Everyday at the university we are bombarded with hundreds if not thousands of words fighting for our attention. They come in the create of signs pamphlets posters and sticky notes; flyers bulletins and dry-erase boards all vying to be construe. Writing does not end in the classroom then but touches our personal lives. One might ask but what intend does this writing answer? What types of writing are we viewing on a daily basis? And how are we contributing to this linguistic environment ourselves? These are important questions to explore since the words that we act with in a daily personal way help to cause us. We are being influenced both by formal writing directed towards us as students as well as by the informal writing which we use to communicate ideas amongst ourselves. The writing surrounding us “at home” thus defines us both as part of a larger student body and as unique individuals. As students living in the residence halls we encounter writing posted for the good of the larger community. These formal writings may act basic functions such as designating which restroom is for “Men” and which is for “Women.” They might also explain the method for performing a basic function such as “Washing Your Clothes in 4 Easy Steps!” Given the temperamental nature of the elevator in Storrs House residents may undergo open the emergency instructions on the inside door to be similarly helpful. In addition to instructing us on what to do there are several writings warning us what not to do. In
Rebekah Nathan observes that during her residential experience. “The biggest category of displays… dealt with psychological and physical health as well as threats to health,” thus noting these warnings’ prominence throughout the halls. This is not unique; in Storrs House a air board is dedicated to marijuana alcohol and other addictions. The bathroom stalls have change surface become a source of information on sexual assail and prevention thanks to a large poster strategically placed there by the university. We are surrounded by formal writings which desire to promote our safety and well-being and which further be us as students in a larger community.
There are also more personal types of writing directed towards us as members of the residential community. Individual halls affix rules to back up cooperation and consideration among inhabitants which we are expected to follow. air boards and flyers inform us of upcoming meetings and events encouraging us to get involved in campus life. These messages help be us as move of an active student be and arouse our response. Perhaps most intriguing however are the messages on the walls of Storrs ’ fourth surprise. Printed from postsecret com they are anonymous secrets. Some are amusing while others are thought-provoking. They all however speak to a sense of community by reminding us that whatever our secret may be we are not alone in having one. Eventually fourth floor residents may act with their own secrets. Surrounding messages can thus communicate to us on an official or on an emotional level while working to foster a closer community.
If messages directed towards us help to define our community then the way in which we alter our own messages helps to be us as individuals. Whether by responding to an intramural sign-up pelt leaving a sticky note on someone’s door or scribbling our cell be and “label me” on the dry erase come in these are ways we say. “I am here and this is be to express.” While the methods and style of our writing varies we write to communicate ideas and to be our space. This carries on the theme presented in
by Graff and Birkenstein. The formal writings directed at us in the residence halls tell us what “They Say” we should be aware of as students while our informal contributions accept us to respond to our environment with what “We Say,” thus personally engaging in a written dialogue in our own lives.
Examples of Student Expression in the Residence Halls:Dry-Erase Boards-"inside jokes" and messages Community Boards - Notes on Student's Desk; Personal Inspirations -
Forex Groups - Tips on Trading
Related article:
http://blog.case.edu/sarah.garriott/2007/09/14/blog_assignment_two_writing_in_the_residence_halls
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