For the first part of this three stage project, I had different feelings towards the whole thing. Although I did finish my project and think I did a darn good job writing it, it seemed like a few other people struggled. Now, I know you asked for my opinions about the first project but I'd like to tell about some frustrations I over heard from students during class time.
A few people were a bit bored with the whole idea. I personally loved it because I was so enthusiastic about my topic, but others seemed to not really care about their locations. Many picked the Rec Center, Memorial Union, or Palm Walk. Not that there is anything wrong with these places, it just seemed that people picked them because it was easy and general. Finding a location that I was so passionate about helped me write the paper and have a positive attitude about the whole project. Maybe next year narrow down the scope of options to buildings or locations that students only feel strongly about. This might help them become a little more excited and motivated about the project.
But, on a different note, there were certain things that I liked and disliked about the project. I disliked the realization that I didn't know how to work Microsoft Word on my new HP computer and that I had to ask my mom for help. Working with my mother can turn into a bad situation very quickly. And as a student that was not taught how to use MLA heading or how to put the page number on at the top, I had a decent sized mental break down. Besides those few, but very stressful, personal problems that I had with the project I really enjoyed writing about my place. The analysis part wasn't that difficult once I understood what you were
looking for and I'm sure there is something wrong with the my writing so
I have no comment on that part.
ISTB4 is a building that I loved the very instant I walked in. Being able to write about it and even have the excuse to explore a little deeper in to the building was a lot of fun. I told my Geology professor about the paper and she actually took me to the "restricted" section of the building when no one was looking. Although some of you may not care, I got to hold very valuable rocks and it was awesome. My professor also told me about some of the research that was currently taking place in the building and how ASU is a large part of the sending Curiosity to Mars.
All in all, the good out ways the bad for this project. I had a mental break down (or two) but that was a result of my technology handicap not the project itself. I had an abundance of fun playing with so many things in the ISTB4 building and being obnoxious with stupid questions.
Even though I was one of those students that hated this assignment I am glad that you enjoyed this topic. I love how you chose a place what was not so familiar.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing that we did have in common was that we both chose places that we were passionate about. I did my analysis on the Football stadium which is something I am in love with. But I did have a problem with how many different aspects I could look at it and what I could write on. Even though I love football and the Stadium in general I still struggled with wanted to write a paper and an analysis on it.
I am glad that your problems were to a minimum. Even though you did have some personal problems it obviously didn’t seem like you struggled with the writing aspect. It was cool that you really got in depth with your building. The fact that your teacher took you into the “restricted” section is awesome. I’m glad you had fun with this project!
It is good that you enjoyed your topic and the assignment as a whole. I personally felt bored by the assignment because the place I chose was not particularly exciting. My main problem with the project was deeply analyzing my place. It was difficult connecting my observations and one of the readings and analyzing a deeper meaning. If I could do this project over again, I would have chosen a better location that I would have more passion towards so it would make me want to analyze it more. It is nice that you did not have that many problems with your paper, besides the issue with microsoft word.
ReplyDeleteI had many struggles. I struggled with the length of the paper. It was sort of hard for me to get the sufficient amount of words to follow the prompt. This was due mostly to the fact that I took some lengthy observations but only used one half of them in my paper. As the final draft came around the words flowed more easily and were transferred to the paper with ease. Another tough point in this paper was finding the best point to incorporate the lens that needs to be included in the project. I ended up changing the several spots where I had included them on more than one occasion. The most difficult thing of my writing in project one was the analysis. In professor Linthicum’s review of my rough draft he told me that I needed to analyze more; he informed me that several of my paragraphs read like a brochure.
ReplyDeleteI literally believe that everyone can improve on analysis. There is not one person that doesn’t need improvement on their work. Overall I think that is what most students, as freshman, need to improve on anyway.