01/28/09

I plan to analyze Central Market in Fort Worth. When I moved to Texas last semester and was told about the store, I decided to make a visit and fell in love with the atmosphere and driving force behind the market. It certainly attracks certain types of people - not all the same but most likely with commonalities, and presents food quite differently than other familiar grocery stores. I have done one observation on Monday evening, around 7:00 pm, and will do another observation Friday afternoon (around 2:00 pm.). I beleive I will discover similarities between the types of people that shop at Central Market, a certain (or multiple) purpose that the store is presenting, and qualities about the employees, atmosphere, displays, and design that promote the potential ideas of the store and their meanings.

1/26/09

My favorite spaces from my hometown, Winter Springs, FL, include the Central Winds Park and the local Barnie's Coffee at the Town Center. The park consists of baseball/soccer fields and also has a dog park and a trail running through it overlooking a lake. It is a great place to enjoy the Florida weather with friends, a dog, or just to get some exercise. The other favorite local space of mine, Barnie's Coffee, hosts an open mic night once a week and attracts a gathering of people dining outside at nearby restaurants or simply enjoying coffee from the venue. Both of these places from my community are in the center of the small city of Winter Springs and are within walking distance from my home.

1/21/09

My example is from the book Hot Zone I am reading. The oustide of the book appeals to ethos by stating in large letters across the top "#1 New York Times Best Seller", as well as comments from other well known and respected authors and magazines (Stephen King, PEOPLE magazine, NEWSWEEK magazine) praising the book.

Chapter 1

The idea that everything is in fact an argument was new to me. I had also never considered that prayer or meditation could be considered arguments. In reading the text on Arguments to Meditate or Pray, I discovered that since the action has intention and purpose of change, it can be considered an argument in the way the book describes arguments. The book breaks down arguments into several categories, occasions, ect. which I had never necessarily conceptualized.

I didn't really resist anything in Chapter 1, and instead had an open mind around the concepts the authors were conveying. I found it almost a little to much of a breakdown of an argument for the beginning - although I can understand that the authors were trying to explain the somewhat demanding title.

1/14/09

I'm from Winter Springs, FL (near Orlando) and a Junior at TCU. I transferred here last fall from the University of South Florida to pursue a degree in Nutrition and attend a smaller university. I am also majoring in Psychology.

My reason for taking this course is to fulfill the university requirement; however, I intend to gain a greater understanding of how to structure and criticize an argument in hopes of being able to better succeed in my fields of study and increase my understanding of the world.

Most of my writing is done through email. In addition to the writing done for my courses, I have had recent experience writing a research paper as an assistant to a clinical study in psychology, and applications to a program within the nutrition department at TCU, a couple of universities, a summer internship, an RA position, and other small leadership positions. I don't do a lot of writing for pleasure, although on occasion I will write to direct my thoughts. I enjoy writing when I can find passion in what I am writing about or for and believe I am a fairly well writer (but also note that there is room for growth - probably in my use of language, organization, and clarity).

I consider myself as a part of the TCU community, the community of Winter Springs, Fl (my hometown), the small communities of my sorority both here and my previous university, of my family/friends, and the nutrition majors. I believe that by saying "I am from ___" or "a part of ___" is to in some way define myself as a person connected to society. In this way, my personal identity is somewhat dependent upon the groups I feel a belonging to and my relationships to these groups.

In deciding what type of argument(s) I have made in this blog I am making an argument of definition. I am trying to decide if something relates to a certain definition of a type of argument. I have also made arguments of fact by providing examples and descriptions as grounds for legitimating statements about myself. Having written this blog, I correlated myself to my previous history and some current goals and also made an argument that I will be or am an active participant in the course.

I have read, understand, and agree to the terms of the course syllabus for this course.