Serenity Club in Muncie--
A guy in his fifties is leading the meeting.. he talks about how hes gotta stay sober for his kids
--this makes me happy!
Another guy talks about how hes been sober for nine years
---HOLY SHIT!
there are a bunch of people from ball state nursing in the meeting
---I feel like i know more than them.. i feel cool!
another man talks about how he is a trucker and how he would get drunk at the truck stops and that one day his partner got sick of him and just left him in muncie indiana with nothing and that hes been here ever since
---thats just scary.. im blown away
he tells us that he has his dream car, a house, and pays for his kids child support now that he is sober
--- im glad hes on the right track
another guy says that its the people in this room that keep him coming back
--- I think that the support of others is crucial for alcoholics
We say the serenity prayer
--- I know all the traditions now and i feel as if i fit in and have authority
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
fieldnotes 6
A small meeting with three people-
A boy walks in that looks a lot younger than me
---I wonder why he is here
an old man is going to lead the meeting
---i hope he doesnt put me to sleep
start to talk about the stories and the younger boy tells us he got a DUI and his parents are making him attend thirty meetings in thirty days
---Ive heard that this is a common thing for people to do
asks if anyone wants a coin and no one needs one
---i want to ask for one but im too afraid!
An older lady made snacks for the meeting
---YUUUM! glad i came to this one
We talk about how important is to make amends with people -- well alcoholics.. for people they have hurt
---i think i could probably do this with a couple people myself.. even though im not an alcoholic
everyone tells about who they hurt in there life.. i say my mom.. because ive put her through a lot in my day
---i think the people respect that i am participating
meeting ends the normal way
---smiles :)
A boy walks in that looks a lot younger than me
---I wonder why he is here
an old man is going to lead the meeting
---i hope he doesnt put me to sleep
start to talk about the stories and the younger boy tells us he got a DUI and his parents are making him attend thirty meetings in thirty days
---Ive heard that this is a common thing for people to do
asks if anyone wants a coin and no one needs one
---i want to ask for one but im too afraid!
An older lady made snacks for the meeting
---YUUUM! glad i came to this one
We talk about how important is to make amends with people -- well alcoholics.. for people they have hurt
---i think i could probably do this with a couple people myself.. even though im not an alcoholic
everyone tells about who they hurt in there life.. i say my mom.. because ive put her through a lot in my day
---i think the people respect that i am participating
meeting ends the normal way
---smiles :)
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Peer Review- Haley Clark
Research Question/Roadmap
1. Does it pose a question? Does the paper identify tensions? Does it say what it’s going to do and what its point is?
She wants to get a closer look and discover the interesting world that people who participate in medieval recreations live in...
Theme
2. What is the quality of the content of the writing: the ideas, perceptions, and point of view? In your words, what is being said? Is it more than a collection of thoughts and observations? According to the author, why does this whole thing matter?
I think that shes trying to say that there is really no way to define normalcy. No one has the authority to say what is normal and what isn't and if you do than you are very close-minded. She does a great job of telling us what she is thinking through the whole research process.
3. Is there too much abstraction or generalization? Underline or circle this language in the paper. In other words, are there so few details, examples and explanations that it ends up dull, empty, impossible to experience? Or, perhaps even impossible to understand? Explain.
In the interview with Sarah.. the part starting with "sometimes.. when i.." was kind of hard to understand. Sarah is an older lady and at the beginning it says that she would be interacting with people that are her age.
4. Is there too little abstraction or generalization and too much clutter of details, examples, and explanations? Too little standing back for perspective? Too little forest per tree?
I think there is a little bit too much generalization.. She needs to get a little bit deeper and look for an interesting thing to talk about that no one would think of. Nothing really made me say 'WOWWWW.. i would have never guessed!' So she might want to work on that a bit.
5. What is the practical significance of the artifact? What idea does it represent?
She talked about a cross-stich, but needs to get into greater detail about it. I think its cool that the cross-stich is used as a sort of promise ring for people in relationships.
6. What is the significance of Interview 1? Tells us an insiders perspective of what others think say about the subculture and if they wear there clothes out in public. They don't really care that the outfits might look funny because they like them and its like their uniform.
7. What is the significance of Interview 2? Talks about the group possibly becoming mainstream and the stereotypes an insider thinks there are
8. Are all 3 required scholarly sources developed in the conclusions? NO
9. Is all source material cited according to MLA, both parenthetically and in a Works Cited?
No works cited provided
10. Do the conclusions satisfy the issues the study raises with complexity? How so?
I think that the conclusions should have more complexity to them. They should be more interesting and stand out.
Structure
11. Is the whole thing unified? Is there a central idea to which everything pertains?
What? Are there loose ends that don’t seem purposefully so, but accidently overlooked?
Its unified, but missing some things... Like an artifact. Everything pertains to her trying to either banish or affirm the stereotypes
12. Are the parts arranged in a coherent, logical narrative sequence?
They seemed to be in the right order.. Purpose,Background,Interviews, Conclusion
13. Were the paragraphs really paragraphs? Could you tell what each one was saying? Did they function as helpful and comfortable units of thought, not too much, not too little? Mark any that seem too short or too long.
Some of the paragraphs need to be broken up.. At one point there is a whole page that doesn't have any indentations. I could tell what each was saying.
Language
14. Are the sentences clear and readable? Underline with a wavy line any that you find incorrect or confusing.
The sentences seem to have good structure and are readable. Nothing confused me except for the cross-stich part.
15. Are the words used correctly? List any misused words. Words are used correctly.
16. Is it succinct enough? Not too long, repetitious or dull? Mark any areas for deletion.
I think that the subjective positions and background make it a little dull...It was hard to keep my attention because I thought those things were a bit unnecessary.
17. Is it full enough? Or does the writer squeeze out the juice of human communication and spoken discourse? Is the language, even if correct, dull and indigestible? Does the writer sufficiently use the language of the subculture?
She talks about Cross-stich and larpers. It's not full enough because it is missing details about artifacts. Add more language from the subculture!
18. Does the diction, mood and level of formality fit with ethnography?
The mood seems to flow throughtout the paper and fits with the ethnography.. She should dig a little deeper.. Maybe a bit too formal.
Readerly Response
Describe what was happening to you as you read. Tell which words or phrases stuck out or resonated.
I didn't know what stigma meant.. So i learned something! The larper part was interesting to me.
What happened and what are the implications?
The stereotypes of them being a bit geeky are confirmed, but the people in the subculture don't mind and almost like being that way.
What ideas or beliefs or feelings were brought into this piece? How do multiple points of view contribute to your understanding?
The subculture is more based on historical accuracy than the mythical aspect which i found interesting. She should add more points of view and thoughts.
What understanding of the culture do you have from reading this piece? What gave you this understanding?
The understanding I've gained is that they don't mind that people think they are geeky or whatever. They kind of just do their own thing which I respect. The interviews helped to give me this understanding
The writer has introduced him/herself to you. Describe that meeting. What’s your impression? Did he thrust out his hand for you to shake? Did she sidle up next to you, but fail to look you in the eye? Did he send you a letter bomb or put his arm around your shoulder? Does it seem like the writer is standing on a cliff talking down to an audience below? What sense of the writer do you have? Formal? Casual? Intimate? Jocular? Arrogant? Are you with the writer, against her, or unsure since you don’t really know him?
I'd like to see more emotions in the writing. More feeling.. It's really casual.. Not very intimate. I'm with the writer because I have been in class with her. Her voice is kind of drowned out.
Is the writer giving in?
The writer needs to gain more authority
What do you want, need, or wish for?
I want to see more details and research.. more explanation about the artifacts. Maybe a little bit about the history and where medieval recreations began?
1. Does it pose a question? Does the paper identify tensions? Does it say what it’s going to do and what its point is?
She wants to get a closer look and discover the interesting world that people who participate in medieval recreations live in...
Theme
2. What is the quality of the content of the writing: the ideas, perceptions, and point of view? In your words, what is being said? Is it more than a collection of thoughts and observations? According to the author, why does this whole thing matter?
I think that shes trying to say that there is really no way to define normalcy. No one has the authority to say what is normal and what isn't and if you do than you are very close-minded. She does a great job of telling us what she is thinking through the whole research process.
3. Is there too much abstraction or generalization? Underline or circle this language in the paper. In other words, are there so few details, examples and explanations that it ends up dull, empty, impossible to experience? Or, perhaps even impossible to understand? Explain.
In the interview with Sarah.. the part starting with "sometimes.. when i.." was kind of hard to understand. Sarah is an older lady and at the beginning it says that she would be interacting with people that are her age.
