assignment one revised third time

7/28/2019 Assignment One Revised Third Time

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Joseph Long

Acceptable Practices in the Union

The place we will be observing is the student union. I just recently started to frequent the

Union as an actor in the figured world myself. If I had to describe the Union to someone who

did not know what it was I would first tell them there are many things that can happen there. It is

a place to eat with numerous restaurants. There is Outtakes, the convenient store, a book store,

and even a Starbucks. Lots of advertisement of events takes place out front of the Union, these

can range from recruiting students for a blood drive, handing out flyers about a party at Bar

Charlotte, or even giving out tickets to sporting events. People come there to do many things

such as: eat, study, lounge, or just meet up with friends. There are many places to sit and do

group work or just work alone throughout the Union. There really are no rules for the Student

Union but everyone knows how they should act in public and these are the guidelines they wouldfollow. Although a good place to study it is not typically quiet like the library. Many students

may express their excitement of seeing each other when they meet up and it being a place to eat

has a constant chatter just like a restaurant may. Since there are quite a number of people there

you most likely wouldnt see people doing things that would embarrass themselves. Their voices

would be kept to a normal talking volume, occasionally you would most likely hear someone

yelling as to get someone's attention or if they are yelling out of excitement. There would likely

not be much PDA between people since it is quite a public place. Inappropriate behavior would

include but not be limited to; public intoxication, extreme PDA, being extremely loud, starting

fights, and any other type of obnoxious behavior. Things such as these would be expected by

others to be done elsewhere due to some possibly considering them to be taboo. I expect to seegroups ranging from the jocks, nerds, just your average student, different clubs meeting, and

even some staff.

Definitions from Bartlett and Holland's work

-literacy practices- are certain acts that likely continuously go on in a figured world. Many

literacy practices get over looked because they are such a common thing, they help make a

certain figured world what it is.

-artifacts- are items that are important to making up a figured world. Artifacts are pretty much

anything used by the actors in a figured world to do something.

-actors- are people who participate in a certain range of literacy practices using artifacts in a

figured world. Without the actors there's no way a certain figured world would exist.

-figured worlds- are places where certain things go on. Figured worlds are filled with actors

using artifacts in certain literacy practices to do something.


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Note: Times are approximate for all three days due to not keeping track of them as I did

my observations. Observations are in order from the time we began till thirty minutes

later.

Observations 1/31/13 3:30pm

3:30, I watch groups of people walking in the door. 3:32, one big black kid comes in walking with his shoulders puffed out like he's badass.

He seemed to have this "cocky" air about himself, the way he walked with his chest

pushed out and head up high like he was above others.

Around 3:35, two guys take turns hugging a girl and they stand and talk. It seems she isgood friends with both of them the way she seems so happy with both of them there.

3:36, I see other people hugging, this is something I notice a good bit in the Union. Dueto it being a meeting place for many people when they greet or depart they hug each

other. Hugs and other ways of greeting people could be considered an artifact due to

their wide use and meaning.

Approximately 3:38, one guy sitting in the Union has a radio, I assume he is staff. Staffare also actors partaking in the figured world because they have a role in making the

Union what it is.

Around 3:42, a girl takes a picture of someone on her phone and begins smiling andlaughing. The cell phone is a large artifact used in the Union. Many people are

constantly texting others, talking on it, or using them in other ways.

3:45, there is a constant chatter of people talking the noise isn't too loud. The constantchatter isn't a problem as it is normal for the figured world, it is when a group of people

become abnormally louder than others when it is out of the social norm for this space. 3:46, about every person who comes walking through is texting on their phone as

mentioned above this is very common as the cell phone is an artifact of this figured

world.

3:48, people take the chairs and slide them around together so they can sit and talk orwork on homework. The Union is a space that gets used for homework often. The upper

levels with chairs and tables make a great meeting space for people to work on things.

Chairs and table serve as artifacts. People use them however they need so they can sit in

groups with others.

