The day has come: for we are gathered here today for the season finale of my research series.

Behold, the light at the end of the tunnel

Yesterday I completed the last and final component of my research project components, and let me just say, it was the most fun piece of the entire process.

The final assignment I completed was transforming my research argument into a multimodal composition. In short, I had to take my 10 page argument and create a poster, quiz, article, video or something dynamic in order to get my message to my target audience.

I decided to create a video in order to raise awareness about the conversation I was entering regarding community that can be fostered within college dining halls. Based on the outcomes of my research and how there was little to not information on the topic, I decided an informational anecdote would thought-provoking, and effective in order to raise bring attention to the topic I had some much curiosity about.

Because my video is not necessarily be on a topic people would look up even on YouTube, I figured it would be best if my video was one of the ads that happened before videos start. The initial video someone would be trying to watch would be about education or something related to college, and my video would be a whiteboard story regarding one or both of those topics, but introduce a new conversation.

https://youtu.be/f_7D_i4ZOxU

As this was the first video I have ever made, I found it to be fun and rewarding. I definitely have a new found respect for all those who edit videos because the process although tedious, is extremely fulfilling.

As my research adventure comes to a close, it is safe to say I have learned a lot from my experiences throughout these past ten weeks. From utilizing strategies from before such as the BEAM, I now have a better understanding on how to find sources in order to formulate an argument that is completely my own based on sources from conversations that previously existed. I learned how to hunt and gather sources and how my mentality and open-mindedness really plays a role in what I can and cannot find through research. I also now know how to look up stuff in an archive (and can proudly say I know what an archive is and where they are located within my school!).

Maybe writing can be as glamorous as you think

If there are any major takeaway points to this research endeavor, I have learned that research in itself is a process. Similar to writing, finding the sources, and composing an argument are not simple tasks that can lead to dead ends because there is no guarantee. But that’s the risk and fun in research that makes the outcome even more rewarding because guess what? A dead-end, and need for more research is an outcome in itself and has value. Sure there was no research on the topic of college dining and community that I was so fascinated by, but the fact that there is not definite answer doesn’t make my topic insignificant. Instead, it can viewed as something original that simply hasn’t been tapped into yet and I can be the one to crack open that case and expose my findings to world. Research I am finding is about inspiration, and I’m hoping my documentation of my experience inspires you to dig into something you ponder about.

Best of Luck.

♥ Little Kelli

As I mentioned in the blood type diet blog post, it can be difficult to really find diets and exercise regimens that works for you. It can challenging to not always fall into the trend and find recipes and workouts that don’t get receptive but are still just as effective as time goes one. I, myself, am navigating these very uncharted waters as college continues and as I begin to have more control over what I eat and when I workout.

While reading some of the health and fitness blog I enjoy on my Facebook feed, I came across one post about body types. Usually when I find these, they’re about pear and apple and all these fruit shaped bodies that frankly, never really made any sense to me. Or rather, they made sense to me as I understood the analogy, but never seemed to strike me effectively.

However I came across this one by Emily Skye, mentioning that there were three main body types and they can determine how you loose fat.

I hesitated slightly before reading because I was nervous I would get too caught up in categorizing myself again. I feared trying to compensate for who I am in order to find a new way to effectively burn fat, and in reality not gain anything because I’d still have to generally figure it out for myself anyway. But I could not resist the title and continued to read further and consult the internet for more information after.

Here’s the lowdown:

The three main body types are ectomorphy, endomorph, and mesomorph.

• Ectomorph: Usually long and long and have difficulty building muscle

Victoria’s Secret model Behati Prinsloo

• Endomorph: typically bigger, contain more high body fat, often pear-shaped, and have a high tendency to store body fat.

Kim Kardashian from KKWTK

• Mesomorph: Usually muscular naturally and well-built; have a high metabolism and responsive muscle cells.

Cassey Ho from Blogilates

Ectomorphs have a difficult time gaining muscle mass due to a fast metabolism and can help improve their health by ensuring a greater protein and fat intake paired with an emphasis on resistance training to build muscle. Endomorphs tend to have curvier builds and unfortunately have a difficult time gain muscle and tend to store more fat. Some of the best workouts involve HIIT and Cross Fit, as well as watching the sugar intake for the diet. Mesomorphs tend to lose and gain weight easily, are able to build muscle quickly, and tend to be athletic. For training it is best to utilize endurance, HIIT, and Pilates or Yoga to strengthen and minimize carbohydrates for diet.

