Project 1 Reflection: Challenging

I feel as though Project 1 was a very big challenge for me. Back in high school I only wrote essays after reading a book or based on a certain topic chosen by the teacher, where as for this essay we had an extreme amount of freedom in choosing a place to analyze, how we analyze it, and the lens in which we viewed the place of our choosing. Also, in high school our papers were not based observations, basically there was a right or wrong answer, whereas with this essay it is more of an opinion in what has been seen and analyzed by the student. In my opinion, I may not have reached the level of analysis that was expected of for this paper. It was difficult for me to make a observation that was unexpected and that not everyone would notice. I probably could have gone deeper with my observations, but it was extremely difficult for me to go beyond the point of the surface. I feel like I did well on the paper for the most part, and aside from uncovering some hidden meaning in my ‘place’ I think my paper was sufficient. I learned that observing and analyzing a place are a lot more difficult than one would assume. It was very hard for me to not get distracted while observing, sitting somewhere for an hour just watching was sort of boring and therefore easy for me to get distracted. I also need to work on not procrastinating until the last minute. I have always struggled with this and definitely have realized that procrastination is not the way to go, especially in college. I think that procrastinating really hurt me and my writing process in the way that I did not have sufficient time to write all that I needed to in my paper. The skills I gained form this project are to work efficiently and in a more timely manner, as well as gaining the observational and analytical tools needed to view a place through another lens. This can be extremely useful outside of the university, especially for a job or in order to get a job. Being good at observing what is around you is an extremely important tool. Also, this project can help in learning about the campus. For example, I probably would have never observed so much of the Newman Center if I wouldn’t have had to do it for this project. Also, by reading other students observational notes on their blogs I learned better observational skills and also about the places in which they observed. Overall, Project 1 was challenging, but it was also helpful in learning to write through another point of view, as well as learning how to properly observe a place. 

Analyzing a Place Worksheet

Observation Notes - The Newman Center Church

• Brownish colored building, brick
• Very old looking
• Cement stairs leading up to the entrance
• Steeple/bell tower in the front of the building
• Pointy-like building
• Cros at the very top of the building
• Very beautiful church
• Stone about 1/3 of the way up the building, the rest is brick
• There are 4 palm trees directly in from and it kind of looks like it's leading up to the entrance
• There are 2 windows on the side of the doors
• A kind of simplistic feel to it
• The door is red and very simple
• Not like other Catholic churches I've been to, which are usually more gaudy and extravagant
• The center window is a sort of blue mosaic design, simple, but pretty
• The bell tower area has almost french shutter looking blinds to hide the bell (I'm assuming)
• The detail in the brick work is amazing, like around the door in a very gothic aspects like arches around the doors
• All the windows are a type of stained glass, however they are not extravagant designs
• There are iron railings leading to the entrance
• The whole design in front of the building is kind of pointing you to the entrance of the church, like it's trying to pull you in
• The whole design reflects more of a chapel than a traditional church
• The shape is very triangular overall
• There is construction going on to the left of the church, feel bad for the workers since it's so hot outside
• The construction juxtaposes the peacefulness of the church
• There has been very few people sitings
• Very few people entering/exiting the church, perhaps because it isn't sunday
• Overall, the church is a peaceful area in a bustling community
• Gives off a nice vibe

An Analysis of an Image: Seventeen Magazine

The September 2012 issue of Seventeen magazine features the famous Kendall and Kylie Jenner on the cover, as well as other enticing captions geared towards teenage girls. Why would Seventeen use Kendall and Kylie Jenner as their cover models? Well, Kendall and Kylie are iconic in the world of reality television. Not only are they famous due to the notorious Kardashian name, but they are relatable to the younger viewers because of their age. They are both good-looking models who are looked at for their unique sense of style.

http://kendallandkylie.celebuzz.com/covering-seventeen-magazines-september-issue-07-2012

It almost seems as though Seventeen expects teens to be like the close to perfect images portrayed on their cover. The cover is featuring young girls who almost every teen girl wants to be like, Seventeen also has many subtitles on how to look better; something that every teenage girl strives for. “825 ways to look pretty” and “Shiny hair Perfect skin” are some examples. Why does Seventeen Magazine do this? What is the purpose of having teen idols on the cover? Teenage girls are known for being extremely insecure about their looks, especially in their awkward stages. These subtitles are put on the cover to lure in girls who are insecure, which is the common thought about teen girls already. Seventeen wants girls to feel better about themselves so they fill the magazine with tips and tricks. Unfortunately, for some girls this may be giving off a false sense of reality, I mean not everyone can look like Kendall and Kylie Jenner. 

The other captions include “Free tank top,” “Coupons and Freebies,” and “Win $25,000.” Why would Seventeen give away all this money and advertise that they do? In reality they just want people to buy the magazine and if young girls think they can get free stuff and possibly more money then what is a couple of bucks for the magazine? The free stuff is always limited and the money is not easy to win. I mean free stuff always sounds good to me. The magazine cover appeals to the typical teenage girl; wanting to be the prettiest, no money, and obsessed with fashion. They are able to do this by using young, hip models who are well known and fashion icons, and by using captions about looking perfect and basically being the girl that everyone wants to be.

Analysis of a Writing Situation - "Is Underage Drinking Ever OK?"

The articles “Is underage drinking ever OK?” by Allison Gilbert talks about underage drinking in society today. The article explains the pros and cons of underage drinking and whether or not it is acceptable for parents to allow their children to drink before the age of twenty-one. Some argue that this helps teens to know their limits and drink more responsibly, while others disagree saying that any underage drinking should not be tolerated. Some parents allow their children to drink in the home as they become more mature. This can be seen as a good and bad thing depending on how one looks at the situation. On one hand, this allows for safer drinking habits to be adopted, while on the other hand, underage drinking is still illegal and for many it is considered unsafe. The article wrestles with these ideas to try and find an answer.

The purpose of the article is essentially to discouraging underage drinking, while still begging the question of whether it should be allowed or not. The article weighs the pros and cons, and does not actually reveal the author’s true feeling on the issue. Gilbert  most likely is against underage drinking and does not want to encourage teens to drink, but she may be one of the few who think drinking in the home is okay. The article was written with parents in mind. If parents were to read this article they would question how they parent their children on the subject of drinking. Another purpose is to encourage people to think about this issue; which is better, to drink so much to the point of blacking out? Or to know ones limits and know how alcohol effects ones body?

In the article “Is underage drinking ever OK?” a parent who allows his eighteen year old son to drink on occasion is used as a source, as well as US government agencies who disapprove of any underage drinking by using statistics and a sense of pathos when describing possible outcomes, such as fatal car crashes, of underage drinking. Parents are able to relate to the father who allows his son to drink, but are also able to see what the government wants and to remember what the laws actually are.

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

            
In the world today underage drinking is almost inevitable. Drinking is seen, by teens, as a new and exciting thing that makes them an adult. The glorified view of drinking causes teens to experiment and even binge drink, which is seen at many colleges. The article points out that perhaps if parents allowed their kids to drink while still in the house there may not be such a hype to drinking alcohol. The article has a valid point, raising the question of the drinking age even helps at all. Colleges, which are known for binge drinking could be a lot safer if teens knew their limits before getting to experiment with alcohol. The age in which kids begin drinking alcohol is decreasing and this is due to the fascination associated with it. If drinking was not glorified as it is by adults, then teens would be more educated and able to make the right decisions before they engage in unsafe activities associated with alcohol.