me home away from home” (SHU 3) The purpose here was give students a sense of comfortability before even initially applying to the school. This ensures that SHU provides a unique diversity community that is willing to provide all students with a family-oriented experience.

In their Mission tab SHU states that it is open and welcoming to all kinds of families. “The University embraces a vision for social justice and educated students mind, body and spirit to prepare them personally and professionally to make a difference in the global community (SHU 3). The author purpose for mentioning this was to persuade the reader that SHU cares about their wellbeing and life after college. This is to confirm to students that SHU care about them, which is why pathos is such an important factor to author and the reader. It gives students the sense of security they made need to make that decision to apply to SHU.

When students do to apply on the admission tabs & Undergraduate they would find facts and statistics where SHU boast about being the Top 10 Best College Campuses on the East Coast which was reported by the College Magazine. The page also states that “100% of students in the class of 2020 are successfully employed or attending graduate school” (SHU 4) This university not only makes it clear that they are 100% involved in each student success but SHU is has been recognized of being one the nation’s best universities. Previous students revisit SHU to provide the website with case studies to inform the world of how far they have come after graduating SHU.

 

Furthermore, on the college website it thoroughly shows proof that attending SHU school is more than effective. Case studies gives up-close evidence that more than likely have the potential to influence or change the way the reader could digest information. On the Undergraduate Admissions page a student by name Tom Lawless of Class 2021 argues that “Scared Heart admissions staff makes it their mission to ensure your satisfaction and success from the moment you arrive on campus, proving that you are not a number, but part of the Pioneer Family” (SHU 4). SHU made his feel comfortable to the point he considered the university as his second home. When alumni come to back to their home to visit SHU it shows evidence that the universities gave students a family-oriented environment that they come back to leave feedback. If graduates of SHU have interest in active engagement of alumni, clearly SHU meant a lot them when they were there.

SHU alumni page has been provided with the latest Alumni Engagement where an SHU student by the name of Kenneth McDougal wrote an article about how life sprouted after graduating. McDougal majored in global studies with concentration in the Middle East and he minored in political science and criminal justice. McDougal is highly grateful for SHU from the athletic environment, from coaches and professors creating a community for him to blossom in. McDougal stated that his professors challenged him although he got a great education at the result. McDougal argues that “I owe a lot to Scared Heart.” (SHU 4)

The author used case studies from alumni students to help upcoming students to have something to look forward to after graduating from SHU. Case studies will help upcoming students consider SHU as a great school to eventually apply to. Pathos was also used in the alumni case studies because the students gave their honestly opinion on SHU, and they gave information about life after college. SHU case studies are a plus for school’s website because upcoming students would want to read about the outcomes of previous students. SHU ensured that they gave enough information to persuade readers that they can provide students with everything they need to stay committed and flourish after graduating from SHU.

 

Response

This university made an outstanding effort to persuade me into attending this institution.  My first value I have gained in writing class is learning is “growth”, “patience” and “openness”. The alumni page from SHU allowed me witness different students with different degree but has the same amount of success. Their testimony reassured me that if I do plan to attend this school, I know that the risk will be as big as the reward after graduating. This university gives students a variety of options on campus but is known for liberal arts. I see myself having a successful outcome while attending this intuition. I want to be 100% involved with my academics and make time for some extracurricular activities while on campus as well. I would like to display openness knowing that this university is a Catholic school with guidelines I am not used to. Having openness will allow me to see things from a different perspective, and being open enough to accept the help that will be provided or needed.  As I mentioned “patience” earlier; those are one the things that has been an effortlessly learning curb for me, although I often enjoy the reward. Personal growth and patience have similarity to each other, and you can’t have one without the other. Sacred Heart University exhibits a family oriented that would help with my openness and it would give me a sense of independents. I want to attend this school to grasp new ways of learning fundamentals and to bring out the absolute best in me. SHU website helped me consider this school later in the future.      

