1. The research I have started so far includes reading several Aquatic Journals and magazines. Also informally speaking with fellow coaches and swimmers about when interview times would be available
2.Questions I plan on asking in the interview vary depending on the person because of the diversity of people I plan on speaking with and listing them would take two day and be way too much repetitious work. Most questions will be to answers I don't already have otherwise there would be no point in interviewing them
3. I have visited my cultural site. I visit it daily so it the shock and awe factor isn't really there anymore. Its a pool. Smells like a pool. Hot like a pool. I listed more description in Essay #1 for the class. Questions in regards to the facility will be asked in the interview with the maintenance director of the facility
4.In response to whether or not I've done academic research refer to my #1 answer
5. And lastly, yes there is a difference between academic and non academic research. Academic research involves reading, books, articles, stuff like that. Non academic research involves personal experiences that more than likely cannot be documented in print
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Formation of a thesis
Why should people be interested in my subculture?
I don't care if they're interested or not. There interest isn't the reason I'm righting this; my GPA is the reason I'm righting this. If they want to be open minded and understand something other than football and basketball then they'll be interested
Why is my subculture important?
It important to me because I've spent my entire life around pools and the swimming/diving and the water. My major is Aquatics and thats what I plan to do with the rest of my life; that reason alone holds enough importance
What should outsiders know?
They should know that there is this whole other world out there under the water and that involves that water. More that half of the world is formed of water, as is the human body, one would think people would show more interest fr such a thing that has such an impact on their lives. Granted I'm talking more abot swimming and pool, but doesn't everyone swim or know someone who swims. Shouldn't people understand the importances of the water, how is works, and how to conrol it safely
I don't care if they're interested or not. There interest isn't the reason I'm righting this; my GPA is the reason I'm righting this. If they want to be open minded and understand something other than football and basketball then they'll be interested
Why is my subculture important?
It important to me because I've spent my entire life around pools and the swimming/diving and the water. My major is Aquatics and thats what I plan to do with the rest of my life; that reason alone holds enough importance
What should outsiders know?
They should know that there is this whole other world out there under the water and that involves that water. More that half of the world is formed of water, as is the human body, one would think people would show more interest fr such a thing that has such an impact on their lives. Granted I'm talking more abot swimming and pool, but doesn't everyone swim or know someone who swims. Shouldn't people understand the importances of the water, how is works, and how to conrol it safely
Research Plan
When will I use the Library?
I'm not really sure when I plan to visit the library, because any sources that I need I already have access too. Aquatics journals, Aquatics magazines, Swimming/Diving rules and regulations, and for the sources that I don't have I would most likely find them from my cultural site or the Aquatics chairperson at the university. I'm not sure how helpful the library would be in reference to swimming and pools
How man interviews will I conduct?
I can think of several people I need to talk to. For example, an aquatics director, swim coach, swimmer, IHSAA official, pool maintenance operator. All of these I have immediate access to as well so interviews will not be a problem
When do I plan to visit my cultural site?
I visit my cultural site everyday. I coach and am at a pool 5 days a week at least.
I'm not really sure when I plan to visit the library, because any sources that I need I already have access too. Aquatics journals, Aquatics magazines, Swimming/Diving rules and regulations, and for the sources that I don't have I would most likely find them from my cultural site or the Aquatics chairperson at the university. I'm not sure how helpful the library would be in reference to swimming and pools
How man interviews will I conduct?
I can think of several people I need to talk to. For example, an aquatics director, swim coach, swimmer, IHSAA official, pool maintenance operator. All of these I have immediate access to as well so interviews will not be a problem
When do I plan to visit my cultural site?
I visit my cultural site everyday. I coach and am at a pool 5 days a week at least.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Fieldsite
The fieldsite I have chosen is more than likely a pool or aquatic facility. Being involved in the swimming world in the past I fully understand what it is I will encounter when I do my fieldwork. Feeling the humidity, smelling the chlorine, and the simple comfort the sound of the water brings is something that I can sense even as I write.
I hope that by visiting different aquatic facilities I gain a better realization of how the subculture of swimmers are influenced by there surrounding as well as how the fieldsites change according to specific pools. Learning the answers to questions such as does their mood change when entering the pool, what things do they look for in aquatic facilities that make some better than the rest, and other pieces of information I pick up while there. Being an insider to this subculture will ease the troubles of some of these things but I'm sure there is more out there I have yet to learn
I hope that by visiting different aquatic facilities I gain a better realization of how the subculture of swimmers are influenced by there surrounding as well as how the fieldsites change according to specific pools. Learning the answers to questions such as does their mood change when entering the pool, what things do they look for in aquatic facilities that make some better than the rest, and other pieces of information I pick up while there. Being an insider to this subculture will ease the troubles of some of these things but I'm sure there is more out there I have yet to learn
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
My Subculture and Postions
Dealing with the subculture of aquatics/swimming I may have some predisposed positions. The reason I decided to choose this subculture is because I have been and still am involved in the aquatic world. Listing any fixed positions that may influence my writing is difficult because age, race, nationality hardly define and limit someone researching the aquatic world. Though participating in the sport in the past is a definite advantage and is probably the most influential of my subjective positions. Other subjective positions I have not only include me being a former swimmer but also my current status of being an Aquatic major, dive coach, and IHSAA Swimming/Diving official. Though these positions influence my writing they should only drive me to understand more about the field in which I’m interested instead of deterring my research.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Making the Ordinary Extraordinary
I want to examine my daily morning routine of waking up, getting ready, and going to class but not in the eyes of just any culture that differs from our own, but in the eyes a culture that proceeded our own. I want to analyze my typical morning in the eyes of someone from the late 1800s and perceive the ways in which I do thing according to their place in time; a time before automobiles, universal indoor plumbing, and many other things that inadvertently lead to the culture Americans as accustom to today.
