Week 15 - Posting 15! Last posting*

There is much I have learned about myself and my writing style as I have been in this English class. I've learned to take the time to sit down and write my drafts, rather than just do them the night before. By learning this trait, I have become more organized in my writing process and feel great about the papers I am writing. I also believe that I've gotten much better and citing the sources in my paper. I know that they're correct every time I site them, and that's a good feeling. However, I believe that there's stuff I have struggled with too. For example, I have become a little too biased in my paper which is exactly what we're not supposed to be doing. It's hard not to when you are so passionate about your subculture and wanting to persuade people to view it the same ways you do. So, that's been a lot of my biggest struggle. I like the way the class was run this year, I think that it was very effective and the website Mr. DiSarro created really helped me know exactly what was required for each assignment. The only assignment I was ever really confused on was the research proposal. Therefore, I find it important to research this topic a little further in the classroom. Also, the conferences are very beneficial and are something that should definitely be continued throughout the duration of the semester. All in all, I believe that the class was run very smoothly and there's nothing I would change about it. Having to write a 12 to 15 page paper at the beginning of the year was a complete weight on my shoulders, however throughout the course of this classroom's assignments it has gotten much easier and I'm so thankful for that!

Week 14 - Posting 14

For this week, I'd like to give you folks the opportunity to do some more pre-writing for your portfolio reflections. So, pick ONE of the following questions to answer: What strategies did you develop to analyze the data for your mini-ethnography? What is your favorite piece of data (or data source) and why? (i.e. people you interviewed, observations you made, academic sources you read, etc). What do you feel is the best piece of writing you've done in the class (Exploring Subcultures, Annotated Bibliography, Research Proposal w/Literature Review, or Mini-Ethnography) and why?

For this blog posting, I've chosen to answer the second question that being -- what is your favorite piece of data and why. To answer this question, I would honestly have to say my interviews. I loved hearing feedback from the other girls in my sorority and what they had to say about it. It was really interesting to get their inside view because you don't really know what another person is thinking or feeling without truly asking. Everyone's got a past, everyone's got a story, therefore it's important to look inside and ask what a person really feels about a certain situation. Without my interviews, I don't think my paper would be as heartfelt as it will turn out. I believe this because I've gotten the inside view of my sisters in Chi Omega and their thoughts, not just my own thoughts. Because of this, my paper and my personal knowledge about my subculture will change drastically. 

Week 13 - Posting 13

"I didn't get back the one I wanted," she silently mumbled, with tears filling in her bright, blue eyes. "I don't know what I'll do now! That was my favorite sorority!" Eyes gazing upon the room, I see girls crying, laughing, some in complete shock of the results that came back from recruitment the night before. I was scared to open mine, anxious to see what could of happened next. Would I be sitting in tears like some of them, crying and wishing I could just go home? Or would my heart be filled with joy, knowing I was one step closer to becoming a part of the sorority I loved most? Hands shaking, thoughts flying through my mind, I felt as if I were on a trial for murder, so scared and anxious and deeply desiring knowing my future fate. My hands clenched the small white, folded piece of paper and I slowly opened it, with eyes closed before I was prepared enough to open them to peer onto the three sororities I was going to see that night for preference rounds. The first, WHEW! I like them. The second, oh no... I don't fit in there. My heart started to panic. Is this really happening? Then, my last choice... my heart lifted with joy! Chi Omega! My favorite! I couldn't help but feel a smile on my face while I was sitting with hundreds of other girls around me, getting these same notes, finding out the three they had to choose from for preference rounds, one of the three sororities we would soon be joining. I saw other girls smiling, I knew they would be happy in their choices too. However, I think the reason I still felt sadness, I still couldn't be fully happy is because I looked around the room of sad girls faces and knew that that could have been me. 

6 Word Stories*

My life: moving on, growing strong, loving deep*

My subculture: always cherish those in our sisterhood*

Posting 12 - Week 12

To me, rhetoric has always been brought up in English discussion about language. I think that the correct definition of rhetoric is something along the lines of perfecting English or knowing the English language completely and thoroughly. English shows in your appearance in ways like your voice and the way you carry yourself. Your speech has a lot to do with how you present yourself to other people. However, I don't believe it fixates the way we dress or how we look, it's more so how we sound to others. Our sound can show how other people can see us. Also, I believe that it can be both negative and positive in the context that it is said. If someone says that your rhetoric is scholarly and beautiful, it obviously points more toward a positive view point. I also think that there is somewhat of a rhetoric in my subculture. The only reason I think that is because sororities sometimes have their own language, with words that wouldn't really fit in other circumstances. For example, people outside of sororities may not understand the words: rush, recruitment, baby hooties, philanthropies, etc. I'm going to use these words in my paper therefore I will be using rhetoric, hopefully in a positive way, in my mini-ethnography.

