Introduction
As more and more people travel using
airlines there is a stronger need for security to make sure passengers
are safe. In recent years Airport Security especially in the United
States has shifted from being very relaxed needing to only walk through a
metal detector, and has changed to the highly stressful and time
consuming operations of airport security we have today. There have been
many changes made to supposedly improve security such as innovations to
planes, how much liquid you can carry through security, the scanners
that are now placed at security check points, a greater amount of
security, and who regulates airport security. Have these changes made
airports and air travel safer or have the changes simply provided
travelers with a false sense of security,
because of people becoming smarter than the system learning how to
bypass these changes?
A little over a decade ago airport security
consisted of a short stroll through a metal detector to apprehend
someone who may be trying to carry a gun onto a flight. The only
struggle was to remove your belt and spare change that may be in your
pockets (3). Then the tragic event of September 11, 2001 occured where
four United States
commercial jets were hijacked crashing into important United States
structures. This event provided the country with a wake
up call to change Airport Security regulations from a relaxed procedure
to the stressful time consuming operations America's airports now
follow. The government in response to the hijackings changed who would
be in charge of airport security. Before 9-11 airport security was the
responsibility of the airport itself. Now after 9-11 the government is
in charge of airport security. This branch of the government is called
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) which is a branch of The
Department of Homeland Security. TSA is comprised of nearly 50,000
security officers, inspectors, air
marshals and managers who protect the nation's transportation systems by
screening for explosives at checkpoints in airports, inspecting rail
cars, patrolling subways with law enforcement partners, and working to
make all modes of transportation safe (6). This increase in security
personnel took place progressively over the years after the event of
9-11. Security is TSA's highest priority. Nearly 2 million passengers
are
screened everyday by TSA's highly trained workforce that works to ensure
the safety of the traveling public (6). Along with an increase in
security personnel there was an increase in such things as scanners for
luggage and body. At TSA security check points one must wait in line for
a varied amount of time. Going through security may take minutes or
multiple hours. This is why many travelers are frustrated and stressed
over the process and regulations of current security. They say travelers
should arrive at the airport two hours before the destination time of
their flights because of the possibility of long waits at security check
points. There are two types of scanners located at TSA checkpoints.
These include luggage and body scanners. The luggage scanners scan carry
on luggage, shoes, and articles of clothing such as jackets for banned
items. The body scanners include millimeter wave and X-ray scanners.
There are 300 millimeter-wave scanners currently in U.S Airports
compared to 250 X-Ray scanners (7). Another change that took place is
how much liquid can be brought through security. Liquids, aerosols and
gels, in limited quantities, are safe to bring
aboard an aircraft. Each traveler is allowed one bag in order to limit
the total volume of liquids, aerosols and gels. Here are the guidelines
liquid carry on: 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by
volume); 1
quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in
screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume
each traveler can bring. 3.4 ounce (100ml) container size is a security
measure (8). This change has been noticed by the travelers and can be
frustrating if check luggage is lost during the course of a flight. More changes that took place were not in the airport but rather on the
actual planes. These changes to the plane were directed to prevent the
ability for hijackers to gain access to the cockpit of the plane. For
those who do not know what the cock pit is. The cockpit is where the
pilot and possibly a co pilot are in control of the plane and are in
contact with local airport watchtowers to confirm their location,
weather conditions, and plane emergencies. During the hijackings of 9-11
air traffic controllers lost contact with the pilots, because the
hijackers took over the cockpit which lead to radio silence from the
flights. To avoid this from happening again cockpits are now reinforced
with bullet proof doors. Cockpit doors have changed from simply
providing pilots with a quiet work environment to being strictly
designed to protect the pilot from attackers (5). The most recent change
is to allow airline pilots to carry a firearm in cockpit. Capt. Fred
Bates, an American Airlines pilot said as many as a third of U.S.
pilots, or about
30,000, could be carrying weapons on the flight deck in five
years (9).
Now that you know some of the changes that
have taken place in the past decade in regards to airport security. The
paper will now look into if these changes have made airports and air travel safer or are the changes
simply provided travelers with a false sense of security, because of people becoming smarter than the system
learning how to bypass these changes. New security procedures have provided more protection to travelers. With the many scanners and TSA agents on the look out for banned substances airport security definitely has become safer when compared to fifteen years ago. The public wants the airport experience to be predictable, hassle-free
and airtight and for it to keep us 100% safe. But 100% safety is
unattainable. TSA's mission is to prevent a catastrophic attack on the transportation
system, not to ensure that every single passenger can avoid harm while
traveling (2). TSA's job is to manage risk, not to enforce regulations. Terrorists are
adaptive, and we need to be adaptive, too. Regulations are always
playing catch-up, because terrorists design their plots around the
loopholes (2). These few statements show that the airport security system is there to catch large safety concerns and sometimes dangerous items can make it through security. When looking at how people are adaptive and will find ways around the system the list of banned items has created an "Easter-egg hunt" mentality at
the TSA. Worse, banning certain items gives terrorists a complete list
of what not to use in their next attack. Lighters are banned? The next
attack will use an electric trigger (2). In order to counter attack new ways hijackers will try to pass through security the TSA has to use their imagination to prevent future ideas hijackers have for getting past security. Kip Hawley a former head of TSA said "I think you have to be aware of all the possibilities and have security
that is flexible and smart," he said, "even to find plots you can't
imagine." (4). U.S. officials told ABC News they believe fortified cockpit doors and
armed pilots and air marshals make another hijacking highly unlikely (4) because it presents fear in hijackers because armed pilots and air marshals identity are confidential and are random. It factors in that what if thought which will help prevent hijackings.
Conclusion
My research question for this paper was have these changes made
airports and air travel safer or have the changes simply provided
travelers with a false sense of security,
because of people becoming smarter than the system learning how to
bypass these changes? In response after researching this topic my conclusion is that the new airport security does provide travelers with a false sense of security. With nearly 2 million passengers
screened everyday by TSA's workforce (6) and hijackers adapting to regulations airport security can not be one hundred percent effective. That is why our security presents itself as a large force that will stop all forms of harm to travelers, but in reality it is not possible to be perfect and mistakes happen. Therefore airport security provides us with a false sense of security when traveling. However airport security is on the right track and with time will keep improving preventing future hijacking threats.
Works Cited
Popular sources
1) Mann, Charles C. "Smoke Screening." Vanity Fair., 20 Dec. 2011. Web. http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2011/12/tsa-insanity-201112.
2) Hawley, Kip. "Why Airport Security Is Broken And How to Fix It." The Wall Street Journal., 15 Apr. 2012. Web. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303815404577335783535660546.
3) Seaney, Rick. "9 Ways Security Has Changed Since 9/11." FareCompare., 7 Sept. 2011. Web. http://www.farecompare.com/ask-rick/9-ways-security-has-changed-since-911/.
4) Ross, Brian, Patel, Avna, and Cole, Matthew "10 Years
Later: 9/11 Security Then and Now." ABC News. ABC News Network, 8 Sept. 2011. Web. http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/10-years-911-security-now/story?id=14466068.
5) Collins, Dan. "Bulletproof Cockpit Doors A Reality." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 4 Apr. 2003. Web. <http://www.cbsnews.com/news/bulletproof-cockpit-doors-a-reality/>.
6) "Transportation Security Administration." Transportation Security Administration. The Department of Homeland Security, n.d. Web. <http://www.tsa.gov/careers>.
7) Groeger, Lena. "Scanning the Scanners: A Side to Side Comparison." Top Stories RSS. N.p., 28 Dec. 2011. Web. <http://www.propublica.org/special/scanning-the-scanners-a-side-by-side-comparison>.
8) "Transportation Security Administration." Transportation Security Administration. The Department of Homeland Security, 30 Sept. 2013. Web. <http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/3-1-1-carry-ons>.
9) "Pilots Now Ready to Carry Guns in Cockpit." ABC News. ABC News Network, n.d. Web. <http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=125224>.
Book sources
10) Sweet, Kathleen M. Aviation and Airport Security: Terrorism and Safety Concerns. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, 2004. Print.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
Research Paper-Introduction
Introduction
As more and more people travel using airlines there is a stronger need for security to make sure passengers are safe. In recent years Airport Security especially in the United States has shifted from being very relaxed needing to only walk through a metal detector, and has changed to the highly stressful and time consuming operations of airport security we have today. There have been many changes made to supposedly improve security such as innovations to planes, how much liquid you can carry through security, the scanners that are now placed at security check points, a greater amount of security, and who regulates airport security. Have these changes made airports and air travel safer or have the changes simply provided travelers with a false sense of security, because of people becoming smarter than the system learning how to bypass these changes?
