For this assignment I will be analyzing the two page (one 8.5x11 sheet front and back) 2010-2011 Student Health Insurance Plan brochure.
Analysis of the Document's Purpose, Readers, and Uses
Purpose: This document is meant to give graduate assistants, TAs, and RAs information about the insurance they receive through the school. It should tell them what benefits they receive, coverages, and potential costs in a very easy to use document. Also, because health insurance is expensive and often confusing and daunting to deal with, so this document should assuage some of the those fears and concerns.
Readers: The readers of this document are graduate students, possibly international students, who can read well and have plenty of experience navigating difficult documents. They are probably between 21 and 30 years old and are using this document to see what kind of protection they have against accident or tragedy. Most likely they will be given this brochure mailed with forms or other information. Upon reading this document, it's possible they will be happy to learn of the benefits, but more than likely, they will be upset at they are still required to pay for certain things, that dental and vision are not covered, that visiting the doctor will require a co-pay, that coverage for spouse and children is very expensive, etc. I imagine most readers will either file the paper in a secure spot where they can reference it later, or toss it aside after they've read it, knowing that the information is easily available in other places. Because it is printed in black and white on cheap paper, it doesn't feel like a document you'd hang on to for a long time.
Evaluation of the Document
Content: The document contains all the information I think I'd need along with a disclaimer that it doesn't contain all the information anyone could want. It gives a link to a "Complete Brochure," so we can assume that there is more any additional information I'd want is there.
Order: The first section is "Who is eligible?" This is confusing as the first item because I imagine that almost all of the people seeing this document are already enrolled in the health insurance. This is not a recruiting document, so it would be better if it read something like, "If you are... you are already enrolled in this plan." With a heading of "Are you covered?" This would serve to reinforce that the coverage that the TA already has, rather than trying to find new people. The coverages and costs are on the back and easy enough to follow. However, there is no good heading for the costs of covering a child or spouse.
Visual Design and Navigation: The drop shadow on the top box is ugly, and it is especially ugly because it is inconsistent. There is no other box on the brochure with a drop shadow. The Picture shows a good enough variety of students who are perhaps a little younger than the target audience. The Bottom picture is a better choice I think in terms of age ( but it portrays a stereotypical white male grad student with glasses working on a laptop). The text under the first picture is in a scripty decorative font that doesn't match the rest of the brochure and is hard to read. There are six different fonts used on the brochure, when only three were necessary. The small single-spaced serifed text at the bottom of the first page and the italic small print on the top and bottom of the second page is difficult to read. It is the "fine print" of the brochure and contains warnings and caveats. The fonts match their purposes well, but the design could have been streamlined.
Style: The diction begins in a familiar second person tone, but then becomes overly formal quickly. The back contains legal jargon and tables with no easy to read text.
Changes to be made: I would advocate keeping the familiar diction throughout. The document pretends to be comforting but becomes menacing and cautionary pretty quickly. I would use three fonts only. The decorative font from the logo for all large letters (titles, headings, etc.) the light san-serif (arial) for the tables. bulleted lists and subheadings, and the serifed font (Palatino, I think) for all the body text. I would change the "Who is eligible?" to "Are you covered?" keeping with the familiar second person and better addressing the needs of the audience. I would add some text explaining the tables and how to read them. For example the table labeled "Premium Costs and Coverage Periods" should clearly be explained as optional costs to avoid confusion.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Rude 4.6
These statements have been changed from criticisms to organizational strategies.
a. In order to make this text accessible for all readers, you might want to avoid abstract concepts and confusing words such as XXX(3) and XXX(5), and make the sentences shorter. For example you could make the first sentence of XX paragraph into two sentences by putting a period after XXX.
b. A second-person voice would help the reader understand who should do what. For example, consider changing phrases such as, "The receptionist is called with details" on page three to "Call the receptionist and report the details.
c. First identify the important actors and actions in these sentences and rewrite them to emphasize these important parts.
d. As a reader, I am having difficulty understanding what to do with this information. Perhaps this information would make more sense in another section.
e. Consider moving the main objectives of the brochure to the beginning. That way the reader knows what to do with the information as they read it.
f. Spend more time elaborating why this project is important.
e.
