Extra Credit Blog

One of the best-known songs of the album-oriented rock era, The Eagles’ song “Hotel California” released as a single in February 1977, is a beautifully constructed surface-deep story with a deep allegory into a desperate, corrupt lifestyle. The song is said to be an allegory about self-destruction and greed in the music industry during the 1970s, a time when the Eagles were soaring (pun totally intended) in the business. With the business of fame and fortune, everyone knows that the culture of “sex, drugs, and rock n roll” can emerge and consume the lives of those progressing.  Don Henley, drummer and vocalist, described the song as "our interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles" and later reiterated "It's basically a song about the dark underbelly of the American dream and about excess in America, which is something we knew a lot about” on the TV show 60 Minutes in 2007. On the surface, the song illustrates the tale of a weary traveler that comes upon a soon-to- be thought  lavish hotel, which at first appears inviting, even tempting, but which turns into a place of trepidation and impasse.

The ambiguous nature of the lyrics allows its listeners to establish their own interpretations about the song and its meaning, but I interpret it the way that the band urged to express the dangers of the tempting life of the rich and famous. Not only from interviews with the band, but because in the younger days of Rock-N-Roll, many artists composed and performed songs about their struggles with drugs and/or alcohol because the substances became such a major and devastating part of their careers and their lives.

To me, almost every line supports my interpretation of the song, but what stands out to me the most, is the repetition of the beginning of the song’s chorus, “Welcome to the Hotel California/Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)/Such a lovely face” which expresses and emphasis of the beauty and inviting “face” that the hotel, or the substance, presents to its visitors. Following that, lines like “They livin' it up at the Hotel California/What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)/Bring your alibis” and “Plenty of room at the Hotel California/Any time of year (Any time of year)/You can find it here” which both glamorize and show how easy it is to become sucked into the atmosphere of “Hotel California”. Along with the repetition in the chorus, the song highlights all of the desirable things that the hotel has to offer, like “The pink champagne on ice”, “the feast”, and “Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends/She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys she calls friends/How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat”, but after they build up the splendor of the place, they add lines like “But they just can't kill the beast” and “Some dance to remember, some dance to forget”. I think the song is constructed this way because it is meant to express how desirable and fun the abuse seems at first, but it can easily end in someone getting trapped and discovering the truth and ugliness about the actions.

Finally, the last, and most powerful line of the song, is “You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave” and this speaks to tell the audience that the battle can seem endless and impossible to escape from, and that may have been how the band felt about their life of fame in the hay-day of Rock-N-Roll, and I think that to anyone who really listens into it could possibly benefit from the powerful, classic message. 

The Final Blog

When I looked at the hints about the introduction, about it being enticing so as to hook the audience, to not be choppy, but punchy, and to be about 2-4 sentences, I noticed that the NPR audio essays followed those rules exactly, so I thought mine should too. I thought that my introduction successfully portrayed those traits because I used strong diction, with words like “famous”, “roaring”, “carved” etc. I also noticed on many introductions on NPR, that they incorporated an interviewed person right away as to change up the sound of the introduction and get people hooked on believing that other people are interested and involved in the subject, and I also used that tactic in my transcript.

Next, I reviewed the hints regarding the body of the audio essay and how to most successfully convey the bulk of the information at hand. The hints seemed to be based heavily on the interview sections that should be incorporated into the essay. Providing context and analysis to what the interviewees have to say throughout your transcript is very important and well done in the NPR essays because that provides the audience with support, thus a sense of credibility. Without this key trait, the audience may become confused and since it is audio, there is no way to look back on what they have heard, and this could result in them losing touch with the subject and the point completely.  I found that I am successful with this in my own audio essay and a good example from my own is when I am talking about the quality of our Sun Devil Stadium’s field. 

Copied and pasted from my essay, I can show that I introduce my point:

Described as being literally “carved into the desert”, the Sun Devil Stadium not only makes an ostentatious visual statement, as it emerges from between two mountain buttes, but also serves as one of the “best college football facilities in the country” based on its field safety and athlete facilities, progressive renovations, spectator environments and seating options, etc.

Then provide evidence with an interview:

“The quality of just the field and the maintenance that goes into it; our entire crew, including our students, take pride in the field and want it to be the very best” says Brian Johnson, the Manager of the Athletic Grounds Facilities.

