Project Three Reflection: Laborious

For me project three was definitely the most difficult to complete out of all of the projects we were assigned this semester. I had a lot of trouble finding people who were willing to be interviewed because some were intimidated by the fact that their voice would be recorded and heard by others. Additionally, I had a hard time figuring which interview quotes would go where. Every time I would ask a person a question regarding the topic, they would either give really unintelligent answers or would not have enough to say.

            However even though there were a few speed bumps along the way, I am pretty sure that I did a few things right. Overall writing the essay was by far the easiest part. I found it east writing about ASU’s Circle K International community service club because I am part of the club and I already knew what the club was about and what they actually did. Additionally, I have done a lot of community service with the club so I had firsthand experience coming into writing this project.

            Through this project I learned that time management is crucial when completing an assignment like this. I will admit that all my interviews took place on a single day and that I did editing on the audio clips on one day as well and I feel as if it would have been a lot easier if I did the recording and editing in increments. In the future I will make sure to spread out the work over several days so that it doesn’t seem too overwhelming. I will take the time to make sure the interview also seems a lot more cohesive and for future audio essays, I will make sure I practice putting together and editing the audio clips.

            As far as the argument goes, I think that I did craft a convincing argument. Personally, I think it was very easy to create the argument for this community service club because it is a no brainer that community service is a crucial part in every setting. I also think that every interview I got gave each of my explanation paragraphs validity. I also think that I gave enough background information about the club and what the members do for people to understand why this club is important to the ASU community. However, I do know there is room for improvement and for my next project I will make an argument and try to rebut and shoot that rebuttal down to strengthen my paper.

            I plan to implement what I have learned in this project in the future by practicing my editing skills. I know in the future I will have to work with audio files again for other projects in various classes. I also plan to find a way to get better at interviewing people because this is also a very important skill I will need to know for future classes and jobs. Even though this project was very difficult for me, I think that I will do better on my next audio essay thanks to this essay.

Script Draft: Circle K International Community Service Club

                In today’s world people cannot help but get wrapped up in their own problems and it is understandable because it is easy to get overwhelmed. However, while it is okay to be a tad bit self-centered sometimes it is also important to remember that there are so many people that have it worse. In Phoenix alone the poverty level hovers around 20 percent (it fluctuates every year) and the national poverty line is at about 14.3 percent. These statistics prove that there are so many people in need right now and that there is so much left to be done.

                Arizona State University prides itself on graduating not only successful students ready to take on the business world, but also people who are globally aware of what is going in our society. People who represent Arizona State always talk about getting students ready to make an impact on the community at large. As freshman we are told that not only are we here to obtain a degree, but that we are here to learn how to make a difference.

                Fortunately there are many clubs and organizations all over the world dedicated to helping those in need and ASU has its very own club dedicated to this purpose. This club is called Circle K International or CKI for short. Circle K international is similar to Key Club which is the high school version of the organization. Both clubs strive to serve the less fortunate by interacting with local communities and organizations. For example, members of Circle K International here at ASU can sign up for specific events that are going on during the week. People can sign up for various community service events with organizations such as Feed My Starving Children, St. Mary’s Food Bank, Andre House, and other organizations.

Circle K International’s mission statement (which is recited at weekly meetings) is as follows: I pledge to uphold the objects of Circle K International, to foster compassion and goodwill towards others through service and leadership to develop my abilities and the abilities of all people, and to dedicate myself to the realization of mankind’s potential. This statement basically encompasses everything this organization is about and it shows that the students involved with this club are truly dedicated to serving those who need the most help.

Personally, I think that Circle K International is a great organization and is very important to ASU because it gives people the opportunity to connect with organizations that serve the community as a whole. Students not only get to help people who are in less than comfortable living situations, but they also get to interact with fellow ASU students. The club not only teaches people how to serve, but it also creates an environment where people can get to know one another and create friendships that would not have come about if it were not for the community service club.