Full disclaimer: I did not choose the pictures of these women to judge or scrutinize anyone, or categorize them offensively in any way. I just wanted to give examples of well known people who may fall into these categories so you may have a gauge of where you are, as well as provide a some meal and exercise direction.

Feel free to use the information in this post as a reference, and as food for thought as you continue your diet and exercise journey. I hope this was helpful and introduced you to something new today.

♥ Little Kelli

Alright okay no body freak out about the word diet. I’m not telling you to eat grass and workout 15 hours a day let’s be real here people: that’s insane.

Everybody chill

I’m here to share with you one of the coolest and most though-provoking diets I have ever been exposed to because it rocked my world so much and just had to be shared.

One of my most inspiring friends, Madeline Mason (check her out on Spoon University), told me about this diet and I thought it was one of the most organic and natural lifestyle plans I had ever heard.

So it’s a book too but there’s also a link I’ll provide below

It’s called the blood type diet. Essentially, the idea is that based on your blood type, certain exercises and meal plans can be more beneficial in helping maintain a healthy lifestyle. There are four different strains of the diet, in order to accommodate O, A, B, and AB blood types. All of which have lists of strengths and weaknesses within the information provided.

Someone please try to tell me this isn’t cool

For more information on this diet, check out this link with Dr. Dadamo’s findings. The research and science behind it is incredibly thought provoking, and I highly recommend you check it out.

http://www.dadamo.com

Often times it can be difficult and frustrating to experiment with trends and fad diets, that are often unsustainable.I personally struggle with finding out what works for me and my body in terms of dieting and exercise regimen. I find it difficult to not want to try trends because I love trying new things, and finding motivation to not eat whatever is in front of me because believe it or not, college has free food EVERYWHERE.

Unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to try this diet because I am unaware of my blood type, but alas! There is a blood-type identifying kit available on the link above. I hope you get the opportunity to try this out and let me know what you think. My food friend Maddy absolutely loves it as she rocks her vegan and yoga-filled lifestyle. Please comment below on your experience, I’d love to hear it!

If it’s not obvious, I’ve been into yoga lately

♥ Little Kelli

Welcome back everyone to another episode of my research excursion. Post annotated bibliography, I finally moved into the BAM BAM BAMMMMMMM long awaited research paper.

Exciting? I think so too 🙂

For clarification, every assignment I have been doing this quarter has been steps to accomplish a research argument paper on a topic of my choice. Through survey building and writing my first annotated bibliography, I was able to formulate and argument and then create a 8-10 page paper explaining my argument about it. (Yes you read that correctly, 8-10 pages, but double-spaced so no one freak out).

When you hear about the page count for the first time

I ended up arguing that dining halls are spaces that can foster a sense of community and belonging for college students depending on the meal plan that is available for them at their schools.

As a first year college student, I can personally say it can be difficult to find a sense of community with all of the social and academic changes that are occurring. It can be hard to balance all of the components of a new world without a family at home who knows and supports you, and natural to desire something similar. In my essay, I researched numerous conversations regarding spatial design and food variety within dining halls, only to find that it is the meal plan that ultimately fosters community within that specific space.

Everyone in college whether they realize it or not

Initially I was extremely confused on how to approach this paper; again like most of the other assignments I had completed this quarter I did not have any idea on how to organize or compose this argument. However after just forcing myself to sit down and write, it turned out to be really fun because I did not come to my conclusion of my argument until I finished. That’s one of the things I love about writing; for as cheesy as it sounds, it really is not so much about where you’re going. The fun is truly in how you get there. The ending is also bittersweet as you are left with a finished product, however you know the journey has come to an end.

It’s been real

More to come as I work on my multi-modal project that will be based on this research paper!

♥ Little Kelli

I don’t know about all you folks out there, but between all of these diet trends, fitness guides, and Pinterest boards, I am finding it hard to keep up on what is considered a balanced meal anymore.

Sometimes you hear people say cut out the meat, no refined sugar, others say ABSOLUTELY NO UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES shall you eat carbs. As a confused and starving college student, I am finding it difficult to tailor my diet to create a more balanced lifestyle, if everywhere I look I am hearing to cut out something. I feel as if there is a lot of negativity that is associated with certain or “processed” food groups that is in the end masked by the passive aggressive, “whatever works for you,” statement.