Then explain what is being said and provide evidence:

A complete field playing surface renovation was launched in the fall of 1992 right before…

This technique also helps the audience move through questions by introducing and explaining what is said and why.  The use a sound bite to provide further contextualize “real time” happenings is also important to engage the reader and allow them to not get bored of just talking and to make a personal connection to the scenario, and I tried to do that very well in my essay since the ambiance of Sun Devil Stadium strikes the ASU community so strongly.

Finally, I figured in my conclusion that I need to find a way to direct listeners somewhere else for more information, but I do have a punchy one line sentence, not choppy, and I wrap it up by elevating the connection to the Sun Devil Stadium using audio and sound-bytes that anyone can connect to. 

WP #3 Rough Draft

[Sun Devil Entrance Video, first 30 seconds]

Sun Devil Stadium, the original home of the famous annual Tostidos Fiesta Bowl, host of the 1996 Super Bowl, and house of the Pac 12 championship team since 1958, holds 75,000 roaring fans and functions as an extremely important landmark on the Arizona State University campus today.

Senior Associate of the Sun Devil stadium, Don Bocchi explains [interview recording] “I must have been in forty stadiums across the country. There is no setting nicer than this one”.

Described as being literally “carved into the desert”, the Sun Devil Stadium not only makes an ostentatious visual statement, as it emerges from between two mountain buttes, but also serves as one of the “best college football facilities in the country” based on its field safety and athlete facilities, progressive renovations, spectator environments and seating options, etc.

“The quality of just the field and the maintenance that goes into it; our entire crew, including our students, take pride in the field and want it to be the very best” says Brian Johnson, the Manager of the Athletic Grounds Facilities.

A complete field playing surface renovation was launched in the fall of 1992 right before Arizona State hosted Washington for the season-opener. The new stadium addition accomplished four goals that contributed widely to the safety of the players and provided fans with a more interactive experience.

The newly refurbished Sun Devil Stadium presented the Sun Devils with a more durable playing surface, provided better sight lines in the lower seating levels for loyal fans,  an expanded sideline area for better player safety, and finally, it provided advantages to game day television and print photographers. [Touchdown announcement sound]

The dramatic proximity of every seat to the playing field is another feature that has made Sun Devil Stadium one of the nation's finest college football arenas [crowd cheering noise].

The Sun Devil Stadium not only executes high rankings, it also presents a rich history in both athletics and culture.  Sun Devil Stadium was one of the stops on Pope John Paul II’s 1987 trip to the U.S. , where he spoke to an above-capacity crowd of 75,000 as part of his rare and scarce  tour throughout the country.

He held Mass for 75,000 at Sun Devil Stadium and as Don Bocchi remembers: “All the Sun Devil logos and words with "devil" painted on the stadium's facade had to be covered up for the Pope to agree to enter the stadium”.

Among the hundreds of concerts, one of the greatest rock bands of all time, The Rolling Stones,  played a show at Sun Devil Stadium as part of its 1981 tour, which was filmed and released on video, “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” in 1983. [Have piece of song playing throughout that line].

[Commencement speech intro] In the most recent historical production, President Barack Obama delivered the ASU commencement address at the stadium on May 13, 2009 before a crowd of 70,000 including 9,000 graduates, the largest U.S. audience for Obama since his inauguration.

Finally, though our Sun Devil Stadium, the Home of Sparky and commemorated Frank Kush field, plays a key role in the rich history of Arizona State and the largest university in the nation as a whole, it plays its most major and crucial role in the athletic culture of this community. The Home of Sparky has an abundant influence on not only our own ASU family and our athletes, [start NFL audio] but also the surrounding community, the Pac-12 university conference, and even the National Football League, or as you probably know, the NFL.

Most importantly, the Sun Devil Stadium is important to the ASU community [start crowd cheering] and the athletes which participate and utilize the field accordingly. The stadium allows for the entire university to gather together with a common goal, leading to a multitude of connections and a sense of community, friendship, and pride, which ultimately strengthens the university as a whole. [End crowd cheering].

Though it is strongly debated today, sports play a crucial role in society in various ways, including the sense of community mentioned earlier, the promotion of health and well-being, learning about crucial social skills like development and commitment, and “understanding of service and personal responsibility” as mentioned in an article posted by USA Today, all of which are extremely beneficial throughout the rest of our lives in the real world.