 

 

Work Cited:

Scared Heart University. SH. Retrieved March 27, 2023 from  https://www.sacredheart.edu/ “Admission & Aid” & Alumni

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William’s Academic Profile- by Mahasin

Posted on by
Reply

In this essay, I will be introducing William Rast-Wells and his academic self. I started off with a simple introduction and proceeded to ask him a series of questions regarding how his life has shaped him academically. William is 19 years old, and this is his second semester at Georgia State Perimeter College. He is a first-generation college student and is majoring in Psychology. William grew up in the rural area of South Carolina for the majority of his childhood. Through these years, William was actively finding himself and how he wanted to live his life. Around his 11th grade year, William felt like making money was more beneficial to him than continuing an education. He spent less time in school and more time trying to make a living. His mom’s side of the family was not as supportive of him when he decided to take this route. William has strong perseverance and did not allow these actions and opinions to take a toll on how he wanted to pursue his future endeavors. William takes an interest in chemistry and forensics. Growing up, he got a little bit of exposure from his uncle, who was a chemistry professor. Even though he is pursuing his interest at GSU Clarkston, he plans to transfer to Georgia State’s Downtown campus after a few semesters. He also plans to get a master’s degree because the psychology and forensics field is more accepting of people who have higher credentials. With this, he wants to use his knowledge to gain employment in the forensic field, one that aids in litigation or in a clinical/lab environment. The classes he’s taking to pursue this career are psychology, history, statistics, english, and global issues.

William expressed the words that he would use to describe his academic self are conscientious, scatterbrained, and reserved.  Although some of these words may seem like they can’t fit all in one person, William described himself as one who doesn’t seek out many social interactions and is very specific when it comes to his work. These traits cause questioning when it comes to academics. He told me that they also prevent him from asking important questions that could help him refocus his thoughts. Dr. Steven Chew’s video on good study strategies to be successful in college highlight the important facts of how having a solid understanding directly correlates to how much effort and hard work is put into the groundwork. This analysis has shown to be very true regarding William. He cannot effectively prepare for his classes without having a strong comprehension of the material. To get this, William must push himself to ask those crucial questions and gain key details to better his overall knowledge and understanding.

As William wants to work in the field of forensics and chemistry, he knows that to be successful, he must work on things like being less reserved and more open to curiosity and questioning himself. His main goal going through college is to delve deep into subjects he cares about. William emphasized that he wants to gain this knowledge through curricula that accentuates depth over breadth. This self-observation aligns with Dr. Chew’s value of finding pleasure in what is being learned. Connecting the subjects he cares about to the ones he questions can open other potential interests that have not been identified. While working on things like that, he continues to be self-critical. Feedback helps him learn and grow from his mistakes and challenges, also a topic from Dr. Chew. He judges himself and his work more rigorously than the standard. His outcome is usually more underwhelming than expected. He doesn’t necessarily see this as a bad thing. It further shows his dedication to the subjects he enjoys most and his receptiveness to criticism from himself and others.

As we see, William knows and is confident about his academic path and future plans. He hopes to gain occupational opportunities and expand his worldview as he progresses through school. Having a better understanding of his skills, capabilities, and those of other people will grow his passion for the future. His perseverance and awareness continue to inspire the people around him and hopefully the people reading. William will continue to go on a path that benefits him most, regardless of critics, and college is only honing his character and academics further.

Brandeis University SAR MP3

Posted on by
Reply

Summary 

Brandeis University is a Liberal Arts college that finds value in challenging what you know and expanding your knowledge and how you think about majors and desired classes. This University is for students who want to challenge their thinking, find rigor in education as a means to challenge themselves, and don’t follow society’s trends of what’s acceptable—going back to when the University was initially founded in 1948 by the Jewish community in support of their pursuit for higher education, in a time where that was heavily discouraged for this group of people. When the University opened it also welcomed women, another group ostracized and not considered fit to attend universities. From the beginning, Brandeis’s mission has been about inclusion and forming a community of challenged thinkers where they have the space to “answer questions and have your questions answered.” (BU1), Through the analysis of Brandeis University’s website using the ideal reader and purpose analysis techniques, a perfect candidate for Brandeis will be represented, a student looking to expand their thought bubble and look beyond society’s perspective of acceptable and unacceptable. 

