My Final Project

http://bmerrigan.weebly.com

Notes on Bowling Ethnography

After reading Professor Williams' ethnography on the Hanover Bowladrome I learned a few things about bowling but I also found ways to improve my project.  I took notes for myself to look at while I write my final project.  I wrote down ideas that I could use in my project.  They were mostly about the analysis and where she put it in to her essay.  Also the way she split up her different sections.  I think this gave me and idea of what I have to do in my project as well as learn a few things about bowling.

Interviews

I found the article, I Can Read and I Can Write by Jeannette Edwards, to be very interesting.  It was different because it just had him talking the entire time instead of including questions the author asked.  What Lee had to say in the interview itself was also interesting.  It was a very moving and influential piece.  It showed a lot about the time period he lived in and the company he worked for.  He was lucky in that his boss helped him learn to read but then he horrible luck when he got demoted.  It was an up and down story, which is why I found it interesting.

Bowling Interview

After reading the interview on the Hanover bowling alley I have a much better idea of how I am going to research my project.  I think it was pretty cool how the bowling leagues had their own little communities.  The moms brought their kids their and they would run around and do their homework.  I thought it was funny that people would just come up and start talking to Mrs. Williams.  I would assume it will not be that easy for me but I just thought that was interesting.  I did not think as many people bowled as their you used to be but she mentioned that it was so packed that she had to park at the sub shop next door.

Group Presentations

Group presentations are going well so far.  My group is focusing on Document Design and everyone has to research their topic.  We are making progress even though we have short time to prepare.  I am specifically focusing on how to keep the reader focused.  I have a few website thats I am looking at to include in presentation.  Hopefully we can finish by tomorrow so we do not have to meet as a group outside of class to finish.

My Midterm Portfolio

http://bmerrigan.weebly.com/

My observation at crimson

I am at Crimson Dining Hall and it is a little after six o'clock.  It is very busy here and I am finding it difficult to concentrate on things because of all of the confusion.  There are very few tables that are not already occupied.  People are standing scanning to see if they can find an open table.  The workers seem to be very calm despite the crowd and long lines.  This seems weird to me because I figured they would be flustered and running around.  I am sitting in the corner so everyone is in front of me and I have a good view of everyone.  Some people are watching the TV but most are just conversing with your friends.

Project Site

I am doing my project on the Bridgewater State Club Lacrosse team.  I know a lot about lacrosse which is why I am so interested in this topic.  I think because I have played my whole life it will be easier for me to write this paper. I know how to play, the rules, positions, and basically everything there is to know about lacrosse.  I also know that the team is club and that they do not have a lot of players on the team.  From hearing about the team I have gathered that they did not have a good record last year.  I also have figured out that they have just recently started practice last weekend.

There are many things that I want to know about this team.  I want to know who there coach is and who the players are. As of right now I am not familiar with any of the players on the team.  I want to know where they practice, how much it costs to be on the team, and how far they have to travel for games.  I am also interested in who they play and some of the history of the team. I also want to know if the players are friends outside of lacrosse and if some of them live together or not.  Finally I am interested to see if the players have played in high school or somewhere else before or if this is their first time playing the sport.

Iowa 80

I agree with a lot of things that Rick does in his ethnographic study of the truck stop Iowa 80.  His conclusion intrigues me the most because he goes on to say how he himself does not know if he even find out everything there is to know about the truckers and the truck stop.  He asks himself if he had truly experienced the culture and community of the trucker world.  He still believes that through his research that he chose the best way to go about finding out about the truck stop.  I also found it interesting how he made it seem through out his whole essay that all of the interviews took place on one singular Friday night.  In the introduction it does explain that it takes place over numerous Friday nights.  I found myself asking why does he make it seem like it was all in one night?  I think it is because it helps the essay flow a lot better and does not force people to try and figure out which interview is which night and so on.