In class writing on research (pre-writing)

Some concerns I have about my research:
My main concern is that my sources might be a little too similar. But, I think the similarities are okay because the differences lie in how my topic is covered in the different areas of the media.

I feel like I could have a few more specific sources related to my topic as well.

However, I do feel satisfied with what I have, and I think it will make for a solid paper. Although the information is similar, the way it is presented and covered is definitely different.

Four Questions:

I feel like all of my sources are primary because they come from the media. My topic is analyzing how TCU football is covered in the media, and all my sources stem from that.

I chose my sources because they cover college, local, and national mediums. I have one from the TCU Daily Skiff, two from ESPN.com, and one from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. They cover all the bases so to speak, and they are all geared toward what I am trying to argue.

I narrowed my topic to how TCU was covered during the signing of recruits process, and the aftermath of that. All of the sources focus on that, and they evaluate how TCU did in regard to other schools. In different ways, they all explain how TCU is no longer the David in the fight...they are becoming the Goliath.

All sources had legitimate factual and statistical evidence to support the ranging opinions made about why TCU has potential to do some damage next year. No where in any of these sources was there rambling and nonsense. It was all good opinions that had sufficient back up to the claims the different authors were making.

Research Experiences

After looking through various databases and doing many google searches, I can say that I have found some very good primary sources for my paper. My topic concerns how the various mediums cover TCU football. I narrowed it down to signing day and recent recruiting, and I was able to find articles in the college, local, and national news. It was interesting seeing the differences.

The Daily Skiff makes signing day front page news, where as ESPN and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram do not. This is understandable, but a difference nonetheless. ESPN has always covered TCU to an extent, but due to the recent success, the coverage has grown enormously.

I see a common theme of TCU becoming a premier player in recruiting. No longer are they red-headed step child of Texas football. They do not just pick over the leftovers. They are beginning to get some top recruits fresh out of the oven. This was made clear in all of the mediums I researched.

My Topic for Unit II: Rhetorical Case Study

My topic is going to consist of how the TCU football team is covered in various media. Specifically, I will compare and contrast from a local and national level. Mediums that fit this requirement could/will include the TCU Daily Skiff, the Fort Worth Star Telegram, ESPN, USA Today, etc.

This idea/topic concerns my major of broadcast journalism, and it fits well with one of my main interests: sports. I feel taking it local, focusing on TCU football, it will even be more exciting. There have been so many stories already about recruiting classes, expectations for next season, and much more that could help me out with finding primary sources for this paper. I definitely think I could have fun with this topic, and I do not think I would be bored to tears after five weeks of this.

Author's Note for Final Draft and Portfolio

I feel my final draft is my best draft because I have made the necessary revisions to form the most effective, cohesive paper. With all of the peer reviews, drafts, observations, etc., I have been able to make many changes, and all have made my paper better. The biggest improvements I made concerned analysis and description. I had a lot of description and analysis in my paper, but with the teacher and peer reviews, I saw, from their comments, what I was lacking. It was not anything major, but by adding two or three sentences about this area or that area, I made my paper that much stronger. After organizing everything in my portfolio, I can see how much work i have put into this paper, and I think all that work shows in my final copy.

It has been a lengthy process, but definitely a necessary one. Each draft brought out a better paper, and now, after probably the fourth or fifth draft, I know I do have my best work ready to be turned in. All the steps along the way have made that possible, and more importantly, easier.

Feedback and Revisions

Cameron and Lacy read over my paper, and their suggestions were very similar. Both suggested that I should add more description about the colors of the sections of the library, and what is exactly going on. What is the cafe like, and what are the frog pods like in the loud section are two things I could elaborate on. I see this as something I will do in my paper; in addition to adding on to both of these things, I plan on adding more description as a whole. Although I do not feel my paper is general or bland, I do think I could go more in detail, describing more of what each area is like. Colors, sounds, smells, and so on, could all enhance the quality of my paper. They both had many good things to say. Lacy liked how what I was trying to get across was presented in one sentence. Both Cameron and Lacy thought some of my examples about behavior in the library were accurate and funny.

Overall, I think fine-tuning and painting more of a picture for my audience are the two pressing things I need to do. By doing both, I think my paper will be much more explosive and entertaining. I think I have some great stuff to work with, and I think the peer reviews were a great help.

Author's Note for Draft 1

In my first draft, I am trying to get my ideas out on paper, in a fairly organized way, and I try to make it as complete as possible. I would like help seeing what else needs to be addressed in my paper, style/grammar critiques, and overall flow of the paper. I feel like I am best at getting it all out, then going back and fine-tuning here and there.

What the Library Means to the Community

The TCU library plays a huge role for the TCU and surrounding communities. It is not only a place to go and study for tests or in between classes, but it is a place where students can socialize with each other. The resources provided, like books, computers, DVDs, make our (students) lives so much easier. As some students have told me, since the BLUU is so far away, the library is taking the place of the main, as a place where you can go to kill time in between classes. I have to agree. It is a place to gather, hang out, and occasionally it's a place where students get work done.