 

Analysis

At Brandeis University, they are building a community of forward thinkers who challenge schools of thought and belief. “A Brandeis education is a vigorous exploration in critical analysis, creativity, and self-expression.” (BU1) Throughout the academics page of the website, the University shows how it’s looking for creative thinkers who don’t want just a textbook secondary education, but a place in which they can further question what they know and learn what they do not. Academically you have to be willing to work hard as a student at Brandeis because education and the fostering of learning are held at an extremely high value, unlike other universities where you are there just to get a degree. 

What is the Brandeis population actually like outside of academic boundaries? In the second sentence of the About page, they paint a picture of what they are looking for: “There is no other place like Brandeis. As a medium-sized private research university with global reach.” By starting the first paragraph of the page in what Brandeis is and who they are as a university, you are clued into what Brandeis demographic is as a student body. Starting with the primary identifiers for the student population at Brandeis, through a perceived mission statement, letting us know three prominent identifiers of what a Brandeis student is. Firstly they say, ‘there is no place like Brandeis,’ showing that these students defy the normal bounds of what is perceived as higher education. The next part of their opening stance is ‘private research universities’ showing that a typical student has the means to pay for a private university education. The last part of the statement is that it is a ‘university with global reach.’ They state this throughout the website, but it is genuinely reinforced with their statement on ‘global reach,’ letting you know that this University has a diverse population of students and is socially conscious on a global scale.

Brandeis’s academic page is constructed in a way that creates a calling for students they are looking for while managing to not outwardly show what they don’t want in a student. “A Brandeis education is a vigorous exploration in critical analysis, creativity, and self-expression.” (link) The blanket statement of what a Brandeis education is leaves no room to question what being a student at Brandeis is like; making it clear within the first few sentences of their academic page. Immediately stating how a Brandeis education is ‘vigorous exploration in critical analysis.’ Using vigorous to show the difficulty level of their curriculum while hinting at it being self-led through the words ‘exploration.’ The strength of starting with exactly what they are looking for shows how this is a selective university with high academic standards for its students. 

After giving an overall summary of what academics means to Brandeis, they have pop-ups that take you to each of their different colleges that show how many majors each school has. Brandeis initially indicates that because they deal primarily in Liberal Arts, their options in Schools are mostly Schools of Arts and Sciences. Though this is true, the University ensures that they have a wide variety of majors and minors within the undergraduate school and a variety of masters and doctoral programs in the Graduate school. They also use signifying sentences in the blurb, such as, “Almost half our students double major and some even minor in a third discipline” (BU1). The language in the blurbs tells you how high of a degree you can achieve and often what a Brandeis student does to reiterate the idea of increased rigor and high achieving among Brandeis students. Brandeis wants to inform you that throughout the pages; they are a University of rigor and diversity.

 

Response

In life, I want to pursue pediatric psychology, and I enjoy challenging myself academically. I also surround myself with people who like to be challenged and work hard. One of my key characteristics is being socially aware. I believe in civil rights, women’s rights, and equity for all. Due to my stances and academic self, I would want to go to Brandeis. A very equitable University that also intends to challenge students alike. Earlier in the year, we read an Interview, “To This Scholar, For-Profit Colleges Are Lower Ed,” conducted by Anya Kamenetz with sociologist Tressie Colton. In this interview, Tressie Colton spoke on ‘The Education Gospel,’ invented by Economist W. Norton Grubb and Marvin Lazerson. They say, “The Education Gospel is about the faith we have in education and what a significant role that faith plays in what we call our opportunity structure… we trust education will have a positive effect on our lives and society.” (Kamentez, 1) Through my analysis of Brandeis, I believe they reflect the education gospel’s positive effects. Brandeis provides a place of higher education where education is prioritized. All in all, I would attend Brandeis University. 

 

Work cited

Brandeis University. Retrieved March, 15, 2023

https://www.brandeis.edu/ 

Moaz Academic Profile

Posted on by
Reply

My partner’s name is Moaz Shoaib. He is 19 years old, and this is his second semester at GSU. He is from Pakistan, and he has spent most of his academic life in Pakistan. He moved here in his senior year and graduated High School. That means he completed his k12 in Pakistan. He can also speak three different languages which are English, Urdu, and Punjabi. The senior year in high school was very difficult for him but the day he graduated he was full of motivation, and he was eager to continue his studies. He described his academic self as logical, curious, and problem-solving attitude.