4. Is there too little abstraction or generalization and too much clutter of details, examples, and explanations? Too little standing back for perspective? Too little forest per tree?
I think there is a little bit too much generalization.. She needs to get a little bit deeper and look for an interesting thing to talk about that no one would think of. Nothing really made me say 'WOWWWW.. i would have never guessed!' So she might want to work on that a bit.
5. What is the practical significance of the artifact? What idea does it represent?
She talked about a cross-stich, but needs to get into greater detail about it. I think its cool that the cross-stich is used as a sort of promise ring for people in relationships.
6. What is the significance of Interview 1? Tells us an insiders perspective of what others think say about the subculture and if they wear there clothes out in public. They don't really care that the outfits might look funny because they like them and its like their uniform.
7. What is the significance of Interview 2? Talks about the group possibly becoming mainstream and the stereotypes an insider thinks there are
8. Are all 3 required scholarly sources developed in the conclusions? NO
9. Is all source material cited according to MLA, both parenthetically and in a Works Cited?
No works cited provided
10. Do the conclusions satisfy the issues the study raises with complexity? How so?
I think that the conclusions should have more complexity to them. They should be more interesting and stand out.
Structure
11. Is the whole thing unified? Is there a central idea to which everything pertains?
What? Are there loose ends that don’t seem purposefully so, but accidently overlooked?
Its unified, but missing some things... Like an artifact. Everything pertains to her trying to either banish or affirm the stereotypes
12. Are the parts arranged in a coherent, logical narrative sequence?
They seemed to be in the right order.. Purpose,Background,Interviews, Conclusion
13. Were the paragraphs really paragraphs? Could you tell what each one was saying? Did they function as helpful and comfortable units of thought, not too much, not too little? Mark any that seem too short or too long.
Some of the paragraphs need to be broken up.. At one point there is a whole page that doesn't have any indentations. I could tell what each was saying.
Language
14. Are the sentences clear and readable? Underline with a wavy line any that you find incorrect or confusing.
The sentences seem to have good structure and are readable. Nothing confused me except for the cross-stich part.
15. Are the words used correctly? List any misused words. Words are used correctly.
16. Is it succinct enough? Not too long, repetitious or dull? Mark any areas for deletion.
I think that the subjective positions and background make it a little dull...It was hard to keep my attention because I thought those things were a bit unnecessary.
17. Is it full enough? Or does the writer squeeze out the juice of human communication and spoken discourse? Is the language, even if correct, dull and indigestible? Does the writer sufficiently use the language of the subculture?
She talks about Cross-stich and larpers. It's not full enough because it is missing details about artifacts. Add more language from the subculture!
18. Does the diction, mood and level of formality fit with ethnography?
The mood seems to flow throughtout the paper and fits with the ethnography.. She should dig a little deeper.. Maybe a bit too formal.
Readerly Response
Describe what was happening to you as you read. Tell which words or phrases stuck out or resonated.
I didn't know what stigma meant.. So i learned something! The larper part was interesting to me.
What happened and what are the implications?
The stereotypes of them being a bit geeky are confirmed, but the people in the subculture don't mind and almost like being that way.
What ideas or beliefs or feelings were brought into this piece? How do multiple points of view contribute to your understanding?
The subculture is more based on historical accuracy than the mythical aspect which i found interesting. She should add more points of view and thoughts.
What understanding of the culture do you have from reading this piece? What gave you this understanding?
The understanding I've gained is that they don't mind that people think they are geeky or whatever. They kind of just do their own thing which I respect. The interviews helped to give me this understanding
The writer has introduced him/herself to you. Describe that meeting. What’s your impression? Did he thrust out his hand for you to shake? Did she sidle up next to you, but fail to look you in the eye? Did he send you a letter bomb or put his arm around your shoulder? Does it seem like the writer is standing on a cliff talking down to an audience below? What sense of the writer do you have? Formal? Casual? Intimate? Jocular? Arrogant? Are you with the writer, against her, or unsure since you don’t really know him?
I'd like to see more emotions in the writing. More feeling.. It's really casual.. Not very intimate. I'm with the writer because I have been in class with her. Her voice is kind of drowned out.
Is the writer giving in?
The writer needs to gain more authority
What do you want, need, or wish for?
I want to see more details and research.. more explanation about the artifacts. Maybe a little bit about the history and where medieval recreations began?
Peer Review- Emily Yu
Research Question/Roadmap
1. Does it pose a question? Does the paper identify tensions? Does it say what it’s going to do and what its point is?
The paper says that she wants to find out if the Koreans had experienced the same hardships she had when first coming to America. She explains that there is tension between her subculture and the Korean subculture It doesn't really say exactly what she is going to do or what type of fieldwork she'll be getting into.
Theme
2. What is the quality of the content of the writing: the ideas, perceptions, and point of view? In your words, what is being said? Is it more than a collection of thoughts and observations? According to the author, why does this whole thing matter?
The paper is only five pages long. She is somewhat on the right track but needs to polish up her ideas and add more. Her point of view might be a little biased because of the myths she had grown up hearing. I'm not sure if it will matter in the end because the paper isn't completed.
3. Is there too much abstraction or generalization? Underline or circle this language in the paper. In other words, are there so few details, examples and explanations that it ends up dull, empty, impossible to experience? Or, perhaps even impossible to understand? Explain.
There are a lot of run-ons and things that don't really make sense.. A lot of rambling and unnecessary information. there really isn't enough to the paper for me to make assumptions, it seems a little dull
4. Is there too little abstraction or generalization and too much clutter of details, examples, and explanations? Too little standing back for perspective? Too little forest per tree?
There is too much clutter of details.. Good Background story ... No interviews or artifacts.. Not much perspective
5. What is the practical significance of the artifact? What idea does it represent?
There is no artifact in the paper
6. What is the significance of Interview 1? no interview
7. What is the significance of Interview 2? no interview
8. Are all 3 required scholarly sources developed in the conclusions? No.
9. Is all source material cited according to MLA, both parenthetically and in a Works Cited?
No works cited.
10. Do the conclusions satisfy the issues the study raises with complexity? How so?
There are no conclusions in the paper
Structure
11. Is the whole thing unified? Is there a central idea to which everything pertains?
What? Are there loose ends that don’t seem purposefully so, but accidently overlooked?
It's hard to tell because it's only 5 pages
12. Are the parts arranged in a coherent, logical narrative sequence?
They start off fine... Needs to finish the paper
13. Were the paragraphs really paragraphs? Could you tell what each one was saying?
Did they function as helpful and comfortable units of thought, not too much, not too little? Mark any that seem too short or too long.
The paragraphs were split up into logical parts. I could tell what she was trying to say. Some thoughts ramble.
Language
14. Are the sentences clear and readable? Underline with a wavy line any that you find incorrect or confusing.
Some of the sentences don't have proper sentence structure... There are a few run ons in the paper
15. Are the words used correctly? List any misused words.
It says pauper people? I don't what that means...
16. Is it succinct enough? Not too long, repetitious or dull? Mark any areas for deletion.
There is some unnecessary information and rambling.. Could use a little spice!
17. Is it full enough? Or does the writer squeeze out the juice of human communication and spoken discourse? Is the language, even if correct, dull and indigestible? Does the writer sufficiently use the language of the subculture?
The language of the subculture isnt provided. The paper isn't full enough because it isn't finished. I think she said she had too much going on and couldnt finish it..
18. Does the diction, mood and level of formality fit with ethnography?
Yes... so far.. its a good topic for her because of the myths shes heard all of her life.. Hopefully it will prove to be a good experience for her...I look forward to seeing it finished.
Readerly Response
Describe what was happening to you as you read. Tell which words or phrases stuck out or resonated.
The myths were interesting to me.. There seems to be a rivalry between her subculture and the one she chose to study.
What happened and what are the implications?
Nothing has happened yet... I assume that there may be implications because of the rivalry between the subcultures
What ideas or beliefs or feelings were brought into this piece? How do multiple points of view contribute to your understanding?
No other points of view... Needs to add interviews and what type of worldviews the subculture has
What understanding of the culture do you have from reading this piece? What gave you this understanding?
I have no understanding of the subculture except for her prior feelings about it.
The writer has introduced him/herself to you. Describe that meeting. What’s your impression? Did he thrust out his hand for you to shake? Did she sidle up next to you, but fail to look you in the eye? Did he send you a letter bomb or put his arm around your shoulder? Does it seem like the writer is standing on a cliff talking down to an audience below? What sense of the writer do you have? Formal? Casual? Intimate? Jocular? Arrogant? Are you with the writer, against her, or unsure since you don’t really know him?
