Research Sources: Coffee Shops on Campus

I am proposing the topic of coffee shops around Arizona State University. Most students at ASU have probably noticed that there are many coffee shops in a small amount of space. Now, is this because students need a little boost of energy in order to make it to class? Or are students just drawn buying coffee because it is available to them? Or maybe students are even slightly addicted to the caffeine? I know that for myself I love coffee! I wish I could drink coffee everyday, and I even have some of those days where I feel like I might actually need a boost of caffeine to keep me going. Not to mention how delicious the coffee shops smell as you walk past them around campus. The simple reminder that coffee is available to me makes me want to go grab a Starbucks; the sight of someone’s Starbucks cup or the coffee machines in the POD Markets get me going.

I think this is an important topic to explore because as young Americans we are so pulled into these companies, and at such a young age, that we almost need coffee to function. So are these coffee shops a good or bad thing? Are they healthy and good for our bodies? Also, we spend endless amounts of money of items from coffee shops. I know for me, I have spent almost all my M&G dollars on Starbucks and Einstein Bros, not to mention the $75 I got in Starbucks gift cards for my birthday. Also, why are we so addicted to this simple thing and why does the school make it so readily available to us. It is almost like they know we are addicted and therefore we know we will buy the coffee no matter what. The marketing and placement of these coffee shops are strategically placed around the school to lure students into buying coffee and remind them that they need the coffee.

I will evaluate my topic by going to the various coffee shops around campus and analyzing the area; from the amount of people buying coffee to the prices. Also, I am researching the effects of caffeine on an individual and how Americans are so addicted to coffee. Starbucks are on every corner, and specifically at ASU coffee is available to us within a five minute walk or less.

Article number one is “Caffeine” from the Information Plus Reference Series Fall 2005 by Ed. Sandra M. Alters from pages 113-117. This article is all about caffeine and it’s effect on the human body. It talks about how caffeine is a type of drug because it changes the way our bodies feel and act. It also talks about the dangers of caffeine, as some believe it could be linked to the cause of cancer.

The second article is “Type A-B Behavior and Caffeine Use In college Students” published in Psychological Reports, 1983, 52 on page 338. The article describes a study in which Type A college students are asked to estimate their daily caffeine intake along with type B students. Type A students were found to have 50% more caffeine daily than type B students. This led to more sleep problems in type A college students, in which the lack of sleep causes more of a caffeine intake. 

Evaluation: Breaking Bad

In the world we live in today stereotypes are evident everywhere. Specifically in school students would never think anything bad about their teachers or the lives they live outside the school realm. Breaking Bad is show that has torn down the typical stereotypes of high school teachers, in this case a high school chemistry teacher. Premiering in January 2008 on AMC, Breaking Bad has captured views from many people and has become so popular that it has won seven Primetime Emmy Awards. The show breaks down preconceived notions about the type of people who cook and deal drugs, as well as sending the message to not completely rule out the unexpected. Nobody would expect an older man who is dying of cancer, such as Walt, to cook drugs and to be such a bad influence on society and young people, who he teaches.

The main character, Walt, has been diagnosed with lung cancer and in order to make money for his cancer treatments and for his family after he passes away he decides to cook crack cocaine. He develops a recipe so pure that it is wanted by everyone and he gets himself and his accomplice into a tremendous amount of trouble. In order to hide their secret they lie, steal, and even kill. This is not what students expect of their teachers. Personally, I would have never expected my high school chemistry teacher to be able to use her abilities in the realm of chemicals and reactions to do something completely illegal.

Also, parents want to think that their children are in a safe environment while at school. Well, if your chemistry teacher is Walter White then there may be a slight issue with that. Walt steals from the chemistry department and puts his entire family into danger. Being so close to death, due to his illness, one would expect Walt to not be doing anything to risk his or his families lives, however he also breaks this pre conceived notion and is almost killed several times, either from explosions or from people trying to get the drugs he cooks.

After hearing rave reviews from all my friends about the show I decided to watch it on Netflix. I started with the first season and am currently on season two, and I am totally hooked! I cannot stop watching this absolutely amazing show; the action and suspense gets me every time. I never would have thought that a show about a chemistry teacher stealing drugs would be so amazing, but the unexpected is actually what makes the show better.