After he graduated high school, he realized he had some decisions to make and he had to make them fast. The main decision he had to make is where he would be going to college. He decided he would attend Georgia State University. He said GSU was the best fit for him and he felt really at home on campus and he loved the environment. He is majoring in Biology, and he wants to become a doctor. He hasn’t decided what he is going to specialize in but he said he will make up his mind along the way. He wants to get into a medical college and get a MD degree. He said his personality aligns with this profession because of his thinking process, and he always try to think of different possibilities or try to see a single thing with different perspectives.

One of the interesting things he told me is about his favorite subject which is Math. This further describes the qualities of his academic self, which are problem solving attitude and being curious. He told me he has always enjoyed solving problems because he enjoys challenging himself. Which is also why he decided to major in Biology because he knew the route he was taking would not be easy. While he does enjoy the challenge sometimes, he did admit that sometimes it can be frustrating. He says being a biology major often only leaves time for school and doesn’t give him much time to enjoy himself, as he is always swamped with homework. Even though he may not have all the time in the world he does tell me that he enjoys hobbies just as anybody else does. He likes sports which requires a lot of practice to be able to play that specific sports. So, he like doing things again and again until he masters it, even if it can seem in possible.

I asked him about his favorite books, and one of his favorite books is 1984. He read that book in high school, and he loved it. He told me the reason why he liked that book is because it was about the system and how system is always watching people, and the people try to fight system. He said questioning is important because it can help with self-reflection and be more focused on your goals. I think that was the point where he developed his other ability about his academic self, which is being curious.

In conclusion, I learned that Moaz Shoaib he is very well-rounded person. He has his goals set and he never steps back to put in his one hundred percent.

           

 

Medical University of South Carolina

Posted on by
Reply

History

The Medical University of South Carolina was founded in 1824 and is located in Charleston South Carolina. MUSC trains about 3000 students a year and trains about 850 residents and fellows at different colleges. MUSC trains students in Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy. (MUSC “The Medical University of South Carolina” 

Summary

The Medical University of South Carolina also referred to as MUSC is looking for dedicated students who are “compassionate, competent health care providers”  (MUSC “The Medical University of South Carolina”). MUSC trains students in Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy. MUSC is a proud school as it is an old institution, being founded in 1824. They highlight women’s history month currently on their website and are marketing themselves as inclusive and diverse in multiple places on their website. They have tabs to highlight their accessibility, LGBTQ support, Black History month, Equal Employment, and much more on their website indicating that they are marketing themselves to a wide range of future medical students with all types of backgrounds. 

 

Analysis

Going more in-depth on the pages of the MUSC website it starts to become clear what type of APATSARC strategy they are using. When looking closer at the College of Medicine page we can see that MUSC is very aware of the audience that will most often be visiting this page. This page in particular portrays quotes from previous students giving prospective students an idea of their future experience. “Once you’re a student here, you get to be a part of a whole new family – one that not only wants you to succeed but also equips you with the tools necessary to do so.” Stephen Patrick, MUSC Class of 2020, a urology resident at MUSC. (MUSC “College of Medicine”). This is one of the quotes portrayed on the website. It is a positive quote that draws future students in with the promise of a positive experience during their time at MUSC if they choose to attend this school.

 From this page, it is easy to click through the pages to find the exact path you are interested in. Lower down on the same page there are numbers and statistics displayed largely across the screen showing how many students have graduated from different programs, match rates, and diversity rates. This is an indication of audience awareness. The writers of the page are aware that these numbers will draw the audience in prompting them to look further on the website to learn more about the statistics regarding their specific major.

Another thing that is prominent on the website is the use of short paragraphs and keywords to draw the audience in. This shows that the writers know that it will most likely be students who are looking at many school websites at once who will be visiting the page. Instead of focusing on long in-depth paragraphs about each subject, the writers have decided that the better approach is to write short informative paragraphs and fill the page out with statistics pictures, and tabs that can lead readers to additional information about smaller more specific subjects. 

