McCallion 1

Kathryn McCallion

Dr. Cummings

ENG 314

8 December 2016

Applied Learning Project: Reflection

In Jim Porters essay Why Technology Matters to Writing," he discusses the distinction

between the different outlooks that he believed separated people from seeing the computer as a

revolution for writing or not. Those who did not, merely saw writing from a formal view

emphasizing style, syntax, coherence, and organization (Porter 386). Others who viewed

writing in a scenic/contextual view, revered the computer as a revolutionary object in the writing

field because they not only saw the words that formated the paragraph, but all of the mechanisms

involved in the process and delivery of what was being expressed.

Technology has changed writing socially and rhetorically because we are able to

communicate on global levels at lightning speed. Not to mention, different social platforms

created different types of writing (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.). Understanding

technology not as a static set of devices, but as a system unfolding over time, including human

and non-human agents in a developmental dance. The revolution lies in use, which guides

technological innovation (Porter 385). I find myself agreeing with Porters view; writing has

evolved. This is just as important in all types of medias and for different purposes. In Anne

Frances Wysockis article The Multiple Media of Texts, she wrote, Learning to compose

pages or screens that fit effectively into a reader/viewers expectations can be, then, a matter of

learning to observe well (Wysocki 29). Taking that into consideration, we can achieve this goal

as writers by observing the multimedias around us as well as thinking of the audience in our
 McCallion 2

process. It is no longer just pencil to paper. Being a writer in todays world means being a digital

composer. If one aspires to be a good professional writer, they must too be a digital composer.

When rhetoric was first studied, many scholars took different approaches to how the

message should be delivered. Aristotle taught his students that delivery should be focused on

(1) emphasizing the role of the body in rhetorical action and (2) stressing the importance of

emotional impact (Aristotle 3). It was like acting out a role in the best way to achieve

persuasion. Through the Renaissance, delivery was more focused on what the speaker was

wearing, how their hair looked, the way they spoke, walked, talked, the ethical stance, and moral

obligations. Fast forward hundreds of years and now delivery is no longer just focused on the

body, or the physical man. We now have to take into consideration a digital delivery.

In our final project, we were to work collaboratively to produce a multimodal text best fit

to promote the Bellamy House and what it has to offer. While walking through the Bellamy

Mansion I could imagine the sounds, the smells, and the constant movement going on throughout

the house. It felt as if I was part of the history of the house itself. The goal of this project is to

use the many ideas, analyses, and theories found in multimodal texts that we have learned and

reflected on thus far to create an effective rhetorical work to benefit the museum by showing

them just how historically wonderful this place is.

When my group decided to create a promotional video for the mansion focusing on the

slave quarters, we anticipated using various forms of film grammar. These proponents of film

provide approaches that allow different variations when creating a video to express a story in the

best way. Film grammar is a detailed collaboration of camera techniques, editing processes, time

elements, sound effects, lighting positions, and more (Chandler). By using these techniques

effectively, a producer can tell the story to an audience using rhetorical properties.We intended
 McCallion 3

on incorporating black and white cinematography to draw attention to the historical significance

of the site, specifically the slave dwellings. We also wanted to apply a voice over relaying a

script to further describe the highlights of the Bellamy. Once we began working on the project,

we discovered that neither of these things would've been useful in our final video. Despite this,

we did use various camera angles to show the grandeur and past prosperity of the Bellamy and

its building. And instead of a voice over, we incorporated flashes of text.

All in all, when we actually began to create our promotional video we discovered that our

primary vision was not what the video actually needed. The black and white cinematography was

not necessary, and the voice over would have offered too much information in a short amount of

time. By physically doing the project, we began to realize what was more appropriate. The

shortened text offered little information, but kept an audience intrigued and wanting to know

more. And the music in the background established a whimsical and magical environment that

history can sometimes create. The benefit of using music for rhetorical pull in multimodal

compositions is that it is something most people are familiar with, especially to establish tone

and atmosphere. The music we listen to is shaped by and shaping of our moods (McKee 343).

With these ideas in mind, we were able to adapt and create the video in a way that it suited it

best, which is exactly what it means to see rhetorically as a digital composer.

The applied learning project in this class was beneficial in more ways than one. For one,

it offered students real life experience. This project forced us to look critically at what we had

learned and put it to good use for a real client. Secondly, it was beneficial for the Wilmington

community as well. This project allowed students to draw attention to a historical landmark

downtown that may get overlooked otherwise. And lastly, this project was beneficial for myself

as a professional writer. I was able to see what my strengths and weaknesses were both digitally
 McCallion 4

and with written word. For one, I realized that I have the ability to teach myself how to use

various editing tools if I just allow myself the time and patience to do so. Also, I need to work

harder on trying to see visually. This project has proven to me that the written word is not the

only way to communicate ideas, and sometimes it is better to create a visual interpretation of it.

Learning when one thing is better than another is a weakness of mine that I anticipate working

on. But out of everything I have learned, being a digital composer is vital for any type of job

once college is over. Even though I have a background with writing, I can take these skills

anywhere, and for that I am forever grateful.

Works Cited

Aristotle, and George A. Kennedy. On Rhetoric: A Theory of Civic Discourse. New York:

Oxford University Press, 1991. Print.

Chandler, Daniel. The 'Grammar' of Television and Film. 1994-2016.

 McCallion 5

McKee, Heidi. Sound Matters: Notes toward the analysis and design of sound in multimodal

webtexts. Computers and Composition 23 (2006) 335-354. Print.

Porter, Jim. Why technology matters to writing: A cyberwriters tale. Computers and

Composition 20 (2002): 375-394. ELSEVIER. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.