[descriptive audio from 50 year celebration] The athletics at Arizona State provide great entertainment, develops loyalty to schools, community togetherness, and has itself an important educational role for team members that lasts a lifetime, as ASU alumni James Harden explains about coming back to watch football at Sun Devil Stadium “ This is my home. A lot of great memories here of coaches and fans, just everybody” [maybe insert interviewer also?]

[closing sun devil stadium announcement]. 

Blog for WP #3

The Good Idea:

For our third writing project, I have chosen to create a transcript about the construction of the Sun Devil Stadium.  This was a major event in 1958 as our college was developing and Sun Devil Stadium still functions as an extremely important landmark on the Arizona State University campus today. Described as being literally “carved into the desert”, the Sun Devil Stadium not only makes an ostentatious visual statement, as it emerges from between two mountain buttes, but also serves as one of the “best college football facilities in the country” (thesundevils.com) based on its field safety and athlete facilities, progressive renovations, spectator environments and seating options, etc.

 I chose the Sun Devil Stadium not only because of its high rankings and rich history, but because of the role that it plays and the influence that it has on the ASU family, our athletes, the surrounding community, the Pac-12 university conference and even the National Football League, or NFL. Most importantly, the Sun Devil Stadium is important to the ASU community and the athletes which participate and utilize the field accordingly. The stadium allows for the entire university to gather together with a common goal, leading to a multitude of connections and a sense of community, friendship, and pride, which ultimately strengthens the university as a whole. Also, though it is strongly debated today, I would agree that sports play a crucial role in society in various ways, including the sense of community that I mentioned earlier, the promotion of health and well-being, learning about crucial social skills like development and commitment, and “understanding of service and personal responsibility” (USA Today), etc. all of which are extremely beneficial throughout the rest of our lives in the real world.

The Brainstormed Sources:So far, I have researched about the history of the Sun Devil Stadium though the ASU websites. I have also done some light research into the importance of sports in society, in school/college, and in health, through articles published through accredited media sites, medical and science journals, and psychology articles. I hope that I can find books in an ASU library concerning the history of the stadium and I hope to find a movie/documentary on sports in our society. Finally, I have considered interviewing head, or assistant coach, or athletic coordinator of one of our most popular ASU sports teams, and I have already sent emails concerning such information.  

Putting it all together, a.k.a The Difficult Part

                I think that I will start my piece with describing the importance of the Sun Devil Stadium to ASU, as I think that it is important to be straightforward with your topic and objective so that the audience never gets lost in what you are trying to explain/argue.  I think that like constructing a building, I need to put the story of the stadium together piece-by-piece, and in succession, to explain how/where it was built, why it was built, the renovations and upgrades throughout its existence, and how it has been successful in its intentions (i.e. how it has served our sports, famous NFL sports, and how it serves today). Within the piece, I think I should occasionally ask a question and then answer it, like they do on a lot of NPR podcasts, and i think I will be able to include our fight song/alma mater, sounds of the crowds that have occupied the stadium, interview clips from a coach or player, and ASU Chants to show off the spirit that comes alive in our stadium, and I think those will be successful ways to make transitions and to insure that the audience isn't bored and that the audience gets the true sense of what it feels like to be connected as Sun Devils as Arizona State University. 

November 8th Blog, Writing Project #2 Reflection

Our second writing project for English 101 was interesting and unlike any project I have ever been assigned before. I really liked how unique the project was and how we, the students, could be creative in the sense that we could choose any topic that relates to us and Arizona State University, but I also appreciated how well structured it was, since we were only allowed to use credible, supportive resources and measurable, supported evaluative criteria. Since we could pick any topic, I felt like we evaluated interesting, applicable, and relatable subjects, which made it easy to analyze and express to the audience the benefit of the subject and the value of each of the places on the map. For me, it was easy to find sources that explained what a “good” or “healthy” job is and what qualities that kind of job possesses, but sometimes it was difficult to find sources that were highly credible and applicable to the college-age group and community. When it came to the sources, much of the evaluative criteria that worked to define that good or healthy job were majorly another person’s or company’s opinion. Also, when it came to my subject, it was sometimes difficult to find evaluations and criteria for a job that isn’t meant to be a long lasting career. Overall though, I think this project wasn’t extremely difficult, and for me personally, it was educational for both inside the classroom, regarding English, and outside the classroom, in the real, working world, where I will be spending a lot of time and putting forth much effort. This project was beneficial to writing, sources within writing, and new knowledge that I can take into the world and exercise/consider in my own, personal life. 