 

 

Looking at the homepage of MUSC we can see them imagining their ideal readers by displaying their featured news, quick links and other things such as the college’s history. The writers of the website are anticipating that their ideal readers will find interest in the topics displayed on the homepage, leading them to click their way to the subjects and articles that interest them the most. After clicking the Innovations tab on the homepage and navigating to the “Education Innovation” page there are more quick links to draw audiences further into the website and explore the plethora of information. On this page readers can additionally find an insert of text labeled “Tech Innovation”. This text talks about the Metaverse and the future of education. One example the text puts forth is that with the development of technology, future surgeons could possibly have the opportunity to practice hundreds of times before ever coming into contact with real-life patients. (MUSC “Education Innovation”). This indicates the kind of student the writers are aiming to draw in. Students with a bright outlook on the technological future, are students who are willing to adapt to the times of the future and who will be curious to develop their ways of learning. Students who have a curious learning style and are willing to take on new challenges and experiences. This theme is carried throughout the website both with the layout and with the articles and inserts posted on the website. It is clear to the reader that applying to and attending MUSC is no easy task but it will instead be an exciting time in a student’s life where they will be presented with many different challenges and tasks to help them grow as people and students leading them to their desired goal in life of becoming a contributing member of the healthcare field. 

Response 

Personally, I would attend The Medical University of South Carolina. I like the overall message that the school is putting out and I like the vibe that I get from the school. It is in a different state so a downside would be the location because it would be far from my family and support system. However, when it comes to something as rigorous as medicine I think it is very important to find a school that is a good fit for you and it needs to be in a place where you feel like you can thrive. However, from my interpretation of the website and the stats posted, I think this is a very competitive school to get in too. But if I was seriously considering a career in medicine I would apply to this school because I think they would provide me with an excellent education and give me the opportunities that I need to succeed in my field. 

 

Works Cited 

Medical University of South Carolina. “We are changing what’s possible”  171 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425. 

https://web.musc.edu/ 

Medical University of South Carolina. “Cultivating a Culture of Innovation” 171 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425

https://web.musc.edu/innovation 

Medical University of South Carolina. “The College of Medicine at MUCS” 171 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425

https://medicine.musc.edu/

Daytona State College

Posted on by
Reply

Moaz Shoaib

Summary

                Daytona state college is a public college looking for students who are well-driven and motivated to achieve their goals. They offer one of the best stem major online programs. The college is working for the betterment of the economic aspects of society by providing certifications and workforce programs, and individual advancements in the fields of science and technology. In Daytona state college, they provide flexible programs covering all the fields of science and arts. Their ideal student would be anyone trying to enhance their learning in fields of science and arts but mostly science. The website uses rhetorical strategies such as purpose, assumption, and imagining ideal readers to persuade its readers.

College's building

College’s building

Analysis

                The main rhetorical strategies that the website uses are purpose and imagining ideal readers, which in this case are students. The first thing displayed on the website is a cool slideshow that represents how they are keeping up with the advancements in web development. To elaborate that slideshow is a combination of pics and videos that shows the whole journey of a student from the moment they step onto the campus to graduation. It also indicates a balance between education, sports, and social life at DSC. After the slideshow, the reader is greeted with a welcoming phrase, “You belong here” (DSC 1). The purpose of this phrase is to give a sense that they want the reader to be a part of this college. The website then emphasizes the institution’s distinction by stating that “Offering more than 100 certificate, associate and bachelor’s degree programs, Daytona State is the premier source for education and advanced training in Central Florida” (DSC 1). This shows that are very diverse in the programs they offer, and the reader has a wide range of selections. Given the wide range of programs, a few things that need to be considered while keeping the ideal readers (students) in mind is that while applying a student might find difficulty in choosing a program that leads them to their goals. So, they need help and guidance to opt for the best option in programs according to their strengths and weaknesses. This problem is addressed on the website and readers can find the answer to their questions by clicking on a link titled “Explore the program finder” (DSC 1). The link takes the reader to another page that states, “Find the right pathway for you” (DSC 1). The reader can fill out some questions and the website will generate a program that best fits the interests of the reader. The purpose of this is to facilitate the reader and help with any hindrance in the process of deciding between different programs.

