The End has Come!

At the beginning of the semester, I was genuinely confused about the purpose of ALES 204. It had been described as a communications theory and practice class, but what did that mean? Initially, it seemed to be all about social media and critical literacy. As the semester has continued on, I realized the take-home message of the class may not necessarily be solely about social media and how to maintain integrity on the worldwide web. The integration of this class into the way we carry ourselves as individuals and professionals is greater than simply how we behave on the internet. As individuals, we should construct a new train of thought to act more critically when faced with social media. This class has taught me to become more aware of all the different angles of a story and not believe everything at first glance. I’ve become inclined to ask more questions and do my research before accepting what I am told.

Retrieved from http://luisgalarza.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/19-bad-twitter-marketing-strategies-to.html on April 12, 2012.

 One of the major aspects of this class that I was resistant towards was joining Twitter. It did not seem much different than updating your status on Facebook and appeared to be of greater use for celebrities and famous figures. If Facebook allowed us to update statuses, post pictures, and comment on each other’s profiles, why would we need Twitter? It was only after forcibly joining that I had a light-bulb moment. Facebook has its own distinct place in all that it offers, but Twitter is an ongoing, international conversation. You can choose who to follow, use hashtags to join a discussion, and hear news faster than watching television. It’s a great way to follow your celebrity crush and interact with them in a more intimate way. I now find myself checking my Twitter feed everyday to see what Rihanna is doing and where she is. Furthermore, Twitter has allowed me to stay up-to-date with the nutrition world and keep myself educated on the newest findings, especially when schoolwork and life can be too demanding on my time.  Many social media phenomenons come and go, such as MySpace and hi5, but Twitter is only just gaining momentum and here to stay!

It is hard to summarize everything ALES has taught me because of the wide scope of lessons that translate into the many realms of our lives. For example, though we may have constructed our own Facebook pages as an electronic form of a resume, the activity made us more aware of what we put forth on the internet and how to hold ourselves in the most dignified, respectable manner. Presentation is everything, whether it be a professional Facebook page or constructing an email for job opportunities. The lectures offered practical applications we can use in the future for our professional lives. Lab participation and lecture lessons taught us to be responsible individuals, how to effectively use social media to further our career opportunities, and to take advantage of all outlets to advertise our skills and experience. In this day and age it is very important for everyone to be aware of ways to intelligently use social media to network and assist in a job search. What I will take from the class is the correct way to construct a CV and the proper way to compose a professional letter. Unless you physically go to the place to hand in your CV/resume, the paper resume is how a person makes the first impression to the employer. This is the sole reason why a person’s CV/resume should be organized, neat and only present pertinent information. There is no reason why you should write which junior high school you attended when you are applying for a professional job. One piece of advice from lab that I found valuable was to immediately write down any volunteer experience or awards received. We don’t realize how easy it is to forget important credibility we could use to enhance our professional portfolios.

Retrieved from http://www.tinyandmighty.com/proper-use-of-social-networking-sites on April 12, 2012.

With so many people from different backgrounds in the same faculty, ALES 204 has allowed us, the student body, to connect with each other and hear one anothers' thoughts. Though many of the blog posts may be similar, we were exposed to different opinions on the same subject and let our creativity run wild with our optional blog posts. This is something unusual and refreshing that I have never experienced in a class before. To interact with one another was a pleasant change from the traditional competitive nature of university classes. Previously being a Faculty of Science student, I had never met anyone in the Clothing and Textile program. It was only until I was in this class that I met a student in this program, Laura Scott. What I admire about her blog is the layout; Laura’s blog is clean-cut, precise, and doesn’t contain any “noise.” Another aspect of the blog portion of the class was the more intimate interaction between students by being able to comment and spread our thoughts. Now that the class has come to an end, I’ve realized there is more I need to learn and how there is so much I know nothing of. The practicality of this class to real-life situations is something I admire and applaud as a student who pays a lot to attend this university. So, thank you to Dr. Laccetti and all of the wonderful TA’s!!

Throughout the term, we commented on each other's blogs. Here are some of my comments:

• Kelsey Rutar
• Danielle Lu
• Stephanie Nash
• Alana Soderberg
• Julie Lackowicz

Wikipedia stubs: Unfinished work

Wikipedia is a database of endless information and quite possibly the most frequently used site for general knowledge. Although it is a great start for gaining intelligence on a topic, Wikipedia would not be considered a reliable source for use in an academic paper. Many times the information presented in a Wiki article may not originate from a peer-reviewed or accurate resource. Furthermore, "performers" can freely edit Wiki stubs and allow their biases to pervade articles. "Gardeners" also frequently contribute to the maturation of a stub, but may not be fully educated on the topic. This week in ALES 204, we learned how to edit a Wiki stub and work towards achieving "good article" status.

