English 102 - Fall 2008

The report discusses how the complexity of medical information affects the health of the patient. The terminology used by doctors and other health professionals contribute to low literacy in patients, and because of the difficulty patients have understanding medical information, health outcomes of patients are jeopardized. The report makes interesting points that expose the unnecessarily complex and confusing language doctors insist on using when talking to patients.

Leland discusses how talking down to elderly people, "elderspeak," has a negative effect on their health and outlook of life. These negative effects lead to decreased self-esteem, depression, and even a reduction in life expectancy. Most people actually get infuriated when they are talked to like a child, and say it is an insult to their integrity. Dr. Becca Levy of Yale University says health care workers are some of the worst offenders of elderspeak and are unaware of the negative implication it has on patients, that such patronizing language gives the message that patients are incompetent.

Nutbeam describes the importance of improving access to health information and the capacity to use it effectively as a public health goal. Because strategies include more personal forms of communication and community-based educational outreach, a reduction in low health literacy would be possible and the end goal would result in individuals being more involved in their health care decisions. This would empower them. Nutbeam makes a reasonable point for health literacy as a public health goal as a means for reducing low health literacy.

Bryan discusses how practical steps that healthcare providers and executives can implement to enable health literate communities can provide several solutions to solve the health literacy crisis. A team effort, use of standardized communication tools, plain language, and educational materials are suggested. Because the health care providers are instrumental in reducing low health literacy, policies that include solutions that are easy to implement to enable health literate communities are necessary. Bryan makes useful suggestions for providers and policy makers which seems plausible.

The author discusses the importance of instituting NCAA academic reforms and maintaining the balance between academics and athletics. It offers an overview of the new NCAA academic standards and its solution to bridging the gap between athletics and academics. The author also points out the significant role coaches and academic/athletic advisors play in a student's athletic and academic career. She provides adequate information needed to develop better academic standards in hope of gaining successful academic support programs for student athletes.

The author analyzes the academic values present in college athletics. She offers solutions to the imbalance of athletics and academic present in intercollegiate sports. According to the author her solutions would ensure that intercollegiate sports support academic missions of universities. She provides research relevant for this research; however it's brief and limited to broad information.

This article analyzes information on academic support programs provided for student athletes. Academic support must first focus on the involvement of the central administration, faculty, and athletic department. Also according to this article, an evaluation of the athletes through testing and records must be performed first to further improve the academic support. This article provides information necessary for developing an academic support program fit to supply sufficient support for athletes.

This article examines the academic services provided to student athletes on university campuses. The author describes the role of important figures, such as advisors, in athletes' collegiate career. He discusses several other factors that also contribute to athletes' academic achievement, but for the purpose of this research paper, information focusing on the influences responsible for maximizing academic performance of athletes were more important and useful. Nevertheless, much of the author's information was indeed interesting and resourceful.

The author discuss many revisions NCAA continues to make to constantly improve and keep academic standards and programs up to date with ideal measures. He explores the timeline of NCAA reforms, starting with the first reforms that required little, if any, academic requirements for student athletes. He ends with the present position of the NCAA and its reforms, which are greatly improved with more realistic requirements for athletes' academics. Worsnop provides information useful for this study, while also making overall great points about the academic part of college sports.

The author discusses several topics, focusing mainly on student athletes and their performance academically. He offers a few useful methods for athletes to improve academic performance and achieve success in the classroom. He argues the importance of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and its newest provisions added to improve the academic requirements for student athletes at all universities. He offers practical information, relevant for this study while also making intriguing and stimulating points necessary for his research.

This article focuses on the relationship between athletes and academics with the use of statistics. The author used statistics to compare the different affects of variables such as athletic facilities, administration advisors, and outside influences including media. He compared academic performance of non-athletes and athletes as well. Lawrence provides valid information attaining to academic support, however its mainly comparative data.

In a case study performed at the University of Minnesota, the authors developed a consensus about the determining factors linked to the correlation of academic performance and student athletes. They used these results to produce helpful ideas, useful for improving academic standards within universities athletic programs. Such recommendations ranged from academic support availability to university alum involvement. These findings give readers an idea and understanding of the requirements needed to have a successful academic support program in a university, however these results are also limited by the fact that the study was performed only at the University of Minnesota.

The authors explore the significance of different opportunities provided by college recreational sports (CRS) and its affect on student-athletes. They came to the conclusion from their study that academic performance excels when academic standards are brought to the administration first. Their results can help inform academic and athletic administrators, students, and the general public of the importance of continued support for recreational sports in college, and not just intercollegiate sports.

The author describes the necessary means needed to take place in order to get college academic programs up to par and back on track with ideal standards. He argues a convincing argument on how to attain an athletic program geared toward having sufficient academic outcomes. According to the author, the answer to achieve such a goal "lies within the organizational placement of athletics within the academic administrative structure" (12). Nonetheless, both student advisors and student athletes themselves play an important role in the outcome of their academic achievement. With adequate research, the author provides information that is valuable for this study at hand.

This article examines the affects and consequences of illegal academic scandals. It discusses the impact of scandals, such as bumping test scores up so students can pass, and who it affects most. Kihl et al. came to the conclusion that the players themselves suffer the most. The team takes the hardest hit for academic scandals and other such corruptions. Although this article contains useful information, it only focuses on men's basketball program at a university.

In this article, the author analyzes academic success through the eyes of athletes, which is rarely discussed or reviewed. He notes that controversy, surrounding suspect graduation rates, poor test score requirements, tutor scandals, and more, have been a problem for several years. Focusing on certain details related to academic struggles for student athletes, the author provides information that helps relate academics and athletics from a different perspective.

This article discusses the addition of academic support programs on campuses and the increased student athlete advisory support at universities. Many state that their reason for such an addition is due to the new academic rules set by the NCAA. Although many universities are deciding to add new programs, increasing academic support is nothing new. Several colleges have faced scrutiny along the way for spending too much money on facilities and personnel necessary for improving academic programs. The authors do a great job of expressing the importance and need for such academic programs and support.

First in a series of occasional short takes on unusual courses in local schools.

More than three-fourths of young women, those ages 18-29 and known as Generation Y, want incoming President Barack Obama to make civil rights and racial justice top priorities of his administration, a survey says.