She seems really sweet and a nice person. I don't think that she actually takes the myths to heart which is good. The writing is pretty casual. I'd like to see more emotions in the writing and more about how she feels.
Is the writer giving in? I'm not sure
What do you want, need, or wish for?
I'm curious to know how her meetings and interviews went! She needs to finish her paper! I'm sure it will be very interesting!
1. Does it pose a question? Does the paper identify tensions? Does it say what it’s going to do and what its point is?
The paper says that she wants to find out if the Koreans had experienced the same hardships she had when first coming to America. She explains that there is tension between her subculture and the Korean subculture It doesn't really say exactly what she is going to do or what type of fieldwork she'll be getting into.
Theme
2. What is the quality of the content of the writing: the ideas, perceptions, and point of view? In your words, what is being said? Is it more than a collection of thoughts and observations? According to the author, why does this whole thing matter?
The paper is only five pages long. She is somewhat on the right track but needs to polish up her ideas and add more. Her point of view might be a little biased because of the myths she had grown up hearing. I'm not sure if it will matter in the end because the paper isn't completed.
3. Is there too much abstraction or generalization? Underline or circle this language in the paper. In other words, are there so few details, examples and explanations that it ends up dull, empty, impossible to experience? Or, perhaps even impossible to understand? Explain.
There are a lot of run-ons and things that don't really make sense.. A lot of rambling and unnecessary information. there really isn't enough to the paper for me to make assumptions, it seems a little dull
4. Is there too little abstraction or generalization and too much clutter of details, examples, and explanations? Too little standing back for perspective? Too little forest per tree?
There is too much clutter of details.. Good Background story ... No interviews or artifacts.. Not much perspective
5. What is the practical significance of the artifact? What idea does it represent?
There is no artifact in the paper
6. What is the significance of Interview 1? no interview
7. What is the significance of Interview 2? no interview
8. Are all 3 required scholarly sources developed in the conclusions? No.
9. Is all source material cited according to MLA, both parenthetically and in a Works Cited?
No works cited.
10. Do the conclusions satisfy the issues the study raises with complexity? How so?
There are no conclusions in the paper
Structure
11. Is the whole thing unified? Is there a central idea to which everything pertains?
What? Are there loose ends that don’t seem purposefully so, but accidently overlooked?
It's hard to tell because it's only 5 pages
12. Are the parts arranged in a coherent, logical narrative sequence?
They start off fine... Needs to finish the paper
13. Were the paragraphs really paragraphs? Could you tell what each one was saying?
Did they function as helpful and comfortable units of thought, not too much, not too little? Mark any that seem too short or too long.
The paragraphs were split up into logical parts. I could tell what she was trying to say. Some thoughts ramble.
Language
14. Are the sentences clear and readable? Underline with a wavy line any that you find incorrect or confusing.
Some of the sentences don't have proper sentence structure... There are a few run ons in the paper
15. Are the words used correctly? List any misused words.
It says pauper people? I don't what that means...
16. Is it succinct enough? Not too long, repetitious or dull? Mark any areas for deletion.
There is some unnecessary information and rambling.. Could use a little spice!
17. Is it full enough? Or does the writer squeeze out the juice of human communication and spoken discourse? Is the language, even if correct, dull and indigestible? Does the writer sufficiently use the language of the subculture?
The language of the subculture isnt provided. The paper isn't full enough because it isn't finished. I think she said she had too much going on and couldnt finish it..
18. Does the diction, mood and level of formality fit with ethnography?
Yes... so far.. its a good topic for her because of the myths shes heard all of her life.. Hopefully it will prove to be a good experience for her...I look forward to seeing it finished.
Readerly Response
Describe what was happening to you as you read. Tell which words or phrases stuck out or resonated.
The myths were interesting to me.. There seems to be a rivalry between her subculture and the one she chose to study.
What happened and what are the implications?
Nothing has happened yet... I assume that there may be implications because of the rivalry between the subcultures
What ideas or beliefs or feelings were brought into this piece? How do multiple points of view contribute to your understanding?
No other points of view... Needs to add interviews and what type of worldviews the subculture has
What understanding of the culture do you have from reading this piece? What gave you this understanding?
I have no understanding of the subculture except for her prior feelings about it.
The writer has introduced him/herself to you. Describe that meeting. What’s your impression? Did he thrust out his hand for you to shake? Did she sidle up next to you, but fail to look you in the eye? Did he send you a letter bomb or put his arm around your shoulder? Does it seem like the writer is standing on a cliff talking down to an audience below? What sense of the writer do you have? Formal? Casual? Intimate? Jocular? Arrogant? Are you with the writer, against her, or unsure since you don’t really know him?
She seems really sweet and a nice person. I don't think that she actually takes the myths to heart which is good. The writing is pretty casual. I'd like to see more emotions in the writing and more about how she feels.
Is the writer giving in? I'm not sure
What do you want, need, or wish for?
I'm curious to know how her meetings and interviews went! She needs to finish her paper! I'm sure it will be very interesting!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
What do you make of your experience?
-It's very comfortable. Everyone is really inviting and friendly. The alcoholics don't care that I am there.. If anything they see it as support. I think they like it when people visit because then they can get their own understanding of how the subculture really is and banish any stereotypes.
-I have represented them in a good way. I have made it clear that everyone is struggling with something inside and for these people it just happens to be alcohol. It is truly a life-threatening disease and I think people will respect alcoholics a lot more after hearing what I have to say.
-I got everything that I wanted out of the experience and more. It taught me a lot about the world and myself. It gave me great insight into the lives of alcoholics. To have to struggle with something like alcoholism is devastating. I have learned that everyone has problems and that someone in the world has it worse than me. After studying the subculture, I will not take things for granted and I will spend more time working on becoming a better person.
What is it like to be part of your subculture's community?
-It's very comfortable. Everyone is really inviting and friendly. The alcoholics don't care that I am there.. If anything they see it as support. I think they like it when people visit because then they can get their own understanding of how the subculture really is and banish any stereotypes.
Describe the way you've represented them.
-I have represented them in a good way. I have made it clear that everyone is struggling with something inside and for these people it just happens to be alcohol. It is truly a life-threatening disease and I think people will respect alcoholics a lot more after hearing what I have to say.
Do you have the authority? Why. Why not.
I think that I have some amount of authority. I am allowed to and even have, ran the meetings before. Even though anyone can run them, I still felt very honored. I wasn't an alcoholic before and I'm not now, but I think that I have lived vicariously through some of the people and gotten into their heads. The information they've shared with me has really given me a credible sense of authority.
I think that I have some amount of authority. I am allowed to and even have, ran the meetings before. Even though anyone can run them, I still felt very honored. I wasn't an alcoholic before and I'm not now, but I think that I have lived vicariously through some of the people and gotten into their heads. The information they've shared with me has really given me a credible sense of authority.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Maggie Carter Peer Review
1.How does the writer reflect on the interview process? Are the internal thoughts of the writer towards the informant expressed? Quote at least 3 examples.
-I didn't notice internal thoughts of the writer directer at the informant. Mostly provided information on what the informants said and not direct quotes about the questions she asked them.
2.What differences in terms of race, class, gender, etc. are discussed regarding each informant? List examples from each interview segment.
- I don't know much about Sam by the description , I can assume that they are in the same grade. Spencer is a freshman here and is a tall, skinny, boy.
3.How does the writer characterize his or her informant? Do you think there should be more physical description, material description, background, or nonverbal communication to better understand the person and interaction?
-Background info was good... describe nonverbal communication and a physical description of Sam.
4.Do the informants seem to be full characters you could describe with unique worldviews? Quote any examples that helped you know the informant’s worldview.
-I could not assume worldviews accept that they prolly support things like gay marriage and such.
5.Each interview should be distinct from the other and in narrative form. What is the story being told about each interview? Describe them separately here.
She goes back home to interview Sam and the second interview is done here at school.
6.What is the thesis for interview 1? What is the thesis for interview 2? Are these theses truly theses—that is, do they make surprising and specific claims that need support to be accepted by an audience? If not, what’s the problem?
thesis 1- judgement
thesis 2-judgement
The main theme here is judgement but that isnt very surprising to me.. she should dig a little deeper!
Does there seem to be a balance of summary and quotation? Or does one mode seem overused or underused?
More interview, less summary :)
For each interview, what do you think the writer most wanted to know?
