In this post, I'll define some key terms regarding BYUSA elections, and I'll also tell you about my experiences with BYUSA elections.
Key Terms:
BYUSA: "The BYU Student Service Association is the premier student-run association on campus. BYUSA is dedicated to serving the BYU student body and advising the BYU administration. Each year an election is held for the Student Body President and Executive Vice President. BYUSA acts as a student voice to the President's Council (President Samuelson and the BYU vice presidents). Also, as a service organization, volunteers in BYUSA organize activities such as Homecoming Dances, Guitars Unplugged, The Unforum and Friday Night Live. Other volunteers research student concerns and work with administrators to resolve those concerns. BYUSA also houses a large portion of BYU's student clubs. BYUSA is entirely student run by unpaid volunteers." --from BYUSA FAQ, emphases added.
BYUSA elections: Held each year. Only the Student Body President and Executive Vice President are elected. The election process takes place during Winter Semester each year. A list of deadlines in this process can be viewed here.
I'll probably think of additional important terms as this blog progresses, but for now, these are the most important things to define.
My experiences thus far with BYUSA Elections:
I am proud to say that I have never voted in a BYUSA election. My views align with what dzhonatan tweeted the other day: "I'm sure @BYUSA presidency is great leadership training. But I have no reason to care which pair of candidates gets it. #BYUSA2010"
I don't think it really matters who is President and Vice-president. We will still have the same activities. And most candidates will likely represent the student body and the BYUSA organization in exactly the same way as is always done. In recent memory (or in all of earth's history), does a specific Pres/Vice stand out to you for some great act? Of course not. They all do the same basic job and have the same basic values. It doesn't really matter who it is...
Well, as long as it's not a terrorist or a loony. But that's what the screening interview and application process is for. So, as far as the popularity contest goes, who needs it? It's just a pointless waste of money and time.
So for all my years at BYU, I've just avoided it and ignored it. And if I stay strong this semester and don't vote, I'll graduate in April without ever having cared about BYUSA. Yooay! I hope the university hasn't suffered too much because of my apathy. Wait, so why am I taking so much effort in analyzing it now? Hmmm, good question. That might be a good topic for a future post.
That's it for tonight. Be good.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Official Maiden Post
Ok, so this is only a week late. I'll try to post the second post today as well, and then we'll be back on schedule. :)
Anyway, first things first. My name's Matt Terry. I'm a super senior at BYU, set to graduate this April. I usually keep busy by studying economics, editing, and German. In my spare time, I like to do just about anything else.
As far as this blog goes, it's going to be an exercise in persuasive writing for one of my classes. I've chosen to focus on the topic of BYUSA elections. Should be a topic of at least minor interest to most people at BYU. The way I see it now is that the elections are quite pointless and a waste of time and money. At least, that's the initial view going into this project. Hopefully this blog will help me refine my opinions and also help me to improve my persuasive writing skills.
At the end of this semester, this blog will have served as part of the research I'm doing for a final paper on this topic. The paper's for my persuasive writing class, but I'll probably post it here too, because anyone taking the time to read this blog will surely be interested reading the final product. The paper won't be too long (at least 1000 words) so don't worry. :)
Well, that's it for the intro. Keep your eye out for more excellent posts in the future.
Anyway, first things first. My name's Matt Terry. I'm a super senior at BYU, set to graduate this April. I usually keep busy by studying economics, editing, and German. In my spare time, I like to do just about anything else.
As far as this blog goes, it's going to be an exercise in persuasive writing for one of my classes. I've chosen to focus on the topic of BYUSA elections. Should be a topic of at least minor interest to most people at BYU. The way I see it now is that the elections are quite pointless and a waste of time and money. At least, that's the initial view going into this project. Hopefully this blog will help me refine my opinions and also help me to improve my persuasive writing skills.
At the end of this semester, this blog will have served as part of the research I'm doing for a final paper on this topic. The paper's for my persuasive writing class, but I'll probably post it here too, because anyone taking the time to read this blog will surely be interested reading the final product. The paper won't be too long (at least 1000 words) so don't worry. :)
Well, that's it for the intro. Keep your eye out for more excellent posts in the future.