As more and more people travel using airlines there is a stronger need for security to make sure passengers are safe. In recent years Airport Security especially in the United States has shifted from being very relaxed needing to only walk through a metal detector, and has changed to the highly stressful and time consuming operations of airport security we have today. There have been many changes made to supposedly improve security such as innovations to planes, how much liquid you can carry through security, the scanners that are now placed at security check points, a greater amount of security, and who regulates airport security. Have these changes made airports and air travel safer or have the changes simply provided travelers with a false sense of security, because of people becoming smarter than the system learning how to bypass these changes?
Monday, November 25, 2013
Outline for Research Paper
Airport Security
Introduction
I. What has changed in American Airport Security
A: Who is now in charge of Airport Security
B: Amount of security personnel
D: Scanners
D: The amount of liquids
E: Changes to the airplane
II. Do the new regulations provide more protection
A: The false sense of security the new regulations provide
B: People being smarter than the system (adapting to regulations)
Conclusion
Works Cited Page:
Popular sources
1) Mann, Charles C. "Smoke Screening." Vanity Fair., 20 Dec. 2011. Web. http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2011/12/tsa-insanity-201112.
2) Hawley, Kip. "Why Airport Security Is Broken And How to Fix It." The Wall Street Journal., 15 Apr. 2012. Web. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303815404577335783535660546.
3) Seaney, Rick. "9 Ways Security Has Changed Since 9/11." FareCompare., 7 Sept. 2011. Web. http://www.farecompare.com/ask-rick/9-ways-security-has-changed-since-911/.
4) Ross, Brian, Patel, Avna, and Cole, Matthew "10 Years Later: 9/11 Security Then and Now." ABC News. ABC News Network, 8 Sept. 2011. Web. http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/10-years-911-security-now/story?id=14466068.
5) Collins, Dan. "Bulletproof Cockpit Doors A Reality." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 4 Apr. 2003. Web. <http://www.cbsnews.com/news/bulletproof-cockpit-doors-a-reality/>.
6) "Transportation Security Administration." Transportation Security Administration. The Department of Homeland Security, n.d. Web. <http://www.tsa.gov/careers>.
7) Groeger, Lena. "Scanning the Scanners: A Side to Side Comparison." Top Stories RSS. N.p., 28 Dec. 2011. Web. <http://www.propublica.org/special/scanning-the-scanners-a-side-by-side-comparison>.
8) "Transportation Security Administration." Transportation Security Administration. The Department of Homeland Security, 30 Sept. 2013. Web. <http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/3-1-1-carry-ons>.
9) "Pilots Now Ready to Carry Guns in Cockpit." ABC News. ABC News Network, n.d. Web. <http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=125224>.
Book sources
10) Sweet, Kathleen M. Aviation and Airport Security: Terrorism and Safety Concerns. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, 2004. Print.
Introduction
I. What has changed in American Airport Security
A: Who is now in charge of Airport Security
B: Amount of security personnel
D: Scanners
D: The amount of liquids
E: Changes to the airplane
II. Do the new regulations provide more protection
A: The false sense of security the new regulations provide
B: People being smarter than the system (adapting to regulations)
Conclusion
Works Cited Page:
Popular sources
1) Mann, Charles C. "Smoke Screening." Vanity Fair., 20 Dec. 2011. Web. http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2011/12/tsa-insanity-201112.
2) Hawley, Kip. "Why Airport Security Is Broken And How to Fix It." The Wall Street Journal., 15 Apr. 2012. Web. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303815404577335783535660546.
3) Seaney, Rick. "9 Ways Security Has Changed Since 9/11." FareCompare., 7 Sept. 2011. Web. http://www.farecompare.com/ask-rick/9-ways-security-has-changed-since-911/.
4) Ross, Brian, Patel, Avna, and Cole, Matthew "10 Years Later: 9/11 Security Then and Now." ABC News. ABC News Network, 8 Sept. 2011. Web. http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/10-years-911-security-now/story?id=14466068.
5) Collins, Dan. "Bulletproof Cockpit Doors A Reality." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 4 Apr. 2003. Web. <http://www.cbsnews.com/news/bulletproof-cockpit-doors-a-reality/>.
6) "Transportation Security Administration." Transportation Security Administration. The Department of Homeland Security, n.d. Web. <http://www.tsa.gov/careers>.
7) Groeger, Lena. "Scanning the Scanners: A Side to Side Comparison." Top Stories RSS. N.p., 28 Dec. 2011. Web. <http://www.propublica.org/special/scanning-the-scanners-a-side-by-side-comparison>.
8) "Transportation Security Administration." Transportation Security Administration. The Department of Homeland Security, 30 Sept. 2013. Web. <http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/3-1-1-carry-ons>.
9) "Pilots Now Ready to Carry Guns in Cockpit." ABC News. ABC News Network, n.d. Web. <http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=125224>.
Book sources
10) Sweet, Kathleen M. Aviation and Airport Security: Terrorism and Safety Concerns. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, 2004. Print.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Research Paper Topic
The main topic of my research paper will be on Airport Security. I will look into the history of America's airport security and how the security differs from other nations airport security. I will look into the idea of the false sense of security that America's new security gives to passengers and stress the fact that these new security regulations do not make airlines safer then they were years back.
Interview Review 3
Top Scorer(s)
Upon reviewing the third interviews that classmates posted I concluded that
Justin Rudd 19 pts and Ahmed Almnasef 19 pts
Favorite Interview
Although her interview did not score the highest. Minjie Zhu's third interview was fun to read and it seemed like the interview was in a comfortable setting resulting in full answers to her questions.
Link to Spreadsheet
Link to spreadsheet for interview 3 review
Upon reviewing the third interviews that classmates posted I concluded that
Justin Rudd 19 pts and Ahmed Almnasef 19 pts
Favorite Interview
Although her interview did not score the highest. Minjie Zhu's third interview was fun to read and it seemed like the interview was in a comfortable setting resulting in full answers to her questions.
Link to Spreadsheet
Link to spreadsheet for interview 3 review
Interview Review 2
Top Scorers
The top scorers for their second interview were Justin Ruud 20pts and Mengzhen Shi 20pts
Favorite Interview
My favorite interview was by Mengzhen Shi. The interview was interesting to read and the other parts of the interview such as preparations, country report and personal review were all written well.
Spreadsheet for interview ratings
Link to spreadsheet for interview 2 review
The top scorers for their second interview were Justin Ruud 20pts and Mengzhen Shi 20pts
Favorite Interview
My favorite interview was by Mengzhen Shi. The interview was interesting to read and the other parts of the interview such as preparations, country report and personal review were all written well.
Spreadsheet for interview ratings
Link to spreadsheet for interview 2 review
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Third Interview
1: Interview Preparations
I approached Faisal after class and asked what country he chose to interview people from. He replied saying he chose to interview people from America. I then proceeded to ask if he was in need of another interviewee and when he said he was we exchanged phone numbers. We chose to meet at 2 pm in the Miller center on November 6th. Upon arrival we reserved a study room to conduct the interview so no one in the library would be disturbed. I used my Galaxy S4 to record the interview.
2: Interview Report
The interview lasted a little over twenty minutes and went smoothly. Most of the questions that was asked were answered with a complete response and typically led to other conversations. During the interview both of us seemed comfortable with the setting and were not nervous to ask questions on what confused one another. One thing that surprised me was when Faisal informed me of how alcohol is considered taboo in Saudi Arabia. I gained a better understanding of the rules Muslim women in Saudi Arabia must follow in regards to dressing appropriately
3: Country Report
In doing a country report on Saudi Arabia I learned that the country has an oil-based economy. The countries main source of income is through the exporting of oil. The main religion that is practiced in Saudi Arabia is Muslim and has a population of around 27 million. (Central Intelligence Agency: the World Factbook). In Ancient times Saudi Arabia was the crossroads for trade. Some items that were often traded were almonds, dates, aromatics, and spices. The deserts of Saudi Arabia provided a natural barrier from ancient powers. The birth of Islam was in the 7th century by the prophet Muhammad. The religion of Islam soon migrated to large portions of the Middle East. King Abdulaziz Al-Saud established the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 (The History of Saudi Arabia). Education is a requirement for every muslim including both males and females. In the early years of the newly established Saudi Arabia the king presented much interest in establishing a strong education system and increased the amount of schools and universities greatly (Education). During the twenties and thirties marks the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia created the large oil-based economy (A Brief History of Saudi Arabia)
Work Cited page for Country Report
"Central Intelligence Agency." The World Factbook. N.p., 10 Sept. 2013. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.
"The History of Saudi Arabia." The History of Saudi Arabia. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013. <http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/history.aspx>.
"Education." Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013. <http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/education/>.
Wynbrandt, James. A Brief Histroy of Saudi Arabia. New York: New York: Facts on File, 2004. Print.
4: Interview Transcribed
B: Brandon
F: Faisal
B: Hi Fashel. My teacher in my english 191 class has asked us to conduct an interview with someone from another culture and I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions? The inerview will take 20-30 minutes to complete. Do you have time and are willing to answer a few questions?