Frustrated with diets? Yeah I am too

Out of confusion and plain exhaustion, I had this idea: why not return to the resources who originally told me what was considered a balanced meal in the first place? GENIUS (I know) the answer was practically under my nose. I thought back to when I was in elementary school. When lunches came on styrofoam trays, we ate with sporks, and fought over who could have the last carton of chocolate milk.

the food pyramid poster from my cafeteria wall in 2004

As a young kindergarten, I was introduced to food pyramid where I taught 30% of meal should be devoted to grains, 30% to vegetables, 20% dairy, 10% fruit, 8% meat, and 2% essential oils and fats. So from the start, I consumed large portions of grains and dairy (c’mon what kindergartener eats vegetables get real).

Nowadays, we have moved from food pyramids to plates.

Choose your plate and portions and choosemyplate.org

Choose My Plate has surpassed the USDA’s food pyramid and swapped it for a more trendy and newfound spin on portions.

According to Choose My Plate, the grain and dairy portions remain equal, but the protein and fruit intake has significantly increased in size where as the dairy has significantly been decreased.

Throughout my research on this topic, I still hear the words of my mother in the back of my mind, “everything in moderation.” I figure as long as I’m not having cornbread muffins and lattes for breakfast every morning, I should survive, and as long as I remember to incorporate some vegetables here and there I will thrive.

Balance is Key

Balance is key, don’t beat yourself up for eating that cupcake, and try new things to figure out what diet works for you. Obviously there is no one size fits all plan, and I encourage you to play with your portions to find out what you like.

♥ Little Kelli

Annotated Bibliography= complete. Now let’s reflect on it.

So over the course of the past week, I composed my first, very own, annotated bibliography. Thank you, thank you, you are too kind.

Thank you is all I can say

After spending a significant amount of time rewording phrases and words to search within the database, summarizing my 9 articles, and composing a short reflection paper on the groupings of my findings, my annotated bibliography was finally ready for submission.

Originally when I began to write the annotations of this bibliography, all I did was summarize my pieces. I wrote these elaborate one or two paragraph summaries for each of my articles to recap the main points, and it turns out that is not what I was supposed to do at all…

When you find out you wrote assignment wrong

After our session on peer review and looking back at the directions, it turns out I was actually supposed to be analyzing the connections and similarities or differences I came across as I attempted to understand my articles, and that is what I should have been focusing on. Obviously, I would have to understand what the article was conveying, so summarization was a good start, but ultimately it was about the synthesis that could be taken away from reading these articles that was most important.

Obviously it was frustrating to have to rewrite 9 annotations, I mean that’s a lot right? But in end, I realized it helped me understand my sources better than when I had originally read them the first time. By going back and looking at my articles with a mentality of attempting to find comparisons, helped me to better understand the conversations that the articles were addressing. When I was forced to go back and read some of the articles, I found that all of my pieces may have been roughly around the same topic of college dining and the potential it has, but each source referenced a specific conversation and concern. It was fascinating to see how sources that all seem so similar on the outside, can truly have some many differences once read.

Me when I found my argument

The silver lining throughout this process, is that I was able to find my own argument, and conversation I wanted to bring to the table out of this process. Out of all the small talk I read about spacial design and food variation, I came to the conclusion that dining halls are spaces that foster a sense of community based on the food, space, meal plan, and awareness of those who utilize this service. The moment we have all been waiting for, my research paper, will be about this topic and I am excited to embark on this long 8-10 page journey. Here we go!

♥ Little Kelli

As I sit here trying to type out this annotated bibliography, my mind is wandering further and further away from the initial task I am supposed to tending to. In my head I think, I have three sources, it is time to write this bibliography, and describe why or how it helped me. But I can’t help but think about how the question I am imposing in general in just too specific. I cannot even finish annotating the first one without thinking, “how on earth an I going to find 3 more???”

“Don’t panic, don’t panic,”

To prevent myself from slipping into a minor panic mode (where I know nothing will get done) I have resorted to writing this blog on yet another episode of the great research excursion. So here I am coming to you live, and in person, as I read these articles and try to read and analyze them without freaking out over not having enough sources.

Okay so not going to lie, these sources are not the most invigorating things you every did lay eyes on. There each have mile long titles, too much text (in my opinion, not at all trying to be offensive), and no pictures. Granted, I knew this was coming because it is called a scholarly article and after all I did find it in a database, not Google.

