Tag: Augusto A

Ana Augusto

How public speaking anxiety can be reduced through preparation, rehearsal, and exposure.

Fear of public speaking, or communication apprehension, is one of the most common fears among individuals, often ranked just below the fear of death in the United States. In this sense, this project synthesizes research on public speaking to examine the relationship between speech anxiety, preparation behaviors, and performance outcomes. Findings indicate that public speaking anxiety is associated with increased fear of evaluation, nervousness, and reduced confidence, as well as less effective preparation strategies such as over researching content, excessive revision, and avoidance behaviors. In contrast, more effective speakers tend to engage in structured and audience-focused preparation, including rehearsal that simulates real speaking conditions. Research also shows that repeated exposure and active rehearsal reduce anxiety and improve fluency, organization, and overall speech performance. Importantly, anxiety does not need to be eliminated for speakers to become effective. Instead, it can be managed through deliberate practice, exposure, and cognitive strategies such as positive self-talk. Overall, the literature suggests that public speaking effectiveness develops through strategic rehearsal and repeated exposure, which help speakers regulate anxiety and improve communication performance over time.

COMM 407, Special Topics: Existing Research on Public Speaking

Doyle Srader

1 – 1:25 PM

Goodrich 104

Return to schedule

Ana Augusto

Reclaiming the Kingdom: A Fantasy Theme Analysis of Brazilian Identity in Nike’s 2018 World Cup Advertisement

This paper applies Fantasy Theme Analysis to Nike’s 2018 World Cup advertisement featuring the Brazilian national soccer team. Through an examination of character, action, and setting themes, the analysis reveals how the artifact constructs a shared rhetorical vision centered on national identity. The advertisement calls a group into existence by drawing on history and a shared passion for soccer, showing the possibility of redemption after the loss to Germany in the 2014 World Cup, which took place in Brazil. The ad presents a key temporal moment, referencing the 1998 World Cup, in which Brazil lost in the finals. However, four years later, in 2002, Brazil won its 5th world cup. By reintroducing this memory in 2018, after the difficult 2014 defeat, Nike creates a collective narrative that resonates with Brazilian soccer fans. Characters such as professional players, everyday individuals, and a young boy who emerges as a symbolic leader represent different dimensions of Brazil’s soccer culture. Recurring actions, including playing, dancing, reinforce the narrative. The varied settings, from informal street games and video games to professional arenas, highlight both the shared identity and the cultural impact of soccer in Brazil. The artifact invites the audience to reimagine Brazil as the enduring “kingdom of soccer,” emphasizing responsibility, legacy, and the possibility of future triumph even after a significant loss.

COMM 441, Rhetorical Criticism

Doyle Srader

10 AM – noon

L203

Return to schedule

The State of Teaching at Bushnell University

In the Fall 2025 term, a call went out for nominations of Bushnell students who had demonstrated by their observable behaviors that they were committed to approaching their classes as opportunities to learn, not simply to manipulate the class environment for high grades or other indirect rewards. Those nominees were named Bergquist Laureates. The award is named for Dr. Tim Bergquist, the founder of ACE Day, who loved to encourage students to be scholars. At noon, the Bergquist Laureates will participate in a panel whose topic is the elements of Bushnell classes that help them learn, things that do not help them learn, and things they wish they would see that would help them learn. Bushnell faculty are invited to attend to listen.

The panelists:

  • Ana Augusto
  • Deborah Leos
  • Noah Mancione
  • Carolyn Ruiz-Moreno
  • Martha Valverde

Noon – 1 PM

Goodrich 104

Return to schedule

Ana Augusto

The Impact of Excessive Smartphone and Social Media Use on College Students’ Ability To Sustain Focus, Maintain Productivity, and Think Creatively

The use of smartphones and social media is becoming increasingly prominent, directly modifying the way humans interact with the world around them. Although these technologies offer convenience and access to information, they also negatively impact university students’ focus and productivity, as excessive use has been associated with neurological and cognitive changes. In this evidence-based synthesis paper, I reviewed 21 empirical studies published between 2016 and 2025, all of which examined the effects of excessive smartphone and social media use on focus, productivity, and creative thinking among university students. The studies indicated that constant exposure to information promotes cognitive overload, which in turn reduces individuals’ ability to sustain attention. This may be associated with structural and functional brain changes similar to those observed in behavioral addictions, even though the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) does not recognize smartphone addiction as a formal condition. Excessive smartphone use has been shown to be related to difficulties with multitasking, fear of missing out (FOMO), and nomophobia, which is a psychological fear of being disconnected from one’s smartphone. These factors may compromise self-regulation and academic performance in university students. A curious finding was the concept of technoference, in which the mere presence of the device, which may negatively affect concentration and learning due to the habitual urge to check messages and social media. Not all studies have pointed in the same direction regarding excessive smartphone use and academic performance. Some researchers have suggested that smartphone use does not necessarily affect performance directly, but rather through mediating factors such as procrastination and mind-wandering. Small sample sizes and geographical restrictions were limitations in the studies I reviewed. Future research should explore strategies to promote healthy digital habits so that technology use enhances, rather than hinders, students’ academic performance and well-being.

PSY 499, Senior Capstone

Erin Mueller

Goodrich 209

10:30 – 11 AM

Return to schedule

Ana Augusto & Maggie Fruean

2025 Bushnell debate championship

Topic: A saved person cannot lose salvation.

Affirmative: Maggie Fruean

Negative: Ana Augusto

The winner will be decided by audience vote, and will be crowned the 2025 Bushnell debate champion.

COMM 225, Argumentation and Debate

Doyle Srader

Goodrich 104

1 – 2 PM

Return to schedule