                Furthermore, the prospective students are persuaded by appreciating and encouraging diversity. This is done by showing that DSC is a place where students can nourish their culture by taking part in cultural events. The purpose of this is to attract diverse students and make them feel close to their identity by appreciating and showcasing their culture. These cultural events are free and open to the communities. Due to this people can come closer to each other and it also promotes the social skills in the students that are very important for successful student life.

Arts and Culture

Arts and Culture

                In addition, all the information provided by the website is organized by keeping the ideal readers, which are students in consideration. This conclusion can be drawn by noticing the strategies used by the website. When students enter the website, they are greeted with visually appealing pictures of the campus, charts, stats, slideshows, and hovering drop-down menus. The design of the website is so friendly and easy that it will guide the students in whichever direction they want with just a few clicks.

                Moreover, there is a section named “by the numbers” where the institution has posted its achievements and distinctions. One of the achievements is that “DSC is the highest ranked public state college in Florida according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 rankings for Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs” (DSC 1). The purpose of this section is to gain the trust and confidence of students in the institution. There are so many colleges to choose from and having to choose the best and right one is difficult for a student. So, the institute has to show that they are best at what they do and DSC has shown that through stats and numbers. This strategy is very effective in persuading students because it gains their trust.

By the Numbers

By the Numbers

                In conclusion, the website’s main purpose is to persuade ideal readers which are students. Everything is organized to help and convince students that if they are motivated to achieve their goals then DSC is where they belong. The use of rhetorical strategies makes it more appealing and welcoming to students. Overall, the website is built amazingly, and the students will find no difficulty in understanding the motive and purpose of the website which is to facilitate individual advancements and student success.

               

Response

                I would like to attend this college. One of the main things that grabbed my attention was the diversity of programs and the wide range of selection in STEM major programs. My major is Biology which is related to the medical field and student with this major needs a lot of guidance. The students who graduate from DSC serve in critical areas like healthcare, emergency services, business, engineering technology, computer science, and more (DSC 1). Seeing that as a student gives confidence in the programs that the institution is offering, and it also indicates that these programs are widely accepted. The other thoughtful thing by the college I like is their program finder. This is a perfect way to just help students find their pathway because it is a very crucial and difficult decision in a student’s life. Moreover, the value of the students is also very important because they are going to spend some time at the institution. So, to me, personal growth is a value that plays a very important role in my academic self, and I always try to find ways to make it better. Under their values tab the DSC shares that “There is no value more important than the success of our students” (DSC about). This is evident from their values that they care about the values of students. As I mentioned earlier the wide variety of programs and the appreciation of diversity and cultures will promote my personal growth. So, by analyzing their strategies and understanding DSC’s purpose I can see myself going there and ready to gain the experiences Daytona State College has to offer.

 

 

Work Cited

 

                                                                               Daytona State College, 20 Mar. 2023, https://www.daytonastate.edu/.

Boston University

Posted on by
Reply

Summary: 

Boston University has many plans in place to help students achieve their academic goals and personal growth. The institution is committed to providing an environment where students feel heard, included, and inspired, fostering a sense of community, and belonging. Through their efforts to engage, elevate, and transform their students, Boston University has established itself as a top-tier educational institution dedicated to helping its students thrive in all aspects of their lives. Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to their beliefs and values, which they communicate on their website. Their ideal reader could be someone that has felt cast away from society and seeks comfort in areas where all differences are welcomed and encouraged. They use Tone and Imagining Ideal Readers as their rhetorical strategy to convey their message. 

 

Analysis: 

The website’s unreserved approach to presenting information is evident in the way they openly share their views and opinions. They are not afraid to voice their stance on controversial topics and do not shy away from discussing potentially polarizing issues. This directness fosters transparency and authenticity, which can be refreshing in a world where many websites and organizations tend to be guarded and politically correct. Interestingly the website has a subsection labeled “Voice & Tone,” in which they say “Our voice is vibrant, smart, bold, and authentic…We want to speak clearly, simply, and see the world through our audiences’ eyes, not ours.” (BU Voice & Tone). With this information, the reader can have a sense of being heard and comforted. Overall, the website’s candid tone creates an atmosphere of honesty and trust, which is crucial in building strong relationships with its readers or users. 

