Almost Finished

The course is coming to an end so it is time to wrap up the project. I am finishing up my ARP and working on finalizing my MMW3. I am also trying to decide exactly what kind of information I want to put on my poster and how I want to display the information.

Multimodal Writing Two

This week I have been working on multimodal writing two. I had to switch the video to multimodal writing three because I had some technical difficulties. The video would not open!!! So my multimodal two will be a word bubble. I am hoping that this word bubble will be as inspirational as I want it to be!!!! I have some really cool ideas for it!

Moving Along!!!

This week I made a lot of progress. I turned in MMW1 which was a brochure. Although I was really stressed out about figuring out the format, I believe it turned out really nice. I also turned in my survey results which I am happy with because most of the results are really clear. I now have to focus on furthering my ARP. I also have to develop a draft of MMW2. I worked on the video I am creating for MMW2 with a classmate today, so I think I am making really good progress.

Last Week!

The focus of last week was to make sure that my ARP was drafted. Im confident with the progress I made. This week I will focus on completing the ARP which is perfect timing because the results are due this week.

Ugghhh!!!!

My second Multimodal writing was going to cinsist of a video recording of a commercial. Unfirtunately, my video recorded has disappeared. Now I have to improvise and create something else as multimodal2. Im really determined to make one video because I believe it will be my most effective multimodal writing.

Making Progress

This week was one of much progress. I worked on my survey so now I'm awaiting approval so I can send it out. I am starting my introduction and am excited. I think I will begin by outlining my introduction to make it easier. This will also assist me in the proper flow from topic to topic in the introduction. I am doing another research project right now and we are currently in the writing process. I can learn from my adviser how to properly prepare and write an introduction. I am feeling good about my progress!

Time to Pick Up the Pace

I'm not happy with the progress that I am making with my project. I feel like I need to pick up the pace. I really want to hurry and put the survey up on survey monkey so that I can focus on my last interviews and the writing process. I will feel much better after the survey is up. I'm trying to be optimistic!!!!

Thursday Observation Session

This Thursday I sat on the west side of Kennedy with a classmate and observed the individuals.

I noticed that all of the tables outside of the Kennedy building was filled with people. One table had three people who were friends and the other two were occupied by one individual at each table. I started my focus on the table int he middle of Kennedy. There was one girl sitting by herself using her laptop. She seemed distant from the other two tables and looked as if she did not want to be bothered. This surprised me, because at the table with three people, nobody was using a laptop. Instead, they communicated with each other.

After two of the people from the table of three left, the single individual still at that particular table began to use her laptop. This was interesting because, when she was alone she resorted to technology. This may be because she wanted to fill the gap of being alone.

Almost every person who walked by the outside of Kennedy was texting or talking on their phone. There were not many people who were walking alone and not using some form of technology.

What was even more interesting was that since all the tables were occupied by at least one person, others had to share a table. So, when new people joined someone who was already occupying a table, they faced the opposite direction of the person. What this means is that they turned their backs toward the front of the person who was already occupying the table. This was entertaining because I assumed that the culture we live in is so independent that people have become aware of the fact that others may not like for strangers to share a table even if it is the last seat available in the area.

In connection with the multiple new people who joined an already occupied table, I noticed that after a while, these people turned around to face the person who already occupied the table. I assumed that the new individuals first needed to make sure that the already seated person did not protest and then they became more sociably accepted, thus, they turned to sit properly at the table.

I Spy!

I received an assignment in class
To analyze my mates
For fifteen minutes of silence
To describe our surrounding place

I first noticed our gender
More women than were men
And as if It were planned
We all wrote notes in pen

Two people spoke through colors
Both wearing a bright red
While others wore more neutral colors
A boring expression said

If walls could talk what would they say?
Our roof discussed chap stick
While our door was taped clear
Unnoticeable longing for Balsamic Vinaigrette

The weather in Miami
Consists of sun and rain
But oddly enough
were snowflakes on our windowpane

Time slowly crept by
And we all sighed in relief
Surprisingly for some of us
How we perceived our environment differently

Moving Forward

Over this week, I have decided to develop possible items for a survey. The survey items will assess different attitudes toward women in general and they way they dress. I am looking for participants to give stereotypes of women in general. I am also developing photos of a woman who is dressed in different clothing attire so that I can start having participants give perceptions of the woman based on what she is wearing.