1- she wanted to know about when they first came out and what people think about it
2-wanted to know how his parents felt about it
What is the verbal art discussed? Do you think it fits the criteria of verbal art? What’s the deeper level of meaning for the culture?
a piercing maybe?... it doesnt really fit though... needs to add some verbal art!
What new knowledge do you have after reading these interviews? What would you still like to know about the culture?
I knew most of what she talked about just from observing that culture in everyday life
On your copy cross out any portions of the paper you think are irrelevant to understanding the informant, the culture, or the writer’s perspective. Don’t be shy. The writer doesn’t have to take your advice.
Comment on the organization. Does it seem to be working?
Working.. just need more detail
Comment on the writing style. Is it gripping enough to hold an average reader’s attention?
yeah i feel like i can hear her talking when i read it but maybe thats just cause shes in my class!... add more interesting and shocking details that people wouldnt know about!
What’s the single most important thing this writer could do to improve this paper before it’s graded?
just adddd more... get deeper into the subculture?!
Lizzie Abel Peer Review
1. How does the writer reflect on the interview process? Are the internal thoughts of the writer towards the informant expressed? Quote at least 3 examples.
-She should try being a little bit more daring during the interview process. She asked questions that people would ask in normal conversation like, "Were you nervous to join the architecture program?." I feel like that's something my mom would ask me when If I came home for the weekend. She asks, "Were you nervous, like, when you first walked in?" When reading, I felt like I already knew the response before continuing on. He replies by discussing the seat assignment. I think its just a universal truth that you better pick your seat wisely because you have to be around those people all semester.
2. What differences in terms of race, class, gender, etc. are discussed regarding each informant? List examples from each interview segment.
-The first informant is her friend and i would assume is her age. She didn't provide much information on the second informant.
3.How does the writer characterize his or her informant? Do you think there should be more physical description, material description, background, or nonverbal communication to better understand the person and interaction?
-She did a great job of providing a visual picture of the first informant using many descriptive words, however didn't seem to do the same for the second informant. Maybe describe the nonverbal communication a little bit more? Don't neglect the second informant
4. Do the informants seem to be full characters you could describe with unique worldviews? Quote any examples that helped you know the informant’s worldview.
-I would have no idea what type of worldviews these people would have. I could assume based on the description she gave about Alexander- "It's age could symbolize how down to earth Alexander is" that he is probably very chill and has mellow worldviews, although i wouldn't even be able to assume Kileys.
5. Each interview should be distinct from the other and in narrative form. What is the story being told about each interview? Describe them separately here.
-The first informant is interviewed in Lizzie's dorm room and she talks about how she has been good friends with Alexander for a couple years now. I didn't notice the second interview take on a narrative form.
6.What is the thesis for interview 1? What is the thesis for interview 2? Are these theses truly theses—that is, do they make surprising and specific claims that need support to be accepted by an audience? If not, what’s the problem?
1- I found it neat that the different architecture students could all get along with each other, yet at the same time form smaller groups within each other.
2- can't put my finger on it
They aren't very surprising.. I would say the facts are self-explanatory or could be assumed fairly easy.
6.Does there seem to be a balance of summary and quotation? Or does one mode seem overused or underused?
-I would say there is a good balance between summary and quotation.
7.For each interview, what do you think the writer most wanted to know?
-The basic facts of the subculture of architecture
8. What is the verbal art discussed? Do you think it fits the criteria of verbal art? What’s the deeper level of meaning for the culture?
-I didn't see anything about verbal art. She said that she looked for some and couldn't find any. She provided a description of his outfit and that this indicated he was down to earth, but didn't connect that with the subculture.
9.What new knowledge do you have after reading these interviews? What would you still like to know about the culture?
-I learned that a lot of people don't know anything about the architecture program?
10. On your copy cross out any portions of the paper you think are irrelevant to understanding the informant, the culture, or the writer’s perspective. Don’t be shy. The writer doesn’t have to take your advice.
Comment on the organization. Does it seem to be working?
-It's organized. but I only found one thesis.. I think that there should be a thesis after each interview and then a paragraph combining the too or similarities/differences of the two interviews
Comment on the writing style. Is it gripping enough to hold an average reader’s attention?
-I enjoyed her style of writing and word usage. It held my attention
What’s the single most important thing this writer could do to improve this paper before it’s graded?
-just add more detail and put more interesting facts that I would have never thought of
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Fieldnotes 5
-big meeting at fairbanks.. open meeting-
there will be a speaker today..
i love hearing these stories
this guy talks about how he has been in three different rehabilitation programs
damn.... not better by now? .. oh well i guess do whatever it takes
hes almost in tears.. he has let down his family and friends.. he has no one.. but alcohol
i feel like he had lost everything so he had a screw it attitude
he finally decided it was time to get serious. he checked himself into a thirty day inpatient rehab center..
thats hardcore.... im sure his story will get better and happier now
he talks about how hes done all the steps and is finally on the road to recovery and he talks about his wife and how they wouldnt be together if he was still drinking...
wow he seems so happy and im really proud of him and i dont even know him!
he tells everyone how completing the steps will help immensely
i think the steps are crucial to AA working
the meeting ends its usual way ...
has the same affect on me... its even more moving when there are a lot of people at the meeting
there are about 40 people at the meeting
great turnout...
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
FIeldnotes 4
-talking to Neal ... on my own time.. He had a rough weekend-
i walk in and immediately see his gashed face.. people told me it was bad...
WHOA.. i did not think itd be that bad... poor guy
we talk about what happened... he had drank too much and blacked out.. the next thing he knew, he was in the hospital. He didnt even know he had stitches in his face until he got home and saw them in the mirror. Apparently he had fallen down the stairs in lafollette and an RA called the cops.. the cops then took him to the hospital-- where he had to get his stomach pumped..
this sounds just like my friend elizabeth.. maybe i should hook them up... i feel so bad for him :/
he tells me that hes really disappointed and that his parents will be once his face heals.. he's already been in trouble with the law before by getting a drinking ticket .. and is already on probation so this is just going to make it worse.. he thinks that if he didnt drink he would accomplish a lot more
I feel bad for him, but im sure that this will teach him something in the long wrong that he can use for the future.
he says that everyone is supporting him and that none of his friends are mad that they were just really worried
I wish my friend Elizabeth would have this type of support... but oh well everything happens for a reason.. Im glad he has a good support system. I dont think hes an alcoholic.. I think hes just gotten unlucky a few times...
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
interview after feedback
I think that the feedback made me realize that I wasn't connected enough to the informant. He was kind of standoffish and I should have tried harder to get things out of him and take risks. It was hard for me to become comfortable asking those questions because he didn't seem to think he had an addiction. I agree with the question she picked as the best one.
• Taylor: Do you think that the people that attend them get better or do you think its worse for them?
• Cole: I think most of them are faking because they are court ordered or someone is making them go…
She helped me realize the importance of saying words like hmm and I see.. to make the informant feel comfortable and show them that I cared about what they said.
• Taylor: Do you think that the people that attend them get better or do you think its worse for them?
• Cole: I think most of them are faking because they are court ordered or someone is making them go…
She helped me realize the importance of saying words like hmm and I see.. to make the informant feel comfortable and show them that I cared about what they said.
Alcoholics Slang- list of 15
1. hammered: intoxicated or euphoric under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
2. juiced: intoxicated; drunk.
3. mellow: a pleasant drunk
4. loaded: intoxicated
5. pickled: drunk
6. shit-faced: obscene, out of control drunk
7.tipsy: slightly intoxicated
8. dipsomania: an insatiable craving for alcoholic beverages
9. drunkard: alcoholic
10. lush: alcoholic
11. alky: alcoholic
12. rummy: alcoholic
13. boozer: alcoholic
14. KIS: keep it simple
15. running the show: How devout members of AA describe the attitude and actions of an alcoholic who is not following the principles of the Twelve-Step program and the Big Book.
"Always remember that I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me."
"Don’t drink and drive, you might hit a bump and spill your drink."
"Time is never wasted when you’re wasted all the time."
"I drink to forget I drink"
2. juiced: intoxicated; drunk.
3. mellow: a pleasant drunk
4. loaded: intoxicated
5. pickled: drunk
6. shit-faced: obscene, out of control drunk
7.tipsy: slightly intoxicated
8. dipsomania: an insatiable craving for alcoholic beverages
9. drunkard: alcoholic
10. lush: alcoholic
11. alky: alcoholic
12. rummy: alcoholic
13. boozer: alcoholic
14. KIS: keep it simple
15. running the show: How devout members of AA describe the attitude and actions of an alcoholic who is not following the principles of the Twelve-Step program and the Big Book.
"Always remember that I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me."
