Project 3: Entertaining

In one word Project 3 was entertaining. It was very interesting to see what others had to say about my topic and it was fun to listen to them being interviewed, some people got kind of nervous and others talked more openly when answering questions. It was entertaining to interview my friends and even recording my own voice, which is more difficult than it sounds. I know for myself, it was close to impossible not to laugh while recording so I ended up rerecording multiple times. I think I really went deeper with my topic of Greek life at ASU, whereas with other projects it was more difficult to get to the “so-what” aspect of the project. By bringing in real world examples of what’s going it really helped me to have a more effective argument in my interviews. I struggled with the length of the audio at first, but I realized I could just interview another person to add some extra time into the mp3. I learned that it is a lot more difficult to get the answers you would like people to say out of them, you almost have to force feed them in order for them to say what would help your argument in the greatest way. I think I crafted a strong argument. I talked about how Greek life is an important part of ASU. I talked about how Greek life gets students involved and develops school spirit on campus. I think the most effective part of my argument is when I discussed Jack, the missing student from ASU, and how the Greek community has come together and brought the larger community together in an effort to find him. I think this brought the “so what?” aspect into my project because it showed how the Greek system is important, but also in a way that effects all of ASU, rather than just being important for school spirit the Greek community really has come together in a time of need and so has the entire ASU community. This project taught me how to write a script, as well as interview skills and recording skills. This can be used for future projects or perhaps even in the work place in the future. The technology is extremely useful in creating my own mp3’s rather than just having a garage band project. Overall, Project 3 was more my thing than the previous projects. I like interacting with people and I feel as though they made very good sources for this project, the fact that you can connect with them in person really helps. I think this project showed what you can do with the skills you learn in an English class. 

Picture: http://rules.ssw.com.au/DesignandPresentation/RulesToBetterVideoRecording/Pages/recording-sign.aspx

Script Draft; Greek Life at ASU

Makenzie Kleszcz: “For many students, Greek life is a major part of attending a university. Greek life is very important to Arizona State University and is a great way for students to get involved, not only within the university, but also within the community. They each have a philanthropy in which they volunteer for and raise money for, and it is what the group stands for. They participate in school events, such as football games and fundraisers. Greek life gives students an opportunity to make life long friendships and gain opportunities to be leaders and active participants in school life. I interviewed Marisa Fradin, a member of the Alpha Phi sorority at ASU about Greek life and its impact on the university.”

Makenzie Kleszcz: “Marisa, as an active member of the Alpha Phi sorority at ASU, what are your views on Greek life?”

Marisa Fradin: “I think that Greek life is an important part of any university. I mean when you think of college, you think of Frats and Sororities. Being in a sorority myself, it has made my experience at ASU so much more beneficial and has made me feel like I actually play a role in my school. Without Greek life a university just would not be the same.”

Makenzie Kleszcz: “How does Greek life benefit ASU and the students who participate in them?”

Marisa Fradin: “Sororities and frats have to pay dues to the university in order to stay active, this benefits the school by supporting it financially. Also, Alpha Phi participates in many school wide events. We attend sporting events and other school wide activities. Overall, we foster a feeling of community, not only within Greek life, but within the university. Well, at least for myself, I’ve gained so many friendships and opportunities that I would not have had the chance to find without being involved in sorority life. The people I have met have helped me to find my place at ASU and to become more acquainted with the university. I think that the connections and friendships I’ve already made will help me later in life because I know I will always have my sisters to help and guide me through everything.’

Makenzie Kleszcz: “Sorority life is known for getting students involved on campus, from sporting events to philanthropies the Greek life helps ASU students to feel like they are apart of something larger than themselves. For example, the Greek section at the football games gives students involved a feeling of something more than just being a student at a university, but being apart of a family, even while they’re away from home.”

Makenzie Kleszcz: “Marisa, what would you say is the best part of being in a sorority?”

Marisa Fradin: “Definitely the connections I’ve made. Not only do I know that everyone of my sorority sisters would be there for me in any situation, but I am making lifelong connections that will help me on later in life.”

Makenzie Kleszcz: “Business students learn that the connections which one makes now are the most important. Especially in the business world it is extremely important just to know people. Greek life brings people from all walks of life together as one. Your sorority sister or frat brother might be an engineering major and you’re a business major, as a business person you may need the aide of an engineer to jump start a project, but if you had not made those connections early in life then it may be more difficult to find people to work with. The right connections can land one an important interview or even a job. Greek life allows ASU students to make these connections so that later in life they can be successful in all their endeavors.”

Makenzie Kleszcz: “Marisa what connections have you made so far being in a sorority at ASU?”

Marisa Fradin: “I’ve met people from everywhere and any part of the country, and people studying anything from math to teaching. I know that when I’m making my way in the world I’ll be able to contact any one of my sisters and she would help me.”

Makenzie Kleszcz: “Greek life is known for teaching teamwork and skills that will benefit others in their future lives, how have you learned this being in a sorority?”

Marisa Fradin: “At the beginning of the year we participated in intramural flag football. The sororities went and played and the frats came to support us and vice versa when the boys played. We built teamwork when we learned how to play together to help us win and cheering on the sidelines brought us closer together.”

Makenzie Kleszcz: “Aside from making friendships and a sense of community from being in a sorority how else is Greek life important to ASU?”

Marisa Fradin: “The support and school spirit demonstrated by the sororities and frats for the school is by far the most influential and beneficial thing that Greek life does on campus. Greek life attends sporting events, even ones that are not as popular in order to support the teams at ASU. Our events and continued support of the university provide a sense of community. We volunteer around campus and in the surrounding neighborhood. On certain days you will see girls and guys dressed a certain way in order to support our school and our cause. This provides a sense of school spirit on campus. It’s something that we’re apart of that is bigger than just being an individual.”