a. In order to make this text accessible for all readers, you might want to avoid abstract concepts and confusing words such as XXX(3) and XXX(5), and make the sentences shorter. For example you could make the first sentence of XX paragraph into two sentences by putting a period after XXX.
b. A second-person voice would help the reader understand who should do what. For example, consider changing phrases such as, "The receptionist is called with details" on page three to "Call the receptionist and report the details.
c. First identify the important actors and actions in these sentences and rewrite them to emphasize these important parts.
d. As a reader, I am having difficulty understanding what to do with this information. Perhaps this information would make more sense in another section.
e. Consider moving the main objectives of the brochure to the beginning. That way the reader knows what to do with the information as they read it.
f. Spend more time elaborating why this project is important.
e.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Carroll 1.5 and 1.7
1.5
When you plug your mind into the internet, make sure you don't leave the cord out for someone to trip over.
My friend is a technophile to an extreme degree; his house is about as wired as a klepto barista.
1.7
Orchard Stoning: Plums make lousy rocks.
Grandpa's teeth broke on bad oatmeal.
Opposing Linebacker scores. Quarterback congratulates him.
Elizabeth's mom eats paste too. Bonding.
When you plug your mind into the internet, make sure you don't leave the cord out for someone to trip over.
My friend is a technophile to an extreme degree; his house is about as wired as a klepto barista.
1.7
Orchard Stoning: Plums make lousy rocks.
Grandpa's teeth broke on bad oatmeal.
Opposing Linebacker scores. Quarterback congratulates him.
Elizabeth's mom eats paste too. Bonding.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Rude 18.2
Wedding Invitation/Announcement
This document features a black and white picture of the couple getting married on one side, with the names and traditional wedding invite language on the other. The names at the top use gender oriented fonts for each of the names: Melissa is written in pink and a decorative, cursive font, while the ampersand and "Matt" is written in stern, roman, stark white, all caps letters. The text is white letters on a black background, which normally inhibits readability, but is used in this case as a stylistic choice. Also, the language is so traditional, that no one really thinks anyone is going to read it. Where did the tradition come from that the bride's parents announce to the wedding to the world? Also, 19th and 2008 are spelled out, which adds to the formality. The text is centered, which is another genre conforming design aspect. In terms of usability, the text isn't the easiest to read because of the white on black, centered, all caps font. But reading a wedding announcement isn't the point. The vital information (date, time, and address, names of the bride and groom) are the only real information necessary and the only information included. The announcement doesn't require much motivation to read it, and so the designer is free to include choices that would normally demotivate a reader.
Obituary
An obituary, as a genre, includes a few things, the name and a picture of the deceased, some vital statistics about the person (age and birthplace especially), the cause of death, some accomplishments in the persons life, names of close relatives, and information for memorial services. This document includes all of these.
The document is highly readable: the serifed font, fully justified columns, single spaced text, and short length make this a document that is easily read once through. However, it is not a document that is meant to be used. There are no headings to clearly outline the distinct sections. The only text that is meant to be read many times, the name (for later searching purposes possibly) is bolded, centered, and surrounded by white space; so it is highly usable in that regard.
Letter
This document features a black and white picture of the couple getting married on one side, with the names and traditional wedding invite language on the other. The names at the top use gender oriented fonts for each of the names: Melissa is written in pink and a decorative, cursive font, while the ampersand and "Matt" is written in stern, roman, stark white, all caps letters. The text is white letters on a black background, which normally inhibits readability, but is used in this case as a stylistic choice. Also, the language is so traditional, that no one really thinks anyone is going to read it. Where did the tradition come from that the bride's parents announce to the wedding to the world? Also, 19th and 2008 are spelled out, which adds to the formality. The text is centered, which is another genre conforming design aspect. In terms of usability, the text isn't the easiest to read because of the white on black, centered, all caps font. But reading a wedding announcement isn't the point. The vital information (date, time, and address, names of the bride and groom) are the only real information necessary and the only information included. The announcement doesn't require much motivation to read it, and so the designer is free to include choices that would normally demotivate a reader.
Obituary
An obituary, as a genre, includes a few things, the name and a picture of the deceased, some vital statistics about the person (age and birthplace especially), the cause of death, some accomplishments in the persons life, names of close relatives, and information for memorial services. This document includes all of these.
