Script Draft: ASU Studies

Script Draft

Today in class news is the story of the many different types of people that coexist here at ASU. People who come from all walks of life, have various interests of studies, and are motivated by different things. There are those who have the love of teaching and wish to help raise the next generation, and there are others who wish to make this world a better place by synthesizing new medicines. Others still choose to study the financial aspect of life, one such aspect that is oh so prominent in the lives of every citizen, and then there are people who wish to study the culture and languages of people around the world.

No matter who they are, they all play their part in the going community of ASU, and all have their own story to tell of how life is in their specific field of study. Emily , a freshman who is majoring in secondary education, had this to say on why she chose to be in this specific field of study: “I picked this subject because, well, I love to teach and help people, and I thought, ‘what better way to do this that to teach.’ Also I chose history as the specific part of teaching because if find it strangely fascinating and I have a weird, some might even say crazy, obsession with reading about past events.”

This is clearly shown in her motivation to work as hard as see does, seeing as she has 15 credit hours of class, works 20 or more hours a week, participates in Church events, and still finds time to study anywhere from 35-40 hours a week. This is just a glimmer of some of the hardships that college students go through, and in talking to a number of other students, as well as Emily, the reason as to why they go through this became apparent. For Danny, who is a senior majoring in accounting, he chose to return to school and finish his degree so that he could “support my family, and ease the stress that my wife feels in working and dealing with our 2 year old son”, a very legitimate reason and goal. Even at age 31 Danny was determined to make life better for his family, while Shauna, a linguistics major, wants to help more than just her family, she wants to help the world.

When Shauna was being talked to about why she chose her field of study and how much she studies, she told us: “I can’t tell you why I chose this subject, I just did. In high school I hated languages, but now I love ‘em. As for the specific study of Arabic? It is an odd language that intrigued me, and is in high demand for translators right now along with Spanish. And, as a side thing I got to take some Italian and French and Portuguese classes, so I know some of that too.” And, for that she studies around 25 hours a week on top of her classes and working full time as a server at Denny’s.

The differences between students is not solely based in their fields of study, but also how they work best and how much they study, as well as what they wish to do after they gain their degree. While all of the students that were talked to wanted to have a job right out of college, and one specifically in their field of study, only one mentioned ever wanting to leave his field of study after having his degree. Scott, a Chemical engineer major noted that he will stay with his career “As long as I find interest in it, hopefully my whole life”, but when asked if he would ever change fields he told me “yeah, in a heartbeat if I found something I loved and that interested me more.” While this is not strange, his attitude toward how he would feel about leaving a career he planned to spend 8 years in college for and hundreds of thousands of dollars on was strangely nonchalant, and all of the others were adamant in their desires to stay in the specific major that they had mapped out.

This lead to the question of whether or not the amount of time put in mattered to the care of the profession. It is hard to fathom that 8 years of school could seem like nothing, but in Scott’s case that is exactly what it is, 8 years of class and very little studying. For the others,  they put in numerous hours of study time in a week, and have almost fully devoted themselves to their specific topic. Although both Shauna and Danny are married and Danny has a child, their days and nights seem to be filled with long hours of studying something they have a passion for. Even in Emily’s case, although she is single and is far away from her Albuquerque home her time spent away from school and work are filled “Reading and research, that is all I seem to do”, these three individuals are dead set on their goals and highly motivated to keep them unchanged. The common ground for them is the fact that they all study 20 devoted hours or more a week, while Scott only spends 10-15 hours while he is at work.

All these students were impassioned about their studies at the time I spoke to them, and all of them had very different fields to study; ranging from languages to chemistry, and math to history. All of them loved what they are doing, and found that their schooling was gratifying, if one of the most difficult things they have ever faced, and although they all wanted jobs, none of them had the same reason for that want. The only common ground that was found between all four of them was the fact that they all felt “like I have a purpose” as they work towards their degree. This purpose is what motivated all of them to work as hard as they do.

I’m Russell Shearman and this is ASU.   

Interview

This is the bulk of my interview material. I was unsure if you wanted to see this, so I thought I'd post it.

People interviewed:

A.     Danny-Accounting (business, Sr.)

B.      Emily-Secondary education (history, Fr.)

C.      Scott-Chemical engineering (synthetic development, Jr.)

D.     Shauna- Linguistics (translation Arabic/Spanish/Italian, Jr.)

Interview questions:

1.      What is your major and what year are you in school?

A.     Accounting, senior

B.     Secondary education, freshman

C.     Chemical engineering, junior

D.     Linguistics, junior

2.      Why did you pick that specific major? What is the more specified part you wish to be in?

A.     “I have always found interest with numbers and business, but I was never good enough to be one of those big shot mathematicians or engineers, so I settled with something that I can do and that I hope to enjoy. As for which part of accounting I would want to be in, I’d have to say either big business or banking.”