Quote about writing..

"Writing to me is like trying to pick out a good outfit, you keep searching throughout your closet like reading a dictionary for a plethora of words but it takes awhile to find a good match." --Ashley!

"Writing cannot work unless you have passion and creativity both in your mind and behind your pencil."  --Ashley!

Whoaaaa some of these are slightly cheesy. I don't know a good quote to write about my writing process. I do know though that writing to me takes a while and it takes me a bit to find words that I want to put in it. I also know that I cannot write something down unless I take the time to make it a well developed assignment. For example, I love journaling and writing. If I write a draft I know is not good, I completely erase it and start over from the beginning. So sometimes, writing a paper can take me a very, very long time. 

Week 11 - Posting 11! Writing Process due Thursday.

I don't really think that my writing process has changed much since we started this course. I've always written papers the same way and it feels comfortable to me, so I wouldn't change it unless I had too. The annotated bibliography gave me a lot of trouble because it's hard to write about exactly what you're going to use in your paper without actually writing your paper. However, I was surprised at how easy the first paper we wrote was. I found myself typing through the pages super easily. Writing something you are passionate about is definitely a good idea when it comes to long term writing processes. I write a lot more than one would assume. I have journals where I write down thoughts, quotes, and lyrics that I like. It plays a huge part in my life because I'm not big on confrontation or having a very good way with spoken words, so it's much easier for me to write all my thoughts down on paper or computer and see where that leads me. It's a very good stress reliever for me and it lets me decide if only I would like to see it or give someone else the privilege of reading it. In the future, I know writing will still help me in this way. Also, since I am a speech pathology major I will be documenting a lot every single day, therefore I will have more reasons to write down and perfect it.

That one family member..

In today's world, the concept of family is one that many people cherish and love. Each person has family members, ancestors, for without them no one would be in existence. However, each family has that one crazy, out of this world member that brings the most attention. In my family, that person without a doubt is my Uncle Dan Cotter. Dan Cotter, your typical high school class clown, has not outlived his past just yet. One year for Christmas he came to our family dinner dressed in smiley face boxers, a white t-shirt, and a christmas tie. Mind you, there was around a foot of snow on the ground at this time (He's on my dad's side of the family and they all live in Wisconsin). He's out of this world and a total goofball. At my cousin and I's graduation party, I laid out a book where people could write me messages and stuff like that before I went to school. My Uncle Dan's said "Happy Birthday to you and many, many more!" It was obvious that it wasn't my birthday, let alone it wasn't even close to my birthday considering my party was in June and my birthday is in November. Although my uncle always steals the spotlight, he's the one who's always keeping us laughing. He's a bit off the wall at times but he's so much fun and definitely one of my favorite family members. I love him to absolute pieces. 

Week 10 - Posting 10

As far as my mini ethnography is concerned, I'm focusing on working at it a little at a time to make it more bearable and easy to work with. I plan to begin with an anecdote, something that the audience is drawn into and make them want to read it. Secondly, I just plan to put all my ideas out there and hope that it flourishes from there. After my story, I'd like to talk about my own personal experience, my interests in my subculture, and why it is important to me. Then I'd like to talk about the stereotypes, the rush process, and some facts about Chi Omega as a whole. I'd like to make it as chronological as possible because I believe that would make the most sense, however, once I get more into Chi Omega's history, I cannot really go chronologically. It will be a tad more sporadic. I want to conclude the piece with a thought provoking ending, something that they can take away. I think the ending will be the hardest part to write because I don't want to sound cliche or drag on the ending. I think that this process will be the best for my paper because it seems like the process will be easy and help me out tremendously. I'm thankful that I really like my topic therefore, I will find more pleasure in writing it rather than someone else. 

Definitions of Sororities

Glossary of Terms for my Subculture

*Rush - the period of time in which a girl decides which sorority she would like to be in; process of acceptance/getting in

*Recruitment - another term for rush

*Active - being an active, official sister in the sorority; finished with pledgeship; finished the requirements of initiation

*Baby hootie - what the new girls are called in Chi Omega

*Big sis - a best friend, someone you can count on within the sorority; add to greek family; a special bond

*Initiation - process of becoming an official sister

In Class - American Tongues

1. If you were to re-do this project today, at the end of the first decade of the 21st century, what might you as a researcher do differently? What would you do the same?