I awaken at approximately 8:00am, not to the sound of horse hooves on the cobblestone pavement outside my open window, but instead to the ear piercing sound of this boxed shaped object with the time displayed on it. After tapping various buttons end the annoyance, I rise from my bed only to have my bare feet be met by rug that covers the entire floor; I am told this is called “carpet”, instead of the traditional hardwood floor.
I make my way to the bathroom to find something other than a freestanding wash tub. After standing under falling water for several minutes, I get dressed in rather odd clothing, much lighter material than that in which I am accustom, all seeming to display a name of a person on the front, back, sleeves anywhere it will fit; like Hollister or Abercrombie & Fitch.
After making my way to the kitchen only to be disappointed by the lack of fresh ingredients, I simply skip breakfast in its entirety. In order to get to class, I am told that I must take my mustang…though I never did find that horse; I instead rode with a friend in his “automobile” a horseless carriage.
After my arrival on campus I find that people are much more to themselves than expected. Instead of the usual “good morning” or “good day” from most passersby, I receive little acknowledgement if any, noticing that most simply stare at the ground are look right through you. The society I was familiar with is no longer existent. It is as though people’s houses are their islands and they travel from island to island in their cars without any interacting with other people.
I awaken at approximately 8:00am, not to the sound of horse hooves on the cobblestone pavement outside my open window, but instead to the ear piercing sound of this boxed shaped object with the time displayed on it. After tapping various buttons end the annoyance, I rise from my bed only to have my bare feet be met by rug that covers the entire floor; I am told this is called “carpet”, instead of the traditional hardwood floor.
I make my way to the bathroom to find something other than a freestanding wash tub. After standing under falling water for several minutes, I get dressed in rather odd clothing, much lighter material than that in which I am accustom, all seeming to display a name of a person on the front, back, sleeves anywhere it will fit; like Hollister or Abercrombie & Fitch.
After making my way to the kitchen only to be disappointed by the lack of fresh ingredients, I simply skip breakfast in its entirety. In order to get to class, I am told that I must take my mustang…though I never did find that horse; I instead rode with a friend in his “automobile” a horseless carriage.
After my arrival on campus I find that people are much more to themselves than expected. Instead of the usual “good morning” or “good day” from most passersby, I receive little acknowledgement if any, noticing that most simply stare at the ground are look right through you. The society I was familiar with is no longer existent. It is as though people’s houses are their islands and they travel from island to island in their cars without any interacting with other people.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
My Writing Style
Question: Write about a paper (any paper) you have written in the past. What was your process when writing the paper? (Did you have music playing in the background, did you write the paper the night before, did you outline or just start writing, etc.) What “type” of paper was it? (Creative piece, research paper, lab report, book report, etc.?) What do you feel is the difference between editing and revising?
Response:
Choosing a paper to talk about is difficult, not only have I forgot some of those I have written but mainly because there have been so many. One memorable paper I've written in the past was a trend analysis discussing the ways in which sex, and the discussion of sex, has become less of a taboo subject in American culture.
Understanding that the focus of my paper would be covering many decades I understood that in depth research would be crucial to the papers success. Prior to doing the necessary research, I decided that I wanted to organize my paper chronologically while discussing important situations and people that helped progress the sexual revolution. After retrieving my needed material for the paper I began writing two days prior to the paper's deadline, as I do with most papers.
I don't consider it procrastinating, but more time to allow me to think about the topic in which I'm writing. It makes no since to write a paper as soon as its assigned only to revise it seventeen times before turning it in only to realize that its original content is no longer existent. I allow myself time for ideas and insights to come to me prior to sitting down and writing. Another personal writing style I possess, is writing the paper all at once. I like to sit alone at my desk, usually with calming piano music in the background, and throw everything I have onto paper organizing it as I go along. After everything is one paper I go back and make the necessary editing, replacing simple words with more complex words, and allowing the paper to flow better.
In my opinion the definition of editing lies more with grammatical structure and word usage rather than with ideas and concepts. When I "revise" a paper its usually because I've thought of a different direction I want to take it. Revision, I feel, deals more with the overall paper and the message it is suppose to convey.
Response:
Choosing a paper to talk about is difficult, not only have I forgot some of those I have written but mainly because there have been so many. One memorable paper I've written in the past was a trend analysis discussing the ways in which sex, and the discussion of sex, has become less of a taboo subject in American culture.
Understanding that the focus of my paper would be covering many decades I understood that in depth research would be crucial to the papers success. Prior to doing the necessary research, I decided that I wanted to organize my paper chronologically while discussing important situations and people that helped progress the sexual revolution. After retrieving my needed material for the paper I began writing two days prior to the paper's deadline, as I do with most papers.
I don't consider it procrastinating, but more time to allow me to think about the topic in which I'm writing. It makes no since to write a paper as soon as its assigned only to revise it seventeen times before turning it in only to realize that its original content is no longer existent. I allow myself time for ideas and insights to come to me prior to sitting down and writing. Another personal writing style I possess, is writing the paper all at once. I like to sit alone at my desk, usually with calming piano music in the background, and throw everything I have onto paper organizing it as I go along. After everything is one paper I go back and make the necessary editing, replacing simple words with more complex words, and allowing the paper to flow better.
In my opinion the definition of editing lies more with grammatical structure and word usage rather than with ideas and concepts. When I "revise" a paper its usually because I've thought of a different direction I want to take it. Revision, I feel, deals more with the overall paper and the message it is suppose to convey.
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