November 1st Blog

    In reading chapters 17 and 18 in Joining the Conversation, I found that though the information within the reading was mostly aimed to help readers write, cite, and design a formal, written essay, it was extremely relevant when applied to our second writing project.

     In chapter 17, “Using Sources Effectively”, most of the information about sources and how to use them I had already learned through AP courses in high school, but I think that the most important idea that the chapter aims to address is that sources are important for support and clarification. The chapter uses bold titles like “Provide Evidence” and “Align Yourself with Authority”, to focus the ready to the definitive fact that a reliable source constructs reliable and credible support for a statement that an author makes. Chapter 17 states “Aligning yourself with authority shows your readers that your points are supported by a leader in that area-…-and that you are not alone in your convictions. Essentially, this technique allows you to borrow the credibility and status of someone who has compiled a strong record of accomplishment” (Palmquist, 575). This quote explains perfectly how using reliable sources are important in building up you own credibility, which is extremely relevant to Writing Project #2, as we are evaluating the degree of effectiveness of our chosen, thus personal topics, along with the help of sources; as I see it, we are essentially practicing the idea of aligning ourselves with authority within our writing. It is important to remember, however, to” use attributions and in-text citations” (a bold face title, page 578) “such as according to’ or ‘as the author points out- to alert your readers that the point is not your own” (578). This is crucial in any writing piece that you generate using credible sources, as plagiarism is a serious situation that you do not want to put yourself into.

    Chapter 18, “Designing Your Document” had a lot of information concerning exactly as stated, no matter the document you are aiming to create, but I thought that just focusing on the basic Design Principles (page 596) would be beneficial for our writing project. As we basically have a layout that we are required to follow for this project, the principles can apply mostly to the annotations we create for our maps, which is still important as the document you create needs to appear as professional as your argument: “A consistent design can also convey a sense of competence and professionalism to your readers, increasing their confidence in the quality and credibility of your document” (596). As the design of a document is just as important as the purpose, this chapter reminds the reader that “One of the most powerful tools writers have for accomplishing their purpose” (597) is setting a solid tone. If you can establish your tone, credibility with your sources, and finish with implementing a design which engages the audience, you can elicit a better response from your audience, especially on important or pertinent subjects.

Writing Project #2 Address/Link

   http://RochelleWp2.blogspot.com

Writing Project #2 Outline

Topic/Title: Places to Work On or Around Campus

Places:  Einstein Bros (Work Study)
                Student Book Center
                Dutch Bros. Coffee
                Sun Devil Campus Store (Work Study)
                Starbucks (Work Study or Not)
                Tempe Bicycle
                

Evaluative Criteria& Research Ideas:

©      Pay

©       Benefits

©       Flexibility

Community Connections
©      Safety

©      Options & incentives

©       Ability to Apply one’s personal skills

©      "Socially Adhesive"

Secondary Resources/Support:

©    www.starbucks.com

©       http://nextgenerationworkplace.blogspot.com/2006/03/what-makes-best-place-to-work.html

http://www.mhaca.org.au/2010resources/What%20makes%20a%20good%20workplace.pdf

©     www.tempebicycle.com

©       www.dutchbros.com

©       www.subway.com

©       www.einsteinbros.com and www.yelp.com

1. 
   

Blog # 7

As I was searching and scoping out the well-known, popular website Yelp.com, I looked at various restaurants, supply-chains, coffee places, etc. to see the criteria that people use to evaluate their food and their experience with it in certain environments. People are extremely critical about their cuisine, so I figured that examining eateries would be a good starting point to find truthful, meticulous criticism for both a product as well as the surroundings that people relate to their experience (like I learned from Vanclay in Writing Project 1!). For Writing Project 2, I want to map out “good” [positive, comfortable] places to work on campus and as I rummaged about Yelp.com, I noticed that one of the most mentioned, and seemingly one of the most important pieces of one’s experience at either a restaurant, a coffee shop early in the morning, or even and a take-out place, was the customer service they received based on the friendliness of the staff. For example, I read stories about how generously a Starbucks employee made one woman’s hectic morning easier simply by ensuring her drinks would make it safely to her destination. The woman wrote: “Loved the employees of this store.  I told them I need to get 2 drinks with the hospital, with food, and 2 bags, so they put my drinks in to a carrier and sealed my hot drink with green plug so it does not spill.  SWEET!!!”.  As I read these types of stories, as well as stories containing negative feedback, I noticed that the customer service really determined whether or not one would come back to visit the space. What made me solidify that statement were the few reviews which stated things like “The food was awful, completely opposite of what I had expected. However, the customer service was really great. The waitress was so nice, the manager was genuine, and they gave us such a discount it was like we only paid for our drinks! Maybe the cook was just having a bad day. We will probably give it one more try”. It was interesting to me that customer service had such an impact on a customer’s appreciation or evaluation of a place and its purpose. I think this will be very valuable to support my idea to spend time researching about what the criteria is for a good, positive work place, as the employees are a major reflection of the workplace: happy, friendly employees relay that idea that they are comfortable and satisfied, at least, with their workplace. 