I like the way this research is done a lot. They have so many different types of language and people with their opinions. It's very real and deep into thought of how people think about speech. Most people don't really think about prejudice against speakers, but it's obvious that people always do it. Everyone expresses themselves differently and I think that this show really distinguishes that. It's an appropriate length and everything is done really nicely, it's cut dry in how people really act and their opinions. 

2. Flaws? Are there any groups that are under-represented? Over-represented? How might you make the study more appealing to an audience?

I believe that Northerners are more under-represented than Southerners. There were a lot of people talking from the South and they spoke their opinion so much about how they are perceived as uneducated by movies and t.v. shows. I would maybe add more Northerners, even though they don't have a very distinct accent like Southerners. I would probably also add more people from Boston because I like their accents, people from California, New York, and even Hispanic people coming to the USA and people from London. 

3. In your opinion, how important is language in terms of how we perceive others? What is revealed about us when we talk?

Language from this film is very important in how we are perceived. For example, if you have a very heavy accident, it's hard to understand you and others may think that your talking jibberish. People assume that the way a person talks reflects back on how they are as a person. For example, Southerners believe that they talk with eloquence and add nice things like darling and sweetheart while Northerners would just say, nice to see you. Also, some people are very blunt when it comes to speech and believe that prejudice forms with speech and that some people think that they way you talk makes you seem uneducated or smarter, etc. One man even says that the way his younger brother talks makes him cringe, that's a large feeling against someone's speech. 

In Class - 3 Questions in English book

1. The setting of my field site is my sorority's suite. Our suite is located in the Woodworth dorm complex, in one of the many study lounges. Although it's in a study lounge, it is in no means your typical study place.. meaning there's lots of couches and tables, maroon walls, lots of fluffy pillows, tons and tons of owl memorabilia and pictures of us, everywhere. There are huge Chi Omega greek letters resting up against a shelf full of picture frames and owl sculptures and other owl stuff that we carry around on Bid Day, to our Chi Omega events, and take pictures with. When I first stepped into the suite, I felt so awkward, probably because the first time I ever went in it was during recruitment and 90+ people were shoved into this little room, listening to others talk and trying to scream over them to hear the girls talking to you for rush. But now when I step into it, it's a complete different feeling. I feel safe there, comfortable, and can totally be myself, no matter what. 

2. My fixed position doesn't really change the suite at all or the interviewee, we always feel comfortable in the suite and since we're sisters, we can talk on a familiar, not so serious tone unlike that of a real professional interview. 

3. When I interviewed the three girls I interviewed, they were all very comfortable and lively in their responses. Each girl was very honest with their answers and I could tell in the tone of their voice that they weren't being fake or felt like my questions made no sense or that it was silly to be answering them. They were polite and sincere which I really appreciated.

Week 9 - Posting 9

Throughout the spring semester, our mini ethnography and preparing for writing it has been the bulk of what we've done in English 104 thus far. Although I was super stressed out in the beginning and never thought I could accomplish this feat, it's gotten much easier. One of the hardest things I've done so far is actually pick a topic. When a student is assigned such a long paper, it's hard to decide what to write about for that long. Also, I thought that the annotated bibliography was hard. It is nice having all of the sources done before writing the paper, however it's hard to find all of the information without knowing if you are going to use it in your paper or not. One of the easiest things has been interviewing my sisters. It was really fun getting to know their responses and how they feel about our sorority and sisterhood. Another thing I thought was easy were all of the blog postings. Because of the blogs, it has helped me keep my thoughts on top of things and focus on this paper. It's helped me keep track of everything and my ideas and since we've done a lot of postings, I can go back and look at them and see what I've written down. If I could go back, I don't know if I would do much differently. I think the process I've done thus far has been pretty beneficial. I think that the blogs will help preparing for my mini ethnography because I can use what's already been written in these blogs and it will make the whole paper writing process a much easier and lighter task. 

Questions in Class.

1. What will my readers care about this issue?

I think that the readers will care about this issue that I'm researching because lots of people are effected by Greek life than ever before. For example, many more children are going to college and since most colleges have fraternities and sororities, it will be something that is around them. Also, parents, grandparents, etc. have experienced or been in a fraternity or sorority so others learn more about Greek organizations. I believe that the readers will care because it relates to them and can put themselves in the same situation.

2. What will my readers want or need to know about this issue?

I think that my readers will want to know the history of my sorority, the types of things we are involved in, the inside working of it rather than just the party scene, and the stereotypes that arise. It is important to know these things especially in making the decision of wanting to join a greek organization. It's important to at least know a little about a topic before making an ultimate decision.

