Learning Objectives
- Create messages appropriate to the audience, purpose, and context.
- Critically analyze messages.
- Answer communication questions using appropriate research methods.
Learning Objective 1
Treating Seasonal Depression Infographic & Reflection
This infographic demonstrates my ability to messages appropriate for the audience and purpose, by targeting those who may struggle with seasonal depression. The message of this brochure is informational and supportive, combining research with advice.
I created this mental health resource in my Communication & Mental Health course during the Spring 2024 semester. I chose to create an infographic about seasonal depression, as it is a common issue in Wisconsin that I know a lot of people struggle with each year.
The target audience of this infographic are people of any age who may experience seasonal depression.
Love at a Distance Podcast
This podcast utilizes a creative and appropriate method to reach my target market and achieve my goal of educating people on the topic.
I created this podcast for my Intimate Relationships & Media class during the Fall 2025 semester. Of our choices for projects, I choose to complete a dissemination project. I chose to create a podcast about tips and tricks for maintaining and strengthening a long distance relationship, geared towards college students.
My primary audience was college students, as they are an age group that more commonly deals with long distance relationships.
Learning Objective 1
Worth the Effort Tiktok Account
I created short-form content aimed at targeting a specific segment of people and created appropriate messages related to the context of the project and the intended audience.
I created this Tiktok account during the Spring 2026 semester for my final project of my Communication Capstone. I am very passionate about friendships, whether that be about maintaining them or understanding the benefits of them, which is why I chose this topic. I utilized social exchange theory as a way to bring in communication research related to my topic.
The audience for my Tiktok account is women in the teenager to young adult range, but I do think the information I presented could apply to a lot of people. The specific style of content I used more pertains to this demographic though.
https://www.tiktok.com/@worththeeffort?_r=1&_t=ZP-95aXQn0KbU6
What Should Netflix Users Know? Instagram Stories
Utilizing relevant information about Netflix and its users, I created a specific type of content I felt Netflix users would also be most likely to use and be able to see. The goal for this project was the inform Netflix users about various topics.
This is my final project for Netflix: Disruptive Entertainment, which I took over J-Term in 2025. This is a series of Instagram story posts relating to Netflix, including topics like the history of Netflix, information about Netflix’ recommendation system, and how Netflix has changed and disrupted television.
The audience for this is anyone, in any age range, who watches or has watched Netflix. While the history of Netflix may be known by some, not a lot of people think about how disruptive Netflix has been.
Learning Objective 2
Stirring the Pot – Analysis of Guy’s Grocery Games Poster
I critically analyzed how gender is represented in Guy’s Grocery Games. I also analyzed the influence of the gender imbalance to understand the message it puts out.
I created this for Women and Media class during the Spring 2025 semester. I created this as part of an assignment that required us to choose some form of media and compare our findings from 20 different examples of it to one theory selected from a list of theories. I chose to analyze these examples utilizing the feminist lens, as Guy’s Grocery Games was my favorite show at the time and the imbalance of men and women in cooking shows was something I had noticed since watching these types of shows since I was a child.
The audience of this poster was my class and my professor, as we did a gallery-style presentation walk through for one another.
Research on Media Effects Essay
In this essay, I critically analyzed two articles about the effect of stereotypes and other messages in television and the affects these could have on audiences.
I wrote this paper for Netflix: Disruptive Entertainment, a course I took during the J-Term semester in 2025. This assignment is a reflection and analysis of two pieces of research about theories relating to people consuming media.
The audience for this reflection was my professor, but those who watch Netflix may also learn from it, especially the last paragraph that talks about the effects of stereotypes in the media.
Learning Objective 2
Pinterest: Social Media without the Social – Tetrads of Media Essay
This paper analyzes the effect that Pinterest has on users and the message that it gives to people in comparison with other forms of social media.
I wrote this paper for Social Media, taken in Fall 2024, as part of an assignment about the tetrads of media effects. I chose to analyze the impacts of Pinterest in accordance with the four tetrads.
My primary audience for this assignment was my professor.
Dogs are the Best – Op-Ed Essay
This essay includes a critical analysis of a specific Op-Ed essay and why it was or was not its message was influential looking through a specific lens.
This essay was written for my Political Communication course that I took during the Spring 2023 semester. For this assignment, we were asked to create a rhetorical analysis on an Op-Ed from the New York Times. We were then asked to choose a specific lens to analyze it through to explain whether or not the piece works. I chose an Op-Ed about how dogs are the best, and I analyzed it through the emotional appeals lens.
The audience for this essay was my professor.
Learning Objective 3
Scholarly Journal Abstract
This journal abstract is an identification and analysis of communication research.
I wrote this during my first communication class, Interpersonal Communication, during the Fall 2022 semester. We analyzed a research article. This specific research utilized a social scientific research method, studying human behavior and interactions among siblings.
My professor was the audience for this assignment.
Lizzo’s Image Repair Strategies Essay
This assignment looks to answer how people use image repair strategies and whether their actions are effective or not.
I wrote this during my Crisis Communication class during J-Term of 2024. Our task was to compare a celebrity ‘crisis’ to image repair theory to see how well, or if, they could repair their image after some type of scandal. We then analyzed their strategies of image repair.
My professor was the audience for this paper.
Learning Objective 3
Student-Led Activity Reflection
I created this reflection after leading a presentation for the class. The presentation utilized communication research to identify a method to improve mental health.
I created this reflection as a part of my Communication & Mental Health course during Spring 2024. This reflection came after a project that included leading the class in a small presentation and activity related to something that could be done to improve mental health. I chose to focus on gratitude, and our activity was gratitude journaling. This included social scientific research methods.
The audience for this activity reflection was my classmates and professor.
Face Theory – Theory Application Leadership
This presentation utilized a research article to connect to a specific theory of communication, Face Theory.
I completed this assignment during my Communication Capstone in the Spring 2026 semester. For this assignment, I chose to analyze face theory and find a related article. After analyzing the article and relating it to the theory, I created a presentation with my evaluation and a connection to the media. The article in this presentation utilized a critical research method, examining power structures in motherhood.
The audience for this presentation was my class and professor, although I think mothers and families would also benefit from the information in this presentation.