Writing to Evaluate

In the American television drama series Breaking Bad, we follow main character Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher that becomes a methamphetamine drug lord after he is diagnosed with terminal, stage-three lung cancer and fears for the financial security of his family. The seven-time Emmy award winning television series is a crime thriller meant to keep the audience on the edge of their seats by adding suspense and unexpected 180 degree spirals throughout the plot. Though it touches on a variety of themes and motifs, Breaking Bad uses the social principle that there is an undeniable difference between right and wrong to ask the audience to question whether one’s actions, motives, or conscious decision/control determines whether one is “good” or “bad”.

          

The producer does an effective job of providing the audience with tangible evidence of the moral struggle that Walter White will face throughout the series right from the start. We are introduced immediately to Walt’s working class job and broke lifestyle, pregnant wife, and teenage son living with Cerebral Palsy as Walt receives his diagnosis and the extreme financial liability that comes along with it. It is because of the stressful financial situation that Walt hastily leaves behind the typical constraints of society and takes a step into a life of crime that constantly forces the audience to question whether or not Walt is justified in his actions and risky new lifestyle. Using the common social knowledge of illicit drugs and the lifestyle that follows the use, creation, and distribution of such, the series follows the many dangerous, gruesome, fundamentally immoral decisions that Walt has to make in order to insure the production and distribution of his meth, thus, the insane income which will insure the future of his family. From keeping  a secret, alter identity from his wife, to taking the lives of others, the audience is  effectually reminded of the central question: whether or not Walt is bad, since his motives are genuine out of love and care for his family and their well-being after he is gone, while his actions are socially unacceptable, sometimes criminal, or purely wicked and devastating.

          

Ultimately, Breaking Bad is everything that the producer aimed for it to be in terms of being a crime thriller and an effective media to convey the message that human beings philosophically struggle to understand. As I have not finished the series, I cannot exactly determine if the producer directly provides the audience with a definite answer to this query, however, I can attest that in every single episode Walt makes a shocking, morally questionable decision that makes the audience question whether or not Walt is the protagonist or antagonist - all you know is that he has the control to make the decision. Though the producer may not give us a true answer to the question he poses, his television series forces the audience to constantly question and ponder whether one’s actions, motives, or conscious decision/control determines if one is “good” or “bad”, which ultimately makes the series a success.

What Space?

In my paper, What Space?, I analyzed Frank Vanclay’s Place Matters and integrated  my analysis of his lens into my observation of the Hassayampa Academic Village dining hall. When I read Vanclay’s piece I thought that he has an interesting outlook on the way people make connections to the world around them, however, I thought that rather than the people connecting those feelings to the space, they are using the space to make comfortable connections to the people around them. I thought that the space, which does become a place when it means something to someone, is actually a portal to the crucial connections that people make with one another. I wrote about what an effective platform “Hassy” is for individuals to make connections to each other, thus, to ultimately establish a sense of community with everyone in Hassayampa.  From prior knowledge, I also incorporated the importance of feeling a sense of belonging, as it is crucial to human beings, and related it to the reason that places are so important for people and why the connections people make are more important than the actual space itself, even though the space is a major contributor.  I did a small amount of research on the human need to feel a sense of belonging also just to make sure that my claims are accurate. I described the place, the people, and their interactions/actions only based on facts and information that I know for sure.

Rochelle Skorka
Santana
September 21, 2012
Deductive Outline

 

Thesis:  It is fundamental for us as humans to make connections to the spaces we encounter and turn them into places where we can connect to and find a sense of belonging
(Found in the conclusion, not so strongly in introduction: FIX THAT!)