The document is highly readable: the serifed font, fully justified columns, single spaced text, and short length make this a document that is easily read once through. However, it is not a document that is meant to be used. There are no headings to clearly outline the distinct sections. The only text that is meant to be read many times, the name (for later searching purposes possibly) is bolded, centered, and surrounded by white space; so it is highly usable in that regard.
Letter
Williams 6.2
These paragraphs have been edited so that the sentences begin with topics and end with emphasis.
1. The story of King Lear and his daughters was popular during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. By the time of her death, anyone wishing to read the story could do so in at least a dozen books. However, these early versions of the King Lear legend were undeveloped, simple narratives that stated an obvious moral. When Shakespeare began to work on Lear, perhaps his greatest tragedy, he must have had several versions available to him from which to draw inspiration. Even though the characters in these stories were based on the stock figures of legend, under Shakespeare's hand, they became credible human beings with complex motives.
2. The issue here is whether the date an operation intends to close down might be part of management's "duty to disclose" during contract bargaining. The central rationale for this duty is the minimization of conflict. In order to allow the union to put forth proposals on behalf of its members, companies are obligated to disclose major changes in an operation during bargaining. The law, however, is scanty on this matter.
3. In Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, the most important event is Athens' catastrophic Sicilian Invasion. Because of this, three-quarters of the history is devoted to setting up the invasion. We can see how Thucydides chose to anticipate it through his description of the step-by-step decline in Athenian society. The basic reason for the need to anticipate the invasion is the inevitability we associate with the tragic drama.
4. The current hypothesis to explain this kind of severe condition is mucosal and vascular permeability altered by the toxin elaborated by the vibrio. As evidence in favor of this hypothesis, we can observe changes in small capillaries located near the basal surface of the epithelial cells, and the appearance of numerous microvesicles in the cytoplasm of the mucosal cells. Altered capillary permeability is believed to play a role in hydrodynamic transport of fluid into the interstitial tissue and then through the mucosa into the lumen of the gut.
5. From July 1-Auguest 31, a 73 percent net increase (from $32,934 to $56.792) was realized in the Ohio and Kentucky areas. In the Indiana and Illinois areas, there was a 10 percent increase (from $153,281 to $168,651) during the same period. In contrast, The Wisconsin and Minnesota regions reported a 5 percent decrease around the same period (from $200,102 to $190,580).
1. The story of King Lear and his daughters was popular during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. By the time of her death, anyone wishing to read the story could do so in at least a dozen books. However, these early versions of the King Lear legend were undeveloped, simple narratives that stated an obvious moral. When Shakespeare began to work on Lear, perhaps his greatest tragedy, he must have had several versions available to him from which to draw inspiration. Even though the characters in these stories were based on the stock figures of legend, under Shakespeare's hand, they became credible human beings with complex motives.
2. The issue here is whether the date an operation intends to close down might be part of management's "duty to disclose" during contract bargaining. The central rationale for this duty is the minimization of conflict. In order to allow the union to put forth proposals on behalf of its members, companies are obligated to disclose major changes in an operation during bargaining. The law, however, is scanty on this matter.
3. In Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, the most important event is Athens' catastrophic Sicilian Invasion. Because of this, three-quarters of the history is devoted to setting up the invasion. We can see how Thucydides chose to anticipate it through his description of the step-by-step decline in Athenian society. The basic reason for the need to anticipate the invasion is the inevitability we associate with the tragic drama.
4. The current hypothesis to explain this kind of severe condition is mucosal and vascular permeability altered by the toxin elaborated by the vibrio. As evidence in favor of this hypothesis, we can observe changes in small capillaries located near the basal surface of the epithelial cells, and the appearance of numerous microvesicles in the cytoplasm of the mucosal cells. Altered capillary permeability is believed to play a role in hydrodynamic transport of fluid into the interstitial tissue and then through the mucosa into the lumen of the gut.
5. From July 1-Auguest 31, a 73 percent net increase (from $32,934 to $56.792) was realized in the Ohio and Kentucky areas. In the Indiana and Illinois areas, there was a 10 percent increase (from $153,281 to $168,651) during the same period. In contrast, The Wisconsin and Minnesota regions reported a 5 percent decrease around the same period (from $200,102 to $190,580).
Williams 6.1
These sentences have been rewritten so that the words at the end of the sentences are the most emphasized. The original sentence is first, the edited sentence is second.