B.     “I picked this subject because, well, I love to teach and help people, and I thought, ‘what better way to do this that to teach.’ Also I chose history as the specific part of teaching because if find it strangely fascinating and I have a weird, some might even say crazy, obsession with reading about past events.”

C.     “For me the major kind of fell into my lap. I knew I was interested in chemistry, but I didn’t do well in math my first year of school, after that though I have worked hard and gotten good grades, and am well versed in both math and chemistry, so I thought ‘hey I enjoy this, so what can I do that incorporates both?’ and that’s how I became an engineer. Why chemistry specifically, I like reactions and making stuff.”

D.      “I can’t tell you why I chose this subject, I just did. In high school I hated languages, but now I love ‘em. As for the specific study of Arabic? It is an odd language that intrigued me, and is in high demand for translators right now along with Spanish. And, as a side thing I got to take some Italian and French and Portuguese classes, so I know some of that too.”

3.      How much studying do you tend to do weekly, and daily?

A.     “20 or so hours, 4 hours 5 days a week, I save the weekend for my family.”

B.     “I couldn’t tell you probably close to 35-40 hours, especially since most of my stuff is reading. Daily, depends on my classes but I save Sundays for ‘me’ time so however 35-40 hours 6 days a week comes out to be.”

C.     “Um, probably like 2-3 hours 5 days a day, mostly while I’m at work, so like 10-15 hours a week.”

D.     “I spend almost all of my free time in between classes and work studying; I would say that amounts to almost 5 hours a day. Though I tend to not study on Saturday or Sunday since they are my busiest work days. Over all about 25 hours.”

4.      What type of work do your studies revolve around?

A.     “It’s hard to describe, the best way to say it is how much money is messed with versus how much money was allotted.”

B.     “Reading and research that is all I seem to do.”

C.     “Math and chemistry, my other classes and studies are random things ASU requires for a degree and hold no value to my specific one.”

D.     “Practicing my reading and writing of the languages, researching cultures, and talking to people from class in forums online and in person.  

5.      Is this challenging for you, and do you enjoy the subject matter?

A.     Not really and yes

B.     “No I love it too much to notice if it is hard.”

C.     “Sometimes, and for the most part.”

D.     “At first it was, but now my brain is sort of rewired for it, and of course I like it.”

6.      How much schooling do you plan on accomplishing?

A.     Masters

B.     Bachelor’s, maybe a masters

C.     Masters

D.     Bachelor’s

7.      What are your ambitions while you are in school, and after you have finished school?

A.     “Work hard and take care of my family while earning good grades, and hopefully some good recommendations so I have a job right after.”

B.     “To go through school with minimal distractions, and to get good grades so I can hopefully have good teacher reviews when I look for a job. Have a job as a high school history teacher.”

C.     “Get decent grades and find a job in Colorado as an engineer while going to CU Bolder for my masters.”

D.     Did not ask.

8.      When did/do you start your specific major classes?

A.     Junior year

B.     “I have already started some as a freshman, mostly because I want my degree in three years and I have the time as a student teacher.”

C.     Sophomore year

D.     Freshman year.

9.      How long have you wished to be a participant in this field of study?

A.     “lifetime career choice”

B.     “As long as I find interest in it, hopefully my whole life.”

Follow up: would you ever change professions?

            “Yeah, in a heartbeat if I found something I loved and that interested me more.”

C.     “Until they force me to retire.”

D.     “As long as I’m useful and there are other languages to learn.”

10.  Which year of schooling do you think is the hardest in college?

A.     “My senior year has been, I have had to make up classes I didn’t realize I had to take, so my work load is enormous.”

B.     “I think next year will be. All the super high level math and science classes are going to take a lot to understand and master.”

C.     “I have no idea, probably next year because I hope to take 20 credit hours and still be able to work, so I can live off campus.”

D.     Didn’t have the chance to ask. 

ASU Reacts: Surprise in the State.

