KEY INSIGHTS
An Intersection of History and Mass Communications
Key Insight #1
The Power of Ethos in Public Communication
"Before taking SPCH 145, I believed that “ethos” only applied to developing persuasive arguments. However, after learning more about Aristotle’s theory that there are three elements of ethos, I came to the realization that the application of ethos is not limited to arguments. Now, I see ethos in communications of various forms–from news articles to course lectures. I have also been able to apply this concept outside of the committee I lead Before any public speaking or leadership role I undertake, I refer to the three elements of ethos."
Key Insight #2
The Agenda-Setting Theory: Politics & Public Relations
"I immediately saw how the Agenda Setting Theory applied to my work analyzing Nikki Haley’s campaign for the 2024 Presidential Election. However, I began to realize that I practice this theory in my everyday life. While this theory is most often applied to the news, I have been able to also apply it in my role as the Publicity Chair for the Black Honors Caucus (Fall 2022-Present), and I previously applied it in my job as a Marketing Intern for the Student Success Center (Jan. 2021-Dec. 2023). In both roles, my goal was to create digital content promoting the entity it represents."
Key Insight #3
The Historian's Craft
"I gained a newfound appreciation for public history displays and now see their value in a new light. Not only do they have the ability to share untold stories, such as the experience of the first black student in the SCHC or Richard T. Greener’s story, but the skills one learns in curating a public history display are applicable in different fields. As someone who aspires to become an attorney, I know how important it is to be able to gather information, analyze it to determine which pieces are relevant, and then determine how to present it in a manner that caters to your audience."