Some organizations that CKI works with include: Feed My Starving Children, Andre House, and Saint Mary’s Food Bank. Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit organization that recruits children and adults from the community to hand pack meals that the organization later sends off to malnourished children in countries all over the world.  Andre House is a soup kitchen in the Phoenix area that is open to everyone. CKI members usually go here on Saturdays and from what I have heard it is a great experience. Lastly, CKI also signs up to work with the Saint Mary’s Food Bank. Saint Mary’s is the first food bank in the world and it also serves the 15 counties of Arizona. CKI members also frequent this place because it really impacts the community and you can see just how generous people are when you collect the cans of food.

I joined Circle K International because I did a lot of community service in high school and whenever I would finish a service project I would feel extremely fulfilled. CKI has given me the opportunity to continue my service and has also given me the opportunity to meet some great people here at ASU.

I spoke with some Circle K International club members and this is what they had to say:

Anni Poetzl: “Community service is important because it gives us a chance to help someone’s day be better, from cleaning the environment to working with people less fortunate than us. We, as ASU students, should be aware of the problems around us so we can use our talents to alleviate the effects, or altogether get rid of them. Not only do we need to help those in need when volunteering, but they help us realize that we should be thankful for what we have and not take those things for granted. Through community service, we see our hard work come into fruition. The organization I helped most consistently is Saint Vincent De Paul Dining Hall. Saint Vincent De Paul is a nonprofit organization based in St. Louis, Missouri and it has branches all over the world. While volunteering there, I was in charge of serving food, preparing food, assembling Christmas boxes, and playing with the children. I wish all ASU students could take part in some type of community service to see that one person can truly make a difference. If helping people alone does not seem appealing, they could invite friends and be more productive by enjoying the work being done together. I recommend volunteering at organizations like St. Vincent De Paul because it can be a very enriching experience.”

                Doing community service really can open your eyes to what the world is like and it also helps you mature as a person to realize that it is not good to always be self-centered. 

ASU Reacts: Mitt Romney Needed More Conservative Issues

The NPR story that I analyzed last week was entitled “Romney Needed More Conservative Issues” and the audio essay was basically two people going back and forth about why Mitt Romney’s campaign ultimately led to his failure. The man, who is a prominent figure in the Republican Party, was named Robert Vigueri and he said that Romney did not fully connect with the Republican voters because he did not explicitly talk about the issues that were important to them; he claimed that Romney did not talk about issues such as abortion, immigration, and healthcare. Vigueri also argued that one of the reasons why President Obama won against his opponent was because the Democratic Party decided to run a more ideological campaign which is why more voters came out in support of him; people felt more of a personal connection to the issues that were being presented by the Democrats and this helped President Obama on election day.

I spoke to one ASU student named Roxanna Easley about the article and this is what she had to say.

 “I do agree with what Vigueri said about that Mitt Romney and how he did not really develop arguments on certain issues that could have helped his campaign. During the election people were saying that the reason Florida took so long was possibly because there is a large Latino community there that is a main deciding factor. Since he did not really come up with a stance on immigration, it could have possibly led to a Democratic swing”.

“I also agree with what Vigueri was saying about how the Republican Party has to make itself more relatable to minorities and that the reason why minorities usually vote Democrat is because they have more of a connection towards the Democratic party and their ideals”.

Genre Analysis: Romney Needed More Conservative Issues

For this assignment I decided to listen to an audio interview on NPR and the interview was titled: “Romney Needed More Conservative Issues”. This audio interview was basically an interview about a theory one man had about why Mitt Romney was defeated by President Obama in the election. The man who was being interviewed was Richard Vigueri, who is a prominent figure in the Republican party. He argued that Mitt Romney did not campaign on the Republican platform; he said that Romney did not speak and argue about issues such as abortion, immigration, and healthcare. Vigueri spoke about how the Democrats had a strict ideological campaign strategy and how this allowed them to connect with minority voters on a more personal level.  Vigueri said this about Romney’s strategy, “He told everyone that Obama’s policies were failing and that it was time to try his plan. Failure is not scary, people fail everyday and what Romney should have done was campaign about how radical and dangerous Obama’s policies were”.

Compared to an academic essay or an annotated map, this audio script was created very differently. In an academic essay the information is structured an organized so that the reader can easily follow the path of evidence put in front of them. In an annotated map, the synopsis provides a brief summary and the main points which are elaborated upon in each individual annotation. In contrast to these two structured genres of writing, audio essays are more informal and the information is less structured. Yes, the information is still separated into sections, but the information is more free-flowing and it feels more like an actual conversation.  