Main Points:

Paragraph ½ (should be one paragraph):

·         “space” is transformed into a “place” when it becomes meaningful to an individual

·         it is individuals themselves who must connect with a locality **redundant?

·         Hassy has become more than just a dining hall because of the people and the intimate connections they have made there ****use details to explain why I’ve come to that conclusion

·         *****need to explain why it’s important to connect to the space

 

 

Paragraph 3:

·         It is human nature to have a sense of belonging and places are the portals which allow us to develop that feeling of connection. ****should be in introduction? Much like thesis statement

·         Feelings of being bonded to a community are important for an individual’s self-worth, their well-being, their involvement in their own work, and their success

·          

 

 

 

Complain but still go there? (5^th ave./polk street) Looking in on place from window without experiencing the place=no connection, no sense of belonging, just a space, not a place- known as the street, not home

 

Conclusion

Writing Project #1 draft

Rochelle Skorka
English 101
September 17, 2012
Writing Project 1

What Space?

Hidden from the sweltering heat of the desert sun, in the center of the Hassayampa Academic Village, a dining hall stands to serve as more than just a cafeteria. To students here, the “Hassy” dining hall can serve as a place to unwind after a never-ending afternoon of studying, a rowdy pep rally before a Sun Devil football game, or simply a favorite hang-out spot for friends. Following stagnant mornings, the fast arriving twelve o’clock hour swells with students of all types, from committed early-morning athletes to weary, up-all-night book worms and groggy, late risers, who all wait patiently in a line that seems to span a mile long and a mile wide. As kitchen staff inside hurriedly prepare each station, anxious students flood the space, which is bursting with maroon and gold decor, in search of tasty food, an available seat, and good company.  The afternoon hustle and bustle of the crowded room generates what is initially an overpowering buzz, comprised of lunch line orders, the latest gossip, and casual chit chat, but which eventually blends together into the background, becoming merely white noise behind the concentration among your own lunch time conversations. To some, the Hassayampa dining hall may register simply as just another over-crowded, college- life cafeteria with dirty tables and empty ketchup bottles, while to others, Hassy can be identified as a personal, noteworthy place, one where friendships were born, where embarrassing moments transpired, where close friends routinely meet up to enjoy each other’s company, or as a bigger picture, where everyone can come and feel like part of the Arizona State University community and family. Through this local place, people connect, converse, and find personal connection to a place that becomes a home.

Vanclay begins his piece Place Matters by explaining that “space” is transformed into a “place” when it becomes meaningful to an individual: “Ultimately, however, it is individuals themselves who must connect with a locality-who must develop their personal attachment to place. ‘Place’ exists when the individual can tell a story about a specific locality that indicates personal meaning” (Vanclay, 4). Everyone who utilizes the Hassy dining hall has some kind of connection to the space, whether they are aware or not, that is unique to them because “Place-making happens at multiple levels and in multiple ways…”(6). In the back corner, a tight-knit group of friends squeeze into the large, round, corner booth, paying no attention to the lack of elbow room, constantly chatting and laughing, even long after they have finished their meals. At the soda machine, a witty young man passively compliments a shy girl in a small effort to flirt, while at a table nearby, a couple holds hands and shares a soda or dessert in the same spot where that once nervous boy finally asked the girl from the sandwich line to their very first date. Pairs of acquaintances fill the span of the parallel middle tables engaging with one another based on the fact that they found someone else with a common hobby, friend, or home town.  In merely a moment of observation, one could discover that Hassy has become more than just a dining hall because of the people and the intimate connections they have made there with the space because of each other.

The people among the hall obviously enjoy their time there, as it has become more than just an eatery, and grown into a bustling hub for fun and activity. “Thus, the perceived ambience of a location, its perceived safety and security, the level of background noise, any evident odours, the level of ambient light, and the view and the elements in that view (and more) are all part of what makes up the personal experience of space, and therefore are part of place” (4). When anyone makes a personal, emotional attachment to a place it is based off of the details in which affected their emotions, so that a specific smell may trigger the feeling of love, or the long line reminding one that all of their friends are waiting inside, with stories to make them laugh until they can’t breathe anymore. Everyone that makes connections to this space has at least one story to tell, whether it be about the time they collided with the attractive boy from their English class and dropped their plates, or the story about meeting their current significant other, and those stories are another example of how we as people intimately define space and identify with it. Based on the volume of students, their interactions, and their steady routine visits, it is fair to say that the Hassy is one of those places that has become filled with stories and personal attachments, transforming from simply a space to an inviting place.