"Don’t drink and drive, you might hit a bump and spill your drink."
"Time is never wasted when you’re wasted all the time."
"I drink to forget I drink"
Fieldnotes #3
-After walking around aimlessly trying to find the serenity club in muncie we were in NO luck so we went to the one on riverside to see if they knew anything about it-
Super embarrassing.....i just wanna leaveeee already
An older lady starts to speak. She has a raspy voice and is drinking coffee. She keeps talking about how alcohol is her 'quick fix' .. she compares it to everything.... She says that the doctors have already told her she is crazy... "well they call it a chemical imbalance, but im not stupid"... She says that when she is having a bad day she uses alcohol as her quick fix... or if its sunny out.. why not have a drink... She says that she looks at everything with the quick fix kind of outlook. She even says, "Like if my house wasnt how I wanted it, Oh well I'd just burn it down and make insurance build me a new one... See, It's the quick fix!"
Whoa lady.... you are crazy.... but I understand what you are saying. I feel like most people have this problem so I'm sure it added to the meetings success
A guy agrees with her and talks about how its the solution and problem to all lifes problems. He talks about how he is depressed and gets more depressed and just wants to drink to get rid of it..
Okay dude.... dont you know alcohol is a depressant? weird correlation?
meeting ends with the usual serenity prayer , holding hands, and workin it ~ the girl from my class and boy look at me like im crazy for knowing all the words... haha
Oh well i think its funny... and the ending is as effective as always.. got me all cheerful!
We find out that it was actually a CLOSED meeting.. this means that there are strictly only alcoholics allowed....the lady tells us
OOOPSIES.... ha
The boy tells her that we are alcoholics... She hands us schedules for the meetings and we chat with a couple of the people there
I think this is hilarioussssss but kind of wrong... oh well... better luck next time.
Oral History
My family owns a lake house in Northern Indiana. We got there almost every summer. One summer when I was nine or ten I went and my cousin who was also my age was there. One of our neighbors owned a golf-cart and their grandchildren were visiting them. They were about four or five years older than us. They were driving us around on the golf cart when I asked If I could drive. Of course they said sure. I figured that it would be like driving one of those purple and pink Barbie jeeps, but that was not the case. I got in the drivers seat and pushed the pedal all the way to the floor, to make matters worse, I slammed into a parked car that someone owned down the street. I got off the golf-cart and my cousin and I ran all the way home. It was so embarrassing. I picked this story because it symbolizes my constant need of feeling grown up. I have always wanted to do what the older kids are doing. I always thought I was invincible. Luckily I got a nice little reality check and have realized that I shouldn't try and grow up too fast! This story still gets told at my lake house when we go in the summers. I'm sure my parents have a better, more funny version.
Verbal Art
What's the verbal art?
The verbal art I chose in my subculture is at the end of the meetings when they say the Lord's prayer to close, while all holding hands, and then shout the phrase, "It works If you work it!"
What is the culture revealed?
The culture reveals that the members rely heavily on working the twelve steps and that God is a huge foundation of their recovery. It also shows me that the people are bonding by holding hands. I think that this probably makes them feel good to do this at the end because it's something fun, but serious at the same time.
How is it important to IND, GROUP, YOU?
This is important to them because it really does remind them at the end that they need to continue working the steps until the next meeting. When I do it with the group, I am really happy after wards for some reason. I think that it gives me a sense of hope for the members.
Questions?
I need to ask someone if the verbal art is important to them in an interview. I'll also ask if any one knows how that got started and If it's just in Indiana or everywhere....
The verbal art I chose in my subculture is at the end of the meetings when they say the Lord's prayer to close, while all holding hands, and then shout the phrase, "It works If you work it!"
What is the culture revealed?
The culture reveals that the members rely heavily on working the twelve steps and that God is a huge foundation of their recovery. It also shows me that the people are bonding by holding hands. I think that this probably makes them feel good to do this at the end because it's something fun, but serious at the same time.
How is it important to IND, GROUP, YOU?
This is important to them because it really does remind them at the end that they need to continue working the steps until the next meeting. When I do it with the group, I am really happy after wards for some reason. I think that it gives me a sense of hope for the members.
Questions?
I need to ask someone if the verbal art is important to them in an interview. I'll also ask if any one knows how that got started and If it's just in Indiana or everywhere....
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Potential questions to ask at interview
What is your full name?
Where were you born and raised?
How many siblings do you have, if any?
Were your parents together during childhood?
How was your childhood?
What was going on in your life that made you resort to alcohol?
Have you done all twelve steps?
What is your biggest moment with AA?
How long have you been sober?
How did you end up where you are today?
Do you have a sponsor? Are you a sponsor?
What's the best advice you've ever gotten?
Was it hard for you to accept the term 'alcoholic'?
Do you plan on attending meetings for the rest of your life?
What has been the biggest help to your recovery process?
Do you have any inspiring stories to tell?
How are your relationships with friends and family at this moment?
Do you believe that AA is helpful or are you required to attend?
What do you want out of life?
Are you a parent?
What do you do to keep your mind off of alcohol?
How do the AA coins play a role in AA for you?
Do the coins have a meaning for you that you feel is deeper or different than someone else?
Have you read the Big Book?
Do you give money at the meetings?
Have you ever spoken at a meeting? If not, do you want to?
Have you ever led a meeting?
Do you have a list of people you can call that are also members of AA?
Are you open about being a member or do you prefer to keep it anonymous?
Are any of your family members also in AA?
How long have you been an alcoholic?
How many times, if any, have you relapsed?
How many coins do you have?
Did certain dramatic events lead you to become an alcoholic?
Interview in class
When i first tried to locate an article on Jennifer Miller, it was really hard for me to find something that looked like it might have a story behind it. I asked Jennifer if she had anything on that had meaning or a story. She told me that she stole the shirt she was wearing from her mom. It was a blue and white colts shirt that said' Cardinal Fitness supports the Colts' on the front. She explained to me that her brother lives and works in Indianapolis at Cardinal Fitness. He gets a bunch of free colts gear and fitness wear. Her brother gave her mom and dad both a t-shirt. She was very upset that she didn't get one, especially because they were free. So over spring break her mom had the shirt on and Jennifer told her that she was going to steal it one day! So when her mom was done doing spring break laundry Jennifer noticed the t-shirt on her moms bed and snatched it up real fast and put it in her back to school bag. She called her mom yesterday and told her that she stole the shirt and she laughed. I think that the shirt symbolizes the relationship that Jennifer has with her family. When she was telling me the story, It really reminded me of my family and me. I always take my moms clothes and she takes mine because we wear about the same size. We act like we are mad when we take each others things, but we aren't really mad, because we are family. Jennifer grew up in a small town called Shipshawana. I think that one can assume that when you live in a small town like that you become very family oriented. I bet she was a little p'od that her brother didn't bother getting her a free shirt! I think that by taking the t-shirt she was making a statement to her brother. I mean no one is actually going to get furious over a free t-shirt, but it could still upset someone. So i think that was a good way to get a point across... I'm sure her brother will give her a free t-shirt soon! haha
summary 2-'naught but a story'
Summary:
- Bill W. (1949) "The society of Alcoholics Anonymous' American Journal of Psychiatry 106(5): 370-375
- Lindy, C (1993) Life Stories: The Creation of Coherence Oxford University Press: New York and Oxford
--This article gave me a better understanding of all the steps that alcoholics have to go through in order to live a better life. I have a lot of respect for these people, because there are many steps to recovery. I think that examining yourself is often very hard. Coming to realizations about yourself that you don't like is even harder.
*Thesis- The stories and methods of recovery that are useful for one person, are often useful for another. Many factors have influenced the way individuals have gotten help in order to attain change.
summary 1 - therapy-directed strategy increases AA involvement among outpatients
Summary:
- Walitzer KS: Facilitating Involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous during outpatient treatment: A randomized clinical trial. Addiction 2009; 104:391-401
--I believe that this summary will give my subculture an extreme amount of credibility. A huge stereotype surrounding AA is that it doesn't work- or even that it is sabotoging to the recovery process. In my first paper, I explained that alcoholism is dominant in caucasians. This study shows that the majority of alcoholics are in fact white, which will give my ideas and thoughts proper evidence.