Script:

There are times in life that seem to baffle us all, and for Xi Jinping, who is now one of the worlds’ most powerful men, this is no different. He grew up as close to royalty as is possible in China, with a father that helped to govern in the National Communist party, until one day his father passed from favor and was forcibly removed from office. After struggling through his adolescence and early adult years Xi Jinping has found himself back in the capitol, working for the same government that cast his family out. Shauna Barlow, student that attends the University of Arizona, had this to say: “I think that it is just remarkable how someone can forgive so readily and work with those who hated him”. She is quiet right, it is a remarkable feat for him to attain, and in speaking with the villagers, whom were ordered to stay silent there was a glimpse of what Xi Jinping was like in his youth. Those that would talk to us remembered a boy who worked very hard and wanted the best for his village. We can see that desire for a better village in what he is doing now, Xi is having major renovations done throughout his village. Some of the older villagers do not feel this to be a good thing, while others could not praise him enough. Chelsea Neuhiesel, a psychology major at Mesa Community College, was very impressed with Mr. Jinping and told us: “I wish we had more go get ‘em type people in our government, people who would do they felt was right to improve our nation, more people like Xi.” The general consensus about Xi Jinping has been outright praise and admiration, maybe his arrival in China’s government will mark a new age of interior improvements.

I’m Russell Shearman and this is the story.  

Genre Analysis: For China's Rising Leader, A Cave Was Once Home

Genre Analysis: ForChina's Rising Leader, A Cave Was Once Home

            This article revolves around anonymity that clouds one of the worlds’ most powerful men, Xi Jinping, who is set to become the next general secretary of China's Communist Party. To analyze the situation National Public Radio (NPR) uses a variety of tactics, ranging from firsthand accounts of people in the village that Xi Jinping grew up in to the humble and impoverished beginnings that he had. They use anyone who will talk to them, for they were commanded to not speak to the press, to tell the story of Jinping. They have found an 84 year old man who spoke and told of the good nature of Jinping and the background in which both his father and he grew up in. He recounts the knowledge that he has of both father and son, greater connecting the listener to the story.  They also use pathos to try and humanize a man who is almost completely unknown to the public.

            They share stories of Jinping’s father being removed from political favor and moving out to a poor country cave house with his family, and Jinping growing up with nothing, even sharing his father’s bath water with his other brother. NPR utilizes techniques of incorporating the live and primary account of people who knew Jinping, or at least knew of him in the village to shed light on the darkness. The reporters and villagers alike show Jinping in a favorable light, one of a life of hardship and struggles, which made him a good man, the man that is helping to improve their ancient and broken village. To show how he is using his power in a good way the reporters interview, and personally see, the how the village improvements are helping; as well as to some hindering and destroying the tradition. But, for the most part people see the effects of knowing Jinping to be beneficial and very helpful.

            To sum up what NRP uses to portray Xi Jinping in their news story, they use firsthand accounts; of those people in the village that knew him, as well as some that knew his father, they lay out as many works as they can find on him out for people to see and know, albeit putting him into a favorable light, the reporters show the struggle that he had to grow through; as a child and adult living in poverty, and finally they tell a tale of who he is today compared to who he was in the past. All of these aspects lead to assumptions being made and opinions forming about a man who will, in a weeks’ time, have great power over not just a nation, but a world. 

For project three I would like to do my podcast on the different areas of studies, and how each one affects the person studying it. 

'Project 2 Reflection: Strained

During this project I do have not felt as confident as in the past; I was struggling, that is something that I rarely find myself doing. This project was one in which I found new ground to be broken. While yes, I had written evaluations before they were always on something that was tangible. This project took me into a field of the intangible, both in how the project was created as well as what the project was developed on. I struggled with the fact that I had no idea how to evaluated a concept, and even before that, what I should evaluate. Even once my subject was picked the troubles didn’t cease. There then came the question of ‘how am I going to do this’, and ‘what am I going to show’. The writing in itself was not an easy thing, but incorporate putting this online, well that just escalates the problems. The main issues I found were one- I didn’t know how to put online, and two- my evaluation was sub-par and leaned more towards a documentary of physics in life.

            In the end however I felt that the website that I developed was well crafted and a strong piece of engineering, and my evaluation was mediocre. There needed to be a more personal feel to my writing than there was. It was to general and didn’t include all that I felt was necessary. That and the fact that the ideas I had in my head were not flowing onto the page like normal, I assume it was because I had them broken up into different sections and documents.

            To improve this, is a matter of incorporating a more biased opinion. Make the situation out to be good or bad, and leaving no room for neutrality. After that I would need to add more research not only into the actual project, but as a background for building a strong evaluation.

            To apply this outside university is a matter of when. If using in a career it depends on what field, some require an evaluation of multiple places and buildings to right reviews or provide insights, while others might use to provide a basis for events or future projects. If utilizing outside of a work environment and inside a personal setting the situations would mainly depict places that are liked and should be visited as well as places that are disliked and should be avoided.

            All in all, this project was a stretch for me. As we progress from formal writing to this more informal and impromptu subject matter the difficulty of the writing increases. There is no doubt in my mind that the next project will be even more difficult for me, for the sole reason that these projects have a lot of room for opinions to play a factor.