Week 9

 

Trip Advisor Top 25 Hotels v Trivago Gold Standard Hotels

http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/TravelersChoice-Hotels-g1
http://www.cntraveller.com/awards/the-gold-list/gold-standard-hotels-2014/viewall

I found Trip Advisors form of review very short and simple. They were all displayed as direct quotes from previous guests at the hotels, and were more an expression of the traveller’s feelings towards their stay at the hotel, rather than a professional prospective.

The Trivago reviews I felt were much more thorough and informative. They were very specific and contained facts and figures and a background that gave you insight to each of the establishments.

While both these sets of reviews were aimed at traveller’s, I felt that Trivago was aimed towards a more high end market with its writing style in a more formal manner than that of Trip Advisor. Trip Advisor had simply selected the best feedback from guests, where as Trivago had a professional review for each hotel.

Both of these sets of reviews, really made me want to go on a holiday escape! However I did feel that the more appealing to the audience was the style and format of Trivago.

 Review a peer’s storify

I reviewed Sarah Barnhams article on the Gladstone Show.

https://storify.com/barnham_sarah/there-was-something-for-everyone-at-the-gladstone

I felt Sarah did a really good job of the content in this story. She made it appeal to a diverse crowd by including a variety of stalls and activities that were available at the show, to grab the interest of the majority of readers.

I think she could have used a stronger Introduction. It was attention grabbing but maybe some of the points she used to finish the story could have been used in the introduction such as when, where, why, who and how. They were the only things I would swap around with the structure.

The use of a variety of tweets were great as they each had a separate item and included things like the price of an activity so the audience could see what the event costs entailed. Maybe the inclusion of a few Tweets or Facebook posts from someone else at the show could have supported the story even more.

Over all I found this story was easy to read and I didn’t get bored so that to me is a good start! It wasn’t overloaded with irrelevant information. It was fast and to the point but with all the right elements included in the story.

Quiz 9 reflections

This quiz was tricky, tricky, tricky! First time round I shamefully got 6/10! And it was on the questions with the same words but different spelling. They get me all the time those ones. The moments you are writing an assignment and you say to whoever is near you ‘Hey, how do you spell...?’ because even as an adult you get confused! I see my son’s spelling tests each week and I am so glad I am not in school anymore because now I have spell check and learnt from many errors over and over how to spell certain words! And at least spell check underlines words in red just like a teacher in school. Tricky this week yes, but also yukky!

 

 

Week 8

Review a social media of interest

Yes...these are my eggs from my chickens ;)

For this week’s activity of social media, I decided to follow my interest of keeping chickens.

http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/
https://www.facebook.com/FreshEggsDaily
https://twitter.com/FreshEggsDaily
http://www.pinterest.com/fresheggsdaily/
http://instagram.com/fresheggsdaily

Fresh Eggs Daily is a blog  that also sends their information through many social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

The information they post on the blog then also gets sent out through the channels of social media, promoting their organisation to the maximum level by reaching all levels of the audience. No matter what platform you prefer to use, you can keep up to date with this organisation. Whilst it is primarily run by the one owner, she also promotes other business of similar interest with in it. Through sponsorship of the blog, other companies are benefiting from the use of Fresh Eggs Daily’s regular posts on social media.

Often the posts contain tips for healthy chickens, recipes, or competitions and give aways to promote the sponsors of the blog. Also with Instagram there is the opportunity for lots of photos to be shared. I know for myself personally all it took was someone else to like a post on Facebook from the blog and it had my attention from the content. Cute photo plus short texts made me click more, more, more!

I would use this blog linked with social media on a professional level to promote my business as it reaches such a diverse crowd across the world. Whilst chicken farming is not my first goal, it is a plan for a sideline project to run a small local egg farm one day (you know...when we win lotto!). It is something my kids also enjoy and it helps teach them to be gentle and take responsibility, so it is something we would venture into. A network like Fresh Eggs Daily is perfect for attracting the target audience required.

Practical-write a review article

 How do you like your eggs?

Fresh Eggs Daily is a social media network that has all your poultry needs covered. From tips on chicken and duck health, to kitchen recipes, to garden maintenance and competitions, Fresh Eggs Daily has it all.

Every day, Lisa, a fifth generation chicken keeper, keeps you up to date with what is happening on her farm with her flock. She also writes for a variety of magazines as well as working on her own published works. Sending out help and advice on her blog via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram, Lisa has the world following her and her chickens closely.

Poultry lovers from around the world regularly post on the Facebook timeline, sharing problems, concerns, questions and happy moments they have enjoyed with their flock. Language proves no barrier when it comes to the love of poultry, with followers happy to join in the conversation on different breeds of chickens and ducks. Questions and reviews on health, diet, illness, wellbeing, coop maintaince, herbs, fruit and vegetables, predators, incubators, heats lamps, chicks, hens, roosters, ducks, geese, and all the other animals you can think of on a farm, are frequently posted to or by Fresh Eggs Daily.

With over 350,000 followers on Facebook and over 3500 followers now on Twitter, this social network continues to grow in popularity. Lisa is turning the typical stereo type of raising chickens and ducks into a new fashion, bringing the simplicities of life, into the new era of digital technology. By giving general home keeping an upbeat appeal, at the touch of a button of a social media platform, you too can get all the help and cuteness you need thanks to Lisa and her work at Fresh Eggs Daily.