*Thesis: Alcohol addiction therapy that is AA-oriented allows for more successful recoveries in outpatients.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Fieldnotes #2
this time i went to a different type of meeting... this was a lot smaller and was at 9 in the morning on sunday
there are 5 people that have walked in
wonder what step we'll cover today .. one of the guys looks mid-twenties, one looks like he is in highschool, another in his thirties, a lady in her forties, and an old man in the room.
this meeting place is a lot smaller than the last one, has a long conference style table with big black rolling chairs. There is a desk in the corner ...
this must be someones office that they use for this smaller meeting that only some people attend
the old man mutters some stuff and asks who wants to lead the meeting today
hmm i didn't know anyone could lead the meeting
HE JUST ASKED ME IF I WANT TO LEAD THE MEETING.....
ummm? i can't say no, that would be rude, but i really don't want to.... FINE.
i take the big book off of the desk and a paper that says what step to cover.. then start the meeting with the serenity prayer and a paragraph highlighted in chapter 3
hope i don't mess this up.....
now i ask everyone to say their name, why they are here, and how long they have been sober since it's a smaller meeting
i'm anxious to know what this highschooler is doing here already...
the lady in her forties talks about how she keeps relapsing and that she has only been a day sober. she talks about how its effecting her kids very negatively, but she just can't stop because she is so stressed. she talks about how her sponsor is helping her out a lot. i tell her that its okay and that people make mistakes, and that all she can do is try and get better. I then explain to her how i feel about my mom and that if anything happened to her or if she died because of something that she could control i'd be devastated. i told her that i look up to my mom. i also told her that i would be understanding if i was her kid because moms have so much stress and are literally always moving. they never get a break. she keeps thanking me
i feel so good for helping her. i feel like i might have said somethings that will stick...
the highschooler tells us that he was in the car drunk when one of his friends got a dui. he said that his parents are making him go to thirty aa meetings in a month...
damn..... i'd say that's an easy punishment. my parents would kill me!
the old man has been sober for thirty years..
holy crap..... thats what we like to call self control... i couldn't even do it and i'm not an alchy!
the guy in his mid twenties has been arrested and taking to the hospital for drinking.... twice. he was handcuffed to the hospital bed. he said there is nothing worse than waking up to that. he doesn't even remember how he got there or that he hit a tree.
what if he would have killed someone or himself? eeek... scary.... hopefully aa will help him so he doesnt inflict pain on himself or anyone else...
i end the meeting with the ' keep coming back keep coming back, it doesn't work if you don't work it' chant...
this just gets everyone in a feel good mood, including me :)
there are 5 people that have walked in
wonder what step we'll cover today .. one of the guys looks mid-twenties, one looks like he is in highschool, another in his thirties, a lady in her forties, and an old man in the room.
this meeting place is a lot smaller than the last one, has a long conference style table with big black rolling chairs. There is a desk in the corner ...
this must be someones office that they use for this smaller meeting that only some people attend
the old man mutters some stuff and asks who wants to lead the meeting today
hmm i didn't know anyone could lead the meeting
HE JUST ASKED ME IF I WANT TO LEAD THE MEETING.....
ummm? i can't say no, that would be rude, but i really don't want to.... FINE.
i take the big book off of the desk and a paper that says what step to cover.. then start the meeting with the serenity prayer and a paragraph highlighted in chapter 3
hope i don't mess this up.....
now i ask everyone to say their name, why they are here, and how long they have been sober since it's a smaller meeting
i'm anxious to know what this highschooler is doing here already...
the lady in her forties talks about how she keeps relapsing and that she has only been a day sober. she talks about how its effecting her kids very negatively, but she just can't stop because she is so stressed. she talks about how her sponsor is helping her out a lot. i tell her that its okay and that people make mistakes, and that all she can do is try and get better. I then explain to her how i feel about my mom and that if anything happened to her or if she died because of something that she could control i'd be devastated. i told her that i look up to my mom. i also told her that i would be understanding if i was her kid because moms have so much stress and are literally always moving. they never get a break. she keeps thanking me
i feel so good for helping her. i feel like i might have said somethings that will stick...
the highschooler tells us that he was in the car drunk when one of his friends got a dui. he said that his parents are making him go to thirty aa meetings in a month...
damn..... i'd say that's an easy punishment. my parents would kill me!
the old man has been sober for thirty years..
holy crap..... thats what we like to call self control... i couldn't even do it and i'm not an alchy!
the guy in his mid twenties has been arrested and taking to the hospital for drinking.... twice. he was handcuffed to the hospital bed. he said there is nothing worse than waking up to that. he doesn't even remember how he got there or that he hit a tree.
what if he would have killed someone or himself? eeek... scary.... hopefully aa will help him so he doesnt inflict pain on himself or anyone else...
i end the meeting with the ' keep coming back keep coming back, it doesn't work if you don't work it' chant...
this just gets everyone in a feel good mood, including me :)
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Artifact/Space Presentation
Intro-
Upon first hearing about Alcoholics Anonymous I had already painted a picture in my mind of how it went. Whether the media, my fellow peers, or movies helped me paint this picture, it was wrong. I pictured a bunch of low lives walking in with their bottles of booze, tattoos and piercings , with five children trailing behind. For some reason I had always thought of Alcoholics Anonymous to be some kind of joke, where everyone sits in a circle and says, “I’m Taylor, and I’m an alcoholic” This vision I had would soon vanish after attending an official Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. As I walked into the double doors at Fairbanks rehabilitation center in Indianapolis I immediately obtained an extreme sense of comfortableness. There is an old wooden table when you first walk in the double doors. This has pamphlets resting on it informing about anything from Alcoholics to Overeaters. There are baskets on that table as well for the money collection. And lastly a big book, that resembles something of a bible on the table. There are your typical gray, metal plastic chairs all lined up in rows leading to the small, proscenium style stage. On this stage there is a beat up podium where speakers reside. On the walls behind the stage are two large, wooden plaques one on each side of the stage that read, “the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and the twelve steps of Narcotics Anonymous” The walls offer nothing of aesthetically pleasing value, just plain old boring white. Before the meeting is called in session, there are people standing around talking about anything from the baseball game they went to earlier to something funny their kid had done. Interestingly enough, these people didn’t bring their seven kids to the meeting and they weren’t wearing obnoxious clothing. They were normal everyday people just like us. A leader walks to the podium and begins the meeting with the serenity prayer and talks about what step we are going to cover today from the big book, which is a book full of insightful information regarding the twelve steps. He then calls a boy to the podium to share his life story. With this being said, today I’m going to tell you about what I feel is my focal point and how an artifact plays an important role in not only my focal point, but my space in Alcoholics Anonymous.
Body-
A. Focal Point:
a. The stories of AA members
i. The focal point I have chosen for my subculture is the people’s stories that belong to AA. I feel as if this is the center of activity at an AA meeting. For me, hearing the desperate, but hopeful stories of Alcoholics makes me think of them in a whole new light. Whether that story contains a mother that won’t talk to her daughter anymore, a young kid that killed a family drinking and driving, or an old man that has liver failure due to his addiction – they all give me chills. I have trouble relating to these stories, but I know an inside view is totally different. I think that an insider can relate to all aspects of another beings story. They must feel like they are not alone when they hear these stories. These stories absolutely must help them want to recover also.
B. Artifact:
a. The coins of AA
i. The artifact I have chosen is the coins of AA. Generally speaking they are a memento that you receive on your first day of attending, and your sobriety anniversaries. There are also coins that serve for other functions as well in AA. My artifact fits into my space because it’s something that is acknowledged at every meeting. At each meeting, a leader asks the audience how many days they have been sober. He may say, “Who’s been sober for twenty four hours, a month, a year, ten years, or so on?” Depending on who wants a coin they raise their hand and normally their sponsor presents them with the coin. A sponsor is someone that they hand choose to help guide them through the recovery process. If they are tempted to drink, they can call up their sponsor at any time and they will help them through it because they too have experienced the struggle. The most common coin in AA has the serenity prayer on one side and ‘to thine own self be true’ on the other, with a triangle that states how long they have been sober. This main coin is available in 24 hour, months 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18, and years 1-60. These small, but powerful sayings have a huge meaning. The serenity prayer is a constant reminder to the alcoholic that it is time to change. The be true quote means to be true to yourself. To let someone or something else define you can make you lose your ability to discover and grow. It is a constant reminder that in order to find yourself and change you must remember the twelve steps.
ii. This artifact gives the people in AA a sense of accomplishment. It not only serves the function of a gift, but it can also be thought of as a type of currency because it is a coin. With this being said, the coins of AA are very valuable to the people that receive them.
b. The history
i. Early evidence implies that many early members of AA carried around personal mementos to remind themselves how important their sobriety was. Sister Ignatia, a nun who helped the founders start the first official AA meeting at St Thomas in Akron, would give the drunks leaving the hospital a sacred heart medallion and instructed them that if they were going to drink they had the responsibility of bringing the heart medallion back to her before. After this, the tradition was born and incorporated throughout AA history. The coin serves a literal purpose- that being a gift and a symbol- that being sobriety.