The City of Sports: Miramar, Florida

              The city of Miramar, Florida is located in Broward County. The city has twenty-two neighborhood parks and five community parks. Miramar,  contains historical sites like the Stranahan House, the Bonnet House and the Museuem of Discovery and Science, which numerous children visit on class field trips.
              Sports is a huge attraction in Miramar and there is a stadium that is the home of the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers. Sports, is one of the assests to keeping children from developing identities as trouble makers. Jay, a resident of east Miramar stated that there was an issue with children and gangs, however, sports programs that include football, soccer, baseball and basketball have been a tremendous assistance in keeping children away from crime.
           Jay has participated in various sports programs while growing up in Miaramar and as an adult, he now coaches optimist leagues in Miramar. The Miramar Police Department has done its fair share of keeping children positive through sports programs. The Department has developed a Police Athletic League in which children can participate in activities such as cheerleading and football. Jay holds a positive attitude toward Miramar's Police Department because he believes they strive hard to reach out to the youth in the city.
           After explaining that in May of 2009 there was fifty-three registered sex offenders living in Miramar, Jay was surprised at the fact. He explained that he does not believe he has come in contacrt with any sex offenders in his area. We brifely spoke about the issue with Miami and sex offenders being forced to live under bridges on the beach. Jay explained that "it is not fair for them to be forced to live out there but it is not fair for them to be in neighborhoods with children, you know, being the way they are".

          Jay enjoys Miramar because there is not such a high rate of crime compared to other cities in Miami. However, he does plan to leave Miramar and move near the Beach an area in which he loves. The only negative comment Jay held about the city was children being involved in gangs that claim to be smaller branches of the Crips and Bloods.  At the end of the interview, it all came down the the sports of Miramar. Jay was most proud that Miramar High School won their first 6A Football Championship last year which is a great accomplishment for a city who strongly identitfies with sports.

Creative Literacy!

           Today I conducted an interview with a fellow classmate who I have given the name "B".  We discussed the origins of her first literary moment. She explained that she could not remember the exact moment but more important to her was the fact that her mother was very proud of her. "B" felt as though her cultural background did not really influence her litaracy because it is so diverse. Her Dad is from Puerto Rico and her Mom is from Trinidad and Tobago. She was raised in New York so she experienced numerous ethnic backgrounds and languages. Moreso than her cultural background, her parents pushed her to read and be successful because they did not come from places where education was excellent.
          "B" explained that growing up, she was surrounded by kids who did not read much. People in the older and more popular croud did not read or read only to get by on their course material. "B" recalled that younger kids who looked up to those older students adopted the views of reading from their older peers, however, she was more resilient to her own beliefs about reading and took her own perspective on literacy.          
           "B" does not see an issue with ethinicity and upper level courses. She feels as though it is not the ethnicity  that plays a part in the way that students ride the wave of literacy but moreso the way those people were raised. She experiences upward comparison and motivation when she sees others in her classes who are passionate about Enlglish and writing.
          "B" states that hardwork and dilgence were the two factors that assisted her progress in literacy. She would always read a little more than what was required, not to be an over achiever but to be prepared. "B" has tremendous future goals which include conducting business for music, going to Law or Grad School and opening a Christian club. "B" plans to create an affordable music program for children since many schools are doing away with the arts programs. One inspirational quote from "B" to those students who are are continuously told that they cannot red and write is that no matter what aspect of life is reviewed, whether it be school or something so colloquial as texting, reading is required. Take charge and learn to do it!

Sources: So Helpful!

This week I focused on discovering sources for my research project. I had trouble finding sources through the library's catalog. To my surprise, Google was of  much more assistance. I found many articles that related to my research topic and even some experiments that were conducted extremely similarly to the way I plan on conducting my research project. The different articles relevant to my project gave me hope and showed me different ways to make my project concrete. I saw how some researchers were able to make their projects different from others by adding different factors of how people rate women based on their clothing as associated with things like intelligence, school major etc! I thought some of these factors were really cool! I am looking forward to conducting my project and after a few more sources I will begin actually collecting some data. That is if my proposal is accepted!

Proposal

 I've made up my mind on which topic I am going to do. I really wanted to switch it because I was not sure that I could present a huge problem for the topic that I have chosen. However, I feel that this topic is one that many women, including myself can relate to, thus, there needs to be further recognition of the topic. I spoke to a classmate who was very helpful in assisting me with this decision. I am worried that my topic is one that is heard a lot by many people, however I feel that the issue must be continuously advocated. So, I am hoping to propose the topic in a new light so that it will not get rejected.

Research Questions

This week I received the assignment of a research project. I was tossing around ideas and am interested in researching women and how they are perceived based on the way they dress. The only problem is that I cannot post pictures to surveys on the site that will be used for the class. This complicates the project a little more because I have to think of a way to get people's impressions of women without using photos. I am optimistic and with a little more brain storming I am sure I can work something out. If not, I plan on choosing a topic that directly relates to the school. Maybe something dealing with the school gym and how to engage students in more positive health related activities.

Welcome to Reality Check!

 I am extending a welcome to everyone that has stopped by my blog site! I hope you enjoy the interesting posts and topics that will be discussed. Reality Check would greatly appreciate your opinion on any topic, as I would love to know what you believe to be the ultimate Reality Check of life's issues!



With Pleasure,
SimpliT