3. What do my readers already know about this issue?

If they are non-Greek, preconceived notions or assumptions and if they are Greek, they know pretty much everything that's going on. To non-Greek members, many people have their ideas of what a sorority or a fraternity is like, basing in an array of correct answers to complete stereotypical ones.

4. If I am trying to persuade my readers of something, how easily will they be persuaded?

Hopefully with my insight they will be very persuaded to not judge organizations so quickly and see what they are really about. Although I know I cannot change everyone's opinion, it will be rewarding to see if I can at least change some people's views on somethings and make them not think so negatively.

5. What will my readers use my writing for?

In choosing if they want to join or learning about sorority and fraternity life and the good things that can come out of it (ex. opportunities, etc.).

Questions!

As my research continues, the main theme seems to remain the same. To my sisters and even a few outsiders, a sorority is something that they would like to try out. However, member or no member sees the stereotypes. Some girls I have talked to that aren't in a sorority believe that they would join however they don't like how some girls in sororities seem to try and make themselves better than everyone else. As my field site is concerned, it remains the same. Our sisters can see the stereotypes and the cliques that have formed and are trying to fight against it. Throughout the six weeks, I'm still in the same place that I was before. Nothing's really changed because I've been an initiated sister the whole time. 

Contributions

Contributions!

I believe that since I am in my field site as a member that I can give a lot back to my community and my school. For example, I do seven hours of community service a semester and I would love to do more (wish I had a car to get out and do more!) I can let our class know more about rush and what being in a sorority is like and all of the philanthropies that each sorority on campus is raising money for so that they themselves can go and support Greek life without being Greek. For my education, I can get scholarships for being in Chi Omega so that helps me have an incentive to work harder. Not to mention with my GPA I am entitled to do one study table hour a week so it gives me a chance to go to the library and study without so many distractions that one would have in their rooms. Also, since I have a high GPA that gives me more of an advantage because if you are below the requirement then you are on social and academic probation which means if you don't get your grades up you can't attend any social events that are put on by the sorority and have to do more study table hours than usual. By being able to let everyone know these details, I am contributing to voicing our cause and to let others know what they can do to help not only Greeks but things in the community. 

Sorority Survey! -- Please take =]

http://FreeOnlineSurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=kdzx1d2si0a4spv550099

Initial Impressions - Groundwork In Class Activity

When I first stepped into my subculture, I cannot even begin to tell you how I nervous I was. Anyone who tells you that going into recruitment is easy and carefree and nothing to be nervous about, has no idea what they're talking about. I mean, you shouldn't be nervous in a sense that something will happen to you or that someone's going to be mean to you, etc. I was so nervous because first in recruitment, you start out traveling to eleven different sororities on campus, talking to girls from each one. Then you vote and it goes down to six. Then down to three. Then to Bid Day where you get only one! It's so nervewracking because you don't know if the ones you love will ask you back or not. My first impressions were obviously proven that I was nervous, scared, and yet so excited to go through this new experience. It's weird, feeling such an array of feelings at once, but I know everyone knows exactly what I'm talking about. 

When I first was accepted into Chi Omega, I only knew four or five girls that I talked to during recruitment that I really liked. Therefore, when I was put into a room with 19 other new girls and 50 of my new sisters, I felt completely awkward and overwhelmed. Yeah I had seen these girls during recruitment but to be completely honest, if I hadn't talked to them they had simply become a blur. I remember asking myself, what in the world am I getting myself into? I don't look like these girls. Some of these girls are drop dead gorgeous, I'm not one of them. However, I believe that everyone feels these feelings when they are first introduced to a group. Everything at first is so so so overwhelming. You're unsure of where to start, who to talk to first, how on earth you're going to remember everyone's names, etc. 

At first, I knew that I was an outsider because it's hard to become an insider right away when you are accepted into a group. For starters, new members are different than initiated members and initiated members can do more than new members can. For example, new members cannot attend formal chapter until they are initiated. Also, new girls cannot hold executive positions obviously until they are initiated. This puts new members out of two categories, being an official sister and on an executive committee. Also, Chi Omega's here at BSU are just one chapter of the many chapters all around the world. If we were to go to other chapters we would be accepted because we are all sisters, however we would be outsiders at first because we wouldn't know the girls and be in the relationships they have formed over the years. 

Annotated Bibliography - Week 6

Archie, Tim, and Jeff Jacobs. “Investigating Sense of Community in First Year College Students.” Journal of Experiential Education 30 (2008): 282-285.