Conclusion- My focal point and artifact work hand and hand. Because most people’s stories are about how they became an alcoholic and how they became sober, a reoccurring theme in the AA meetings is sobriety. The coins give an alcoholic that extra encouragement to keep going, as well as hearing the stories of other alcoholics. So now that I have given you a little more information about Alcoholics Anonymous, I hope I have changed the picture in your mind.
Upon first hearing about Alcoholics Anonymous I had already painted a picture in my mind of how it went. Whether the media, my fellow peers, or movies helped me paint this picture, it was wrong. I pictured a bunch of low lives walking in with their bottles of booze, tattoos and piercings , with five children trailing behind. For some reason I had always thought of Alcoholics Anonymous to be some kind of joke, where everyone sits in a circle and says, “I’m Taylor, and I’m an alcoholic” This vision I had would soon vanish after attending an official Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. As I walked into the double doors at Fairbanks rehabilitation center in Indianapolis I immediately obtained an extreme sense of comfortableness. There is an old wooden table when you first walk in the double doors. This has pamphlets resting on it informing about anything from Alcoholics to Overeaters. There are baskets on that table as well for the money collection. And lastly a big book, that resembles something of a bible on the table. There are your typical gray, metal plastic chairs all lined up in rows leading to the small, proscenium style stage. On this stage there is a beat up podium where speakers reside. On the walls behind the stage are two large, wooden plaques one on each side of the stage that read, “the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and the twelve steps of Narcotics Anonymous” The walls offer nothing of aesthetically pleasing value, just plain old boring white. Before the meeting is called in session, there are people standing around talking about anything from the baseball game they went to earlier to something funny their kid had done. Interestingly enough, these people didn’t bring their seven kids to the meeting and they weren’t wearing obnoxious clothing. They were normal everyday people just like us. A leader walks to the podium and begins the meeting with the serenity prayer and talks about what step we are going to cover today from the big book, which is a book full of insightful information regarding the twelve steps. He then calls a boy to the podium to share his life story. With this being said, today I’m going to tell you about what I feel is my focal point and how an artifact plays an important role in not only my focal point, but my space in Alcoholics Anonymous.
Body-
A. Focal Point:
a. The stories of AA members
i. The focal point I have chosen for my subculture is the people’s stories that belong to AA. I feel as if this is the center of activity at an AA meeting. For me, hearing the desperate, but hopeful stories of Alcoholics makes me think of them in a whole new light. Whether that story contains a mother that won’t talk to her daughter anymore, a young kid that killed a family drinking and driving, or an old man that has liver failure due to his addiction – they all give me chills. I have trouble relating to these stories, but I know an inside view is totally different. I think that an insider can relate to all aspects of another beings story. They must feel like they are not alone when they hear these stories. These stories absolutely must help them want to recover also.
B. Artifact:
a. The coins of AA
i. The artifact I have chosen is the coins of AA. Generally speaking they are a memento that you receive on your first day of attending, and your sobriety anniversaries. There are also coins that serve for other functions as well in AA. My artifact fits into my space because it’s something that is acknowledged at every meeting. At each meeting, a leader asks the audience how many days they have been sober. He may say, “Who’s been sober for twenty four hours, a month, a year, ten years, or so on?” Depending on who wants a coin they raise their hand and normally their sponsor presents them with the coin. A sponsor is someone that they hand choose to help guide them through the recovery process. If they are tempted to drink, they can call up their sponsor at any time and they will help them through it because they too have experienced the struggle. The most common coin in AA has the serenity prayer on one side and ‘to thine own self be true’ on the other, with a triangle that states how long they have been sober. This main coin is available in 24 hour, months 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18, and years 1-60. These small, but powerful sayings have a huge meaning. The serenity prayer is a constant reminder to the alcoholic that it is time to change. The be true quote means to be true to yourself. To let someone or something else define you can make you lose your ability to discover and grow. It is a constant reminder that in order to find yourself and change you must remember the twelve steps.
ii. This artifact gives the people in AA a sense of accomplishment. It not only serves the function of a gift, but it can also be thought of as a type of currency because it is a coin. With this being said, the coins of AA are very valuable to the people that receive them.
b. The history
i. Early evidence implies that many early members of AA carried around personal mementos to remind themselves how important their sobriety was. Sister Ignatia, a nun who helped the founders start the first official AA meeting at St Thomas in Akron, would give the drunks leaving the hospital a sacred heart medallion and instructed them that if they were going to drink they had the responsibility of bringing the heart medallion back to her before. After this, the tradition was born and incorporated throughout AA history. The coin serves a literal purpose- that being a gift and a symbol- that being sobriety.
Conclusion- My focal point and artifact work hand and hand. Because most people’s stories are about how they became an alcoholic and how they became sober, a reoccurring theme in the AA meetings is sobriety. The coins give an alcoholic that extra encouragement to keep going, as well as hearing the stories of other alcoholics. So now that I have given you a little more information about Alcoholics Anonymous, I hope I have changed the picture in your mind.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Box 16 -verbal snapshot
When I walk into the old, wooden double doors at Fairbanks rehabilitation center I am immediately focused on the huge ligneous panels that have the twelve steps of A.A and N.A carved on them. They take up most of the wall at the front of the room. They look worn and like they have been through a lot. There is a small,proscenium stage directly below the panels that comes out about fifteen feet. The stage is covered with a flax like material with colors of green and blue. It looks fairly dingy from all the footsteps acquired throughout the many years of meetings. There are your typical gray plastic chairs in rows proceeding the stage. Chairs are also stacked up in sets of five along side the walls perpendicular to the rows. In the back of the room, when you first walk in, there is a small table where about three people can sit at. This table is filled with tiny pamphlets describing anything from alcoholics to overeaters. The table looks like it had just been sitting around at the rehabilitation center and someone just decided to take it and use it for the meetings. The rooms color scheme could put me to sleep. It's plain white bringing nothing of aesthetically pleasing value to the room. I wish they would make it more interesting. The aromas of anything from coffee to tea and peanuts to popcorn fill the air. I think this is because eating or drinking something takes your mind off of an addiction. It's an old oral fixation remedy. The lighting in the room is extremely bright because of the long, florescent bulbs in the ceiling. The ceilings are very tall. It is the kind of ceiling with squares and white, metal frames holding them.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Focal Point
My focal point is the peoples stories. What brought them there, what kind of family they came from, and how being an alcoholic has effected their lives. When you walk into an AA meeting, their are rows of chairs for people to sit. There is a table in the back of the room where the leaders or presenters normally sit. There are pamphlets on the table about AA NA and other programs. This table is also where the court and hospital ordered people get their papers signed. Lastly there are baskets for offerings on that table. In the front of the room there is a mini stage with a podium where people go up to speak at. On the walls of the stage there are two huge signs on either side of the podium. One that describes the 12 steps of AA and one that describes the steps of NA. The walls of the room are really boring and just plain white. The podium looks old and theres nothing really special about it. There are all types of people at the meetings. Some people dress up and some people dress down, but each person has their own captivating story to tell. What has intrigued me the most about the meetings is realizing that everyone, not just alcoholics have a story. I want to focus on individuals stories because it is what intrigues me the most. I wonder what kind of family each person came from? I wonder what led them to turn to alcohol or what got them started? I wonder how long they've been sober and if, at all, how many times they've relapsed.
Monday, February 15, 2010
box 13
Sister Ignatia started the use of coins in medallions in Alcoholics Anonymous.
She was a nun who helped start the program at St. Johns hospital. She would give
the alcoholics a heart medallion after they had reached five days of sobriety. She would
remind them that the token meant that they were making a commitment to god, AA, and to themselves to remain sober. If they were going to drink they had the responsibility of
giving the heart medallion back to sister. Then the use of coins and medallions started growing.
There are birthdays in AA. Your birthday is your anniversary of the day you stopped drinking. On certain days you receive a new coin for sobriety and you get a coin on your birthday. They range in sizes, but they almost always have the serenity prayer on them or a saying of AA.