In recognizing the genre of a piece, one must also consider how the evidence is used and in this audio essay, the person being interviewed compared Mitt Romney’s campaign to that of someone who campaigned in the 1980’s. He has also written books and articles about politics which gives credibility to his opinion on the topic. In addition to looking at the evidence, one must also look at the organization of a piece. The audio essay’s organization is very choppy. Instead of the information being structured the interviewer and the person being interviewed just go back and forth discussing the main points of the argument.

So while the person who is being interviewed does give concrete insight, I do feel as though this audio essay was more informal. Additionally, a lot of the information put on the table relied and came from personal observation. The essay was informal because it felt more like a casual conversation between two people who are knowledgeable when it comes to politics. I also feel like it was laid out very differently from an academic essay or any sort of formal piece.

Story link: http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=164767099&m=164767224

Or

http://www.npr.org/templates/archives/archive.php?thingId=3

Here are the options I have been thinking about doing Project Three on:

-CKI club (Circle K International Community Service club)

-Mathematics majors

-Film majors

-business majors

Project Two Reflection: Complicated

 When we were first assigned this project I was somewhat excited but also scared. I was excited because I have never utilized Google Maps this way before, but I was also nervous about the fact that I did not know how to create and insert all of the hyperlinks. However, I quickly addressed those problems and went to some of my classmates asking for help with the technological aspect of this project.

The writing portion came pretty easily which made the overall project less overwhelming. I first thought about focusing on birds on campus but I ended switching my topic to the dorms on the Arizona State campus. Even before I started writing my project I was already familiar with all of the freshman dorms on campus and I have already gotten to visit them all. I knew of each complex’s amenities and what people like and dislike about each building. I am confident in my evaluation because I went to review each dorm once again just to make sure my evaluation was thorough. I went around my dorm first (San Pablo) just to check out the rooms and lounges and I even interviewed a few people and asked them about what they think about their living experience in the dorms so far. I then traveled over to Hassayampa, Center Complex, and McClintock to check out the rooms, lounges, and courtyards just to see what unique characteristics each dorm had. So, while the writing portion was fairly easy, the map aspect was a different story.

I consider myself to be fairly tech savvy and I can find my way around a computer most of the time. However even though I paid attention to the class lecture, I still had trouble creating a map online and embedding the blog post annotations within the place markers. So to solve this problem, I met with one of my classmates, Rebecca, and she helped me understand the whole process. I learned how to create a map, add place markers, and even embed the blog annotations in the actual map. I also had trouble with making the actual in-text citations into links that directed the viewer to the works cited page.

Fortunately, this project did teach me how to write an effective evaluation and now I know how to observe and research something and spin that into an evaluation. I learned that you need specific evidence to establish authority in your evaluation by using credible sources. In the future I will make sure to back up my claims with credible sources of information. Additionally, I learned that I need to organize my thoughts more effectively so that the person reading my posts will not get confused or lost.

Lastly, I plan to apply what I have learned during this project in the outside world by evaluating whether or not I am making smart choices in life. For example, I will try to keep track of the amount of recycling I do and evaluate whether or not I am doing enough for the environment. Additionally, I could evaluate the other choices I make in the future and decide whether or not they are beneficial to me and those around me. 

Research Sources: Birds on campus

At first I was very indecisive about what I wanted to do for this project, but after much deliberation, I have decided to follow the various kinds birds on campus. I want to explore this topic for the duration of this project because I feel that following birds on campus is much more interesting and less embarrassing than stalking an actual person. At first I thought that I wanted to follow sorority girls around campus to see what exactly they do, but I also thought about how hard it would be to convince someone to let follow them for an extended period of time. I also wanted to follow birds around campus so that I could observe what places they are attracted to and also what characteristics about those certain places that the birds like. I will try to evaluate my topic by visiting various places on campus and seeing where birds like to flock. I will attempt to evaluate the birds and see if certain types of birds like to travel together to certain areas of campus.