This article is about the sense of community that is found in first year college student. The article explain a lot about how when a student decides to join campus organizations like sororities and fraternities they feel much more at home than they had previously. Studies prove that the more involved the students become the more likely they are to return to that university the following year.

I think this article will help me out a lot because in my mini ethnography I want to talk a lot about how being in my sisterhood has helped me to stay at Ball State University. With the help of this article it is easy to see that involvement not only made me want to return to this school but many other freshmen around the country. Also, it gives sororities and fraternities a good name and reputation, rather than the negative energy that they are usually given.

 

Chi Omega. 17 February 2009.

This website is full of information I can use all over my paper. It has quick facts about Chi Omega and pretty much explains everything we as an entire chapter do. For example, it states our philanthropy, our founders, what other Chi Omega’s around the country are doing, etc. By having this website, I’ll be able to give facts about Chi Omega’s everywhere.

I think and know this website will help me out tremendously because it has so much information about my sorority. By having all of it out in front of me and seeing exactly everything Chi Omega stands for on our own professional site will give me much more insight into exactly what my subculture means.

Box 18 Assignment

Chi Omega Suite

As a sister walking into the suite of Chi Omega, there's a lot that I see. My eyes fall upon the countless numbers of Chi Omega letters and our mascot, the owl, adorned in random sections of the room. Also, all of our bid day pictures, of each new class after the new girls find out the news and join their sorority. Our suite, is a place where Chi Omega is truly flourishing and it can be seen that our sorority to us, is where we're meant to be. I don't find many contradictions in this because this is what I expect as a sister. I expect to feel at home in our suite, in our place where we come up with our ideas, where most of our meetings are held, etc. This place, was the first place I got to meet all of my sisters. This place holds no contradictions for me, only memories and everything falls into place in my mind with our suite just as it should. Everything should be, as it is, in place. Pictures on the walls, owls on the walls, our letters are all around, everything is perfectly placed. 

In Class Writing - Culture Shock

Dressed in blue cotton scrubs and brand new tennis shoes, I felt as if I had stepped into an inferno. I looked down to my right, there were big, brown double doors, and down to my right, a long hallway, filled with different doors which led to different rooms and a large, circular desk at the end. Seeing that the large circular desk seemed more promising, I heavily and nervously walked that way. With each step I took, I swore that the desks appeared to be farther away. The nasty, bright shining lights of the hallway were like lights in the movie "The Shining", just totally creepy and peering down on me. Sweat beating down my brow, I nervously would wipe it away as I got closer to the woman and man sitting behind the desk, peering at me, watching me, making their impressions of me, their new intern. 

My first day working in the burn unit was quite a culture shock for me. It's not really your average idea of a culture shock, but it definitely was. Not only is about a 103 degrees in there at all times because of the patients needing warmth for survival, but working in a hospital is a whole brand new experience. My senior year I was given the privilege (after many interview processes) to join an internship program where you interned in six different sections of a hospital. Since I was very intrigued by the burn unit and reconstructive surgery at this point in time, I was very excited to go. It wasn't very creepy or anything, but like my description, that's how everything felt at first. Going into a brand new place, not knowing what to expect, the nervousness you feel with sweat dripping down your face.. are all feelings that I without a doubt felt at first. I am still utterly at dismay and so thankful and gracious for the Burn Unit, not only for letting me shadow there but their amazing work and all the things that they can do. Working in a hospital let me know that's exactly what I want to do and that even though it was quite the shocker at first, I knew it was where I was destined to be. 

Week 5 - Posting 5

As far as the mini-ethnography goes, I've been taking a lot of mental notes and writing things down to make sure I always stay on topic to get everything done for this assignment. I know I need to do some more interviews of the girls, like my president, our secretary, people of that nature. However, spending more time in my subculture won't be very difficult and I'm not worried about that. For example, I have meetings for my sorority at least three times a week and I have access to the suite whenever necessary if I want to participate in digging deeper and taking distinct notes on what it feels like to be in the suite. Also, there are many philanthropies coming up so I'm going to attend in some of those and hopefully become more involved in my sorority so that I can write more and learn more for my paper. As questions for you are concerned, when are our meetings with you? I don't really have any questions, just would like to see how I'm doing in your class so far this semester and what I'm doing well on or could improve in.

recalling sense of place - more poetically.