Editing a Wikipedia stub is no small feat. On first glance, it seems like a challenging task that would require a large amount of time and effort. That is quite the understatement. Initially, a coherent thought must be constructed as a foundation to build body. Next, reliable peer-reviewed articles must be acquired to provide accurate references for information and for adding credibility. Then, a draft must be written up on the research and newly-acquired information and edit the pre-existing work done by the "performer." What I found to be the most demanding task was understanding the Wiki formatting code to give the appearance of a typical Wikipedia article, though it slowly became easier to navigate. However upon completing the article, I was still having technical issues with using references subsequent times for three of the peer-reviewed sources.

Food Choice Wikipedia page - after editing complete. From Jasveer Brar's personal collection, March 22, 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_choice

The creators of Wikipedia made it easy for a regular person to create a user account and contribute to the betterment of the site to provide easy-access to all kinds of knowledge for the public. At the same time, this opens the door to vandal, bias, and incorrect information. Any acts of vandalism are quickly discovered, but bias and inaccurate writing can be tougher to detect. When writing my contributions, I noticed there were some arguments I wanted to reinforce more than others, such as the fact that women are more likely than men to choose and consume foods based on health concerns and food content. Though there may be conflicting studies and research that exist,  I chose to stand by that statement. It is in such cases that an argument can be swayed to fit the editor's bias. When working on this assignment, I did not intend to let any biases interfere with the integrity of the article but this may not be the case with all editors. It is noteworthy to mention that all sources used arose from esteemed journals and were peer-reviewed articles. Continuing on, building upon a stub can feel like walking over someone's toes as the stub is of their creation and vision. A certain way of writing and idea is already in motion and can be difficult to maintain. Although "food choice" is a broad topic, I wrote from a more specific angle. I chose to explore the differences between age & gender and selection of food, as well as socioeconomic factors that influence which foods are chosen. Whereas the pre-edited article described environmental influences and social influences that control the way we choose food, I opted for a more intimate explanation as to interpersonal differences that can dictate our choice of food and eating habits.

On Wikipedia, there are numerous stubs which need attention to mature to knowledge-rich articles. From my experience, it is easier to work on a stub which is of interest and some knowledge is already present in the mind. Cassandra, a fellow ALES classmate, chose to write about proximal diabetic neuropathy. Being in nutrition, Diabetes Mellitus is a disease which we have all become highly acquainted with and have some basic, if not extensive, information about. As previously mentioned, it is much less demanding to choose a stub to work on if some prior knowledge is known, and that is exactly what Cassandra chose to do. In her blog, she goes on to further explain the benefits of using Wikipedia as a "free encyclopedia," but maintains critical literacy when exploring the many downsides of using a database that is open for the public to "garden."

Finding the Truth in an Ocean of Lies

For this blog post, we are given the freedom to let our creativity flourish and post on something of our interest, but relative to ALES 204. A recurring theme I have noticed while in lecture is the importance of being critically literate when being bombarded by the news, articles, and popular media. Ultimately, it is the audience's responsibility to analyze text, decode hidden messages, and ascertain what is important and what is useless or bias information. Time and time again, articles and newscasters relay the risks and benefits of certain foods and practices, and as the public, it is difficult to accept fact from fiction. Constantly, we are being fed the latest findings that conflict with what we were informed of yesterday. To what extent should we believe this research and what is our role in this back-and-forth game of fact and fiction? As an audience, it is essential to know both sides of the story and reflect on what is important for ourselves. Many factors must be taken into account, such as where funding for the research originated and personal backgrounds of the peer-reviewers. Of interest to me is the conflicting health benefits of chocolate. One day, the public is notified of the life-altering health benefits that chocolate relay. However the next day, the story changes and stresses the detrimental effects of chocolate consumption.

Retrieved from http://dyingforchocolate.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/chocolate-for-leaner-you.html. April 11, 2012.