1. The president's tendency to rewrite the constitution is the biggest danger to the nation, in my opinion, at least.
The biggest danger to the nation is the president's tendency to rewrite the constitution.
2. A new political philosophy that could affect our society well into the twenty-first century may emerge from these studies.
These studies may posit a new political philosophy that could affect our society well into the twenty-first century.
3. There are limited opportunities for faculty to work with individual students in large American colleges and universities.
In Large American colleges and Universities, the opportunities for faculty to work with individual students are limited.
4. Building suburban housing developments in floodplains has led to the existence of extensive and widespread flooding and economic disaster in parts of our country in recent years, it is now clear.
It is now clear that in recent years building suburban housing developments in floodplains in parts of our country has led to extensive and widespread flooding and economic disaster.
5. The teacher who makes an assignment of a long final term paper at the end of the semester and who then gives only a grade and nothing else such as a critical comment is a common object of complaint among students at the college level.
A common complaint among college students is the teacher who assigns a long final term paper and then gives only a grade and nothing else.
6. Renting textbooks rather than buying them for basic required courses such as mathematics, foreign languages, and English, whose textbooks do not go through yearly changes, is feasible, however, economically speaking.
However, economically speaking, renting textbooks for basic required courses whose textbooks do not go through yearly changes such as mathematics, foreign languages and English, is feasible.
1. The president's tendency to rewrite the constitution is the biggest danger to the nation, in my opinion, at least.
The biggest danger to the nation is the president's tendency to rewrite the constitution.
2. A new political philosophy that could affect our society well into the twenty-first century may emerge from these studies.
These studies may posit a new political philosophy that could affect our society well into the twenty-first century.
3. There are limited opportunities for faculty to work with individual students in large American colleges and universities.
In Large American colleges and Universities, the opportunities for faculty to work with individual students are limited.
4. Building suburban housing developments in floodplains has led to the existence of extensive and widespread flooding and economic disaster in parts of our country in recent years, it is now clear.
It is now clear that in recent years building suburban housing developments in floodplains in parts of our country has led to extensive and widespread flooding and economic disaster.
5. The teacher who makes an assignment of a long final term paper at the end of the semester and who then gives only a grade and nothing else such as a critical comment is a common object of complaint among students at the college level.
A common complaint among college students is the teacher who assigns a long final term paper and then gives only a grade and nothing else.
6. Renting textbooks rather than buying them for basic required courses such as mathematics, foreign languages, and English, whose textbooks do not go through yearly changes, is feasible, however, economically speaking.
However, economically speaking, renting textbooks for basic required courses whose textbooks do not go through yearly changes such as mathematics, foreign languages and English, is feasible.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Bogus Paper
I wanted to see how hard it would be to write a bogus paper. This is what I came up with in eight minutes.
Steven Hopkins
16 February 2011
Traditions: How Meaning is Transferred Through Bias
There are many ways we can begin to discuss and understand exactly what is meant in the debates--or even the mind-wars, so to speak--that are waged each day in the name of long held traditions. If one takes the time to fully realize the unlimited potential of such cultural biases, one can find that there have been such aspects of humanity visible in education, government, and politics; and each area has been debated since language began. The significance of ideas to foreign policy analysis remains contested, despite a plethora of empirical studies applying ideational frameworks. Drawing on social constructivism, the empirical study shows that whereas a causal understanding where ideas derived from tradition define the political space for contemporary debates and effect foreign policy behaviour.
As we begin the investigation into such understandings, we can begin to envelope the stigmas underlying this consciousness. For example, Tony Chan, 51, a former bartender turned self-proclaimed feng shui master, is appealing a court decision from last year that rejected his claim to the fortune of Nina Wang, one of Asia's wealthiest women when she died in 2007 at the age of 69. The policies had sat quietly on the books until last year, when a local group challenged a village chief's claims for feng shui compensation tied to the planned construction of a high-speed rail linking Hong Kong and Guangzhou.
As we can see, this example illuminates the unfavorable consequences of a failure to understand and successfully negotiate the cultural biases that underlie our everyday interactions. Only when we strive to understand the underpinnings and diversities that foment and augment our interrelationships can we delve into the psychological aspects that correspond with our governmental policies.
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