Gorgeous sunlight shines through my blinds, a sense of warmth and comfort is brought with the sun rays, inviting me into my quaint bedroom. With every step I take, I walk further into my place of comfort, my abyss, my getaway, my place. I walk closer to the window and the light shines on my face, glistening and bright, I open the blinds more to let the light in. Falling into more comfort, I lay in my fluffy bed, feeling as if I'm laying on a cloud, floating up in the air, riding above and looking down at the world below. I gently close my eyes and forget about the world around me as I curl up in my comforter and sheets, forming into a ball and letting my dreams lead me away from reality.

http://www.totaltravel.com.au/photos/villa-lago/bedroom-large.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1424/534939331_aee7d89073.jpg?v=0

http://images.elfwood.com/art/m/e/melaneyelia/dreaming_my_dreams_with_you.jpg.rZd.131012.jpg

box 15 - recalling a sense of place

Comfy, cozy, and dark... I fall into a safe, comfortable haven of luscious pillows and a fluffy comforter. Whilst I'm in my bed, I can think about everything that's happened that day and curl up in each little crevice spot I've formed sleeping in it over the years. Smells of my shampoo flood over my pillows, creating a sense of safety and self. I've spent so many of my nights here, curled in my brown and turquoise flowered pattern comforter, silently closing my eyes and entering a world full of dreams and discoveries I've yet to unfold.

In my bed, looking up at my lofted ceilings, I can think, dream, and remember anything I'd like to or even not like to have remembered. The brown walls in my room surround it and make it darker at night for me to fall into a deeper slumber. My dreams lift so high, out of my sleepy head, over the ceilings of my room, and into the world for me to find and reach for. There's no place like my bed to fall into.. no place like that safest place, the one you run to, laugh in, cry in, talk on the phone for hours in, place. There's no place like that except my bed for me.

In Class Writing - Dog Town

I believe that this movie is both an ethnographic study and a work of entertainment because they are both discovering the entire skateboarding scene, however, it’s interesting to watch and it’s necessarily just a documentary.. you get into the lives of the skateboarders and into their stories – therefore, a good source of entertainment. The interview subjects in this film are obvious, the skateboarders; they’re important because they can talk about their subculture perfectly because they are a part of it. They move the story along very well because it’s about their lives and they can really tell it how it is and how they feel about the skateboarding scene. In this movie they had so many attitudes, beliefs, rituals, etc that I found very interesting for their subculture which helps develop it. Some of the things include, believing in freedom out to have a good time, using the moves of their favorite surfers to our skateboards, and their devotion to style – always went big! One of their rituals and beliefs that style was everything, if someone had a bad style they were messing up their scene. Artifacts include skateboards, surfboards, their surf shop, where they skated, etc.

I like the structure of the piece a lot. It goes from surfing to skateboarding, which is an interesting tie because skateboarding and surfing are both sports of agility and balance. I found it interesting that these skateboarders were all about surfing and then found a new sport to enjoy.

I didn’t really hold any stereotypes about skateboarders because in high school, my best guy friend was friends with a lot of them so we would always go to this guy’s apartment downtown, which was down the street from the local skate park and hang out. I mean, people assume that skateboarders are big drug addicts and into graffiti and causing a scene, and some of these hold true for the guys I met, however, how many people are out there partying having a good time? Not just skateboarders!

Maybe it’s just me, but I always believe people when they tell me stories.. therefore, I believe the truth in the story of the skateboarders in this movie. When the Pacific Ocean Park was shut down and ruined, it hit me emotionally because they once traveled there so many times to have fun and then all of the sudden it was ruined. “Everything that was wonderful and fantastic was put to death in this decrepit way…” really hits me because I would be so upset if somewhere I loved to go and had so many memories in was torn to pieces, I’d be devastated. I really like in the movie how they compared the surfers to the skateboarders and how the surfing helped them become skateboarders, because the two really are very closely related except for the fact that one’s on water and one on land. 

Posting 4

Observing sororities at different campuses can be quite tricky, knowing that even though the sorority has the same name, it's not totally factual that the members or the ideals of the girls as a whole are the same from campus to campus. For example, I can only imagine how different the Chi Omega's here are compared to the Chi Omega's at IU or Purdue. However, they may be similar. One would only really know if they went into the subculture and viewed it themselves. I imagine that although it's the same name, each group is different. Just like baseball teams practice different, yet the sport of baseball stays the same. Maybe that's a silly analogy but it makes sense to me. I feel like Chi Omega here at Ball State right now is the way it is because of the executive boards and the girls before us. With their help, they've paved the way for great Chi Omega members to flourish and grow. Since I've began my subculture assignment, the general assumptions I've made are the importance of sisterhood and scholarship. I believe however though that sisterhood and scholarship are important to all Chi Omega's around the country (not only because it's in our by laws) but because, grades come first and sisters help you in all sorts of situations. 