The point of this blog post is to bring attention to the public using their discretion in taking popular advice from published studies and health advocates. It is easy to jump on the bandwagon and follow the well-tread road, however it is more important to explore all alternatives and be critically literate with popular media. On one hand, the general public is recommended to consume chocolate due to its polyphenol content which can help alleviate inflammation and oxidative stress commonly associated with cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis.² Consumption of chocolate is sometimes seen as an alternative to the recommendation of two glasses of wine daily. However, others bring to attention to the processing and manufacturing process which can alter the content of cocoa, thus reducing its effectiveness in cardiovascular health maintenance.¹ What many articles suggest is consuming pure cocoa, whether it be cocoa powder or cocoa liquor polyphenols. More often, people will purchase milk chocolate thinking the same benefits will be reached, not knowing the addition of sugar, milk and other ingredients lead to a calorie-rich manufactured chocolate product. It is not the scope of this blog post to explore every possible benefit and risk associated with chocolate consumption, but to bring to light the consumer’s responsibility to evaluate situations critically and realize what is best for them.

I must admit that I have become victim to this mentality and followed the doctor’s orders blindly. My naivety gets the best of me and I will do anything if you tell me it is “healthy." What I know now (mainly because of ALES 204) is to analyze every aspect of an article, i.e. author’s background, research funding, and peer reviewers to name a few. “Think outside the box” is a phrase that can apply to many settings as the truth is not always black and white and requires us to use a more in-depth sort of thinking. A popular marketing tool is playing up on key words to provoke a thought and feeling in the consumer, thereby prompting them to purchase their product. One such strategy is labeling a food product “natural.” The Globe and Mail outlines how food companies can get away with calling their product “natural” by finding an alternative to commonly-used preservatives. What many are not aware of is that these new alternatives may be just as destructive on your health. This is where it becomes our responsibility as a consumer to do our research before giving in blindly to published work and coy marketing strategies.


There are an endless amount of times when we, the consumer, have been brainwashed into believing what we are told. Lindsay Gervais, a fellow ALES student, updated a Wiki stub on “superfoods,” calling to attention how misconceptions are a frequent occurring phenomenon among food products. Products can be labelled as “superfoods,” giving the idea that there are superb benefits. My main message is not to scare you into not believing anything that we are told over the news or social media, but to be more aware of the origins and the advice. Do your homework!!



1. Andres-Lacueva C, Monagas M, Khan N, et al. (2008) Flavanol and flavonol contents of cocoa powder products: influence of the manufacturing process. J Agric Food Chem 56(14):3111–7.

2. Murga-Fernandez, L., Tarin, J.J., Garcia-Perez, M.A., and Cano, A. (2011) The impact of chocolate on cardiovascular health. Maturitas 69:312-321.

The Importance of a Facebook Page

Welcome back!

This week in ALES 204, we made a Facebook page! You may wonder how this differs from your Facebook profile, so here's a simple distinction:

• "Facebook page is a public profile that can be used to promote a small business, organization, band, or celebrity that allows fans to connect on a deeper level and attract new potential audiences. Businesses cannot have a friends' list on their Facebook page, however people can become fans and follow posts and statuses of the business."¹

• Facebook profile is a personal profile, filled with photos, statuses and a friends' list.² This is separate from a page because profiles are not meant to popularize a business, person, or organization.¹ It provides a summary of who you are, your interests, and is a more up-to-date news feed of what is happening in that person's life.²

Before this class, I never thought of a Facebook page as a tool to connect with employers and provide an on-line "resume." I should've known better since everything has shifted to the cyber world. How often do we say, "Are you on Facebook?" when we meet someone new? I know you may not admit it, however, I am sure we have all Googled our names to see what shows up. Therefore, it's expected that a future employer would do the same to gain some background information on a potential employee. We must be aware of the consequences of our words and media we put forth on the web because once it's out there, it is virtually permanent. This could be just as fatal to our professional lives as handing in a paper resume riddled with spelling errors and bad grammar. That is why it is essential for us to know how to present ourselves in the most dignified and professional way when using social media as a tool to gain opportunities. Hence, this week's assignment! In ALES lab, we learned how to construct a Facebook page and design it in a matter that relays important and vital information to the business world. Here is a quick look at my page:

Jessie Brar's Facebook profile (taken January 26, 2012)