Quiz 8

Well this punctuation quiz a lot harder than the first! So many I did a double take on. First attempt I got 8/10 so I was pleasantly surprised. Then on the second attempt I made a booboo and hit the wrong one and had to do it a third time. Third time round I got them all correct. Punctuation I am usually not too bad with but it is those damn apostrophes that get me all the time!

 

Week 7

Review a newsletter

I chose to review the first editon for this year of the Crocodile Specialist Group.
http://www.iucncsg.org/365_docs/attachments/protarea/News-7c3e7324.pdf

For a newletter, I felt it containted a little too much information. The editorial, book review, and current topics I found relevant for a newsletter but I felt the journal style reports included in it could have easily been placed in a seperate publication. For someone who is not within the community of the Crocodile Specialiast Group, I feel the information in this newletter could be too overwhelming.

I thought the layout and style was a little lacking and stuck in the 90's. Given the great programs readily available these days to make publications stand out, it could do with some formatting. It made the group appear to be not of a large scale yet a minority.

I felt if it was revamped/restructutered to contain the editorial, current topics such as regional reports, and book reviews, it would be easier to read and appeal to a wider audience, rather than restriciting the audience to simply existing members within the group.

I did think there were possible follow up stories for this newsletter, with the interest in the funding programs to students in research across various locations. A story on how the money has been allocated and how the student is progressing could make for interesting reading in further newsletters.

Quiz 7 reflection

Argh this one I was mad at myself because I didn't listen to the answer that first came to me. I always stumble on words that need " 's" and it drives me mad. This is my weak point with punctuation. I did get 7 out of 10 on my first attempt, but the ones I got wrong were ones I decided to change the answer to. Note to self, 'DO NOT change answers!'

 

Reviewing my own blog for errors!

I am sure there are many I have not picked up on. I tend to get my blog activities done while my toddler is asleep, so I do not expect my blog to be perfect and error free from punctuation and spelling errors. I try to focus on completeing the tasks as best I can. I will review my blog again before it is due as I do think it will affect my overall result at the end of the term. It is an English class, so why would poorly written work pass? I just need to be sure to be child free and distraction free as I go through my work with a fine tooth comb to find my mistakes!

Week 6

Photo Essay

 

The journey from chick to chicken

 

 

 

 

 

In June 2014, this one day old silkie chick, pops his head out from the comfort of mums warm feathers to have a look at the world.

 

 

 

At 10 days old, Doris, the mother, decides it is time for the chicks to meet the great outdoors. Ready to help Doris, are Darla and Debbie, to make sure the chicks are safe and close by to mum.

 

 

Now out of the comfort and safety of indoors, mother Doris sternly watches her adventurous silkie chicks.

 

 

Close by, Debbie is helping supervise the curious 10 day old chicks, and teaches them how to forage for weeds of the backyard.

 

On a cold winter's morning in July, the chicks have become independent and confidently enjoy a rice treat with the rest of the flock, who have all now accepted the chicks into their group.

 

Cirque de Soleil Media Kit Review

I reviewed the media kit for JOYA.

 

It contained a background of information on Cirque de Soleil itself that lead into a background/history of JOYA.

 

It containted the introduction and biography of the director with the who, what, when, where, why and how.

 

With quotes contained in the media kit, that press are able to use, they also provided links for videos, photos and websites. A facts section to the kit included media contact for further information, and costs and dates of the show.

 

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/press/kits/shows/joya/content-temp.aspx

Quiz 6 reflection

First attempt at this weeks quiz I got 9 out of 10. Having written reports with figures before, this one was not as challenging for me as the previous ones, and again, I listened to my instincts and went with it! I found this quiz a little more straight forward than the others.

Week 5

Speech as a news report

Australia: A great experience for Japanese students

Every year Japanese students of all ages, travel to Cairns to study English and enjoy an Australian home stay experience.

Sakura Mogi, 14, from Tokyo, and Kae Kiminu, 15 from Osaka both agreed that, the clear sky and the stars  was one of the things they liked the most about Australia.

Both Sakura and Kae are staying in Cairns for an 18 day English study program run by Sun Pacific College.

Kae also felt one of the things she liked most about Australia, was her host family’s house. “It is very comfortable.” Kae said. Sakura also agreed and said “The house is very comfortable.”

Both girls were keen to go to the beach while in Australia. On a trip to Green Island with Sun Pacific College, Kae and Sukura were able to enjoy the clear sea of Australia and snorkel The Great Barrier Reef. Kae said she “saw many fish and a turtle. I was able to touch the turtle!”  Kae and Sukura said that they both liked Australia’s clear sea.

Kae, 15, and Sakura, 14, from Japan, enjoy the crazy fun with their host family in Cairns

Quiz 5 reflection

This chapter I found to be short and simple to follow. On my first attempt of the quiz I managed to get 7 out of 10, and found that the ones that I got wrong were ones I had changed my answers on. So from this I have learnt to follow my instincts! I need to trust myself and not go changing answers.