Thursday, September 23, 2010
Reading for research.
I've started reading the sources I plan to use for my blog, beginning with a scholarly article researching the effects of LGBT in schools and bullying. The annotated bibliography is due soon and I'll have to print out my sources by then so I can read it all. Almost all of them have a range of nine to fourteen pages! I definately have a lot of work on my hands this Friday, but surely it can't be all that hard.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Progress: Bibliography
After having completely finished writing my research proposal, and having my topic approved, I've started thinking of different questions I could prepare for those I plan to interview for my project. I'm not yet sure whether to create the same sheet of questions for each interviewee, or add different questions toward the end depending on the information my interviewee should know based on their field of expertise. Otherwise, I haven't started writing my annotated bibliography- before I do so I'd like to have the time to read a majority of the sources I hope to use so I can write better summaries and evaluations. I'm currently in the process of doing so.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Leisure's Favorite Spot - Amelia Earhart Park, Hialeah
Today during another mock interview used to prepare us for our research projects, I was required to research my interviewee's hometown and ask them questions in regard to the town itself as well as their personal experiences. My interviewee, "Aron" grew up in the city of Hialeah, Florida.
During my research I was actually able to find very little on the city and what little information I did find often revolved around Amelia Earhart park and what are supposed to be its many attractions. Deciding to find out for myself, I asked Aron a wide assortment of questions, usually regarding not only her childhood experiences but also her favorites and not-so-favorite things of Hialeah, and I inquired her more about the attractions I've heard so much about during my brief time researching the small city.
Aron, although born in Miami, has been living in Hialeah for twenty years- more or less since she was born and still does today. Her favorite childhood memories of Hialeah consist of playtime outside, as well as her favorite spot, Mango Hill. Mango Hill was described to me as a very popular hang-out spot amongst young adults and teenagers, often seen as a place to merely relax and spend time with friends that makes you feel safe due to its enclosed area. Otherwise, however, Aron also revealed to me that if she had a choice, rather than favor living in Hialeah she would love to move to Key West, or to another state higher up North- preferably South Carolina.
As a vacation spot, Aron won't recommend coming to Hialeah- houses are cramped together and backyards often appear to be shared between two houses. There is little privacy, and individuals can sometimes (and very easily) appear exposed. Aron also described a strong notion to me during the interview and decided she certainly wouldn't want her children to be raised in this city.
Despite a dislike for Hialeah (her favorite part about it being her fun, childhood memories), Aron loves the person she is today and is grateful toward Hialeah for helping her shape who she was. It will always be a part of her, but through the good and bad, Aron made a very strong point and itrtoduced a factor -rather a place- that makes it all worthwhile: Amelia Earhart Park.
When asked about it, Aron became delighted, obviously showing a very strong admiration for the park, even saying, "It's one of the best things of Hialeah". When she described it, she mentioned that it is the perfect place for leisure and family affairs. It's the perfect spot for a picnic, and the petting zoo is a great hit with small children who'd love to pet their favorite kinds of animals and feed them food for only twenty-five cents. The park itself is an extremely huge area, spotted by various lakes that are great for paddling. Soccer tournaments are usually held there for kids, and there is even a forest specifically for paintballing. Rock climbing is definately accessible to everyone, and when mentioning the other different things you can find in Earhart park, she also mentioned a fake alligator that sits there, decorating a spot near the lake.
Needless to say, and very much like Aron said, Amelia Earhart Park surely is the place to be if you are in Hialeah and is considered one of the best parts of this small city.
During my research I was actually able to find very little on the city and what little information I did find often revolved around Amelia Earhart park and what are supposed to be its many attractions. Deciding to find out for myself, I asked Aron a wide assortment of questions, usually regarding not only her childhood experiences but also her favorites and not-so-favorite things of Hialeah, and I inquired her more about the attractions I've heard so much about during my brief time researching the small city.
Aron, although born in Miami, has been living in Hialeah for twenty years- more or less since she was born and still does today. Her favorite childhood memories of Hialeah consist of playtime outside, as well as her favorite spot, Mango Hill. Mango Hill was described to me as a very popular hang-out spot amongst young adults and teenagers, often seen as a place to merely relax and spend time with friends that makes you feel safe due to its enclosed area. Otherwise, however, Aron also revealed to me that if she had a choice, rather than favor living in Hialeah she would love to move to Key West, or to another state higher up North- preferably South Carolina.
As a vacation spot, Aron won't recommend coming to Hialeah- houses are cramped together and backyards often appear to be shared between two houses. There is little privacy, and individuals can sometimes (and very easily) appear exposed. Aron also described a strong notion to me during the interview and decided she certainly wouldn't want her children to be raised in this city.