This Facebook page will be helpful in that it is a quick way for employers to gain insight into my goals, history, and even my personality. I find it important for people to see my true self, as a resume doesn't always show that a person is bright and bubbly. The page allows for creativity and can be a safe ground to share my thoughts and opinions. Additionally, a Facebook page is not meant to be an in-depth resume about job/school history, skills, interests, etc. It is a general overview of a person and allows to the person to control his/her image that is presented. Many times over, we have heard of people acting irresponsibly on Facebook and updating statuses that defame their place of employment. People must realize that this information is out for the world to see and your words can have detrimental effects. Many of us have bad days at work and love to vent, but most times, Facebook and Twitter are not the outlets to use. Bosses checking up on workers via Facebook is an article detailing people's irresponsible behavior by posting inappropriate pictures and using their blogs to talk ill of their boss. Also mentioned is the increasing trend of employers using these social networking sites to check up on current or potential employees. My question is: Where do we strike the balance between work and life?

If you're interested in viewing some of my classmates' Facebook pages, here's a link to Kelsey Rutar's blog. She is studying Human Ecology and if you like fashion and all its different facets, her page is where you want to be!

¹ Difference Between a Page and Profile on Facebook, Social Reflections, Retrieved January 23, 2012, from http://www.socialreflections.com/difference-between-a-page-and-profile-on-facebook/
² Profile, Facebook, Retrieved January 23, 2012, from http://www.facebook.com/about/profile/ 

ALES Intro Blog

Welcome!

I'm Jasveer Brar, but prefer to go by Jessie. This is my first time blogging and I'm unsure how I feel about this. It's exciting but confusing and I feel like I'll be spending lots of time on here! I am a third-year student at the U of A in the Nutrition and Food Sciences Major. It took a long time for me to figure out what I wanted to do and just as importantly, what I DON'T want to do, and this was a comfortable fit. I have a curious mind where I am always ready to explore and learn. In my mind, that is essential for a career where there is always new information presenting itself. I can't say I am a library of knowledge in regards to this career but I have the drive and the hunger to learn. I also cannot say where I will end up in 5 years, but I know I want to work towards becoming a Registered Dietitian. Although working in a clinical setting is intriguing, I can see myself educating and perhaps working with some variation of an outreach program where I am able to visit different groups of people. What I love about this arena of work is that there are options! Options of where to work, who to work for, and what kind of work to be doing! I'm mind-numbingly anxious and nervous of what the future holds, but excited nonetheless!

(taken from personal library of pictures)

That is me (on the left) and my sister this past summer in England. I love, love, love England and have always wanted to live there, even for just a year. Interesting fact: I was born in Reading, England and moved to Edmonton when I was three years old. There are numerous places I want to travel and hope that I can cross them off of my bucket list one day.

In this day and age, social media has become a lifeline for the majority of us. Many people use it to connect with family and friends that are dispersed around the world. For some people, it is an outlet to voice their thoughts and opinions, and yet for others it serves entertainment purposes. Personally, social media has allowed me to re-connect with family and friends abroad and rekindle close relationships. I am able to live halfway across the world but still be connected to my cousins and feel as if I was with them on their birthdays through their pictures. Social media definitely has its flaws, but the benefits are much more substantial. It allows us to connect to the world and all it has to offer. With the mere click of a button, we have all the information we need at our fingertips and much more than we could ever imagine. Whether it is people communicating from opposite ends of the world, or bloggers exchanging ideas on the best technique to make grilled cheese, social media connects the inhabitants of this world in a way that has never been done before.

In reference to my future career endeavors, social media can be a weary subject. If I am to advise patients and assist in improving their health and lifestyle, it is essential to rely on scientific journals and peer-reviewed articles. Social media has it benefits in presenting ideas and networking, but doesn't offer much in terms of information that can be relied on for professional use. If anything, all the social media outlets I will be using will be more for personal use. I use blogs and other forms of informal postings to find new recipes and get ideas of all sorts. I am not totally sure if magazines fall under the bracket of social media (which is a vague concept to me still), but that is another source of knowledge I rely on for everyday use. One benefit of social networking and all the various outlets is that I can use it to open my eyes to new ideas and research being conducted. Communication of research and important findings will have a bigger impact on my career and success, rather than knowing how someone made the best spinach pizza.

I never gave social media any thought before this class and how much of a role it plays in our lives. I used Facebook before this class and understood the impact of your words and opinions being posted on the worldwide web can have, but I can't wait to learn how I can network and expand my opportunities!

If interested in following another student in ALES 204, click here!

I've recently just become addicted to Pinterest, and found some awesome recipes here. I'm proud to announce I made Broccoli Cheese and Potato soup the other day and it was a success!