F: Yes I am okay with answering questions
B: Your are from Saudi Arabia Correct?
F: Yes
B: Which city are you from?
F: I am from the East part of Saudi Arabia in a small town called Dammam
B: How do you like the weather here in St. Cloud?
F: Well the weather back home is very hot so when I arrived here in January 2012 and was amazed by the sight of snow. I too was surprised that the temperature reached twenty below.
B: That is quite a big difference form the climate of Saudi Arabia
F: Yeah I also became ill most of the first winter here and eventually became used to the cold
B: What do you do with your leaisure time?
F: I hangout with friends, talk with my family back home, and sometimes go to the movie theater
B: Have you been to the movies resently?
F: Yeah I recently have went to see Captain Phillips, Gravity, and I will actually be going to see Bad Grandpa tonight (11-6-13)
B: Cool you will have to tell me how that is because I have been wanting to go see that film. Who are you going with?
F: I am going with a few friends and also my two brothers
B: Okay. Well now that you said you have some family here in St. Cloud how often do you communicate back home?
F: In my family I have five brother and seven sisters so we are a very big family. I communicate with them about once a week with skype and sometimes I text or message them.
B: How many of your siblings are going to school in America?
F: Just my two brothers and I
B: Where do you fall age wise in your family?
F: I am the second sibling
B: What is the biggest holiday in your country?
F: There are three big holidays. Two of them are Eid and another is the national day. The national holiday is celebrated in the city and most things get colored green and white for the celebration. The first Eid is a feast with family to celebrate after Ramadan, and the second Eid is a fasting day. During this day just like Ramadan we fast during the day.
B: Do you find it difficult to practice your religion here in St. Cloud?
F: No not really. Back at home we pray at the mosque, but here I typically pray at home
B: Do you have any important things about your culture that you find is different when comparing to American culture?
F: The one difference is women can't drive and they must cover their face when out in public.
B: So they are allowed to wear whatever when at home?
F: They are unless a family friend or someone not in the immediate family is coming over. There also are no bars in Saudi Arabia because Alcohol is considered taboo.
B: How did you choose St. Cloud State University?
F: My father worked with someone who's son goes here and decided this would be good because I at least know someone.
B: Do your family like the fact of you going to school?
F: My mom sometimes does not like me being so far away but they know that the education will be beneficial
B: What is your major?
F: I am studying Electrical Engineering
B: How did you choose that field?
F: In high school I always enjoyed math and physics and my dad said that the company he works for is in need of Electrical Engineers
B: What are your plans for after graduation?
F: I plan on working for some big company back home
B: So how many years do you have left?
F: The first few months here were spent taking IEC classed and last year was my first year of actual classes. I should graduate in two years after the 2013-2014 school year
B: I've asked you so many questions. Do you have any questions for me?
F: No
B: Thank you very much for allowing me to ask a few questions and have fun at the movie later
F: You are welcome
I approached Faisal after class and asked what country he chose to interview people from. He replied saying he chose to interview people from America. I then proceeded to ask if he was in need of another interviewee and when he said he was we exchanged phone numbers. We chose to meet at 2 pm in the Miller center on November 6th. Upon arrival we reserved a study room to conduct the interview so no one in the library would be disturbed. I used my Galaxy S4 to record the interview.
2: Interview Report
The interview lasted a little over twenty minutes and went smoothly. Most of the questions that was asked were answered with a complete response and typically led to other conversations. During the interview both of us seemed comfortable with the setting and were not nervous to ask questions on what confused one another. One thing that surprised me was when Faisal informed me of how alcohol is considered taboo in Saudi Arabia. I gained a better understanding of the rules Muslim women in Saudi Arabia must follow in regards to dressing appropriately
3: Country Report
In doing a country report on Saudi Arabia I learned that the country has an oil-based economy. The countries main source of income is through the exporting of oil. The main religion that is practiced in Saudi Arabia is Muslim and has a population of around 27 million. (Central Intelligence Agency: the World Factbook). In Ancient times Saudi Arabia was the crossroads for trade. Some items that were often traded were almonds, dates, aromatics, and spices. The deserts of Saudi Arabia provided a natural barrier from ancient powers. The birth of Islam was in the 7th century by the prophet Muhammad. The religion of Islam soon migrated to large portions of the Middle East. King Abdulaziz Al-Saud established the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 (The History of Saudi Arabia). Education is a requirement for every muslim including both males and females. In the early years of the newly established Saudi Arabia the king presented much interest in establishing a strong education system and increased the amount of schools and universities greatly (Education). During the twenties and thirties marks the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia created the large oil-based economy (A Brief History of Saudi Arabia)
Work Cited page for Country Report
"Central Intelligence Agency." The World Factbook. N.p., 10 Sept. 2013. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.
"The History of Saudi Arabia." The History of Saudi Arabia. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013. <http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/history.aspx>.
"Education." Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013. <http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/education/>.
Wynbrandt, James. A Brief Histroy of Saudi Arabia. New York: New York: Facts on File, 2004. Print.
4: Interview Transcribed
B: Brandon
F: Faisal
B: Hi Fashel. My teacher in my english 191 class has asked us to conduct an interview with someone from another culture and I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions? The inerview will take 20-30 minutes to complete. Do you have time and are willing to answer a few questions?
F: Yes I am okay with answering questions
B: Your are from Saudi Arabia Correct?
F: Yes
B: Which city are you from?
F: I am from the East part of Saudi Arabia in a small town called Dammam
B: How do you like the weather here in St. Cloud?
F: Well the weather back home is very hot so when I arrived here in January 2012 and was amazed by the sight of snow. I too was surprised that the temperature reached twenty below.
B: That is quite a big difference form the climate of Saudi Arabia
F: Yeah I also became ill most of the first winter here and eventually became used to the cold
B: What do you do with your leaisure time?
F: I hangout with friends, talk with my family back home, and sometimes go to the movie theater
B: Have you been to the movies resently?
F: Yeah I recently have went to see Captain Phillips, Gravity, and I will actually be going to see Bad Grandpa tonight (11-6-13)
B: Cool you will have to tell me how that is because I have been wanting to go see that film. Who are you going with?
F: I am going with a few friends and also my two brothers
B: Okay. Well now that you said you have some family here in St. Cloud how often do you communicate back home?
F: In my family I have five brother and seven sisters so we are a very big family. I communicate with them about once a week with skype and sometimes I text or message them.
B: How many of your siblings are going to school in America?
F: Just my two brothers and I
B: Where do you fall age wise in your family?
F: I am the second sibling
B: What is the biggest holiday in your country?
F: There are three big holidays. Two of them are Eid and another is the national day. The national holiday is celebrated in the city and most things get colored green and white for the celebration. The first Eid is a feast with family to celebrate after Ramadan, and the second Eid is a fasting day. During this day just like Ramadan we fast during the day.
B: Do you find it difficult to practice your religion here in St. Cloud?
F: No not really. Back at home we pray at the mosque, but here I typically pray at home
B: Do you have any important things about your culture that you find is different when comparing to American culture?
F: The one difference is women can't drive and they must cover their face when out in public.
B: So they are allowed to wear whatever when at home?
F: They are unless a family friend or someone not in the immediate family is coming over. There also are no bars in Saudi Arabia because Alcohol is considered taboo.
B: How did you choose St. Cloud State University?
F: My father worked with someone who's son goes here and decided this would be good because I at least know someone.
B: Do your family like the fact of you going to school?
F: My mom sometimes does not like me being so far away but they know that the education will be beneficial
B: What is your major?
F: I am studying Electrical Engineering
B: How did you choose that field?
F: In high school I always enjoyed math and physics and my dad said that the company he works for is in need of Electrical Engineers
B: What are your plans for after graduation?
F: I plan on working for some big company back home
B: So how many years do you have left?
F: The first few months here were spent taking IEC classed and last year was my first year of actual classes. I should graduate in two years after the 2013-2014 school year
B: I've asked you so many questions. Do you have any questions for me?
F: No
B: Thank you very much for allowing me to ask a few questions and have fun at the movie later
F: You are welcome
Monday, November 4, 2013
Second Interview
1: Interview Preparations
I approached Aziz at the end of class and asked which country he chose to select for his interviewees. He stated that he chose the United States, so I asked if he needed another person to interview. After Aziz responding yes we decided on a location and time that would work best to conduct an interview. We decided Monday the 28th of October around the time we normally would have class would work with both of our schedules. We met at 5p.m. in the miller center and reserved a study room to avoid disrupting other students.
2: Interview Report
The interview with Aziz went really well. We both seemed comfortable with the setting of the interview and answered each others questions in detail. We found ourselves talking about certain topics for minutes because we kept asking each other more in depth questions regarding the topic. The interview took 25 minutes to conduct. Overall my interview with Aziz went very well and I learned more about his home country of Saudi Arabia, his family, his religion, and how he feels about St. Cloud State.
