New Observations of a place: Worksheet

Project #1 Worksheet                                                          

Your Place: ASU Bridge

What are the intended functions of the place?

-to connect north campus to central campus

-to walk across

-an overpass on university

What overt messages does the place send (i.e., openly communicated through signs)?

-It’s ASU related

What covert messages does the place send (i.e., hidden messages)?

-escape from the crosswalk

-professional

-clean

Have previous users left traces behind in the place?

-through footprints maybe

-dropped gum

Has the place been re-appropriated (i.e., beyond its original functions)?

-Not that I know of

What social or cultural customs did you observe (i.e., rules governing appropriate behavior)?

-need to be cautious of steps you take

-aware of the people around you

Who has access to the place?  Are there insiders and outsiders?

-anyone has access

Who owns the place?

-ASU owned

What is the place’s value (i.e., monetary or otherwise)?

-High value

Are there official representations of the place (i.e., online, in promotional materials)?  Do they accurately capture the place as you experienced it?

-Information on the ASU website, but doesn’t explain the hidden messages that one could experience

Is the place in transition, a changing place?

-Not as nice and new as it was once built, changing with time due to its increase in age

What conflicts or tensions are there in the place?

-One might trip and fall on their way up or down the bridge

What is the place’s history?  Do you see evidence of the past there in the present?

-built many years ago

-not much evidence of the past

How does this place differentiate itself from other places?  What other places is it similar to, but how is it different from those places?

-It’s the only bridge on campus

-it’s similar to any crosswalk because of all the people crossing at once, but excludes the cars crossing over

What questions do you have about your place?

-Why isn’t it painted to represent ASU colors?

Key Features / Profiles (taken from the Norton Field Guide (Goggin and Bullock) Chapter 16, pages 165-166)

An interesting subject.  What is unusual about your place?  Alternatively, is there something ordinary about it that you can show in an intriguing way?

-The number of stairs is unusual. It’s painted plain colors but suggests that it has a professional status compared to the other building surrounding it.

Any necessary background.  What background information will you need to include about the place in order to situate readers?

-I will need to make sure to include the location.

An interesting angle.  Rather than trying to tell readers everything about the place, what angle(s) might you use?

-You could use angles from afar, such as looking at the place, then an angle of actual being on the “place” and then another angle describing the feelings one might experience while being at the place.

A firsthand account.  Did you interact with people in the place or participate in some way?  What experiences did you have there that you can write about using “I”?  (Yes, first person point of view is encouraged, especially for this paper.)

-There is always people constantly walking over the bridge in one direction or the other so its easy to come in contact with many people. However depending on the amount of people you’re with, one might be silent walking along by themselves where as a group of people are all talking amongst themselves.

Engaging details.  What specific information must you include in your description of the place?  What potential does your place have for the use of sensory images, figurative language, dialogue, anecdotes, and showing rather than telling?  What do you want the dominant impression to be?

-I must include the shape, color, surrounding objects, smell and feelings generated when crossing the bridge. The description of my place can paint a picture in the mind. I want the dominant impression to be surprised after being told the many different meanings this place can hold.

Generating Ideas and Text (taken from the Norton Field Guide (Goggin and Bullock) Chapter 16, pages 168-169)

Explore what you already know about your subject.  Why do you find this place interesting?  What did you already know about it?

-I already knew it was a bridge connecting parts of the campus. I found the shape, color and sounds at different times of day while crossing very interesting, as well as the feelings it generates.

If you’re planning to interview someone, prepare questions.  What would you like to ask someone in the place in order to better understand it?

-How does the bridge make you feel before crossing/after crossing?

-What do you most often hear while crossing?

-Do you prefer to take the stairs or ramp on your way up/way down?

-Do you find yourself looking over the ledge once on the top?

-How do you feel once making it to the peak?

-Do you catch yourself looking down on your way down?

Do additional research.  Does your place have an online component?  How else might you gather additional research?

-It has information on the ASU website, with little information and brief details.

Analyze your findings.  What patterns, images, or recurring ideas or phrases did you use to describe your place?  What contrasts or discrepancies do you see?

-I used a lot of imagery to describe my place. A recurring idea that kept coming up was the idea of power that the bridge suggests and gives while at the top.

Come up with an angle.  What is most memorable about your subject?  What most interests you?  What will interest your audience?

-The thing that interests me most about the bridge is everyone’s reaction and how different yet similar they all tend to be. I think the thing that will interest the audience the most will be the different perspectives to look at the place and all the hidden meanings one might see when looking at all the aspects of the bridge.