3:49, I see a kid walking through with pizza looking around for his friends, he looks lost.It is obvious that he is looking for his friends due to the way he is circling around and

looking at the people for someone he knows. This stands out because normally students

will just casually stroll through the Union and may glance around at what is going on.

3:49, there is always some random person walking down the stairs alone. This isn'tuncommon to see, sometimes they will be hurrying down the stairs and others they will

just slowly be descending while glancing around.


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3:51, a group of black girls are sitting around laughing obnoxiously loud. This is out ofthe ordinary because of how loud they are. Occasionally loud laughter is common, but

when laughter and voices get loud, and stay at elevated levels, it is out of the norm.

Things like that will usually attract a lot of attention from other students in the Union.

3:52, a couple girls come out of Starbucks with drinks they look around and find a placeto sit. I watch as they sit in the love seat together and begin to talk, I don't know what

about but they seem to be enjoying themselves. I notice many people in the Union

enjoying themselves as it is a fairly happy place.

3:54, the union has quiet down a good bit since we first got here. There still is a constantchatter but it is not as loud as it was earlier.

3:55, the upper level where crown is located has numerous people in different areasquietly studying, not an uncommon practice. Some people dont mind being close to

others or where there is noise while studying. Just like in the Office with Dwight,

personal space means a lot to some people.

3:56, I see a couple guys come in wearing shorts and cut off shirts like they just got doneworking, out appears much more worn out than the other. They wonder into Outtakes,

the store that sells different food, drinks, and things such as a convenience store would.

3:56, a really odd looking guy comes sprinting down the stairs and takes off across theunion

Around 3:58, a custodian comes and cleans up where someone spilled a drink, he doesn'tlook pleased. Not cleaning up after yourself is against the rules of the Union, just as it

would be anywhere else. Everyone there is capable of cleaning up after their self, a

custodian shouldn't have to.

Observation 2/5/13 3:30

3:30, the first thing I notice is that there is someone playing the violin in the unionsomewhere. At the time this is the only music I hear but it isn't uncommon to hear

someone playing a piano or other instrument also.

3:31, Outtakes is fairly busy due to classes just getting out. This is normal for this timebecause of the rush that classes getting out causes.

In the middle of the Union there is a big group of students hanging out. Around 3:35, one after another people go to the ATM under the stairs to get money. A girl comes in the door with a big smile texting 3:37, there is a fairly large line at Starbucks, this is from the rush of students getting out

of class also. Coffee is an artifact to many people in this figured world. If you were to

ask them about its importance to them they would likely say it would mean the difference

between making it through the day and not.


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3:40, as time moves on less people are coming to the Union or moving through it, it isless noisy as it was when we first arrived.

3:41, occasionally I will hear someone start to play the piano, they keep starting andstopping. The piano would be considered an artifact because lots of people will come

play it. The back ground music from the piano is usual and I actually enjoy it.

3:43, I keep hearing people randomly getting loud, laughing then quieting down again. 3:45, I watch as a kid comes down the stairs in a hurry. 3:47, two kids walk in together one eating Bojangles as he walks, they join the group in

the middle. This is a group of both black and white kids. They seem to just be standing

and talking, they aren't loud or rowdy as they do so.

3:49, I see two girls studying on one side of the Union they talk and laugh as they do.Some people study quietly but it isn't uncommon to observe people studying and

enjoying themselves at the same time.

3:52, I look away and the big group in the middle was completely gone. They leftwithout making a lot of noise or leaving a mess as they should.

3:55, a girl struggles to get around with her crutches her friends help her out the doorholding them. I like seeing random acts of kindness such as this from people, it shows

that this figured world has caring people instead of many selfish ones.

3:56, there's a fairly large line at Wendys, people of all races, genders, and ethnicities eatat there. You see all different people in the line here as well as other places like

Starbucks and Outtakes.