3: Country Report
In doing a country report on Saudi Arabia I learned that the country has an oil-based economy. The countries main source of income is through the exporting of oil. The main religion that is practiced in Saudi Arabia is Muslim and has a population of around 27 million. (Central Intelligence Agency: the World Factbook). In Ancient times Saudi Arabia was the crossroads for trade. Some items that were often traded were almonds, dates, aromatics, and spices. The deserts of Saudi Arabia provided a natural barrier from ancient powers. The birth of Islam was in the 7th century by the prophet Muhammad. The religion of Islam soon migrated to large portions of the Middle East. King Abdulaziz Al-Saud established the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 (The History of Saudi Arabia). Education is a requirement for every muslim including both males and females. In the early years of the newly established Saudi Arabia the king presented much interest in establishing a strong education system and increased the amount of schools and universities greatly (Education). During the twenties and thirties marks the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia created the large oil-based economy (A Brief History of Saudi Arabia)
Work Cited page for Country Report
"Central Intelligence Agency." The World Factbook. N.p., 10 Sept. 2013. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.
"The History of Saudi Arabia." The History of Saudi Arabia. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013. <http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/history.aspx>.
"Education." Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013. <http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/education/>.
Wynbrandt, James. A Brief Histroy of Saudi Arabia. New York: New York: Facts on File, 2004. Print.
4: Interview Transcribed
B= Brandon
A= Aziz
B: Hi I'm Brandon and I was wondering if i could ask you a few questions in an interview? It should take around 20-30 minutes. Would that be okay?
A: Yes it is alright for you to ask me some questions
B: Okay thank you. So lets start with how do you like the weather here in St. Cloud?
A: When I came here this was the first time I had seen snow, and it took me awhile to adjust.
B: When did you come to St. Cloud?
A: I came here last Spring 2013 semester. I first went to Ohio where I visited my brother for a few weeks at Ohio State University
B: Do you like St. Cloud?
A: Well the city is kind of boring there isn't much to do, but is a good place for school to live and study
B: What do you do on your leisure time?
A: I go out with friends maybe play some video games. Talk with family.
B: How often do you talk to your family?
A: in chatting UI talk daily and with skype probably at least once a week.
B: What is the biggest holiday your celebrate back home?
A: We celebrate Eid which comes after Ramadan. It is a day of eating after fasting for the month of Ramadan.
B: What are some of the rules for fasting?
A: Its like you don't eat during the day but can eat at night.
B: Are you able to drink water during the day when fasting?
A: No
B: That would be very difficult in the climate of your Saudi Arabia
B: Where are you actually from in Saudi Arabia?
A: I am from the capital city of Riyadh
B: That is a much larger city then St. Cloud. I can see why you say St. Cloud is quiet with not much to do
B: Have you found it difficult to practice your religion in the same way you do back in Saudi Arabia?
A: No I feel like I have the options available to practice my religion.
B: What are you studying here at St. Cloud State?
A: Electrical engineering but this is only my first semester so I am taking a lot of general classes
B: You seem to know English very well. Did you take English classes before coming to St. Cloud?
A: I have taken English from when I was about seven years. My school is known for its English program. I also went to Cambridge University for summer school to study English for a month.
B: You said before that you had a brother who goes to Ohio State. How did you choose St. Cloud State?
A: My father asked some of his friends and decided that I was going to Minnesota. He did not want me to go to the same school as my brother. My father went to school somewhere in Canada
B: How many siblings do you have?
A: I have six brothers and one sister
B: You come from a big family wow!
A: Yeah I have a brother who is one year older and another brother who is one year younger. My one younger brother goes to school in Albuquerque, New Mexico
B: You will have to go visit him sometime during the winter to get away from the cold
A: Yeah maybe over winter or spring break.
B: Can you think of any big differences you have noticed when comparing American culture to your culture?
A: Time.. That is a big difference. Back home when someone arrives late it is not a big deal and no body says much about it. Where as here in America time is very valuable and people get upset when you arrive late.
B: What are your plans for after graduation?
A: I plan on using my degree to find a job somewhere back home.
B: I've asked you so many questions. Do you have questions for me?
A: No
B: Okay well thank you for your time. I enjoyed this conversation
A: No problem
I approached Aziz at the end of class and asked which country he chose to select for his interviewees. He stated that he chose the United States, so I asked if he needed another person to interview. After Aziz responding yes we decided on a location and time that would work best to conduct an interview. We decided Monday the 28th of October around the time we normally would have class would work with both of our schedules. We met at 5p.m. in the miller center and reserved a study room to avoid disrupting other students.
2: Interview Report
The interview with Aziz went really well. We both seemed comfortable with the setting of the interview and answered each others questions in detail. We found ourselves talking about certain topics for minutes because we kept asking each other more in depth questions regarding the topic. The interview took 25 minutes to conduct. Overall my interview with Aziz went very well and I learned more about his home country of Saudi Arabia, his family, his religion, and how he feels about St. Cloud State.
3: Country Report
In doing a country report on Saudi Arabia I learned that the country has an oil-based economy. The countries main source of income is through the exporting of oil. The main religion that is practiced in Saudi Arabia is Muslim and has a population of around 27 million. (Central Intelligence Agency: the World Factbook). In Ancient times Saudi Arabia was the crossroads for trade. Some items that were often traded were almonds, dates, aromatics, and spices. The deserts of Saudi Arabia provided a natural barrier from ancient powers. The birth of Islam was in the 7th century by the prophet Muhammad. The religion of Islam soon migrated to large portions of the Middle East. King Abdulaziz Al-Saud established the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 (The History of Saudi Arabia). Education is a requirement for every muslim including both males and females. In the early years of the newly established Saudi Arabia the king presented much interest in establishing a strong education system and increased the amount of schools and universities greatly (Education). During the twenties and thirties marks the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia created the large oil-based economy (A Brief History of Saudi Arabia)
Work Cited page for Country Report
"Central Intelligence Agency." The World Factbook. N.p., 10 Sept. 2013. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.
"The History of Saudi Arabia." The History of Saudi Arabia. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013. <http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/history.aspx>.
"Education." Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013. <http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/education/>.
Wynbrandt, James. A Brief Histroy of Saudi Arabia. New York: New York: Facts on File, 2004. Print.
4: Interview Transcribed
B= Brandon
A= Aziz
B: Hi I'm Brandon and I was wondering if i could ask you a few questions in an interview? It should take around 20-30 minutes. Would that be okay?
A: Yes it is alright for you to ask me some questions
B: Okay thank you. So lets start with how do you like the weather here in St. Cloud?
A: When I came here this was the first time I had seen snow, and it took me awhile to adjust.
B: When did you come to St. Cloud?
A: I came here last Spring 2013 semester. I first went to Ohio where I visited my brother for a few weeks at Ohio State University
B: Do you like St. Cloud?
A: Well the city is kind of boring there isn't much to do, but is a good place for school to live and study
B: What do you do on your leisure time?
A: I go out with friends maybe play some video games. Talk with family.
B: How often do you talk to your family?
A: in chatting UI talk daily and with skype probably at least once a week.
B: What is the biggest holiday your celebrate back home?
A: We celebrate Eid which comes after Ramadan. It is a day of eating after fasting for the month of Ramadan.
B: What are some of the rules for fasting?
A: Its like you don't eat during the day but can eat at night.
B: Are you able to drink water during the day when fasting?
A: No
B: That would be very difficult in the climate of your Saudi Arabia
B: Where are you actually from in Saudi Arabia?
A: I am from the capital city of Riyadh
B: That is a much larger city then St. Cloud. I can see why you say St. Cloud is quiet with not much to do
B: Have you found it difficult to practice your religion in the same way you do back in Saudi Arabia?
A: No I feel like I have the options available to practice my religion.
B: What are you studying here at St. Cloud State?
A: Electrical engineering but this is only my first semester so I am taking a lot of general classes
B: You seem to know English very well. Did you take English classes before coming to St. Cloud?
A: I have taken English from when I was about seven years. My school is known for its English program. I also went to Cambridge University for summer school to study English for a month.
B: You said before that you had a brother who goes to Ohio State. How did you choose St. Cloud State?
A: My father asked some of his friends and decided that I was going to Minnesota. He did not want me to go to the same school as my brother. My father went to school somewhere in Canada
B: How many siblings do you have?
A: I have six brothers and one sister
B: You come from a big family wow!
A: Yeah I have a brother who is one year older and another brother who is one year younger. My one younger brother goes to school in Albuquerque, New Mexico
B: You will have to go visit him sometime during the winter to get away from the cold
A: Yeah maybe over winter or spring break.
B: Can you think of any big differences you have noticed when comparing American culture to your culture?
A: Time.. That is a big difference. Back home when someone arrives late it is not a big deal and no body says much about it. Where as here in America time is very valuable and people get upset when you arrive late.