 Throughout this website, they do show that they are bold, for example, if you go to the subtitle “How to report a safety, harassment, or ethical issue” they recognize their obligation to promote the safety of their students and faculty. In the subsection they say, “Boston University recognizes its obligation to promote the safety and health of students, employees, and constituents on campus, and to maintain the highest ethical standards in the classroom, lab, and workplace.” (BU How to report a safety, harassment, or ethical issue) they know this is an important thing to talk about and they show this in their tone. By using words such as “highest” and “obligation,” the university conveys the urgency and importance of this matter. The use of the term “highest” implies that this issue is of utmost significance, while the word “obligation” suggests that the university understands and accepts its responsibility to address it. Overall, the university’s tone conveys a sense of seriousness and dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of its community. 

Boston University is a university that is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse community of learners, and they make this clear on their website. By highlighting their history of diversity and inclusion, they seek to subtly communicate to their ideal readers and future students that they are a welcoming and supportive environment for all students. On their “Our Vision” page, Boston University highlights their commitment to diversity and inclusion by highlighting the achievements of prominent figures from their past. For example, they note that they awarded the “…first Ph.D. to a woman at a US university, produced the first Black psychiatrist in the United States, and was the first to admit female students to a US medical school. Additionally, Boston University bestowed a doctoral degree in theology on Martin Luther King, Jr. (GRS’55, Hon.’59), and graduated Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (CAS’11), the youngest woman to serve in the US Congress.” (BU OUR VISION) These examples not only underscore Boston University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, but they also serve to inspire and motivate their ideal readers and future students to strive for greatness in their endeavors.  

Boston University’s website strategically highlights influential achievements and figures to imply the characteristics of their ideal readers and future students. The showcased figures are widely recognized, beloved by many, and have achieved notable success in their respective fields. Furthermore, the fact that many of these figures are alumni of Boston University underscores the institution’s commitment to producing exceptional graduates. By focusing on the resourcefulness, tenacity, and drive of these successful individuals, the website sends a powerful message to potential students. Boston University seeks to attract clever, innovative, and forward-thinking individuals who are dedicated to academic and personal excellence. By highlighting these influential figures’ achievements, the website encourages prospective students to emulate their determination and drive to achieve their success. 

Additionally, by highlighting the tenacity and drive of successful individuals, Boston University communicates that they value perseverance and hard work. These characteristics are important for success in academics and beyond. Boston University in addition encourages their students to embody them. Overall, the website’s subtle messaging about the qualities of their ideal readers and future students underscores Boston University’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and perseverance. It communicates to readers that Boston University is a place where they can develop and hone these qualities and be part of a community of learners who value and celebrate them. 

Response: 

The university seems to be an inviting and stimulating environment, with many opportunities for personal and professional growth. Upon exploring the university’s website, I was struck by the impressive array of achievements and successes of their past attendees, which is a testament to the quality of education and resources available. Although Boston University’s specialization in Marketing and Business is certainly intriguing, I have a strong desire to expand my knowledge and skills in Engineering. Therefore, I feel it would be prudent to explore other universities and programs that align more closely with my academic and professional aspirations. 

During a recent in-class discussion, I was asked to identify three core values that resonated with me. After thoughtful consideration, I settled on Achievement, Personal Growth, and Open Communication. As I was browsing through the website, I noticed that Boston University aligns perfectly with my core values. After examining the website, it is evident that Boston University places a strong emphasis on open communication, which is a crucial component of daily life. The University’s commitment to fostering an environment of transparency and dialogue is impressive.  

The University’s inclusive environment left a lasting impression on me, and it was evident that this commitment played a significant role in the institution’s success as a renowned institution of higher learning. I was thoroughly impressed with how the University prioritizes creating an environment that celebrates diversity and promotes excellence. After seeing the University’s dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion, I was left feeling inspired and hopeful for the future of education. It is reassuring to know that there are institutions like Boston University that prioritize creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all students. I look forward to watching the University’s continued growth and success in the years to come. 

Works cited:

“Homepage.” Boston University, https://www.bu.edu/.