I am still trying to select a topic. I have been drawn to journalism lately because it is sports season and fall semester; I don't have much free time to read but when I do I find myself reading something on sports. I read a lot of articles on ESPN and NHL.com. Reading these sports articles made me realize that maybe I should attempt to write a digital article for a website. I do not necessarily have to write a sports article. I hope to have a revelation shrinking my watermelon of an idea into a seed. This post is a list of the articles I have been studying. I need you as a commenter to tell me which of these articles you feel are most effective. Hopefully, I can select a topic in the next couple days, but these articles are here for you to see the direction I envision going in for each of my topics.
Fighting in Hockey
Hockey 1
Hockey 2
Trash Talk
Trash talk 1
Trash Talk 2
Motivation
Motivation 1
Motivation 2
After studying these articles, I realize how much more work motivation would be compared to the other two topics. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Fighting in hockey and trash talk already have a lot of articles written that are similar to mine, so why would I want to re-write something someone has already published? The ridiculous amounts of research and the number of possibilities for this project makes me curious to find a topic involving motivation. I probably am going to move forward with a topic involving motivation. Please let me know if you disagree. The other links for trash talk and fighting in hockey are there for you to see the direction I may go in. Let me know your thoughts.
Austin -
ReplyDeleteMy concern about the motivation piece - which is not pushing back against it - is it's broadness, the lack so far of a clear direction that you might take with it. On the other hand, there is a life to the two pieces that you've written here about hockey, mostly because I sense the energy behind it, and the passion as well. In fact, the hockey parts of the motivation section seems the liveliest too.
I'd set my sights higher on ideas regarding trash talk and other topics, which is to say, you ought to do some scholarly research on the subject, turning to published journal articles instead of only on-line blog entries. If you want to do something about the "rhetoric of trash talk," that takes the idea of rhetoric seriously, I think you'd find that to be an interesting and wide open landscape to pursue - but you might have to think more thoroughly about the topic. There is definitely room for your personal reflection - that opens the door a bit for you no matter what the choice you make.
Look in these pieces for the sign of energy on the page, evidence that you're fired up in some way. I see that the most in the trash talk piece, and you've got to set aside a notion that "someone already wrote the piece you wanted to write" - I don't think that's true, and - if I were offering advice about that direction - I could think of lots of things to include: what does the coaching staff of the football team say about trash talk on the field? What about other athletes that you might be able to talk to? And if you were going to do a serious rhetorical analysis of trash talk, what would you need to include? You won't find that on ESPN, but it might be funny and at the same time engaging. (Think here about Kerry's cat meme paper as a potential model, perhaps.)
You have given yourself room for movement right now, because you have produced something. Whatever you choose to do, produce more. And if you have specific questions for me, ask me directly and I'll answer as soon as I can do so.
I'd recommend that you use this class, in part, not necessarily to focus on a new kind of writing that you haven't done, but on expanding your ideas about how you write. Trust yourself a little more to develop an idea that responds to focused writing and deep reading, and then do those things, and see where it takes you. Writers have to leap before they know there is something there - but if you take that charge seriously, and do the hard hard work, there is usually something there...
I don't think how much work something will be should ever inhibit your decision when it comes to writing. All of it is a lot of work! Instead, as Kirk pointed out, choose a path and start swinging. I think we all have over stressed ourselves about the nature of this capstone class. We haven't (really) ever had a class like it, which translates into a learning curve that all of us are struggling against to some extent, but you don't have to walk away from MSU with a degree and a published book, so don't worry about it so much. If you find it interesting, write about it. Find a new angle on the subject after you have produced some material and pursue it. My project might not be fully finished by time the semester ends. Screw it. Our writing extends past deadlines and grades. But as long as we give it our best shot, it shouldn't matter.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Levi and Dr. Branch. Something I realized over break is that if you find value and believe in what you do, then others will as well. As mentioned before, free-writing may help you find what you value and are passionate in, and once you do, you'll know what to write :).
ReplyDeleteHey Austin!
ReplyDeleteI think you are really on to something with the trash-talking thing you've got going on. For me, it was the most effective portion of your piece exploring ideas. I think it was because you seemed to have the most direction with that portion. The idea of applying some sort of rhetorical analysis to trash talk is really interesting and unique. It never occurred to me that trash talk would have any strategic purpose, other than just riling each other up. The difference between trash talk between members of your team and then members of the opposite team is intriguing too. Basically you are using the same language with an entirely different rhetorical purpose. And it connects to your interests, which is awesome!
I like where you're headed!
Analisa
Austin-
ReplyDeleteI definitely dig what everyone else is saying and see a strength in the trash talk work. If you can put your own spin on it, you'll produce something that's entertaining and worth the read, even if someone else may have written something somewhat similar before. Your voice should be heard, and I know you have a lot of personal examples to draw from that will make it a great read. After all, trash talking is an interesting facet of language that many people never have a chance to experience or know anything about. I say grab that and write! Looking forward to seeing where you take it.