B: What are your plans for after graduation?
A: I plan on using my degree to find a job somewhere back home.
B: I've asked you so many questions. Do you have questions for me?
A: No
B: Okay well thank you for your time. I enjoyed this conversation
A: No problem
Monday, October 21, 2013
Review of Interview 1
Zaid Bugshan- 19 pts and Minjie Zhu- 18 pts
My favorite interview was done by Dong Hyuk Lim. Although it wasn't the highest scoring interview I liked the set up of the blog post and the interview seemed to go smoothly. I liked how a meal was made for the person to be interviewed as a reward for answering questions. I am sure this helped with the interviewee to be comfortable with the setting and answer questions without being nervous.
Here is the spreadsheet for interview ratings
link
My favorite interview was done by Dong Hyuk Lim. Although it wasn't the highest scoring interview I liked the set up of the blog post and the interview seemed to go smoothly. I liked how a meal was made for the person to be interviewed as a reward for answering questions. I am sure this helped with the interviewee to be comfortable with the setting and answer questions without being nervous.
Here is the spreadsheet for interview ratings
link
Sunday, October 20, 2013
My First Interview
1: Interview Preparations
I approached Ali after class on Monday, October 14 and asked if he had had anyone ask him or if he asked someone else. He responded by saying he did not have someone to interview. We then exchanged numbers and set up a plan a meeting for Thursday at 5 pm. Upon arrival at the library we asked for a study room so we could talk in a normal voice and not have to worry about disrupting other students. Once in the study room we sat down and casually talked for a few minutes. Then it was time for the interview. I set my recorder on the table in between one another and started with asking;
B: So I was wondering if it be alright if I were to ask you a few questions? It will probably take around 20-30 minutes. Would your schedule allow for this?
2: Interview Report
In my eyes the interview with Ali went very well. It started off slow with questions being answered by only a few words, but once we both became more comfortable with conversing the answers soon were being followed up by more questions regarding the topic. We sometimes got caught up talking about one topic/questions for a few minutes. The interview took forty minutes because we kept asking more in depth questions. I displayed the questions to be asked on the T.V. screen which is provided in the study rooms. Overall I enjoyed the interview with Ali and I learned a fair amount on Saudi Arabia and how Ali feels about going to school at Saint Cloud State.
3: Country Report
In doing a country report on Saudi Arabia I learned that the country has an oil-based economy. The countries main source of income is through the exporting of oil. The main religion that is practiced in Saudi Arabia is Muslim and has a population of around 27 million. (Central Intelligence Agency: the World Factbook). In Ancient times Saudi Arabia was the crossroads for trade. Some items that were often traded were almonds, dates, aromatics, and spices. The deserts of Saudi Arabia provided a natural barrier from ancient powers. The birth of Islam was in the 7th century by the prophet Muhammad. The religion of Islam soon migrated to large portions of the Middle East. King Abdulaziz Al-Saud established the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 (The History of Saudi Arabia). Education is a requirement for every muslim including both males and females. In the early years of the newly established Saudi Arabia the king presented much interest in establishing a strong education system and increased the amount of schools and universities greatly (Education). During the twenties and thirties marks the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia created the large oil-based economy (A Brief History of Saudi Arabia)
Work Cited page for Country Report
"Central Intelligence Agency." The World Factbook. N.p., 10 Sept. 2013. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.
"The History of Saudi Arabia." The History of Saudi Arabia. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013. <http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/history.aspx>.
"Education." Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013. <http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/education/>.
Wynbrandt, James. A Brief Histroy of Saudi Arabia. New York: New York: Facts on File, 2004. Print.
4. Interview Transcribed
B: Hi my name is Brandon Doege
A: Hi my name is Ali
B: I was wondering if I could interview you. The interview will take about 20-30 minutes to ask you a few questions
A: This is fine. What will you ask me?
B: I will ask your likes and dislikes of living in St. Cloud and a little about where your from
B: First off do you like the weather in St. Cloud
A: Yeah I like the weather. In the winter it does get cold, which is alright but I prefer warmth. I sometimes get sick from the cold. The first winter I was in America which was in Virginia I got sick for a few weeks because of the weather. During the summer the weather is really good.
B: How long have you been here in America?
A: I have been here in St. Cloud for two and a half years. I am originally from Dammam, Saudi Arabia which is a fairly big city. I originally came to America in 2011 and went to Virginia Tech for 6 months studying the English language.
B: Was it difficult learning to learn English?
A: It was difficult for the first month or two. It was a challenge to get a grasp on it but I soon started to understand the new language.
B: Why did you transfer to St. Cloud State?
A: I came to St. Cloud in August 2011 because I had friends from my home town who convinced me to transfer here.
B: What are you studying here at St. Cloud State?
A: I am studying accounting here at SCSU
B: What do you do on your leisure time?
A: I usually chill with friends or talk with my family back home
B: How often do you talk with your family back home?
A: I typically talk to my family once to twice a week using texting, skype, or facebook
B: How many siblings are in your family?
A: I have five sisters and two brothers. I have three sisters and one brother who are younger then me and the other three siblings are older than me
B: So you come from a big family.
A: Actually the average family size in Saudi Arabia is around 8-10 children
B: Okay so you have an average sized family back home. So are the houses on average larger than houses in America? Because the average sized family in America is 2-3 children with parents
A: I would say that houses in Saudi Arabia are bigger than homes in the America. I actually have an uncle who has two wifes. He has 16-17 children
B: Is that normal in Saudi Arabia to have multiple wives?
A: Yeah it is not uncommon for males to have multiple wives in Saudi Arabia. I actually could have four wives if I wanted
B: Do you find it difficult to practice your religion (muslim) here in America as you would back home?
A: Not really because I don't worry about the religions of others, but sometimes I find it difficult when people show racism towards me for being muslim.
B: What are some differences of living here in America then in Saudi Arabia?
A: The women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive cars
B: That is really interesting
A: Overall the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia is different than America. I prefer the way women are treated in America
A: Another difference is the friendliness of people who are strangers. In Saudi Arabia when walking down the street people typically wont respond to you saying something to them
B: Does Saudi Arabia pay for your schooling?
A: Yeah they give me a scholorship every year that covers your schooling and also extra money to use for living expenses
B: Did you take part in sports back in Saudi Arabia?
A: A big sport in Saudi Arabia is soccer, but I don't like playing. I prefer cars to pass my time
B: How does your family feel about you going to college in America? Is this common among families?
A: My family is okay with me going to school here. They don't like the idea of staying here in America after graduating college
B: Do you have questions for me now that I'm finished asking questions
A: I think we covered a lot of material during the interview and I can't really think of questions that I have for you to ask
B: Well thank you very much for your time Ali. It is much appreciated
I approached Ali after class on Monday, October 14 and asked if he had had anyone ask him or if he asked someone else. He responded by saying he did not have someone to interview. We then exchanged numbers and set up a plan a meeting for Thursday at 5 pm. Upon arrival at the library we asked for a study room so we could talk in a normal voice and not have to worry about disrupting other students. Once in the study room we sat down and casually talked for a few minutes. Then it was time for the interview. I set my recorder on the table in between one another and started with asking;
B: So I was wondering if it be alright if I were to ask you a few questions? It will probably take around 20-30 minutes. Would your schedule allow for this?
2: Interview Report
In my eyes the interview with Ali went very well. It started off slow with questions being answered by only a few words, but once we both became more comfortable with conversing the answers soon were being followed up by more questions regarding the topic. We sometimes got caught up talking about one topic/questions for a few minutes. The interview took forty minutes because we kept asking more in depth questions. I displayed the questions to be asked on the T.V. screen which is provided in the study rooms. Overall I enjoyed the interview with Ali and I learned a fair amount on Saudi Arabia and how Ali feels about going to school at Saint Cloud State.
3: Country Report
In doing a country report on Saudi Arabia I learned that the country has an oil-based economy. The countries main source of income is through the exporting of oil. The main religion that is practiced in Saudi Arabia is Muslim and has a population of around 27 million. (Central Intelligence Agency: the World Factbook). In Ancient times Saudi Arabia was the crossroads for trade. Some items that were often traded were almonds, dates, aromatics, and spices. The deserts of Saudi Arabia provided a natural barrier from ancient powers. The birth of Islam was in the 7th century by the prophet Muhammad. The religion of Islam soon migrated to large portions of the Middle East. King Abdulaziz Al-Saud established the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 (The History of Saudi Arabia). Education is a requirement for every muslim including both males and females. In the early years of the newly established Saudi Arabia the king presented much interest in establishing a strong education system and increased the amount of schools and universities greatly (Education). During the twenties and thirties marks the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia created the large oil-based economy (A Brief History of Saudi Arabia)
Work Cited page for Country Report
"Central Intelligence Agency." The World Factbook. N.p., 10 Sept. 2013. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.