 I am planning to go to ‘A’ Mountain to see if there are birds there and also if other critters go there. I also want to visit other campus areas like the Memorial Union patio, the Life Sciences building, the new North Campus grass area, and the Student Recreation Center field. I usually see birds at these places so hopefully I can evaluate these areas without much trouble. I also wanted to observe the birds and whether or not they react with any people and evaluate the behavior of both parties and what their interaction is like.

The scholarly journal article that I am considering to help aid my research in this project is entitled: “Energetics, lifestyle, and Reproduction in birds” by Richard Sibly. The source was obtained on EBSCO Host and is approximately one page in length. This scholarly article basically documents the behavior of birds in general with no specific focus on a type of bird. It discusses what food they like, their reproductive habits, and how they have adapted to urban areas.

Secondly, the book source I am using for project two is entitled: The National Geographic Complete Birds of North America by Johnathan Alderfer. This book is 640 pages in length. This book is a guide to various types of birds and it teaches you how to identify birds and also offers an explanation of why they behave the way they do.

Lastly, I chose a website dedicated to birds called Arizonesis.org. This website offers a description of the various birds that live in Arizona and I thought that this would be very helpful when identifying the birds and determining the behavioral patterns of certain birds. I learned that there are 24 common types of birds in desert-like environments like Arizona.

Overall, I am happy about the topic I chose and I have confidence that these sources will be very beneficial in the rest of my research for this project.  

Evaluation: Modern Family

As the years have gone by, social norms have changed. The weird thing about our society is that it is constantly evolving and transforming and this is evident in the ABC comedy show Modern Family. People seem to gravitate towards this show because not only does it show how different each family is, but also because it does a good job of making people laugh. Modern family made its debut on the ABC network in September of 2009 and since then it has proven to be a hit amongst viewers. Its last season was the most successful season so far with an average viewership of approximately 12.93 million viewers. I have never really followed the show up until my parents started watching last year and I admit that the show got me hooked. What I found interesting about the show is that it aims to destroy social stereotypes while also satirizing the relationships established within the show.

Like I said, the show's main goal is to destroy expected stereotypes and it shows the audience that not all families are the same and that every relationship has its problems. In the past, the media has force fed us this perfect image of what a family is and what they think it should be. They told us that families are supposed to never fight or get into disagreements, that children are supposed to act a certain way, and that a family must consist of a couple of the opposite sex and their children, and that it is inappropriate for a man to marry a woman half his age. This is the mold that society has created for us and this show’s main objective is to shatter that expectation.

In one episode entitled That Time of the Month, Phil Dunphy, the patriarch of the Dunphy household, tries to convince his son to pull a prank on his mother and his two sisters so that the two of them could go to a trapeze class alone. Phil wants to leave the three females at home because they are all coincidentally on their period. In attempt to get out of the house, Phil tells his son Luke to rub fake blood on his hands so that the two could escape and pretend to go to the hospital. When Luke tries to pull the prank, he accidentally slips and he appears to be drenched in blood and there is blood all over the wall. Claire, Phil’s wife, figures out what is going on and eventually the three ladies start yelling at the two males telling them that they are inconsiderate jerks.

That is just one example of the crazy stuff that goes in this show, there are many other instances where a different topic or issue is tackled. The show tackles issues in relation to same sex couples, one’s role in a marriage, and even problems that teenagers go through. Personally, I think that the message this show is trying to convey is one worth sharing. This show not only does a great job showing viewers that families are complicated and that you cannot truly define them, but it also does a stellar job of providing its audience with some laughter.

Project One Reflection: Perseverance

When I first looked over the requirements for this assignment I was kind of nervous because I was not sure how I would write a four page analysis on a place on campus. I kept telling myself that it would be impossible to write so much about something so mundane and ordinary.

When I first went to the Memorial Union cafeteria to take notes I found myself lost because I did not know what I was supposed to observe. I was not sure if I was supposed to analyze and describe the physical environment or the people and how they were interacting with one another. To my surprise I posted my observation notes on the class blog and a good amount of people commented on my notes and told me that I did a good job at going in depth with my observations. With this new found confidence I headed into the process of writing the paper thinking that it would be easy, but I was soon proven wrong.