The coins are very encouraging to the people of AA. It gives them something to show for their sobriety and it means a lot to them. Most people get really excited to get coins and it is their inspiration to keep going. Coins in AA are a very important factor in the success of the program.
fieldnotes 1
FIELDNOTES WEEK 1
of the room and the 12 steps of NA are
on the right side of the room
hmmm thats a lot of steps to accomplish!
there is a podium at the front of the room
i wonder if someones going to give a speech?
people are chatting before the meeting starts
it looks like a lot of these people know eachother
and come on a weekly basis
there are people from the impatient part of the hospital all sitting together
scary!!! i would hate to be in their position and its sad that most of them are so young!
an old man walks to the podium and tells us we are
going to talk about step #5 -Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs
i wonder how he got to be the one to start off the meetings
a guy is telling his story about being an alcoholic
AW SOOOO SAD :( i want to talk to him at the next meeting!
once i get some courage!
they are passing around a collection basket for money
okay, this is beginning to feel like church?! 12 steps? 12 commandments?
hmmmm
at the end of the meeting we said the serenity prayer and all held hands
and then they said a saying that was something like this "it wont work if you dont work it" ..
I'll have to memorize it once i keep coming
people gather around and talk after the meeting and get the
leader to sign their documents for the courts and hospitals
i wonder what they did to get them here?
What surprised me?
-The collection of money.. that was strange... what do they need money for?
What intrigued me?
-The guys story... there were a lot of emotions involved.. it was really sad but
really touching
What disturbed me?
-the kids from the inpatient unit.. they looked really rough
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Today our guest speakers were Desiree Howell and Brandon Schultz. They came to talk about personality types and how they play a role in our society. After taking a test, I found that my personality type was ENFP. Which stands for: extrovert, intuitive, feeling, and perceptive. Which means I am warmly enthusiastic, high-spirited, ingenious, imaginative. I am able to do almost anything that interests me. I am quick with a solution for any difficulty and ready to help anyone with a problem. I often rely on my ability to improvise instead of preparing in advance. I can usually find compellig reasons for whatever they want. After talking about the personalities we figured out that there are established stereotypes about some of the letters. When describing the different types of personalities and what the letters stand for Desiree Howell said, "Sometimes people think that because I am a T for thinking that I am a bitch, or on the other hand are predestined into thinking Brandon is a wuss because he is an F for feeling."1 There are a lot of stereotypes involved with different personality traits. Some people perceive things differently, but for example: Just because someone is an introvert, doesn't mean that they are boring and don't have fun.
1. Howell, Desiree. "Myers-Briggs Type Indicator." 2010 Counseling Center Presentation.
Lafollette, Muncie. 4 Feb. 2010. Lecture.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Peer Review for Emily Yu
Your Name: Taylor Szalaiy
Writer’s Name: Emily Yu
Does the writer state a thesis at the end of the first paragraph that explains why she wants to study a particular subculture and does s/he make a claim about how his or her view of that subculture has been formed? If you can’t find a thesis point this out here.
If you can find a thesis, rewrite the thesis here:
Being a Taiwanese-Born Asian that has minimal knowledge about the Koreans, I want to learn more about their culture such as; if they have as strict parents as I do, and if they have the similar personality or family background as the Korean dramas that I always watch
Does the thesis make an argument that a reasonable person could disagree with? If yes, what? If no, suggest a thesis based on the paper.
Yes -- she wants to know if her culture is anything like the Korean culture and if what she thinks is true
What subculture is named in the paper?
KSA - Korean Student Association
Could the thesis need to be more concise or more complex?
perfect
Is the thesis specific enough to have meaning? Make a suggestion that pushes the language towards more specific meaning:
yeah ..
How does the essay address the writer’s fixed position in connection with his or her potential subculture? Quote from the paper to explain.
'Dislike seems to be the attitude my family has towards Koreans. I have always learned from my parents that Korean people are extremely mean and cheap, but they are extremely advanced in technology development with extremely stylish fashion'
- She was brought up to feel a certain way about Koreans
- Pick a different word other than extremely
What does the writing tell you about this student’s subjective position? Quote from the paper to explain.
'From the myths that I have heard from my parents, I recently developed some doubts about Korean families'
-Her background as an Asian has given her certain beliefs about the Korean subculture
What does the writing tell you about this student’s textual position?
Quote from the paper to explain.
'All in all, I believe that what I have observed and heard are not all quite the truth about the Koreans'
-She understands her views might be flawed so she wants to research to find out
Does the essay seem like a story or does it seem too formal? Suggest where narrative elements might serve as good examples.
She tells stories about her family and what they think.
Does each paragraph seem to be an appropriate length, with only one main idea per paragraph? If not, what specific suggestions do you have to make this paper better organized?
-New paragraphs for new thoughts..
What suggestions do you have to make the content of this paper better?
-sentence structure.. and its a little choppy
What do you think the strength of this paper is?
-the fact that Koreans and Asians conflict at times and they're both brought up to have certain beliefs about the other subculture
What are the weaknesses?
The sentence structure
What’s missing?
n/a
What’s unnecessary?
talks a little too much about the dramas
Mark on the manuscript any important grammar/spelling mistakes.
Fill out the following chart, adding your comments about each component.
CRITERIA
READER'S COMMENTS
Weak Satisf. Strong
_____ _____ ____X_ Thesis: clear, important, risky
Comments:
_____ _____ X _____ Evidence: relevance, strength, credibility
Comments:
_____ ___X__ _____ Organization: arrangement of ideas, guiding the reader
Comments:
_____ __X___ _____ Mechanics: spelling, grammar, punctuation
Comments:
_____ _____ ___X__ Overall effectiveness: Was the relationship between the author’s background and their subculture clear? Were you convinced of the effects?
Comments:
Peer Review for Peter Wilhelm
Your Name: Taylor Szalaiy
Writer’s Name: Peter Wilhelm
Does the writer state a thesis at the end of the first paragraph that explains why s/he wants to study a particular subculture and does s/he make a claim about how his or her view of that subculture has been formed? If you can’t find a thesis point this out here.
If you can find a thesis, rewrite the thesis here:
Does the thesis make an argument that a reasonable person could disagree with? If yes, what? If no, suggest a thesis based on the paper.
It’s just not very interesting… spice it up !
What subculture is named in the paper?
The gay community at BSU
Could the thesis need to be more concise or more complex?
More complex.. its too broad
Is the thesis specific enough to have meaning? Make a suggestion that pushes the language towards more specific meaning:
Being friend to a couple gay students at Ball State, …. Say how you feel .. maybe talk about how the stereotypes offend you because you’re friends with them but that you still have learning to do about them?
How does the essay address the writer’s fixed position in connection with his or her potential subculture? Quote from the paper to explain.
Yes….‘When it comes to my topic I think my age group, 17-20 year olds, know the most and are more knowledgeable about it. …. I also believe females tend to know more gay people than males. I think this because gay guys feel more comfortable telling women that they are gay.’
What does the writing tell you about this student’s subjective position? Quote from the paper to explain.
Yes….‘As for my background, I know many gay people mostly because I have a lot who live on my floor, many of whom I am friends with.’
-he gives a background as to why he thinks he should be the one speaking about gays
What does the writing tell you about this student’s textual position?
Quote from the paper to explain.
Yes… ‘My reasons for choosing the gay community at Ball State are neither negative nor positive. I am simply hoping to gain more knowledge about the gays because they are a very large and foreign subculture.’
--maybe explain a little more
Does the essay seem like a story or does it seem too formal? Suggest where narrative elements might serve as good examples.
Perfect… Not too formal, not too story like…. He tells about his gay friends which helps… he could maybe describe them a little bit more though.
Does each paragraph seem to be an appropriate length, with only one main idea per paragraph? If not, what specific suggestions do you have to make this paper better organized?
Yes.. changes subjects with paragraphs
What suggestions do you have to make the content of this paper better?
-Not be as repetitive and irrelevant .. Describe things a little more.. More emotions and make it more personal..?
What do you think the strength of this paper is?
-The fact that he as friends that are gay and he is a straight guy… but still respects the gay community
What are the weaknesses?
-The sentence structure
What’s missing?
-Personality
What’s unnecessary?
-Explaining that its ‘fixed’ , or it’s ‘research’ etc…. he should find a different way to say it without using the words
Mark on the manuscript any important grammar/spelling mistakes.
Fill out the following chart, adding your comments about each component.
CRITERIA
READER'S COMMENTS
Weak Satisf. Strong
____X_ _____ _____ Thesis: clear, important, risky
Comments:
_____ ____X_ _____ Evidence: relevance, strength, credibility
Comments:
_____ _____ ___X__ Organization: arrangement of ideas, guiding the reader
Comments:
_____ ___X__ _____ Mechanics: spelling, grammar, punctuation
Comments:
_____ _____ __X___ Overall effectiveness: Was the relationship between the author’s background and their subculture clear? Were you convinced of the effects?
Comments:
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