3:59, I see the kid who was eating Bojangles walking back outside now still eating, hewas the same one from earlier that I saw except he isn't with his friend now. People

eating throughout the Union isn't uncommon due to food being an artifact. It attractsmany people from the campus because of the different selections of places to eat here.

2/7/13 3:30pm

3:31, the first thing I notice is that there is a black girl who was being loud to gain theattention of her friend and then began waiting. This act can be frowned upon by other

students but is understood because people sometimes have to raise their voices to get

another person's attention.

3:33, two janitors are sweeping the floors and picking up trash. 3:34, people keep coming in and out the doors due to the increased amount of activity at

this time. This could be considered "rush hour" for the Union. This happens just about

every time right after classes are dismissed.

3:35, you will occasionally see someone hold the door for the person behind them, this isa common practice. Kind acts and use of manners are very common in the Union. They

are one of the unwritten practices that most people are aware they should follow. It is

common to hear phrases such as "excuse me" and "thank you" while in the Union.


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3:37, I keep seeing people walk through with personal Papa John's pizzas. This seemsout of the ordinary because the Union does not have a Papa John's inside it. It has a

different pizza place. The pizza is coming from an outside location elsewhere on

campus.

3:38, I hear a group of girls laughing really loud, the laughter is for no apparent reason.When this happens other students will stop what they are doing and turn to look at them

many times.

3:40, I can hear some guys getting real loud down by the Wendy's area. I can't see themfrom where I sit but they are being obnoxious.

3:42, there's random people scattered throughout the union minding their own businessdoing their work or talking. Some sit in the chairs down stairs, upstairs in the chairs, and

even some on the floor.

3:43, I hear a kid randomly yell loud, it goes without much attention from other studentsthough.

3:45, I hear a couple kids greeting each other with a loud "what's up" and high five.Greetings like this and other types are common between the actors in the figured world.

3:47, I heard the clack of people playing pool down in Norms. This is the lounge besideOuttakes where people will hang out, eat, and recreate.

3:48, a couple groups of guys come walking through slowly while texting. 3:49, compared to other days the Union is fairly dead. The rush after classes get out

normally lasts longer than it did today.

3:51, a couple girls come out of Starbucks and take a seat together and begin talking. 3:52, a girl is wearing a purple shirt and has purple hair, this is uncommon to see. As

expected most people would have blonde, brown, or black hair. This girl has purple andalong with a purple shirt she stands out over the other students.

3:54, the line to Starbucks has increased out the door spilling into the Union. Many ofthe people who come here for coffee just get it then leave, not as many stay to do work.

Starbucks would count as an artifact to this figured world as many people who are here

go to it and it attracts many outsiders just to get some.

3:56, it's interesting to see the different students from different origins, it is so diverse.The Union serves as a "melting pot" for all different cultures from all over. Everyone

who comes here is just accepted for who they are and aren't looked at different than

anyone else. I like how it is a comfortable/welcoming place to be at and his is apparent

because of the way many other students come here and stay for long periods of time just

to hang out.

3:59, it seems that the union is fairly slow at this time of day people seem to be justsitting around and just talking with friends or doing homework, there isnt much

movement in and outside.


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Interview

For my interview which I had not included in my original final draft, I chose to ask my friend

Corbin Grohol a few questions about the Union. This is because he is not only a friend of mine,

but a full time Engineering student who spends a lot of time on campus.

Me: So when you go to the Union what are the types of behaviors and things you see people

doing?

Corbin: Well typically it always is a bunch of people sitting around talking, studying, or walking

through going somewhere else.

Me: What types of behavior would you usually see going on?

Corbin: A lot of the time I see lots of people being pretty loud cause they are there with friends.

Thats why I never go study there.

Me: What do you believe that these people should really be doing then?

Corbin: Well nothing really, it is the students place to get together so we can do whatever we

want as long as its legal. If you want to study go to the library or go home.

assignment one revised third time

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