            There were both difficult and easy parts to this project and that is why I am so unsure about how well I did. Personally, I think that I did a pretty decent job at describing the physical environment and the various human interactions going on in the area. I made sure to describe the material the tables and chairs were made of, the various kinds of people that entered the Memorial Union, and even the fabric that the couches were made of. I also think that I did a good job at using descriptive and imaginative words to make sure that the people reading my paper had a good idea of what the area was like.

            With that said, I will admit that there were a few aspects of this assignment that I struggled with. I have not written a paper in a few months now and it is sad to say that I have forgotten a few of the rules of writing. I had trouble organizing my paragraphs and in my rough draft, I even forgot to clearly state my thesis and make sure to utilize topic sentences in my body paragraphs. Although the mechanics were somewhat difficult for me, I think applying a lens in my paper was the most difficult part. Initially, I had no idea how we were supposed to do this and I didn’t even know we were required to cite the actual authors in our essay. Eventually, I added in a lens into my work and I think I did a fairly decent job of doing so.

            Overall, I think that I did accomplish the task at hand and that I did reach the depth of analysis that was required for this assignment. I definitely learned much more about writing with this paper and I now know how to analyze an area. Next time I am out somewhere I might take some time to actually analyze a place and appreciate it for what it is instead of just looking at it from a close-minded point of view. This project has taught me how to analyze places and also how to use another person’s lens in addition to my own writing and hopefully these skills will come in handy sometime in the future. 

Analyzing a Place Worksheet Project One: The Memorial Union Cafeteria

Project #1 Worksheet                                                          

Your Place: The Memorial Union Cafeteria

What are the intended functions of the place?                      

-The purpose of the cafeteria is to provide a place where people can get food. People can choose from a variety of fast food outlets. It allows people to pick and choose their favorite foods from more than one different place. It also serves a place where people can meet friends, do homework, or even just relax.

What overt messages does the place send (i.e., openly communicated through signs)?

-The cafeteria sends a message of chaos. Everybody goes through the cafeteria.  However, it also sends a message of relaxation because people can just sit down and watch the TV screens or use their laptops whenever they please.

What covert messages does the place send (i.e., hidden messages)?

-The cafeteria sends a message of openness. Basically anyone can go into the MU cafeteria to get food. It also sends a message of community because some people go there often and create relationships with people they meet there and the people that work there. The workers are friendly and there is a sense of camaraderie between the people that work there.

Have previous users left traces behind in the place?

-People always leave behind their trash. Sometimes you will see crumbs on the table or dirty napkins scattered around on the floor. Additionally, there are some people who forget their personal belongings on the couches or tables.

Has the place been re-appropriated (i.e., beyond its original functions)?

-The cafeteria serves as a place to eat food, but people often sit in an open chair to just surf the web or do their homework. There are also people who go into the cafeteria to just watch football games.

What social or cultural customs did you observe (i.e., rules governing appropriate behavior)?

-The cafeteria is a pretty casual place and sometimes it gets very loud with people yelling at the TV’s and people laughing at other peoples’ jokes. There aren’t really any set customs or established norms in the cafeteria. The only rule I can think of is that one must pay for the food they get. There are even people clapping at the TVs.

Who has access to the place?  Are there insiders and outsiders?

-Everyone has access to the cafeteria – faculty and students visit the MU and even people who are in no way affiliated with ASU can go inside the cafeteria to get food. The insiders are the workers and the people who regularly go to the cafeteria and the outsiders are just the people who don’t really go into the MU cafeteria.

Who owns the place?

-Arizona State University owns the Memorial Union Cafeteria – along with the businesses and corporations that own the specific food outlets that are located in the cafeteria.

What is the place’s value (i.e., monetary or otherwise)?

-It has sentimental value to those who regularly visit the place and to those who like getting their food at the cafeteria.

Are there official representations of the place (i.e., online, in promotional materials)?  Do they accurately capture the place as you experienced it?

-There is a section for the MU on the ASU website but there are very few pictures and you can’t really tell what the place is like unless you go there yourself and see it. They have promotional brochures and posters on display but the pictures don’t really give you a feel for what the cafeteria environment is really like.

Is the place in transition, a changing place?

-The physical environment itself doesn’t really change, but the people who visit the cafeteria change.

What conflicts or tensions are there in the place?