"The History of Saudi Arabia." The History of Saudi Arabia. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013. <http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/history.aspx>.
"Education." Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013. <http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/education/>.
Wynbrandt, James. A Brief Histroy of Saudi Arabia. New York: New York: Facts on File, 2004. Print.
4. Interview Transcribed
B: Hi my name is Brandon Doege
A: Hi my name is Ali
B: I was wondering if I could interview you. The interview will take about 20-30 minutes to ask you a few questions
A: This is fine. What will you ask me?
B: I will ask your likes and dislikes of living in St. Cloud and a little about where your from
B: First off do you like the weather in St. Cloud
A: Yeah I like the weather. In the winter it does get cold, which is alright but I prefer warmth. I sometimes get sick from the cold. The first winter I was in America which was in Virginia I got sick for a few weeks because of the weather. During the summer the weather is really good.
B: How long have you been here in America?
A: I have been here in St. Cloud for two and a half years. I am originally from Dammam, Saudi Arabia which is a fairly big city. I originally came to America in 2011 and went to Virginia Tech for 6 months studying the English language.
B: Was it difficult learning to learn English?
A: It was difficult for the first month or two. It was a challenge to get a grasp on it but I soon started to understand the new language.
B: Why did you transfer to St. Cloud State?
A: I came to St. Cloud in August 2011 because I had friends from my home town who convinced me to transfer here.
B: What are you studying here at St. Cloud State?
A: I am studying accounting here at SCSU
B: What do you do on your leisure time?
A: I usually chill with friends or talk with my family back home
B: How often do you talk with your family back home?
A: I typically talk to my family once to twice a week using texting, skype, or facebook
B: How many siblings are in your family?
A: I have five sisters and two brothers. I have three sisters and one brother who are younger then me and the other three siblings are older than me
B: So you come from a big family.
A: Actually the average family size in Saudi Arabia is around 8-10 children
B: Okay so you have an average sized family back home. So are the houses on average larger than houses in America? Because the average sized family in America is 2-3 children with parents
A: I would say that houses in Saudi Arabia are bigger than homes in the America. I actually have an uncle who has two wifes. He has 16-17 children
B: Is that normal in Saudi Arabia to have multiple wives?
A: Yeah it is not uncommon for males to have multiple wives in Saudi Arabia. I actually could have four wives if I wanted
B: Do you find it difficult to practice your religion (muslim) here in America as you would back home?
A: Not really because I don't worry about the religions of others, but sometimes I find it difficult when people show racism towards me for being muslim.
B: What are some differences of living here in America then in Saudi Arabia?
A: The women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive cars
B: That is really interesting
A: Overall the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia is different than America. I prefer the way women are treated in America
A: Another difference is the friendliness of people who are strangers. In Saudi Arabia when walking down the street people typically wont respond to you saying something to them
B: Does Saudi Arabia pay for your schooling?
A: Yeah they give me a scholorship every year that covers your schooling and also extra money to use for living expenses
B: Did you take part in sports back in Saudi Arabia?
A: A big sport in Saudi Arabia is soccer, but I don't like playing. I prefer cars to pass my time
B: How does your family feel about you going to college in America? Is this common among families?
A: My family is okay with me going to school here. They don't like the idea of staying here in America after graduating college
B: Do you have questions for me now that I'm finished asking questions
A: I think we covered a lot of material during the interview and I can't really think of questions that I have for you to ask
B: Well thank you very much for your time Ali. It is much appreciated
Monday, October 14, 2013
Objective and interview questions
Objective:
My overall goal is to find out how international students look at the U.S, how they have been dealing with the transition, and what their plans are after college. My first objective is to find three international students and conduct an interview with each of the three students and ask them questions regarding their country and their feeling on the U.S. With the information gathered from the interviews I should have enough information to answer my overall goal.
Core Questions:
1. Do you like the weather in St.Cloud? Please explain.
2.What do you do for leisure?
3. Could you please tell me about yourself?
4. How often do you communicate with your family back at home?
5. What is the biggest holiday in your country? Please explain about the holidays (Activities, Food, Date, Origin, and etc,)
6. In what ways might it be difficult to practice your religion here in the U.S?
7. Tell me some important things from your culture ?
8. Whats the biggest difference between the American culture and your culture?
9. What are your goals for the future; after you graduate, what are you going to do?
10. Do you have any questions for me? I have asked so many of you! (mandatory question at the end)
My questions:
1. How does your family feel about you going to school so far from home? How often do you communicate with them?
2. Can you tell me the importance of family in your culture?
3. What are some examples of sports in your culture? What is your favorite sport?
4. How did you chose/find out about SCSU? Were there other options available?
5. What is your major?
6. How did you chose this major?
My overall goal is to find out how international students look at the U.S, how they have been dealing with the transition, and what their plans are after college. My first objective is to find three international students and conduct an interview with each of the three students and ask them questions regarding their country and their feeling on the U.S. With the information gathered from the interviews I should have enough information to answer my overall goal.
Core Questions:
1. Do you like the weather in St.Cloud? Please explain.
2.What do you do for leisure?
3. Could you please tell me about yourself?
4. How often do you communicate with your family back at home?
5. What is the biggest holiday in your country? Please explain about the holidays (Activities, Food, Date, Origin, and etc,)
6. In what ways might it be difficult to practice your religion here in the U.S?
7. Tell me some important things from your culture ?
8. Whats the biggest difference between the American culture and your culture?
9. What are your goals for the future; after you graduate, what are you going to do?
10. Do you have any questions for me? I have asked so many of you! (mandatory question at the end)
My questions:
1. How does your family feel about you going to school so far from home? How often do you communicate with them?
2. Can you tell me the importance of family in your culture?
3. What are some examples of sports in your culture? What is your favorite sport?
4. How did you chose/find out about SCSU? Were there other options available?
5. What is your major?
6. How did you chose this major?
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Summary of three books and two online sources
The war the United States lost was not only a tragedy to the U.S. but also caused much hardship in East Asia. The Vietnam war affected many people quite severely and some are still affected by the aftermath of the war to this day.
On page fifteen of Joe Allen's book " Vietnam the (last) war the U.S. lost" it describes how world war two started for countries in different parts of the world. "For most Europeans and Americans, the Second World War began with the German invasion of Poland in 1939 or the japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. For the people of East Asia, it started with the Japanese invasion of China in 1931". The large regions of East Asia were under colonial powers for hundreds of years before World War two. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor the Japanese showed their military power by conquering these regions with ease and replaced the colonial powers with Japanese control. To further my research on the Vietnam War I located two more books to cross reference my information from the first book. The second book "Vietnam Ten Years After" by editor Robert Emmet Long. This book talks about the struggles that Vietnam faces ten years after the tragic Vietnam War. The third book "The Vietnam Experience: The North" written by Edward Doyle, Samuel Lipsman, and Terrence Maitland, which talked about the Vietnam in a different perspective by capturing the view the Vietnamese in the north had of the war. To gather more information I looked elsewhere to find information. I turned to the internet and found one scholarly journal and another reference from a website. The scholarly journal "A Brief Survey of POWs in Twentieth Cenetury Wars 2013" by George M. Watson Jr and Jacob Neufeld. This journal discusses the treatment and casualties of Prisoners of War during the Twentieth Century. My fifth resource was titled Battlefield: Vietnam Timleine which was posted on pbs.org. This site provided a timeline of a large number of events that took place during the Vietnam War.
After cross referencing a few articles I came to the conclusion that Vietnam suffered greatly during the war and was even affected many years after the war. My references provided information on both the Vietnam and American perspective of the Vietnam war. I found sources that gave statistics of POWs during twentieth Century wars and a timeline with major events that occurred during the Vietnam war.
Works Cited Page
Allen, Joe. Vietnam: The (Last) War the U.S. Lost. Chicago, IL: Haymarker Books, 2008. 9 Oct. 2013.
Long, Robert E, ed. Vietnam Ten Years After. New York: The H.W. Wlson Company, 1986. 9 Oct. 2013.
Doyle, Edward, Samual Lipsman, and Terrence Maitland. The Vietnam Experiance: The Nort. Boston, MA: Boston Publishing Company, 1986. 9 Oct. 2013.
Watson Jr, George M., and Jacob Neufeld. A Brief Survey of POWs in Twentieth Century Wars 2013 60.2 (2013): N. pag. Web. 9 Oct. 2013. <http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy.stcloudstate.edu/ehost/detail?vid=6&sid=0e24f789-e1cf-4182-9000-7c92a36f0e4e%40sessionmgr10&hid=12&bdata=#db=aph&AN=89444922>.
"Battlefield:Viatnam Timeline." PBS, n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2013. <http://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/timeline/index.html>.
