Natalie Kash
Michelle Lawrence
Eng 111
November 22,2009
Reflection
My project was to create a PowerPoint Presentation over studying abroad in
Luxembourg. I haven’t yet study abroad but wanted to create the project from the perspective
that I have. I feel that this would be more persuasive than just like well I think Luxembourg is
awesome. I can be like Luxembourg is awesome because this is what it is about. I created a faux
host family. Liv and Al were placed within the project from randomly looking through celebrity
photos, which turned out more time consuming than I would have imagined! Gaspard Ulliel is
always chosen for any project he can be incorporated in, always. He is beautiful and well, his
looks appeal to the women who are interested in French men. My intended audience is families
that are currently here on campus. By families, I mean the students doing the studying (who may
also be the ones paying like myself) and the students parents who are financially supporting
them. The purpose of my project was to express that studying abroad is affordable and
beneficial. I know that a lot about of students here at Miami study abroad more than national
percentage but I still feel like there are always people who need to be reached that could benefit
tremendous amounts from this particular opportunity. My project contributes to the conversation
about writing because this is writing that I am taking off the slide show or out of my mind and
speaking it aloud. By speaking within a presentation, it allows the words to develop
characteristics of their own and this helps create desire and passion versus while reading you
would be like, “Oh, wow that is awesome. Next article…”
Natalie Kash
Michelle Lawrence
Eng 111
November 22,2009
Since I am planning on studying abroad next fall ’10, I felt like I already knew a lot about
this topic. Which I found out that if I didn’t know much at all, I would of never been able to
figure out where to start. It’s such a broad subject even though it is still so specific; there is just
so much you could incorporate. I chose to mention the Chateau because let’s face it; it would be
amazing to tell your grandchildren, “When I was your age, college sent us to study in a Castle.”
Plus, more realistically, we honestly don’t have Castle’s here in America and yet so many of us
are infatuated with them. I created the faux host family to bring up the fact that in Luxembourg
you don’t live in a dorm like here you live with a family. I am assuming they help shelter you
from culture shock and give you a large sense of stability so you stay in touch with your school
work. The host families can include so much. I didn’t include this information because it would
have been a large over load… “Does smoking bother you? Do you want Luxembourg babies,
kids or teenagers to live with you? Do you want other MU students? etc.” I felt that showing you
could choose the city and mentioning some benefits or disadvantages of both would sufficiently
express your living options.
I believe that the course load is a very important topic in discussing overseas study. I had
this information on handouts I have received but found the internet PDF file to link my works
cited to. I really wanted to show that the student can graduate on time and actually take classes
that would benefit their requirements and not only their interests. With the options shown on the
slideshow, my hopes are that while watching the presentation they would automatically start
thinking about what they would like to take. This is kind of sneaky but when you have options
you like to pick and choose, then you go… why am I doing this again? Then once they get
excited about the classes they could take, they are that much closer to boarding the plane for a
Natalie Kash
Michelle Lawrence
Eng 111
November 22,2009
long flight. Most people like to travel and see parts of the world, this is why I chose four major
cities to include as “weekend travel excursions.” All of these cities are realisitic because of the
train and subway systems set up in Europe and they also maintain lots of history, importance and
fame. The pictures were meant to appeal to the viewers since they have lots of beautiful scenery
in them.
Last but surely not list, is my slides for Cost and Scholarships. I included this last because
I figured if people saw the cost first they would be much less interested in the presentation
thinking they couldn’t afford it. The cost slide is the most important slide to me because it shows
how Luxembourg does cost more but with it being a Miami University campus tuition and fees
run the same so it really isn’t that much more. The scholarship slide is last because after
presentations the last slide usually lingers. I figured this would be the best to linger because if
someone was interested they could jot the scholarships and grants down to apply for them later.
I believe that I was a very good rhetor. I used lots of pathos with pictures and trying to
express my personal experience so the audience would be in touch with my feelings of
happiness. I tried to base my entire project on logos hoping to ensure that the students or parents
would see that it is only logical to go to Luxembourg since there would be lots of new
experiences and studying and the cost really isn’t so bad. I used a lot of facts and visuals because
that ALWAYS appeals to people and hopefully kept their interest. I believe the fact that I am a
student who went to Luxembourg (for project purposes) and that I used facts helped created a
legit sounding project. This to me means, I successfully reached my ethos.
Natalie Kash
Michelle Lawrence
Eng 111
November 22,2009
I did not run into many problems and I like how my project turned out. I would have
liked to include more information but I was afraid that it would become too boring for my
viewers. I also would have liked to have a French song playing in the background on my final
slide but I was not the technically inclined!