Privileges!

A few privileges I have:

*To have grown up in an amazing, caring, loving family.

*To go to college and receive all the opportunities I have been given at school.

*Grow up in a safe, beautiful environment

*To live in the United States of America, where there is so much freedom given to me by men who fought for me.

*To have a strong belief in my faith & my God

*Learning to always be myself and comfortable in my own skin

*The opportunity to have fallen in love & learn from it

*Getting good grades

*Met amazing friends to whom I can have complete trust in

I don't think that these things really affect my research too much except for the fact that all of these things make me a more confident, me. By being confident in myself, I can feel comfortable talking about this subculture and digging deeper into what has recently become very important to me - my sorority. Since my family has given me the opportunity to attend an University, I have been given the privilege of even being able to join this subculture. Also, by going out there and trying new things with new friends I have met, I have been successful in the transitions that this new life in college has brought me. 

Research I've Already Done

In my Chi Omega subculture thus far, I haven't done as much interviewing as I should be. However, I've talked to a few of the girls and they seem really excited to let their opinions be known in my paper. I know I want to talk to them about how they feel about the sorority and the stereotypes. I want to know if they've been stereotyped and what they feel about them. Also I want to know what being in this subculture means to them, if it's been a good experience, a negative experience, etc. 

I've been in my culture spot quite a few times, I was there tonight actually. Our suite! Sensory details there are lots of comfy couches, maroon and gold colors all around, lots of pictures. There's a sense of sisterhood, we're all broadcasted around the room. Also, our mascot is the owl and there's so many cute owls around the room!

I know there will be lots of differences between academic and nonacademic research for me throughout this process, simply because I'm going to do lots of interviews. Not saying that they aren't academically capable, just saying that it's more of their own thought and not straight published books. I have tried the internet though for sources, and the Chi Omega website is a definite amazing research place for me to look!

Discussing my Subculture

With much thought, I've decided to write about my own personal subculture, Chi Omega sorority here at Ball State. My possible fieldsites include our suite, which is located in Woodworth, possibly the houses of some of my sisters, etc. I may also get in touch with the Make a Wish foundation because we sponsor a little girl and raised money to make her wish come true. By being to our suite so many times, there are many sensory details I can remember. It's a very comfortable and relaxing room, adorned with couches and a tv, with little owl memorabilia everywhere. There's also pictures of each new group (as new girls come in and old girls go) all over the room. It's not a very big room and when we get all 80 of us in there, it can get quite chaotic and filled. Since I'm already an insider, I'd like to learn more about Chi Omega and what it means to each girl in our sorority. I'd like to figure out on a deeper level what some of my sisters believe that our sorority stands for and how it's affected their lives (positively or negatively). 

Positioning Yourself

By being an active member in my subculture of choice, I'll face many different obstacles, conveniences, and difficulties. For example, as a nineteen year old female, writing about my sorority will seem simple. I just went through my pledgeship period, therefore I can talk about the transition from being a pledge to an active is like. By being a younger girl (some of the youngest in the sorority) it may affect what I see because the other girls are older and more experienced. As far as subjective positions go, I may become very biased since I'm a member and fight against the stereotypes that me and other girls and also fraternity boys have been given. I wanted to write about being in a sorority because it's convenient since I'm in one, I know a lot of knowledge about it, and I want to learn more about what people assume and what they feel Greek life is all about.

Chi Omega - In Relation to Rick Zollo's Piece

Chi Omega Sorority -
1. Sources of data: my own personal experience and thoughts, interviewing other members in the sorority, our sorority website, encyclopedias, Chi Omega symphony, songs, etc. Also, Greek legends.

2. Methods beneficial to the project - interview process, a survey or a response as to what most people assume when they think of sororities on campus, statistics (having a certain GPA to be in it, how many people are in one compared to not, etc). Observing our meetings and trying not to be as biased as possible

3. Expectations (behaviors, rituals, rules, etc) - I'll be able to watch our sorority function and how we all act together. Rituals like our initiation, pinning ceremonies, etc. Behaviors include maybe arguments as to who we should be paired for homecoming, talking about policies, rules and regulations of the new executive board. Rules - drinking policies, having certain GPA, expectations, etc. Difficulties I may face include not being biased because I'm in the sorority and I know what it's all about. Also, others getting mad at the perceptions of sororities, for example, my sisters when others think we're just "stupid sorority girls". Successes I'll find are being a first hand source and a member of what I'm going to talk about.

Box 2 Page 15 - Response

Getting on the computer - checking all my stuff.