Within a few of my sources, I am finding a few thing’s Kantz identifies as “gaps” aka “discrepancies of values, social conventions, language, or any other matter that readers must consider” (77). Throughout my resources, it has been difficult to find any sort of gaps due to the fact that most of my pieces I am discovering are descriptions of cafeteria layouts… Therefore there are no social conventions or language I can identify and see distance within.

Me trying to find resources like

Due to the fact that most of my sources are not at all what I imagined them to be, I have made an attempt to further create my research space by establishing my territory. By not only gathering articles, but making topic generalizations on the articles I have read, I have been able to identify that the sources I have found unfortunately are not at all what I thought they were. This helped me to further clarify for me that I wanted my research to be more about the community a dining hall fosters, not necessarily improvements people are making to cafeterias to make them look more visually appealing.

More updates to come in the following episode. Fingers crossed I find some quality sources.

♥ Little Kelli

Now the survey is complete, I have a topic, and have done some online database searching, you’re probably wondering what the next step is in this research project. Well friends, low and behold, the next thing I am cranking out is my annotated bibliography.

What? I can’t do it all on Easybib?

I know what you’re thinking: you see the word bibliography and think, “Well why doesn’t this chick just use Easybib just like the rest of us?” (arguably one of the most convenient online tools created in our time). Unfortunately the kind of bibliography I am about to embark on is not as simple as picking a format, and typing in all the information at Easybib.com. Instead, it will be that, plus my own reasoning as to why I thought this source was useful and where I used it.

When navigating to find sources, it can more difficult than you think. In my last blog I mentioned how it seemed my topic was too specific for me to find any solid information. But once I was able to find a new articles, the hard part then became how do I determine whether these sources have feasible information inside? I could have just read a bazillion articles numerous times, but lets be honest, no one (I hope no one) has time to read all of that. It shouldn’t be necessary right? The key is know what to look for inside the article, so when you are reading, you know what and what not to look for.

Margaret Kantz outlines three specific reasons as to why students are not able to accurately use sources that help a researcher better understand what to look for in text:

1. We read sources as stories

Although sources may not be written in a narrative format and are typically told in a chronological structure, we as students and first time researchers have a tendency to read sources as if they are going to unveil a deeper meaning once we have finished. According to Kantz, this illusion we create only hurts our chances of understanding what is actually being said.

2. We expect our sources to tell the truth.

I do this all the time. Whenever I am reading a source, I find myself guilty of thinking the source is equivalent to something of God’s Word because I assume someone who is published, henceforth more educated than myself, has all of the authority and credibility to write something of prominence and honesty. However, students end up, “equating persuasive writing in this context with making things up,” (Kantz, 72).

3. Facts are claims; not truth

Often times facts are used as an avenue to create an impression. By nature we associate the fact word to definition and expect anything following to be whatever the mater truly consists of. Kantz concludes by the word alone, we are instantly persuaded and are no longer looking to decipher if this piece is really fact or opinion.

So far feeling positive now that I know what to look out for.

Kantz suggests that in order to combat all of these tendencies, it is essential to remember that an original persuasive argument based on sources required students to apply material to a problem or to use it to answer a question, rather than simply repeating or evaluating it. If we treat our sources how we do our argument, by skimming, assuming, and relying on what we already know, our argumentative research piece will most likely not convince anyone.

The good news is that I have been able to take away that in order to find good sources for my piece, it will be essential to be on guard for wording, phrasing, and depiction of the sources I am reading. I cannot assume anything for what it is, but instead read it with an open mind, and take everything said with a grain of salt. To the databases, I go!

♥ Little Kelli

Alas, we have arrived to the time where it is now time to research information on my topic of choice. However, it can be difficult to commence research when there is no topic of choice to be had…

The same reaction I had.

Upon concluding my survey analysis on how satisfied or not people are with our school’s dining service, I was left with a bit of a debacle in terms of what I wanted to really write about. I had hoped to amass more research about as how our dining system affects the communal aspect of our university, however I was not able to accomplish this goal through a survey. It turns out, all I ended up finding out was that people are generally content with their current meal plan, but I looking back I did not write any questions that specifically inquired as to how they feel our cafeteria is or is not an opportunity for sociability. The good news is the survey was fun, I learned about how to write a survey, and feel better equipped if I ever have to perform a similar task ever again.

Agreed Seth Meyers, agreed

Now, back to what I was originally talking about: topic of choice. I have concluded that my topic of choice still remains to be how different dining systems affect the cohesiveness of a school community, and thus I have begun said research process on a journey through the online databases in our school library.