Monday, February 1, 2010
New Media Plan
New Media Plan – BYUSA Elections
Persuasive Intent and Audience: My blog this semester will focus on the BYUSA elections. My audience is basically anyone and everyone who will take the time to read my blog--I think it's an important topic for anyone at BYU to be more informed about. But my target audience that I want to persuade is those that love and cherish BYUSA elections. Or those that just approve of them without thinking.
The overall persuasive intent of the blog is to convince readers that BYUSA elections are rather pointless and a waste of time and money.
Blog Name: BYUSA Elections
Blog Site: http://byusaelections.blogspot.com/
Frequency: I plan to post every Friday. This is my best day for good thinking and writing time. I will try to post early in the day so people can read it before the weekend if they want to.
Post Number Date to Post Plan for post
1-Feb.5 Maiden post--introduction of myself and explanation of the blog and of the points I want to prove. Maybe including teasers into future posts.
2-Feb. 12 Defining of key terms, and I'll also tell about my experiences with BYUSA elections.
3-Feb. 19 A response to a main counterargument to my side of the issue.
4-Feb. 26 My enthymeme.
5-Mar. 5 A short history/description of BYUSA
6-Mar. 12 Me arguing the other side.
Persuasive Intent and Audience: My blog this semester will focus on the BYUSA elections. My audience is basically anyone and everyone who will take the time to read my blog--I think it's an important topic for anyone at BYU to be more informed about. But my target audience that I want to persuade is those that love and cherish BYUSA elections. Or those that just approve of them without thinking.
The overall persuasive intent of the blog is to convince readers that BYUSA elections are rather pointless and a waste of time and money.
Blog Name: BYUSA Elections
Blog Site: http://byusaelections.blogspot.com/
Frequency: I plan to post every Friday. This is my best day for good thinking and writing time. I will try to post early in the day so people can read it before the weekend if they want to.
Post Number Date to Post Plan for post
1-Feb.5 Maiden post--introduction of myself and explanation of the blog and of the points I want to prove. Maybe including teasers into future posts.
2-Feb. 12 Defining of key terms, and I'll also tell about my experiences with BYUSA elections.
3-Feb. 19 A response to a main counterargument to my side of the issue.
4-Feb. 26 My enthymeme.
5-Mar. 5 A short history/description of BYUSA
6-Mar. 12 Me arguing the other side.
7-Mar. 19 A rhetorical analysis of a source applicable to my topic
8-Mar. 26 Final planned post: An examination of the benefits/consequences of a world without BYUSA elections
Images: I'd like my blog to have images to accompany its textual assertions. But I don’t know where I find pics of BYUSA elections. I’ll see what I can find, and what I’m allowed to use. Maybe I’ll look into stock photos that depict elections in general.
Length: Between 200 and 400 words. Long enough to make a good point, but not boringly long.
Hyperlinks: I love hyperlinks. I'll link to anything I can think of that's worthy of notice--funny stuff, relevant stuff (meaning I need to keep up to date on related topics and everything in general), etc.
Twitter Integration: My twitter name is @sircakes. I plan to search Twitter for other people who are tweeting about related things. I will also use my twitter account to tweet about my blog.
8-Mar. 26 Final planned post: An examination of the benefits/consequences of a world without BYUSA elections
Images: I'd like my blog to have images to accompany its textual assertions. But I don’t know where I find pics of BYUSA elections. I’ll see what I can find, and what I’m allowed to use. Maybe I’ll look into stock photos that depict elections in general.
Length: Between 200 and 400 words. Long enough to make a good point, but not boringly long.
Hyperlinks: I love hyperlinks. I'll link to anything I can think of that's worthy of notice--funny stuff, relevant stuff (meaning I need to keep up to date on related topics and everything in general), etc.
Twitter Integration: My twitter name is @sircakes. I plan to search Twitter for other people who are tweeting about related things. I will also use my twitter account to tweet about my blog.
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