Project 3 Public Communication

From Units 1-11, you analyzed and evaluated a source. For your final project units 11-13, you
will give your opinion on the issue/topic from Project 2.

Unit 12: Opinion Piece

1) How do editorials, op-eds, and columns differ as public communication formats? (100
words)

Editorials, op-eds, and columns are different forms of public communication where editorials
reflect the official opinion of the editorial board, op-eds are the opposite of the editorial page
where a guest writer offers their opinion who is often considered an expert or notable figure, and
columns are the opinions presented by the same author who may be staff or freelancers
appearing regularly in a publication. Editorials are often more formal in tone and offer criticism,
praise, or recommendations; op-eds can be more personal and passionate in tone, often
presenting a clear argument or call to action; and columns, on the other hand, vary greatly in
style, depending on the writer, which can be humorous, conversational, or more formal,
reflecting the unique voice and point of view of the columnist.

2) Which format of public communication do you prefer, and why?

Out of the three public communication modes, I prefer column format because in this format
I can present my own opinions in a variety of styles, such as humorous, conversational, or
maybe more formal. Since it allows for a more personal and conversational style, it helps me
in creating a stronger connection with the audience.
3) Highlight the public communication piece you will write: Editorial, Op-ed, or Column.

For this case, I will be following the column-style format of public communication.

4) State your topic, your thesis, and your support.

What is the debatable question you would like to answer? Turn that question into a statement and
give three reasons to support your thesis.

E.g.,)
Issue: Foodbanks
Question: Should the government provide more funding to Canadian food banks?
Thesis Statement: The government needs to provide more funding to Canadian food banks
because of inflation, low wages, and the high cost of food.
Reasons: inflation, low wages, high cost of food.

Issue: Forgetting and its impact in our life/ mental health.

Question: Is forgetting good or bad?

Thesis: Forgetting is the normal mental cycle, the same as the cycle of remembering, which
helps humans create cognitive flexibility and prevent mental overload.

Reasons:
 Enhancement of cognitive flexibility
 Prevention of memory overload
5) List Sources 1-3 sources. Find a few sources you used to find information about your topic.
You can use the same sources from Project 2 if you wish.

American Psychological Association. (2014, July 24). The Benefits of Forgetting. Retrieved
July, 2024 from APA.org: https://www.apa.org/pubs/highlights/peeps/issue-26

Cantor, C. (2021, July 28). Why Forgetting is Good for Your Memory. Retrieved July, 2024
from ColumbiaPsychiatry.org: https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/news/why-forgetting-
good-your-memory

Kennon, T. (2016, Aug. 31). Why forgetting is actually good for you. Retrieved July, 2024
from TheWeek: https://theweek.com/articles/643297/why-forgetting-actually-good

6) What types of Rhetorical Appeals will you use to capture the attention of your audience?
(Logical, emotional, and ethical)

For this assignment, I will be using logical and emotional appeals to capture the attention of
my audience.
7) Write the Opinion Piece

Outline (point form)

Slide 1: Forgetting: Good or Bad?

Backed by images and audio clips.

Slide 2: Cognitive Flexibility

Backed by images and audio clips.

Slide 3: Memory Overload

Backed by images and audio clips.

Slide 4: Practical Benefits of Forgetting

Backed by images and audio clips.

Slide 5: Conclusion

Backed by images and audio clips.

Slide 6: Q & A Round

Backed by images and audio clips.

Draft 350 words

“Forgetting: Good or Bad?”

Slide 1:

People often seem worried because they normally forget some events and think they have some
sort of illness. But it is not always about illness if they forget things in their normal lives. Hi, I
am Nishan KC, a student of business management, and I will explain the impact of forgetting a
good or bad one.

Slide 2:

Forgetting plays a significant role in cognitive flexibility. According to neuroscientist Charan

Ranganath, our memory works so that it fails some unimportant details, preventing us from
cognitive overload and helping us adapt to the latest information efficiently.
Slide 3:

Furthermore, everyone has expectations for having a perfect memory. They wished to remember
every single detail that happened in their lives, but the truth is that a huge amount of information
inside our brain will cause memory overload, and we will not be able to get the information we
seek on time. Due to which forgetting is important in preventing the information overload.

