The Grammar of Observation

How your observations pull readers in the based on your use of grammar. This is what I learned this week:

1. When using nouns,be sure that you choose words from the list (that you originally created) to created a strong description of your focal point. "A focal point is often a noun - a concrete object in the informants' space that represents more than it actually is" (Fieldworking pg.233). When using these strong nouns, you want the to link to a larger picture.
2. When using verbs, you want to be sure that they capture motion. Instead of using walk, use saunter because it brings out a stronger action although the words mean the same.
3. When using adjectives and adverbs you have to make sure that you let your informants and other data contribute to the material. In other words do not make the assumptions for the reader.

This link goes into further detail and explains the grammar a little differently:
http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/fieldworking3e/pages/bcs-main.asp?v=&s=01000&n=00120&i=01120.01&o=

Diamond Creative Eyebrows

For this blog I decided to observe Diamond Creative Eyebrows in Pawtucket, RI.

-small area, in a strip mall type location
-surrounded by many salons, barber shops, nail shops, etc.
-clean and neat: everything has a place
-has purses, jewelery, etc. for sale as well
-has non-American music/ tv playing
-only two women work at this shop
-neither speak english all that great
-quite a few people came in a once (otherwise not too busy)
-workers do not communicate with customers a lot (only when asking questions)
-do not try to have conversations while cashing out customers like some other businesses do
-has a small waiting room, seats alligned in order around the small divider wall and window wall
-has two chairs for the customers to sit in (as well as a room in back)
-room is overall spacious, no clutter

Lay of the Land

     This week, I am basing my blog post on Professor Williams, "Slide, Roll, Slam" Lay of the Land essay. The part of her essay that I found the most interesting was the different types of people that she observed at the bowling alley. I found her description of the bowling alley itself very helpful because it made you feel like you were present and made it easier to relate to the essay in general. I really liked how she zeroed in on one specific bowler, the "random" guy who wore the shorts and sang Toby Keith's Who's Your Daddy. Also that she observed how he liked wrestling and related that to why he might be packing up his things and leaving earlier than some of the other bowlers. It was really helpful to the reader to get examples of the companies that willingly leave business cards as well as the specials that the alley offers to draw in business.

     I agreed with how she decided to wait until her next observation period to interact with the bowlers and ask questions. I feel it is important to observe how everything runs before you put yourself into the equation. Everything stated in "Slide, Roll, Slam" was well supported because of the many examples offered from her observation. Overall, Professor Williams "Slide, Roll, Slam" essay really gave the reader and accurate account of what it would be like to observe a bowling alley league.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNxhF2_8Vbk

The link included in my blog shows what Professor Williams explains in her essay that the leauge members are quiet yet they still cheer on their team in their own way.

Hair's To You Salon



Hair's To You - Front Window



      My research site is going to be Hair's To You in South Attleboro, Massachusetts. It is located on 638 Washington Street which is also Route One. The owner of the salon is Deidre Dubois who also works as a hair stylist along with four other stylists/ manicurists, some part time and some full time. Hair's To You was voted first place for  'Best Hair Salon in the Attleboro Area' in the Reader's Choice Awards in the Sun Chronicle (which is a newspaper mostly in the Attleboro area) in both 2009 and 2010. Both appointments and walk-ins are accepted, the salon is open Tuesday to Saturday.



     A few questions I have for Hair's To You are; what are the biggest days of the week? As well as the biggest times of the day? Are there a lot of "regulars" (same time, same day of the week, etc.)? Do you get a lot of business being located in a small strip mall? How do you decide who gets the walk-in customers?