Teaching Foreign Language in Elementary Schools

In the article “How to Create Powerful Press Releases,” by Judith Welsh several methods to create an effective press release are outlined and shown through press release examples.    Welsh begins the article by giving her reasons for publishing a book on writing press releases.  She explains how little attention has been given to this matter, since press releases are short texts, but how important it is to create a solid message that focuses on the key point for which the press release is written.  Next she provides ten reasons for making press releases. 

                When I asked myself, in imagining that I was writing a press release, “ ‘why am I writing this?’ “ (Welsh 9) I was able to pick out certain possible reasons from the list given by Welsh.  Regarding my topic, three situations in which I might publish a press release include 1) To inform the public, 2) To attract an audience, and 3) To educate a specific group.  In the case of informing the public, I would be calling to attention the need for local schools to create elementary school foreign language programs.  In the case of attracting an audience, I would focus on the benefits associated with children starting to learn a foreign language at a young age.  In the case of educating a specific group, I would focus on the scientific findings that support the idea of beginning foreign language programs early.

                In this type of rhetorical situation, I will need to appeal to the audience in concise terms that focus their attention on the message I am intending to get across.  For this reason, I need to make sure to write clearly and correctly to make for smooth and easy reading for the audience.  This way they are more open to the message because it is well written. I will also need to make sure that I make the topic interesting so that it grabs attention, but not so that it overstates the message to the point where the audience questions the validity of it.