On page fifteen of Joe Allen's book " Vietnam the (last) war the U.S. lost" it describes how world war two started for countries in different parts of the world. "For most Europeans and Americans, the Second World War began with the German invasion of Poland in 1939 or the japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. For the people of East Asia, it started with the Japanese invasion of China in 1931". The large regions of East Asia were under colonial powers for hundreds of years before World War two. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor the Japanese showed their military power by conquering these regions with ease and replaced the colonial powers with Japanese control. To further my research on the Vietnam War I located two more books to cross reference my information from the first book. The second book "Vietnam Ten Years After" by editor Robert Emmet Long. This book talks about the struggles that Vietnam faces ten years after the tragic Vietnam War. The third book "The Vietnam Experience: The North" written by Edward Doyle, Samuel Lipsman, and Terrence Maitland, which talked about the Vietnam in a different perspective by capturing the view the Vietnamese in the north had of the war. To gather more information I looked elsewhere to find information. I turned to the internet and found one scholarly journal and another reference from a website. The scholarly journal "A Brief Survey of POWs in Twentieth Cenetury Wars 2013" by George M. Watson Jr and Jacob Neufeld. This journal discusses the treatment and casualties of Prisoners of War during the Twentieth Century. My fifth resource was titled Battlefield: Vietnam Timleine which was posted on pbs.org. This site provided a timeline of a large number of events that took place during the Vietnam War.
After cross referencing a few articles I came to the conclusion that Vietnam suffered greatly during the war and was even affected many years after the war. My references provided information on both the Vietnam and American perspective of the Vietnam war. I found sources that gave statistics of POWs during twentieth Century wars and a timeline with major events that occurred during the Vietnam war.
Works Cited Page
Allen, Joe. Vietnam: The (Last) War the U.S. Lost. Chicago, IL: Haymarker Books, 2008. 9 Oct. 2013.
Long, Robert E, ed. Vietnam Ten Years After. New York: The H.W. Wlson Company, 1986. 9 Oct. 2013.
Doyle, Edward, Samual Lipsman, and Terrence Maitland. The Vietnam Experiance: The Nort. Boston, MA: Boston Publishing Company, 1986. 9 Oct. 2013.
Watson Jr, George M., and Jacob Neufeld. A Brief Survey of POWs in Twentieth Century Wars 2013 60.2 (2013): N. pag. Web. 9 Oct. 2013. <http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy.stcloudstate.edu/ehost/detail?vid=6&sid=0e24f789-e1cf-4182-9000-7c92a36f0e4e%40sessionmgr10&hid=12&bdata=#db=aph&AN=89444922>.
"Battlefield:Viatnam Timeline." PBS, n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2013. <http://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/timeline/index.html>.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Summy of five classmates blog post
Victoria Peterson book choice from the library was ”The Mummy” written by E.A. Wallis Budge. She chose this book because it reminded her of the movie ”The Mummy” with Brenden Freaser which she claims was the source of her nightmares as a child.
http://en191f13victoriape.blogspot.com/2013/09/answered-questions-i-selected-mummy.html
Abdulaziz Binjumhur chose the book ”Organizing Your Youth Soccer Team.” Most books only have one author, but this book has five authors who made contributions for this book. This book was published by Leisure Press of Champaing, Illinois. He chose this book because of his interest in soccer and wanted to learn more about the sort to better his knowledge of the game.
http://en191f13s27abdulazizbi.blogspot.com/2013/09/organizing-your-youth-soccer-team.html
Hussain Alsufair chose the book ”Modern Egypt” which was written by Arthur Goldschmidt JR and printed by Westview Press in Boulder, Colorado. He chose ths book because he already had known information about Egypt but most of this information was on ancient Egypt. So he thought this book could provide him with modern information and learn about Egypt today and not thousands of years ago.
http://en191f13hussainal.blogspot.com/2013/09/finding-book-in-library.html
Ahmed Almnasef chose ”Mother America” as his book of choice. It was written by Carlos P. Romulo and printed by Doubleday Daran Company. INC in 1943. The reason he chose this book was because it is about America and he is interested in learning more about America. The book is about the living story of democracy in the USA.
http://en191f13ahmedal.blogspot.com/2013/09/mother-amireca-finding-book-to-talk.html
Dong Hyuk Lim chose ”The Korean War- No Victories, No Vanquished” as a book of choice. This book was written by Stanley Sandler and printed by TJ International Ltd Padstow, Cornwall in Great Britain as well as by the University Press of Kentucky. Both places printed the book in 1999. The reason this book was chosen to learn more about the largest war in Korea.
http://en191f13s27donghyukli.blogspot.com/2013/09/day5-in-class-activity-book.html
http://en191f13victoriape.blogspot.com/2013/09/answered-questions-i-selected-mummy.html
Abdulaziz Binjumhur chose the book ”Organizing Your Youth Soccer Team.” Most books only have one author, but this book has five authors who made contributions for this book. This book was published by Leisure Press of Champaing, Illinois. He chose this book because of his interest in soccer and wanted to learn more about the sort to better his knowledge of the game.
http://en191f13s27abdulazizbi.blogspot.com/2013/09/organizing-your-youth-soccer-team.html
Hussain Alsufair chose the book ”Modern Egypt” which was written by Arthur Goldschmidt JR and printed by Westview Press in Boulder, Colorado. He chose ths book because he already had known information about Egypt but most of this information was on ancient Egypt. So he thought this book could provide him with modern information and learn about Egypt today and not thousands of years ago.
http://en191f13hussainal.blogspot.com/2013/09/finding-book-in-library.html
Ahmed Almnasef chose ”Mother America” as his book of choice. It was written by Carlos P. Romulo and printed by Doubleday Daran Company. INC in 1943. The reason he chose this book was because it is about America and he is interested in learning more about America. The book is about the living story of democracy in the USA.
http://en191f13ahmedal.blogspot.com/2013/09/mother-amireca-finding-book-to-talk.html
Dong Hyuk Lim chose ”The Korean War- No Victories, No Vanquished” as a book of choice. This book was written by Stanley Sandler and printed by TJ International Ltd Padstow, Cornwall in Great Britain as well as by the University Press of Kentucky. Both places printed the book in 1999. The reason this book was chosen to learn more about the largest war in Korea.
http://en191f13s27donghyukli.blogspot.com/2013/09/day5-in-class-activity-book.html
Monday, September 30, 2013
Book chosen from the library: Vietnam the (last) war the U.S. lost
Step 1
3.1) I chose this book because as I chose multiple other books the covers were plain with nothing but the title of the book. This book however had a picture with two soldiers in cover and an explosion in the background.
3.2) This book has one author by the name of Joe Allen
3.3) Vietnam the (last) war the U.S. lost
3.4) Haymarket Books
3.5) The book was printed in Chicago, IL in 2008
Step 2
This book written by Joe Allen is about the Vietnam war in regards to how people saw the war unfold and their feelings towards the war. He states a reason for writing this book is because he realizes that most people of generations after the Vietnam war do not know the real reasons behind the war effort, and this book informs it's readers of these reasons. Here is a quote by Joe Allen "Yet for the generation of Americans who have come of age in the three decades since the last U.S. troops left Vietnam, the history of the war is practically forgotten." With those words being said that is Allen's goal of the book to inform people of the great struggle the Vietnam war presented on this country and many others.
3.1) I chose this book because as I chose multiple other books the covers were plain with nothing but the title of the book. This book however had a picture with two soldiers in cover and an explosion in the background.
3.2) This book has one author by the name of Joe Allen
3.3) Vietnam the (last) war the U.S. lost
3.4) Haymarket Books
3.5) The book was printed in Chicago, IL in 2008
Step 2
This book written by Joe Allen is about the Vietnam war in regards to how people saw the war unfold and their feelings towards the war. He states a reason for writing this book is because he realizes that most people of generations after the Vietnam war do not know the real reasons behind the war effort, and this book informs it's readers of these reasons. Here is a quote by Joe Allen "Yet for the generation of Americans who have come of age in the three decades since the last U.S. troops left Vietnam, the history of the war is practically forgotten." With those words being said that is Allen's goal of the book to inform people of the great struggle the Vietnam war presented on this country and many others.
