Rules and Conventions Essay The figured world I intend to observe with my group is the J. Murrey Akins Library.

The purpose of the figured world that we are observing is supposed to be a particularly quiet place, which gives the people there a good atmosphere for concentration on reading, writing, studying, or doing research. It is a social norm that people in a library are not to talk, or when doing so, to softy whisper in order not to disturb others. Libraries in general attract a broad spectrum of individuals, such as adolescent children trying to read Dr. Seuss books, to teenagers doing research for school papers, and adults that may just be searching for a new and interesting novel. However, this library in particular primarily attracts college students, faculty, and staff of the University of North Carolina at Charlottes campus, because those are the only people that are technically aloud to use this figured world. The discourse communities I expect to find during this observation are people that study alone, people who study in groups, students playing the teacher role in-group study, the stressed student, and maybe an agitated student from others around him/her breaking the social norms of the library.

Comment [B1]: Good way of explaining the purpose of a library. RR

Comment [B2]: That was a good idea of starting different age groups and examples of why they might be at a library. RR

Comment [B3]: After stating these discourse communities, this would be a perfect place to put in Adult Literacy Education! MDH Comment [B4]: You could include examples of these discourse communities like you did above. For instance, the teacher role you might say one of the actors in a study group might be helping all of the actors in their discourse community, which is giving him/her a separate discourse community of a teacher. MDH Comment [B5]: What does an agitated student look like? Does this student show their frustration by asking the people around him/her to be quite? A Comment [B6]: In this note you might include how each member looked in order to really bring the picture alive of the group. Or even taking pictures so the reader can get a perfect image of the group. AF

Notes 02/05/2013 4:00-5:15 Observed Group working on Mathematics -Each group member had his own laptop -There were 5 individuals in this particular group -Working on Moodle for their homework -1 particular student was helping out the entire group (Asian male, short, Tutor) -There before us until 4:55 -3 left including tutor actor, 2 left behind -1 of the two left behind seemed to have difficulty compared to the rest (Caucasian Male, Tall) seemed frustrated -the 2 still where there when we left 02/06/2013 2:00-3:20 Observing Individuals -2nd floor of the library -More people in the library on this day -Studying on library computers, studying with ear buds in, isolated (individuals in the corner of the library studying by themselves), communities that were writing papers, communities studying slides from classes after printing them -only surfing the internet more specially social media sites, communities texting/talking on their phones (disturbing the people are them), unfocused students (had all materials out but were not doing anything with the material)

Comment [B7]: How was this student frustrated? Was he sweating or how were his mannerisms? AF Comment [B8]: Where was this discourse group located in the library (which floor)? Were they the only people in the library at this time? Where they sitting at a table (it might be a good to really describe the surroundings to help paint the picture in a readers mind)? A

Comment [B9]: These could have been good individuals to interview and find out why they are still there or what is causing them to be unfocused at the library? MDH

02/08/2013 3:00-5:30 Interview Day -1st floor there were a significant amount of people here and bare on the other floors. -the atmosphere of this floor was more comfortable (i.e.. talking and eating food was more accepted -isolated groups (inside glass room), active groups (chemistry; were writing on dry erase boards) -Smaller groups sitting together in single chairs, -individual people seemed more relaxed and talked to their surrounding peers -Rosie interviewed Josh (tall, long blonde hair, average built) -Josh was listen to music while reading a novel -Why were you here on a later Friday afternoon? His roommates were distracting him and he couldnt focus on reading -Why did you choose this part of the library? Because it was located next to the coffee shop -How often do you come here? Few times a week -Do you always come to this floor? Yes, because he likes the location of the coffee shop and it is much more comfortable -When you come here, do you usually come for leisure reading or for studying? Mostly for studying, but on Fridays I come for leisure because I have the whole weekend to study. -What do you expect when you come to the library? A controlled volume and a good place to study.

Comment [B10]: I like the examples of how the atmosphere was more comfortable. RR Comment [B11]: This would be an excellent place to use sociability literacy studies. A Comment [B12]: Good use of examples again. Taking pictures or these events or going into details about the actors of these discourse groups would help bring out the image again. A Comment [B13]: How did Rosie approach josh? For example, what did she say to him and how did Josh react to her coming up to him? MDH

Comment [B14]: Good Artifact! AF

Comment [B15]: Overall it was a good job at stating the rules and conventions of a library. Also, a good job at breaking down each day with the tables. It made each detail distinct, instead of blending into one another. MDH Comment [B16]: Add little details to each note that were outlined above and the picture of all your notes will become very vivid to any reader. A