The other day for one of our classes, one of our librarians gave us a tutorial on how to search the online databases. Unfortunately, it is not as simple as Google to where I can type in a series of words and articles will pop up. Instead, I have to include a asteroids, quotation marks, the word “or” and this process can be exhausting let me tell you. I feel that this process like most things, will take some adjustment and getting used to, but for the first few times, I wanted nothing more than to just slam my computer screen for only giving me four results.

How to database: Not google

After my tutorial session, I went home and tried to find a few articles on my topic in specific. I found this one in particular https://login.libproxy.scu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ofm&AN=505244229&site=ehost-live while using the keywords “meal plan” and university. My searches consisted of interior design plans that unfortunately did not lead me to what I was originally looking for. This particular article at first had me excited because although it was about the architecture of the space, it did offer a bit of insight about how people do take into account how significant a dining space is. Within this article, the cafeteria of school in Germany was evaluated and renovated for better seating design as well as a new paint job because they wanted to provide a space that people desired going to, and that was accessible from all angles. It was interesting to see the author acknowledge how significant a dining space can be and how people do take into account how dining halls are centers for collaboration.

Within my next few searches, I hope to narrow down my searches more by finding more articles about the space and how it is used for social mobility. I am interested in discovering how dining halls can foster conversation, and how that hub is affected by an ability to take away food. Its looking more and more as if this may just be a topic of conversation, and not something that may have been particularly reproached, but my next step is to try a different approach: maybe instead of data bases, I can look up some ethnographers. Take an anthropological stab at this topic from a new angle. Maybe this will work, maybe it won’t, more to come in next week’s episode.

♥ Little Kelli

The United States is credited as being a country with a “melting pot” of cultures. With a wide variety of people, comes a wide variety of perspectives, preferences, and ways to live daily life.

One of the beauties in living in a country where diversity enhances all innovation, and where individual backgrounds are celebrated everyday, is the multitude of creation that emerges from the collaboration. This happens through conversation, art, food, but most notably through music.

Jazz Music was performed throughout the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana beginning in the early 1900’s

Born down in New Orleans, Jazz music is the definition of American culture as the genre itself is an embodiment the country’s values, feelings, and self expression.

The genre originated in the African American communities in the early 19th and 20th centuries from the roots of blues and ragtime. The music incorporates components of independent and popular music styles to weld African American and European American style and performance orientation. In the late 19th century when slaves were being imported from West Africa to North America, the stomping, clapping, drumming beats from the Congo blended with the fast and smooth melodies from Columbia, Cuba, and Haiti, to create a rhythmic pattern known as the Habanera rhythm. These musical variations made their way all the way up to New Orleans where ragtime music publications began to make their rise within the music industry.

The party, fast-paced, and dance swing jazz of the 1920’s was popping with life and excitement

Independent pianists such as Tommy Turpin and Scott Joplin began to create ragtime singles that eventually made their way to print within the 1890’s. From their hard work, several artists began to perform “jazz music” on the piano, drums, and trombones such as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong performed as solo acts and began to collaborate and showcase together in clubs throughout the South.

In the 1930’s dance-oriented swing jazz bands emerged along with the hard-swinging bluesy improvisational Gypsy style jazz. Thus came Bebop jazz, with the shift from more dancing and repetitive rhythms, to the more complicated and intrinsic rhythms with intrinsic chord-based improvisation.

I could go on and on diving into the subcultures within the genre of jazz, and spell out every specification there is, but ultimately what I want to write about is not so much the history of the music itself, but how jazz is the definition of who we are as a country.

The evolution of the chord-progressions moving form improvisational to structured parallels the American movement of independent business and industries to a country of big corporations that overrule the nation. The infusing of beats and dances from Africa and how they blended with the French marches and English band rhythms serves as a illustration of how the African Americans tried to embrace who they were while trying to acclimate to the new country they were a part of. And when colored people were excluded from performing in the 1950’s and 60’s, jazz did not die out, it carried on as strong as the people who marched with Dr. King and continues to serve as genre that speaks equality and justice for all.

Jazz may not be one of the most popular genres today, and is typically used for background music in most coffee shops or at dinner parties, but will always carry the rich history and culture of the American people. Jazz music may not be able to defined with a pinpoint definition and tidy bow on top, but will always be an ever-growing music of evolution that has the roots of our country, with all of the potential of the future.

♥ Little Kelli