Louise Erdrich, The Round House bookFor this week's Discussion Board please choose ONE of the following options and write a three paragraph response making sure to refer to the text. Please also write a short (one paragraph) response to one other student. In every case, be sure to demonstrate that you have done the assigned reading. What is the significance of the Round House? What is the importance of the Obijwe legends that are scattered throughout the novel? How do they reflect and deepen the main story? What can we learn from the old ways of people like the Ojibwe? Is Joe proud of his heritage? Discuss the connection between the natural and animal world and the tribe’s spirituality.After the attack, Joe’s mother, Geraldine, isn’t sure exactly where it happened, whether it was technically on Reservation land or not. How does the legal relationship between the U.S. and the Ojibwe complicate the investigation? Why can’t she lie to make it easier?Secondary characters, including Mooshum, Linda Wishkob, Sonja, Whitey, Clemence, and Father Travis, play indelible roles in the central story. Talk about their interactions with Joe and his friends and parents. What do their stories tell about the wider world of the reservation and about relations between white and Native Americans?Joe’s whole family is rocked by the attack on his mother. How does it affect the relationship between his mother and father, and between him and his mother? Does it alter Joe’s view of them? Can trauma force a child to grow up “overnight”? What impact does it have on Joe? How does it transform his family?“My mother’s job was to know everybody’s secrets,” Joe tells us. How does this knowledge empower Geraldine and how does it make her life more difficult?

This read-me of the assignment sheet is for your benefit. This read-me gives you an exact overview of what is expected for the major assignment for this unit.Effective communication depends largely on understanding your audience. Your audience’s expectations, characteristics, knowledge level, and information needs determine the content you choose to present, the depth of detail you provide, the overall tone or attitude of your writing, and even the purpose you establish for your communication.In addition to knowing the importance of analyzing audience, you should also be able to distinguish a document’s primary and secondary audiences.Primary audiences are the major intended readers for your document. In the workplace, your primary audience is the person or persons who will understand and act on your message.Secondary audiences are the other potential readers of your document. These are people who may receive a copy of your document.Most workplace communication has a combination of primary and secondary audiences. For example, people attended your presentation (primary audience) might later share information about your presentation and your handouts with people who didn’t attend (secondary audience).Assignment Guidelines: For this assignment, choose two (2) websites that present information on the same subject. However, the two (2) websites should be aimed at different primary audiences. One website should be designed for a non-technical audience and the other for a technical/specialized audience.Write a memo to your instructor analyzing both websites and their audiences (primary and secondary) and explain the persuasive strategies each website uses to serve its primary audience’s needs.Synthesize your analysis to the following questions:Note: You need to answer all of these questions; your failure to answer all questions will result in point deductions. What primary audiences do the two websites seem to aim for? What kind of knowledge do the audiences seem to possess about the subject matter? What are their age(s), genders, education level, occupations, and cultural background?Who are the secondary audiences of these websites? Who else might use information found on these sites?What persuasive strategies do the websites employ to appeal to their primary audiences? Do they use claims? Do they make an effort to connect with the audience? (See pages 48-51 of your textbook for more on persuasion)To what extent do the websites use technical language? Do you see any examples of jargon? Give examplesHow long is the average sentence in each website? How long is the average paragraph? Does this tell you anything about the audience?How formal/informal are their respective style? Why?Is there advertising? If so, what do the ads tell you about the audience?Do the website use tables, graphs, figures, illustrations or images? How different are they on the two websites?Requirements:Keep in mind that your purpose is to compare and contrast the two websites, not merely to describe them (failure to compare and contrast will result in a 20-point deduction)Do not simply type the questions followed by your answers. Like all professional memos, this one should summarize and organize the information into coherent and well-written narratives (failure to use a narrative will result in 5-point deduction)Format: Use a business memo format. You can also use a memo template in Word. (Failure to use a business memo format will result in 10-point deduction)Minimum word requirement: 750 words (Failure to meet the minimum word count will result in a 5-point deduction)Make sure to include the Websites’ URLs in your memo (Failure to include working URLs will result in a 5-point deduction)Submission Instructions:Submit via Unicheck in Canvas (Final draft only). No assignments will be accepted over email. Assignments incorrectly posted or submitted to the wrong location in Canvas will receive a 10-point deductionRequired title for final version: your last name-audience analysis memo.Submit the document as a PDF.Deadlines: First draft due by 11:59pm CST Friday of week 1Peer review due by 11:59pm CST Sunday of week 1Final draft due by 11:59pm CST Wednesday of week 2PreviousNext