-There aren’t really any conflicts or tensions in the cafeteria – only when there are people actually there arguing or yelling at each other.

What is the place’s history?  Do you see evidence of the past there in the present?

-Over the years the cafeteria has replaced some of the food outlets. The only evidence of the past I see are the stains on the carpet and the scratches on the furniture.

How does this place differentiate itself from other places?  What other places is it similar to, but how is it different from those places?

-It is different from other places on campus because it offers such wide variety of food outlets and not many other places on campus offer the same amount of food options. The only similar places on campus are the dining hall, but the cafeteria offers more options and you have to use your meal plans at the dining halls whereas you can use cash or M&G’s at the cafeteria.

What questions do you have about your place?

-Why is it so dead on weekends?

-Why is there no Panda Express in the cafeteria area?

-Why did the people in charge choose the specific chains that are in the cafeteria?

-Why isn't there an outlet that offers home-cooked style dishes?

Key Features / Profiles (taken from the Norton Field Guide (Goggin and Bullock) Chapter 16, pages 165-166)

An interesting subject.  What is unusual about your place?  Alternatively, is there something ordinary about it that you can show in an intriguing way?

-It is a very busy place and you can basically do whatever you please. Something ordinary would be the stores located in the area, but each outlets caters to a specific kind of eater.

Any necessary background.  What background information will you need to include about the place in order to situate readers?

-The only background information I think I need to include to situate readers is the menus and types of food each food outlet offers so that people will get an idea of what to get at the cafeteria. I also think describing the furniture and atmosphere of each area in the cafeteria will give people a gist of what they need to know about the place.

An interesting angle.  Rather than trying to tell readers everything about the place, what angle(s) might you use?

-I will try to use a more abstract angle describing the things that people would usually miss when observing the area.

A firsthand account.  Did you interact with people in the place or participate in some way?  What experiences did you have there that you can write about using “I”?  (Yes, first person point of view is encouraged, especially for this paper.)

-Yes, I did interact with people. I brought along some friends while I was observing the place and I also talked to some random people around the area asking them random questions about the MU cafeteria. I also spoke to some of the people who worked at the food outlets and cashier registers.

Engaging details.  What specific information must you include in your description of the place?  What potential does your place have for the use of sensory images, figurative language, dialogue, anecdotes, and showing rather than telling?  What do you want the dominant impression to be?

-I must describe the physical environment as well as food offered by the food outlets.

-Sensory images: Descriptions of the place may give other people an idea of the cafeteria such as the overall ambience of the area and what kinds of people go there.

-figurative language: I can compare the cafeteria to other food places on campus or other similar food places in Tempe.

-Dialogue: Give people a vague description of some aspects of the area so they will spark dialogue with the writer and with one another.

-Anecdotes: Give the audience a personal account of some of the things that I have experienced at the MU cafeteria.

-I want people to like my description and I want them to want to go to the cafeteria after I share with them the observations that I have made. 

Generating Ideas and Text (taken from the Norton Field Guide (Goggin and Bullock) Chapter 16, pages 168-169)

Explore what you already know about your subject.  Why do you find this place interesting?  What did you already know about it?

-I found it interesting because it seems so alive and everyone seems to go there at least once a day. I knew that people got their food at the cafeteria. I also knew that people watched TV there too

If you’re planning to interview someone, prepare questions.  What would you like to ask someone in the place in order to better understand it?

-How is in charge of the place?

-How much did it cost to build the cafeteria?

-Why were these specific food chains chosen to be a part of the cafeteria?

-How can I get a job here?

Do additional research.  Does your place have an online component?  How else might you gather additional research?

-Yes, there is a section for it in the ASU website, and I can also research each food chain individually through each of their websites. 

Analyze your findings.  What patterns, images, or recurring ideas or phrases did you use to describe your place?  What contrasts or discrepancies do you see?

-I found design patterns in the overall design of the area – the color scheme and furniture in the cafeteria. I found that each food outlet was different from each other and I also found that all kinds of people go to eat at the cafeteria.

Come up with an angle.  What is most memorable about your subject?  What most interests you?  What will interest your audience?

-The most memorable thing about the cafeteria is the amount of people that go there to eat or hang out. I think that the descriptions I made about the area will interest the audience the most – I observed things that most people would miss. 