Presentation on Subject Guides
Subject Guides: Brandon Doege & Abdulaziz, Binjumhur
- Useful for researching majors
- Useful for choosing a topic for a research paper regarding certain subjects
- Allows access to reliable sources that have already been chosen by the librarians
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Seven Topics on Research Assistence: Subject Guides
Topic/Link chosen: Subject Guides
What this link is useful for is taking your subject that
has been chosen for let’s say a research paper and giving you access to
reliable resources regarding certain subjects. For example; Art, Biology,
Chemistry, and philosophy. This tool would help you find valuable information
on a subject you have already chosen, or it could help with choosing a research
topic in a subject that you find interesting. This is a useful tool for
research papers because the librarians have already done the work for you in finding
reliable sources regarding certain subjects. I have done a research paper in a
previous class and I believe finding reliable sources was the most difficult
part of the paper. So with that being said this tool would be beneficial to
anyone looking to write a research paper that needs reliable sources or to
find a research topic in a certain subject if the topic for the paper has not
already been chosen.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Sumary of part 3: Presentation
Summary
- How Conor described the United States after being gone for a year
- What Conor did with his time back in the US
- News from Nepal
- The email from Viva Bell
- New Generation Nepal
- helps to create the contrast in the author’s experience and by extension
- The reason behind starting Conor's Non-profit organization
- What was necessary
Part 3 review
Group 3: Alhajri,
Faisal M, Almnasef, Ahmed, Alsufair, Hussain Adel, Shi,
Mengzhen, and Brandon Doege
Upon returning to New Jersey after Conor's year long journey around the world. He was greeted first by his mother at the airport, and then soon after arriving home friends of Conor were inviting him out on the town. He had seen anyone for so long and had been gone for so long he has a lot to catch up on with his friends. Conor described home as "everything, everywhere, seemed squeaky clean. Everyone in the city dressed in clothes that positively gleamed, in collared shirts, gorgeously pressed and starched. Nobody wore the same clothes even two days in a row, let alone two months in a row" (Conor Grennan Little Princes pg 98). As Conor was enjoying his days back in the United States he did not forget about Nepal. He did not want to be a volunteer who disappeared back into his everyday life, so Conor sent emails frequently to Farid and Hari at the Little Princes orphanage.
Upon returning to New Jersey after Conor's year long journey around the world. He was greeted first by his mother at the airport, and then soon after arriving home friends of Conor were inviting him out on the town. He had seen anyone for so long and had been gone for so long he has a lot to catch up on with his friends. Conor described home as "everything, everywhere, seemed squeaky clean. Everyone in the city dressed in clothes that positively gleamed, in collared shirts, gorgeously pressed and starched. Nobody wore the same clothes even two days in a row, let alone two months in a row" (Conor Grennan Little Princes pg 98). As Conor was enjoying his days back in the United States he did not forget about Nepal. He did not want to be a volunteer who disappeared back into his everyday life, so Conor sent emails frequently to Farid and Hari at the Little Princes orphanage.
Once Conor was back in New Jersey for a few weeks he started
a job hunt. He had decided it was that time in his life to get a job, settle
down with someone, and start a life. Conor was distracted however by the news
from Nepal. Apparently after leaving Nepal the government situation had
worsened and protesters were taken to the streets. At the height of the
protesting, King Gyanendra on April 24, 2006 announced the reinstatement of the
democratically elected parliament. Conor was excited for Nepal and thought the
children at Little Princes now had a brighter future in front of them.
Soon after the cease-fire in Nepal, Conor received an email
that would change everything he had decided to do with his life since he had
been back in the United States. The email was from Viva Bell who was one of the
leaders of the Umbrella Foundation. The email said that it had taken the team
from the Umbrella Foundation three weeks to get across town to rescue the seven
children because of the curfew put on the city by the government. Viva stated
that they had found the house without trouble because of Conor's directions
given to them. Upon arrival they found Nuraj's mother and her son but the seven
children were nowhere to be found. They were soon informed that Golkka had heard
the children were to be rescued and he had taken the children around
forty-eight hours before the volunteers had arrived. Conor soon became haunted
by the words he had said to the children before he left Nepal. He told them
that "somebody was coming for them, somebody who they could trust" -
(Conor Grennan, Little Princes, pg 101).
After sitting in his bedroom staring at the email for over
an hour Conor glanced at his notebook next to the computer that had information
on his job search. He tore the pages out and made a new page that contained the
names of the seven children and that was is next objective. To save the seven
children whom he felt he betrayed. Conor started by informing Farid of the
situation with an email. Farid and Conor spent whole days brainstorming on how
they would go about saving the children. They decided they somehow needed to
raise money to give them a chance in providing the children with a safe place
to live. The process started with Conor creating a nonprofit organization. This
took many man hours because Conor had no idea how to even start. He needed to
have a mission for this organization. After a few more days of brainstorming
Conor decided on the mission for his nonprofit organization. His mission would
be to find the families of the trafficked children in Nepal. He would start
with the children of Little Princes then hopefully find the other seven
children in the process. His organization was soon taking shape and he called
it Next Generation Nepal. Once Conor raised enough money for his organization. He
started using all his contacts he had and was soon back in Nepal to fulfill his
nonprofit organizations goal of finding the families of trafficked children and
his own personal goal of finding the seven children.
Analysis
As already alluded, this chapter
helps to create the contrast in the author’s experience and by extension helps
to give weight to the level of sacrifice that the author made when he decided
to stay in Nepal and help the ‘orphans’ reunite with their parents. From the
mother’s and friend’s reactions when they finally get to meet Grennan, it is
evident that the author was loved very much back at home. The author’s
description of the food back at home also proves that he had missed a lot
during his time away from home. The author’s friends rush to hook him up with a
mate also shows the changes in his social life. Furthermore, the author’s hurry
to find a new job and his admission that he was broke shows the break in his
career. All these happening serves one purpose: proving that the author
selfness. It is interesting to note the kind of comfort that he, the author had
decided to sacrifice in order to navigate the dangerous juggles of Nepal in
order to keep his promise of reuniting the children at the orphanage with their
parents. This chapter, above all, brings to the fore the fact that Grennan had
performed his own expectation and the expectations of his own family and
friends. At this point we see a man who had all the best that life could offer
and who had set out just to have more fun and adventure but who is transformed
into a selfless savior. Monday, September 16, 2013
Help with introducing quoted and paraphrased material
Group 3: Brandon Doege, Chuyan Gao, Alhajri Hazza
A teacher comments that your paper does not flow well. What do you do?
Transitions:
Parallel Structure:
Dangling and misplaced modifiers:
Definition:
Fixing wordiness with concise writing:
Definition:
Vocabulary:
A teacher comments that your paper does not flow well. What do you do?
Transitions:
- transitions are phrases or words used to connect one idea to the next
- transitions are used by the author to help the reader progress from one significant idea to the next
- transitions also show the relationship within a paragraph (or within a sentence) between the main idea and the support the author gives for those ideas
- different transitions do different things
- Examples of transition words
- Actually, Additionally, Also, Lastly, Furthermore, First, Second, Third, Finally
Parallel Structure:
- Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. The usual way to join parallel structures is with the use of coordinating conjunctions such as "and" or "or."
- Skim your paper, pausing at the words "and" and "or." Check on each side of these words to see whether the items joined are parallel. If not, make them parallel.
- If you have several items in a list, put them in a column to see if they are parallel.
- Listen to the sound of the items in a list or the items being compared. Do you hear the same kinds of sounds? For example, is there a series of "-ing" words beginning each item? Or do your hear a rhythm being repeated? If something is breaking that rhythm or repetition of sound, check to see if it needs to be made parallel.
Dangling and misplaced modifiers:
Definition:
- A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence. A modifier describes, clarifies, or gives more detail about a concept
- Name the appropriate or logical doer of the action as the subject of the main clause
- Having arrived late for practice, a written excuse was needed.
- Who arrived late? This sentence says that the written excuse arrived late. To revise, decide who actually arrived late. The possible revision might look like this:
- Having arrived late for practice, the team captain needed a written excuse.
- The main clause now names the person (the captain) who did the action in the modifying phrase (arrived late).
- Change the phrase that dangles into a complete introductory clause by naming the doer of the action in that clause
- Without knowing his name, it was difficult to introduce him.
- Who didn't know his name? This sentence says that "it" didn't know his name. To revise, decide who was trying to introduce him. The revision might look something like this:
- Because Maria did not know his name, it was difficult to introduce him.
- The phrase is now a complete introductory clause; it does not modify any other part of the sentence, so is not considered "dangling."
- Combine the phrase and main clause into one
- To improve his results, the experiment was done again.
- Who wanted to improve results? This sentence says that the experiment
was trying to improve its own results. To revise, combine the phrase
and the main clause into one sentence. The revision might look
something like this:
- He improved his results by doing the experiment again.
Fixing wordiness with concise writing:
Definition:
- The goal of concise writing is to use the most effective words. Concise writing does not always have the fewest words, but it always uses the strongest ones. Writers often fill sentences with weak or unnecessary words that can be deleted or replaced
- Replace several vague words with more powerful and specific words.
- Interrogate every word in a sentence
- Check every word to make sure that it is providing something important and unique to a sentence
- Combine Sentences
- Some information does not require a full sentence, and can easily be inserted into another sentence without losing any of its value
Vocabulary:
- How do you improve your vocabulary?
- Make it a priority to learn new words
- Decide to learn one new word every day or two
- Make your vocabulary practical
- Start by learning the words that can express what’s most important to you
- Find the right word for you and use it
- When you’re writing something, use a thesaurus frequently
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