It's a normal, average, gloomy day in the month of January. The dreariness outside makes it impossible for one to want to step out into the cold, or even outside their own dorm room. However, luckily in my college life, I've got one thing that keeps me posted without having to leave my dorm. Oh wonderful technology, thank you for the internet. Drudging out of bed, I slide over to my nicely designed (with magazine clippings on a purple case) Macbook and open it. Instantaneously, the lights light up and I'm subjected to a world of color and brightness. Next, I click on a little icon that looks exactly like a compass, leading me into a technological world full of anything and everything one would like to know. With my fingers as my guide and the keyboard as my trail, I type my way along the path of internet glory. By typing in a familiar address, I can check my email - my own personal mailbox full of what is occurring at school, at home, in my sorority, etc. With other websites (or places of travel) it's easy to spend numerous hours on one's own computer. Perfecting my skills of typing and looking things up, it's a glorious thing I've been taking part of ever since I've gotten access to a computer and one I'm sure I'm nowhere close to being done with.

Sub Cultures - In Class Exercise

Subcultures to which I belong:

Chi Omega Sorority - symphony "...to be, in the best sense, democratic rather than 'exclusive', and lovable rather than 'popular'; to work earnestly, to speak kindly..."; rush & initiation, holding yourself to a high standard - not only represent yourself but the sorority and the girls as a whole; sisterhoods once a month, chapter once a week, philanthropies, initiation, chi omega flower, symbol, greek letters, etc., sense of family - home away from home, power of sisterhood, image that girls in sororities join them because they can't find other friends or are desperate for attention; the image that we party all the time

Photo Editor of High School Yearbook Staff - deadlines, when photos should be taken, composition, what not to put in a yearbook, kind of look dorky from the outside, lots of time and patience to put an entire yearbook together & people don't usually understand how indepth and time consuming it really is

Zesto Ice Cream Employee - located in Fort Wayne, Indiana; work 15-20 hours a week, know the menu like the back of my hand; dealing with people from the outside and trying to please them and make what they want perfectly


Chi Omega Sorority
"You know not only represent yourself but the sisterhood of Chi Omega and all of the members as a whole," our President said, "You must always hold yourself to a higher standard, you're a beautiful woman, and a Chi Omega." The subculture I belong to is one of promise, friendship, and loyalty... a sorority. It takes up a lot of time and yet, in the end, it's all worth it. From the outside, people may see us as the snobby girls, with our big red bags displaying our Greek letters, believing that we're something better than everyone else. However, one does not hold our bag in this way, but displaying the love we share for our sorority, its sisters, and our club. As a sorority, we do much more than the standard thought of us partying, boy chasing, etc. We have philanthropies where we raise money for organizations such as breast cancer research and the Make A Wish Foundation. We also participate in other Greek life activities on campus. All Greek members share a special bond. We have important rituals like pinning ceremonies, initiation, etc. in order for all of us to learn more about our sorority and its teachings. However, I cannot share personal information of our sorority, like that of our initiation, for that's a secret ritual that only members take part in. Chi Omega is a group of random girls however joined together by sisterhood. Yes, there's girls that don't like each other and yes there's drama, like that in any club, but we're family and when we're all joined together in our suite in Woodworth, it's obvious to see that we can put these differences aside and support, fight, and care for our sorority.

Creative Writing Process - Post 1

Whenever I begin the process in writing a paper, any type of paper, the process is quite simple. To most, writing can be somewhat of a challenge. Beginning anything, no matter the task, can seem to some unbearable, scary, and nerve-wrecking. However, I find most solace and comfortability in writing creative pieces. I find that writing exactly how I feel is an excellent way to express myself. In high school last year I had to write a journal entry (2 pages in length) about an experience that had been life changing for me, in a creative style. Instantly I thought of a time when I worked in the Burn Unit of a hospital in my hometown for two months. In order to write this paper or any creative paper, I usually make lists of important memories and ideas that I'd like to convey to the reader. This helps me a lot because when something's important to me, I want to get EVERYTHING out and make it apparent to the reader that I am passionate about it. I also usually always have music playing whenever I write. It calms me down and makes it seem like it's more carefree. Also, when I write, I'm very picky. I've written four page papers before and erased the whole thing because I knew it wasn't the best I could of done or that nothing made any sort of sense. Therefore, revising and editing is very important in my writing process. I like to go through and make changes to make my paper the best it can be, so I can feel confident turning in it. We've all had those papers we've turned in and hesitated letting it slip between your finger tips into the teachers, knowing what you've turned in is complete crap. So, my process is simple.. sit down, turn on some tunes, make a list, and just let your mind go!