Annotated Notes

Unit 1 Annotated Notes
I did my first observation on January 30, between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. I started in the café area, and there were around seven people there. Some were studying, chatting, or waiting in line for a snack. Only three were actually studying. I actually saw my professor talking with a friend, and one person was on the phone the entire time I was in this section. I feel like this space offers an atypical study environment in that you are not barricaded in a room or sitting at a desk. There are café tables, TVs, and food to create a coffee shop feel, and with so many people coming in and out, you do not feel as though you are “studying.” Food and drinks offer a break to those in this area, and the computers in there allow you to research if you need something else for your studies. Also, this is somewhere you can eat and not feel self-conscious about it. In other areas you might feel you are being to loud or bothersome, but for those in this area, they felt none of that.
Next, I visited the loud section, and there were around 50 students studying, at the computers, meeting in groups, or getting help at the computer desk. It was a bit quieter than usual, but being early on a Friday, that was understandable. It was funny to see what those on the computers were doing because many were not doing work. People were looking at Facebook, ESPN.com, and many other non-educational sites. This area offers more meeting and study space, and a nice escape/resource with the computers. It is a quick in and out for students coming in between classes to print something off, and in this area, you can really do any type of work. The pods offer a place to do group projects, and with so many different places to study (at the computers, tables, pods, lounge chairs, etc.), the environment suits any studier. Also, while I was there, I saw a guy recognize a classmate, and they began to work on homework together. They were probably meeting each other there, but that is a big plus for this area. It serves as a great place to meet because there are so many resources available for whatever you might be working on.
Lastly, I went to the quiet section. Around 20 people were in there, all were studying. I think this is definitely the most typical “studying” place. There are some lounge chairs, but mostly it is filled with desks, and dividers for intense studying. Sitting there, I found it a little more difficult to focus, and I noticed that was true for others because every sound and ruffle of a paper can be heard. There is virtually no noise, so when something happens, everyone can hear it. Someone was eating, and you could tell the others were not happy about it. For those who come here, complete focus and no distractions is what they seek. It is ironic too because I think in some ways, they get the exact opposite. The littlest sound can throw you off, and it can really create a distraction. The basement is even more secluded and quiet. The quiet section definitely has the biggest “library” feel out of the three areas.
My second observation occurred on Sunday, February 1 from 11:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. I started in the café again, and there were about eight students in there. Only two were actually studying though. Two were playing chess, and the others were talking or waiting in line for snacks. This was only a few hours after the Super Bowl, so for a Sunday night, the library was quieter than usual. But there was not too much studying going on in this area. The café is more of a social space than anything else, and it helps those who like the commotion and people going back and forth. It is a place people can go and feel like they are doing something to get work done. Many have problems studying in their rooms or at their houses, so by going to the library, they are actually feeling like they are doing something, and getting their work done at the same time. However, in this area, that can become a problem because people often get distracted and socialize more than study.
Next I went to the loud section, and here I was able to talk to a student about her library experiences and how/why she chooses the library. She prefers the loud section over any other sections because it offers a background noise that can be blocked out with music, and it helps her focus more. For her, it is a happy medium between the too noisy café, and the too quiet section. She will go to the café to meet people and converse, but not to study. She does feel that the loud section can become too noisy, but she thinks the 24 hour operation has helped spread out how many are there at the same time. She cannot study at her house because she gets too distracted, so the library is good because it creates a study mindset for her. She also talked about how much time she would kill between classes, and she sees this more of an occurrence this year than in the past. With the main gone, this is really the most central place to go, and it provides easy access for those who are off campus to meet with others. She also thought it helps her and others going here because it does feel like you are doing something and also getting your work done, sometimes. She definitely agreed that at times she has come to just socialize and sees that others do that as well. The rest of the loud section was not too loud, probably because of the Super Bowl. Many either did their work earlier, at home, or did not do it at all.
Finally, the quiet section was just that Sunday night. Only about ten students were studying, and all were either studying or reading. No noise was acceptable. This is definitely for the hardcore studier, and the simplest noise gets everyone worked up. It works for some, but for me, it would not be an option.

Arguments of Fact and Definition for Space

I felt like there were many arguments of definition in the library. By designating certain areas as loud or quiet, students know where to go if they want to be in either environment. It is not necessarily an argument of fact, but it is understood that when students enter the library, certain areas are going to be louder or quieter because the library has defined them as such.

Also, when a student enters a specific area, his/her definition of loud or quiet is definitely different from someone elses definiton. So, that is an addition to this argument these spaces are making in the library.

The Library

I observed my space on two different occasions, and most of what I thought about the library was confirmed. It is a big social gathering place, but students do still find ways to get things done while there. Talking with a student, I gathered some interesting information, and she also had some great insight on a few things. One, because the main is gone, and the BLUU is so far away, the library is the only real big meeting place. So, students go there in between classes and to meet up with others more this year than before. I found that to be an interesting observation. Also, my idea that the library is kind of a one stop shop in that it has something for everyone, was confirmed by her as well. All in all, it was fun to see how many people were doing different things in one place. From the cafe to the quiet and loud sections, everyone was doing something...how productive they were is a completely different story.