Project One: Observation Notes 1

Page One

The cafeteria area:

Very crowded and busy especially during lunch time.

One half of the room is covered in glass and see through windows.

Patio is covered by a cement covering.

There are white metal railings.

There are various ramps and each level differs in height. The ramps make the patio and the general cafeteria more accessible to the handicapped.

There are tall red umbrellas used for when it rains or when it is too sunny.

The ceiling that covers the patio is held up by circular columns or pillars that are green.

I just saw a guy in a wheelchair drop his cell phone and a guy in a green shirt was nice enough to pick it up for him.

The tables on the patio are made of plastic that resembles marble or some sort of stone surface.

The chairs on the patio are made of metal and have a pattern that goes across the bottom and the part that people lean their backs against.

The color scheme of the patio is very boring and plain.

There is a strip of green dry wall that holds lights on near the entrance of the cafeteria.

Then there the majority of the ceiling is covered in pipes and ceiling lights – the pipes and the ceiling are painted black to make it less obvious and more hidden.

Near the window there is a bar style horizontal table accompanied by an array of bar style chairs. You can see everything that is going on outside when you are eating at these tables.

There is a section of couches and loveseats to the far left of the entrance.

The air conditioning vents are painted black and you can see the pipes that let out the air.

There is a guy in a red shirt with the biggest Mohawk I have ever seen in my entire life.

There is a station that holds all the napkins and utensils for people to use when they are eating their food.

There is a wall of five flat screen TV’s.

There is one leather couch surrounded by green patterned chairs along with circular tables. There is also a wooden table in the middle of the couch area.

The green loveseats are very uncomfortable and scratchy.

There are a lot of people who wear tank tops.

Starbucks: there are wooden tables and chairs.

There is a trio of shelves that hold various brews of coffee and other starbucks products.

There is a red, orange, yellow, and green painting of an elephant with the word “Kenya” at the top.

The back of the starbucks outlet is a wall covered in green, brown, and clear see through tiles.

Page Two

There is a weird circular figure on the ceiling that holds lights and something that looks like an air conditioning vent.

One of the lights looks like a gigantic Christmas light bulb.

There is a section with straw, stirrers, creamer, and sugar and right next to it is an emergency first aid kit.

Near the front of the cash register there is a large glass display of various breads and pastries – donuts, banana bread, muffins, and so on.

Underneath the pastries is an assortment of drinks.

The front of the refrigerator are covered in colorful writing – im assuming its some sort of chalk or marker.

There are two giant coffee grinders full of coffee beans.

QDOBA Mexican grill:

The tables are made of a mixture of both wood and metal and the chairs are made of wood and metal painted black.

The dining area and food line is separated by a metal and glass separator.

There are glass barriers that cover the food line.

There is a drink station that offers various drinks such as coke, orange soda, iced tea, and so on.

QDOBA offers something called a naked burrito.

The air conditioner vents and ducts are painted grey on this side.

Qdoba has a bunch of dirty grills where they cook the food.

On the left side of chick-fil-a there are four sections of booths.

The lines at chick-fil-a are constituted by black metal railings.

The food is stored in small freezers and little food heaters.

Inside the chick-fil-a kitchen there are a bunch of deep fryers. DUH 

This old guy is changing the trash can bags and is making a lot of noise.

It smells like chicken.

From the booth area you can see the chase atm machine.

The ceiling is comprised of boring white foam tiles.

There is a ramp that makes chick-fil-a more accessible to the handicapped.

There is a red trashcan and a green trashcan.

THE FRESH FIX: vegan, vegetarian, fruit, and salad

Open refrigerators that hold a variety of drinks

The other refrigerator holds an assortment of fruits and all kinds of salads and wraps.

I would probably never eat at this place.

There is a guy who has his phone plugged into the wall and he is talking VERY loud – I can hear him through my earphones.

Next to THE FRESH FIX there is an EXTREME PITA.

An Analysis of an Image: GQ November 2008 cover

In this November 2008 GQ cover, we see famed late night television host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel smiling sort of awkwardly covered in lip stick kisses from Marilyn Monroe. This cover deviates from the normal covers we usually see from GQ which feature either dapper men in designer clothing or naked women in suggestive poses. The cover photo alone is very interesting because it can be interpreted in multiple ways.