Everyone inside once looked through the full length windows of Hassy into a space that they had yet to experience, a blank canvas, with no memories or stories to tell, but from the moment each person stepped through its doors for the first time,  the space that we now know as “Hassy” has transformed into a personal dimension of place. At a glance, an outsider may only see a space crammed with busy people, milling around absorbed in their own reality and routine, merely stopping by as they go on about their classes, studying, or hobbies, when in fact, the Hassy dining hall is a place where a community gathers, communicates, celebrates, and ascends from a solely individual connection to an ultimate communal identity where each individual can build a true sense of belonging. It is human nature to have a sense of belonging and places are the portal which allow us to develop that feeling of connection. Feelings of being bonded to a community are important for an individual’s self-worth, their well-being, their involvement in their own work, and their success. Since everyone in the dining hall undoubtedly makes some sort of personal connection to the place, there is ultimately a sense of community. People come to the dining hall not only to spend time with their friends one on one, but also to bond with their fellow classmates and Sun Devils before a Saturday night home  football game, to dress up for themed dinners, or to find out what is going on during the weekends. All of these things require personal communication between all groups of people using the dining hall and creates stories and memories that bring everyone involved together, as a community, or sometimes like a family. This sense of connection to the space, both on an individual level and as a community, helps all of us student feel a sense of unity and togetherness which gives us confidence throughout the rest of the university, leading to more involvement,  enjoyment, and success .

Vanclay makes the profound statement that places are “… the contemporary everyday connection individuals have with their local spaces that gives their life meaning in the present…Place is fundamental to humanity…to be human is to have and to know your place” (9). It is fundamental for us as humans to make connections to the spaces we encounter and turn them into places that we can connect to and find a sense of belonging. In the college setting, this is crucial for students to know as we come across so many new places, faces, and no true sense of property or home. To find that sense of togetherness, which happens through the creation of direct connections to places, one needs to recognize and appreciate the feelings and reactions they have to the space around them. The lens that Vanclay utilizes throughout his piece explains that when we find that personal meaning and connection to a space it becomes a place- in real life application, Vanclay’s idea is analogous to the aphorism of a house becoming a home. 

Constructing a Lens

The Mesa Trail Organic Response:

In her short story Mesa Trail, Mary Austin generates a zealous tone about Mesa and all that inhabits the desert land. Austin does this through explicit descriptions, the use of literary devices like simile and personification, and a voice in her writing which leads the audience to believe that she is an expert on the subject of her story. Her explanations of such a  collection of native plant and animals, directions of the trails, and descriptions of the land based on the time of day and season makes me believe that she is familiar and knowledgeable, thus trustworthy in her writing.

Polk Street Organic Response:

Frank Norris' Polk Street is much like the short story Mesa Trail in the way that the author uses specific, descriptive dialogue to create a perfect picture in the readers' minds of the environment that he is writing about. Norris chooses to point out and reflect on elements of the street that audiences could easily relate to, making it easy for a reader to connect to his writing and extract central tensions, morals, lessons, or questions from his piece.

Place Matters Organic Response:

Vanclay's piece Place Matters puts forth valuable information concerning places, the transformation of spaces, and how people connect to and respond to places. The connection that the author makes with places and the dimensions of spaces that he talks about made me realize why the authors of the readings above chose to write about a place in order convey a message/point.

Joining the Conversation: Chapter 14:

This chapter about plagiarism is important to remember as we use references in our writing project. It is important to pay close attention to the Research Ethics portions of this chapter and the tips to avoid plagiarism because they are useful not only for avoiding plagiarism, but also for work habits, successful studying and time management.

 

                                                    The Work of Constructing a Lens

Constructing a lens can be a difficult task. The concept of analyzing a viewpoint and creating an argument, or lens, that can prove functional in a new space can be confusing and difficult to narrow down sometimes. That has been my biggest obstacle so far, since there can be multiple lens options within any piece of literature, and a lens can be subjective based on the audience and what they interpret from the reading. Between class last week and Chapter 16 of Joining the Conversation, I  have inferred that the most important guideline for constructing a lens lies within organization and focusing on a central idea which can be functional within any new piece.  Since the lens must work to focus on a similar concept between two or more pieces, establishing a central idea and using details and concepts that your audience can relate to on a personal level, that still relate directly to the central idea (classified as following an organizational patter in the textbook), are the two key suggestions that I can use for direction as I construct a lens, along with the steps we have rehearsed in-class. Since the textbook is focused on an essay-style writing technique, it states that a central idea is usually asserted in one topic sentence with the following sentences to elaborate on the topic, but I feel that in other writing situations, following an organizational pattern within the piece will help the audience to  recognize a pattern or repetitious idea, making it easier for them to "...focus on your ideas and argument if they understand how you are organizing your paragraph" (Palmquist, 555). With that technique, I feel that the audience can easier recognize your lens and find a way to apply it to any related texts and that I have a better understanding and more practice associated with constructing a lens of my own.