Makenzie Kleszcz: “Greek life is an extremely important part of Arizona State University. It supports the school through spirit, community, and sports. Without Greek life ASU would not be the same place that it is today. There would not be the same events, groups at games, tailgating, fundraising, or sense of community which Greek life brings.”

ASU Reacts: Red, by Taylor Swift

                                                       Rolling Stone

Makenzie Kleszcz: Taylor Swift is being called a ‘secret genius’ because of the way she released her new album, Red, and sold over 12 million copies within the first week. Swift released her album as a CD so that everyone had to pay full price to hear her music first. The genius of this is that rather than allowing listeners to hear her album on a streaming website, such as Spotify, where the artist makes little to no money Swift made her fans pay to listen to her music. Her fan base is so huge that she is able to do this. I talked to a student here at ASU about the new Taylor Swift album.

Makenzie Kleszcz: Marisa did you purchase the new Taylor Swift album? And do you usually purchase full albums when buying music?

Marisa Fradin: Yes I did. No, it depends on the artist, but I always purchase Taylor’s full album. I don’t even need to listen to it before buying it.

Makenzie Kleszcz: Why do you think you buy her albums without even listening to them first?

Marisa Fradin: Because her albums are never a disappointment, it’s one thing that I don’t mind spending my money on.

Makenzie Kleszcz: So there you have it, Swift’s fans are so dedicated to her and her music that they are willing to purchase anything she puts out there. Her music is thought to be relatable and fun, and even the students at Arizona State are excited about Red. And, if you can get college students to spend around $15 for music which is so easy to get for free then you know you’re doing something right.  

Genre Analysis:The Secret Genius of Taylor Swift

“The Secret Genius of Taylor Swift” by Zoe Chase is an informative audio essay explaining the success of the new Taylor Swift album, Red. Red by Taylor Swift sold 1.2 million copies within the first week of being released. Chase focuses on informing the reader of how Taylor Swift has reached this success through an explanation of how savvy the young Swift is in the field of branding and marketing herself and her music. This is done successfully and entertainingly through the use of good vocal tone, sound effects, and an interview with someone who would know Taylor Swift the best, a seventeen-year-old girl.

            Chase explains how there are so many different methods of releasing music in the electronic world that we live in. Many artists choose to release a single on Spotify or similar websites which allow the consumer to listen to new songs before they purchase them, giving little to no profit to the artist. However, most artists need to do this in order to get their names out to the public, which causes people to buy their albums once released. Taylor Swift, however, has no need for this. Rather, she released her album all at once, which forced listeners to pay full price for her songs and album. Because of her strong fan base she was able to do this and still have an album on the top of the charts.

            The way Chase uses an interview of a seventeen-year-old girl illustrates the enthusiasm in which Taylor’s fans have for her and for her music. She repeats, “she’s past that” when explaining the other forms of releasing music, showing how Swift is more than an artist, but in fact a brand. In a time when music is so easy to get for free and download illegally, it is impressive that so many young people are willing to use their money to buy Swift’s album, especially when CD’s are almost a thing of the past. Chase also uses sound effects, sampling Swift’s music form her new album, Red.

            This audio essay could be considered an informative essay, as well as a economic/social one. It informs the listener of the new ways in which music is released, as well as showing the new social norms for buying and listening to music. It also focuses on economics and marketing when describing the way Swift is a brand in herself and how her fans are willing to purchase just because it is by her. It also shows the way that Swift must be a major icon in today’s social media for teens to use their money to purchase her CD. The audio essay uses information, facts, an interview, and audio clips in order to be an informative essay showing the social and economic news in the music industry.

Project 3 ideas: Sorority life at ASU (Alpha Phi) and how they play a role on campus whether it is through philanthropy or other school events.  

Project 2 Reflection: Interesting

Project 2 was a very interesting project for myself. Normally I wouldn’t be asked to make a map for an English class or let alone come up with a topic for a map of my school. However, I really enjoyed this part of the project. The nice part about this project was the freedom in which it allowed each student to have. This way, everyone could do their project on something they like or something they are interested in. Also, this project really got me to think about my topic and how it applies to real life, even away from this campus. I felt like my map and my research on my topic of coffee shops and caffeine use on campus was the best part of my project. Going to the workshop about how to create the map and place it into the blog was extremely helpful for this. Also, by using the ASU library and the library website I found really great sources to include in the synopsis part of the project. I struggled with the actual evaluation part of the project. I know that I had to answer the question if the topic was good/bad helpful/harmful, but I found it difficult to go on after I answered this. For example, I thought that the coffee shops around campus were helpful for students due to the services it provides to students, that service being caffeine. It was difficult for me to go on after this without rambling and going off on tangents, which were unnecessary.  I think that I need to just have a more open mind going into things and realize that I do not only have to write about if caffeine is good or bad or helpful or harmful to students, but rather explain the effects of the caffeine and why students are so dependent on it in order to get through the day. I feel like it would have benefitted me to go to the workshop about evaluating, but from what I understood about it I did my best. I think this can be applied in the real world in many ways. For one, I can evaluate people, places, and things that happen in life with a new outlook. Evaluating can help one to weigh the costs and benefits of something and possibly even help in decision-making. Overall, Project 2 was an interesting experience. Although different, making a map and blog was actually kind of fun. I like having something to do other than writing, and something that is somewhat creative. While at school, it is almost like we are not in the real world because of how we have everything right here for us, and this project allows one to reach out and think about life on campus as different, but also to make connections with the outside world.