Slide 4:

Moreover, forgetting helps in retrieving what is needed and makes our memory efficient. It aids
in decluttering our minds, much like organizing a messy desk, because our brain has a chunk of
information that may or may not be important for us. Such unimportant information will be
forgotten to create space for newer information that might be proved to be beneficial for us in
our daily lives.

Slide 5:
To conclude, I wanted to explain that it is almost impossible to get a perfect memory, or a
memory that lets us remember every detail happening in our daily lives, and if we find such a
memory also, the person having such memories will suffer from many consequences, which is
why imperfect memory and false recollections are essential elements of a flexible mind. Memory
and forgetting go side by side and play a crucial role in how we adapt to our environment and
process information, and we should not worry about normal forgetting because it helps the brain
for better functioning.

Slide 6:

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. Thank you for your precious time.

8) Final written piece (Graded)

“Forgetting: Good or Bad?”

People often seem worried because they normally forget some events and think they have some
sort of illness. But it is not always about illness if they forget things in their normal lives. Hi, I
am Nishan KC, a student of business management, and I will explain the impact of forgetting a
good or bad one.

I just wanted to ask you a question. Imagine trying to remember every single detail of your daily
life. Do you think it will be overwhelming? The answer is no. Some people face problems due to
perfect memory. Forgetting plays a significant role in cognitive flexibility. According to
neuroscientist Charan Ranganath, our memory works so that it fails some unimportant details,
preventing us from cognitive overload and helping us adapt to the latest information efficiently.

Furthermore, everyone has expectations for having a perfect memory. They wished to remember
every single detail that happened in their lives, but the truth is that a huge amount of information
inside our brain will cause memory overload, and we will not be able to get the information we
seek on time. Due to which forgetting is important in preventing the information overload. It is to
say that like the cycle of memory, we have the cycle of forgetting also and its normal cycle of
human's brain function.

Moreover, forgetting helps in retrieving what is needed and makes our memory efficient. It aids
in decluttering our minds, much like organizing a messy desk, because our brain has a chunk of
information that may or may not be important for us. Such unimportant information will be
forgotten to create space for newer information that might be proved to be beneficial for us in
our daily lives. Rangnath also explains the working process of our brain, including three ways to
improve our memories, namely, distinctiveness, creating cues, and greater organization of our
memories to make them more meaningful.

To conclude, I wanted to explain that it is almost impossible to get a perfect memory, or a

memory that lets us remember every detail happening in our daily lives, and if we find such a
memory also, the person having such memories will suffer from many consequences, which is
why imperfect memory and false recollections are essential elements of a flexible mind. Memory
and forgetting go side by side and play a crucial role in how we adapt to our environment and
process information, and we should not worry about normal forgetting because it is also
necessary for the better functioning of our brain.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. Thank you for your precious time.
Unit 13: Presenting

Analyze the digital presentation: How Books Can Open Your Mind by Lisa Bu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ibCtsHgz3Y

1. What did Lisa do in her opening to engage the audience?

Lisa began her presentation by talking about her childhood dreams, which helped her
engage the audience right from the start.

2. How did she close her presentation?

She closed her presentation by summarizing her experiences gained from reading books
and encouraging the audience to read books by highlighting the profound impact that
reading had on her life.

3. What other techniques did you notice about her presentation that was engaging?
She effectively used storytelling, personal anecdotes, humour, expressive body language,
body movement, and pauses to engage her audience.
4. What are two delivery techniques Lisa used in her presentation?
Among various delivery techniques, Lisa used simple language and vocal variation, i.e.,
sometimes using a high pitch and at other times sometimes a low pitch, to keep the
audience engaged.

At the end of Unit 13:

● Upload this completed file and your audio or audio/video presentation in the Project 3
Public Communication assignment folder. Remember to ensure that you present in a
manner that is according to your type of opinion piece. For example, you can take on that
tone and voice since the columns are informal and casual. Editorials are more formal, so
you may want to take on a more serious manner (similar to news broadcasters)