NOTES:

Rochelle Skorka
English 101
Observational Notes

 

Memorial Union Observational Notes

·         bustling

·         loud

·         many ethnicities

·         many choices of food

·         advertisements everywhere

·         social que- some people pick up on them, some don't

·         interactions between men and women- awkward

·         people won't sit next to anyone they don't know

·         self absorbed- people not in tune with their surroundings

·         shows our generations dependability on technology/lack of social skills

·         all ages

·         division of personalities (sororities, "nerd" type)

·         hard to concentrate here

·         just a walk way to avoid the heat outside

·         a social gathering place

·         well-known spot for people to find each other

·         associate the MU with good feelings, due to food and dessert places

·         alluring smells

·         helpful ASU employees

·         bright

Short Stories

·         very detailed- enough to create perfect picture in the audience's minds

·         conjure feelings/emotions with places

·         relatable details (buttons on a jacket, cars, buildings, the sky, the horizon, etc)

·         personal story

·         literary devices: simile, personification, strong diction,

·         personal- detail create tone-create sense that author is expert/trustworthy

·         elements easy to relate to, making it easy for a reader to connect/extract central tensions, morals, lessons, or questions

·         places-personal meanings-positive and or negative feelings- connect to audience

·         place exists when an individual can tell a story about the place****

·         place-rarely static and frequently dynamic- places are personal to experience

Chapter 14 Joining the Conversation

·         focus on central idea

·         have evidence or details to support the idea

·         details to capture your audience's attention*

·         organizational pattern

·         creates effective writing

·         chronology, description, definition, cause/effect- allows reader to anticipate also allows them to recognize any repetition= draw the message/find the lens

·         multiple perspective can also work

·         use to reflect your purpose or the roles you are trying to adapt

 

Writing as a Conversation

Writing as a Conversation

Our lives, as we know it, depend on interaction and communication to progress and thrive. In today's world our conversations span over a variety of techniques and are debatably moving further and further away from the traditional, and seemingly ancient, technique of physically meeting and engaging in a verbal and emotional conversation on a personal level. Technology has launched our generation into a communication method  heavily dependent on text messaging, e-mail, instant messaging, social networking, blogging, etc. all of which have inadvertently switched us over to written communication;  however, people  "don't think of creating text messages, e-mail messages, status updates, comments, notes, forum posts, or blog entries as writing (Palmquist, 6)." Maybe because our younger generations think of writing strictly as a formal subject required for educational  assessments or an appropriate means of communication with a professor or future employer, they don't consider how often we use it and how important this method has become.

When we have a conversation, whether verbally or though our various methods of technology, understanding and recognizing our audience allows for the most effective communication.

 To efficiently write as a conversation, the author must first be able to make that connection to  their audience in real life through "...acting" or taking on different mindsets..." (11). Palmquist addresses six roles that we can adopt during conversations: observers, reporters, interpreters, evaluators, problem solvers and advocates, all of which are roles that can be taken into account and used as different mind sets and ultimately lead as a "guide through the conversation" (11-12)  Each role can and should be used amongst  different situations to better connect with and understand the audience so as to convey your point most efficiently. When the individual can learn how to address their role amongst real life conversation and what different audiences want to hear,  they can use that skill to most effectively connect with the reader during written conversation and, like Palmquist says, ""help [me] achieve [my] purpose" (11).

When an author can use this technique, or any of the six roles, (though it is a lot of thinking and planning) as they introduce a written conversation, formal or informal, and "...reflect on their readers' values and beliefs, determine what their readers are likely to know about a subject, and take into account their readers' likely experiences... and what readers might be interested in knowing" (15) the  actor/conversationalist/writer can share information in a well-rounded, amiable, inquisitive, meaningful way which creates an atmosphere of truly "good" conversation.