Although this image can be perceived in many ways, I personally think it is a statement about corruption in the Political world. Many of us know about the supposed liaisons that John F. Kennedy shared with Marilyn Monroe and in this image Mr. Kimmel plays the part of JFK. I also feel that this cover shot is a social commentary about how hypocritical politicians can be. However, I do acknowledge that this issue also features an article about the twenty five sexiest women in film and Ms. Monroe’s appearance on the cover may just be in reference to that piece.

Through the years we have heard various stories about married politicians who either engage in affairs with other women or send inappropriate pictures of themselves to their lovers. This picture satirizes the fantasy that these politicians are perfect human beings. When politicians are out on the road campaigning for a position they want to be elected into, they sometimes create this façade of the perfect family man, but this cover indirectly says that we must be more skeptical when it comes to politicians, we must remember that they are human and that there is a possibility that they are lying to us.

Another striking detail about this cover is that the phrase “Jimmy Kimmel says vote democrat so this damn thing can finally be over”. I acknowledge that this cover was before President Obama was elected into office, but I feel as if Jimmy Kimmel is saying that voting democrat would end the political struggle in the nation. Little did he know that almost four years later, that wouldn’t be the story. Today, there is an even bigger political divide in the nation: one half wants a new president and the other half thinks that our current president deserves another term.

Ultimately, I think that this cover satirizes politicians and politics in general. We are often fed lies about those who work in the government and I feel that this cover is just warning us to be more wary of what politicians tell us. 

Analysis of a Writing Situation: Great College Degrees For Career Options

Deciding to get a college degree can be daunting.  Choosing what to major in or what course to take is an even greater challenge. Some people are able to make these decisions at an early age but sometimes others have to do a little soul searching in order to find their niche. According to a study conducted by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, it simply is not enough to have any college degree in today’s job market. This article is essentially about five college degrees that would increase one’s chances for acquiring a job in today’s market. The five degrees mentioned in this article include a bachelor’s in: business administration, accounting, computer science, psychology, and criminal justice.

            According to The College Board, a bachelor’s in business administration prepares individuals to successfully supervise and control an organization’s activities while at the same time gives you the opportunity to hone your leadership, reasoning, and critical –thinking skills. Individuals who earn a degree in business administration are well equipped to eventually become personal financial advisors or even market research analysts. If one chooses to pursue a degree in accounting, they will be on track to help others in their financial endeavors. People with a bachelor’s in accounting have many options to pick from and the two most popular of those options are either a position as an accountant or a budget analyst. Individuals who are tech savvy or interested in working with technology related gadgets can try to obtain a bachelor’s in computer science. As time has passed, the world around us has slowly adapted the idea that technology is king. Practically everyone uses a computer and many actions today require you to use technology in some way or another. People with a degree in computer science can choose a career as a software developer, one who creates and tests new software, or a career as a computer programmer. Psychology is a very versatile major as it can be applied into many different fields of work; two of the available professions you would be prepared for would be a social worker or a probation officer. Lastly, the article mentions a degree in criminal justice. Many people dream of being some sort of crime fighter when they are young and a bachelor’s in criminal justice would help that dream come true. People who pursue this degree can pick from a variety of careers, two of which are a position as a police officer or a detective.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Studying.jpg

            College can be a confusing place, and it is not uncommon for one to not know what to do after graduating. The author of this article, Chris Kyle, wanted to offer up suggestions to those who are unsure of what to study in college. We all hear of people drowning in debt after college because their college degree does not grant them enough opportunities in today’s job market and the author’s goal is to show people a list of degrees that would be beneficial in one’s future job search. Knowing that it is hard to pick a degree, the author most likely targeted college students when creating this article. Personally, I am still unsure of what I want to study and articles like these make it easier to make a decision. The author of this article utilized sources such as Riviera Advisors, Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, and College Board to obtain information from for this piece. This document was most likely written because many colleges are starting to get back in session and people who are unsatisfied with their careers are choosing to go back to school, and the author wanted to provide information that would help people in their search for a college degree.