Despite a dislike for Hialeah (her favorite part about it being her fun, childhood memories), Aron loves the person she is today and is grateful toward Hialeah for helping her shape who she was. It will always be a part of her, but through the good and bad, Aron made a very strong point and itrtoduced a factor -rather a place- that makes it all worthwhile: Amelia Earhart Park.
When asked about it, Aron became delighted, obviously showing a very strong admiration for the park, even saying, "It's one of the best things of Hialeah". When she described it, she mentioned that it is the perfect place for leisure and family affairs. It's the perfect spot for a picnic, and the petting zoo is a great hit with small children who'd love to pet their favorite kinds of animals and feed them food for only twenty-five cents. The park itself is an extremely huge area, spotted by various lakes that are great for paddling. Soccer tournaments are usually held there for kids, and there is even a forest specifically for paintballing. Rock climbing is definately accessible to everyone, and when mentioning the other different things you can find in Earhart park, she also mentioned a fake alligator that sits there, decorating a spot near the lake.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Interview Practice
Today in classe we practiced interviewing others in groups on the topic of literacy development. Based on the discussion of my interviewee "Ted", I learned a lot regarding the various ways people like to read, what they like to read and the ways they learned to write as well as a large variety of future goals regarding what a person would like for his or her children and the impact of culture and tradition inside a person's family.
For example, I asked my interviewee a number of questions, including but not limited to the following: When they started reading, what they liked to read and how often, what kind of literacy development did they experience as a child, as well as their experiences learning a second language. I also asked what they would like to plan for their children in the future and whether they'd leave literacy to their own children's interests or directly participate in their learning process.
Ted answered successfully and efficiently to each question, and gave me many answers I didn't expect. For instance, Ted not only started reading in Pre-K, but Ted also learned at home through parents and various Dr. Seuss books. Today Ted enjoys books that are political and have a stronger, "deeper meaning" to their content (for example, Push by Sapphire), but doesn't have as much time to read as is they would like.
Ted is also bilingual, and knows not only English but also Spanish, having learned to speak it as a child inside the house and read and write Spanish at school. Ted is fluent, but today speaks Spanish usually only toward grandparents and clients that are not bilingual and recognize it as their only language. Lastly Ted also supports the program "My Kid Can Read", believing it is a great way to blend today's videogames and other ways to have fun with learning, and thinks it is always best to teach a child to read and write at an early age.
My interview with Ted went very well and needless to say, I learned a lot from our discussion. After this practice, I feel more confident with my interviewing skills and look forward to planning the interviews I hope to have in the future regarding my research.
For example, I asked my interviewee a number of questions, including but not limited to the following: When they started reading, what they liked to read and how often, what kind of literacy development did they experience as a child, as well as their experiences learning a second language. I also asked what they would like to plan for their children in the future and whether they'd leave literacy to their own children's interests or directly participate in their learning process.
Ted answered successfully and efficiently to each question, and gave me many answers I didn't expect. For instance, Ted not only started reading in Pre-K, but Ted also learned at home through parents and various Dr. Seuss books. Today Ted enjoys books that are political and have a stronger, "deeper meaning" to their content (for example, Push by Sapphire), but doesn't have as much time to read as is they would like.
Ted is also bilingual, and knows not only English but also Spanish, having learned to speak it as a child inside the house and read and write Spanish at school. Ted is fluent, but today speaks Spanish usually only toward grandparents and clients that are not bilingual and recognize it as their only language. Lastly Ted also supports the program "My Kid Can Read", believing it is a great way to blend today's videogames and other ways to have fun with learning, and thinks it is always best to teach a child to read and write at an early age.
My interview with Ted went very well and needless to say, I learned a lot from our discussion. After this practice, I feel more confident with my interviewing skills and look forward to planning the interviews I hope to have in the future regarding my research.
Progress!
I've nearly finished my Research Proposal, with all but the Potential Writings and Conclusion done. After writing this I've also gotten more ideas as to what my project will be like, and I have already set out the names of the people I'd like to interview and use as my primary research. I also have more than plenty of questions to help guide my research, most of them focusing on society's views of the LGBT community and also some of the hardships faced that correspond with them. So far I'd say it's working out pretty well, although I haven't exactly taken any real steps to actually starting the interview process. My current focus at the moment is conducting ideas and "mentally" creating an organized structure for my research plan.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Ideas.
So far I've come up with very few ideas regarding my research topic, and what I want it to be on. I want to focus on a topic unique and separate from other topics, and picked homosexuality (or in order to make it more broad, LGBT) as one of my top choices. After last class' group in-class assignment, me and my partners were able to come up with several questions to help focus and guide the direction I'd like my research to go in. Although I've already started working on the proposition draft, and am still unsure whether I'll go through with my choice so far, one of the questions I've decided would suit best for the project would be, "What 'makes' a person's sexuality?"
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