Reflections on ENGL393 - Research Proposal Example

MEMORANDUM Scott Moses October 27, Reflections on ENGL393 The strategies that are not working for me are doing advanced writing because I tend to do better when under pressure, as long as I provide enough time for revision, and getting traditional written feedback. I do not do well in writing several drafts in advance because I tend to work better on the final draft. I am not saying that I prefer procrastination, but I do like the feeling of grace under pressure. I need more practice in writing several drafts though because it is a helpful process in improving the clarity and persuasiveness of my writing and in producing papers with few to zero grammatical errors. In addition, I also do not work well with traditional corrective feedback. When I read written feedback, sometimes, I do not understand exactly what they mean or what they expect me to do. I prefer student-teacher conferences or speaking or chatting with my instructors and peers to better understand the revision needs of the paper. For the first assignment, I did not fully understand the instructions and I was not familiar with the topic at all. As a result, my work is not what the professor expected and I got a low grade. For the second assignment, our topic was related to my major, which is very familiar to me. Furthermore, group working helped me understand the assignment better. Each member has a different perspective, thus, we improved the work more efficiently. So far, with three assignments, I think I have honed my research and interview skills. For example, I tend to be shy when approaching strangers with higher positions, but since this is a technical paper, I have improved my confidence and communication skills. I have more poise when talking to the apartment manager, for instance, regarding the no-party policy. I found that I prefer practicing how to speak with management-level people in advance because it can vastly improve my confidence. In addition, my strengths as a writer are my eagerness to learn through reading and actual research and my openness to feedback. I enjoy reading various materials related to writing itself and to my topic. For instance, I read news articles about different apartment agreements related to noise inside and nearby the apartment promises. Reading different resources expanded my knowledge about my topic and gave insights about needed future policies. I also prefer feedbacks that are given to me directly. An example is with Assignment 3 where I learned the importance of defining important concepts and researching more about policies to improve the concreteness and usefulness of my proposal. I want to learn more about my weaknesses and to improve my writing abilities and I can do this through being open to and responding to peer and teacher feedback. For the remainder of this course, I plan to improve my English writing skills better through reading and writing more and using past feedbacks. Writing technical papers is not my strength, but I am open to improving my technical writing skills that are related to my course also. I can do this through attending writing seminars and through continuously asking for feedback on my writing. Name Instructor Class October 27, 2014 Recommendations for Reducing Inconsiderate Partying in the UDR Apartment Context After preparing for my exams the next day, I was about to sleep at around 1 A.M., Tuesday, when I heard the all-too familiar blasting noise of partying college students a few rooms away from me. The noise continued up to 3 A.M., which left me with only 3 hours of precious sleep. I knew these partiers were students because I see them going to my University too. I could not confront them directly because I fear talking with drunken adolescents. The next morning, I went to the apartment staff of the UDR apartment at Domain College Park to complain about it. The staff stressed that they have a “no-party” policy, and that they would remind the room’s inhabitants about it. A few days after this incident, they were partying again during a weekday. I asked a friend who lives in UDR and she said that some rooms near her party during weekdays too. She also mentioned that one time, the police came because of complaints of noise, drugs, and alcohol, but they found nothing. Some students were drunken and drugged though, so the police referred them to the Office of Student Conduct and Health Center. Partying until wee hours of the morning in the UDR apartment throughout weekdays is detrimental to the UDR management because it costs money to address the legal ramifications of drunken or drugged underage renters and it can reduce the perceptions of peace and safety of its users that may impact its image as a safe and peaceful upscale home environment for student renters. Party noise is one of the main problems of my apartment, and even of other school dormitories, and it is an urgent one that must be resolved because it is detrimental to students’ health and academic standing that might affect UDR’s future revenues. Several articles already noted complaints from students who cannot sleep or study because of parties that last up to mornings during weekdays. Melnitsky shares her experience of dealing with people who do not care about the noise they make and how it affects other people near them. Van der Ryn and Silverstein note that noise is a main problem for people living in the same building. The walls are thin and noise easily travels across several rooms which disturb other dwellers and affect their ability to study or sleep (Van der Ryn and Silverstein 373). If students feel that they cannot rest or study in UDR, they might want to leave it and to spread bad words about the management’s incapability of handling these matters. Aside from the noise, partying has accompanying problems since is correlated with college drinking and other potentially harmful and disruptive behaviors that will also affect the credibility of UDR as a safe haven for its renters. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that college drinking can contribute to health problems and criminal behaviors, as well as death. If renters complain of drunk neighbors, these instances are bad for the image of the apartment too and can cost money for UDR when legal complaints are brought against the management’s lack of security in its premises. Finally, partying during sleeping hours is a sign of lack of empathy for others, which, unfortunately, seems to be decreasing for college students in America. Zaki reports the study from Sara H. Konrath and her peers from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Their survey reveals that college students have less empathy now compared to students twenty years ago. If some renters have poor empathy, others might be dissatisfied and leave the apartment. They may also share their stories with others that might affect UDR’s image as an upscale apartment. Thus, I find it important and urgent to write a recommendation report that will address the context of inconsiderate partying until morning during weekdays in the UDR apartment in Domain College Park. Project Description My main solution is to propose a no-party contract that all renters will sign. The contract states that renters will not party or make loud noises inside the apartment at all during designated quite hours. This only reinforces the no-party policy of the apartment. UDR apartment has a policy that discourages loud noises that can affect the peacefulness of the premises, but it does not have any contract about it. I am suggesting a contract because it has been useful in other uses for college students. I do recognize that other noisy renters are not college students, but I will focus on research about changing disruptive student behaviors. Lindemann and Harbke, in the “Use of Contract Grading to Improve Grades among College Freshmen in Introductory Psychology,” learned that contract grading improved students’ grades. A contract may help students become more accountable for their actions and feel more in control of their situations (Lindemann and Harbke 3). In the same manner, a no-party contract might make UDR renters more responsible for their actions. Perhaps, this can also improve their empathy if it states there how a collective living space requires collective responsibilities. Furthermore, this contract can remind them of where they can party and offer other nearby places. My recommendation consists primarily of a no-partying contract. This contract includes loud noises that disrupt people’s sleep and other activities during quiet hours. First, I will talk to the manager of the UDR apartment face-to-face. I will inform him of the problem and its urgency to the UDR management and their renters and why a contract may help resolve partying noise in the apartment during weekdays. Second is to discuss the contract with other renters. I am going to conduct a meeting that invites renters and highlights the importance of attendance. This stage encourages the participation of other renters. In this meeting, we will also discuss the importance of the contract. We should add the element of improving empathy for all, so that people can become mindful of their actions. I respect their opinion and I want them to contribute to the making of the contract and rules too. I want all of us to feel that we own this agreement and that we are willing to change noisy behaviors to improve the wellbeing of all renters. The third step is creating the contract. The contract should have quiet hours: Sunday to Thursday 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. and Friday and Saturday 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. The contract should explain the context and benefits of the policy to all. It stipulates that a verbal warning will be given first, followed by a written warning, and other potential punishments, such as fines and the like. This recommendation, thus, is a no-party contract that improves the ability of UDR apartment management in making its renters accountable for its disruptive behaviors and in reiterating its no-party policy, especially when partying can lead to littering and other legal costs of drunken/drugged underage renters in its premises. Audiences The primary audiences are the UDR management, particularly the apartment manager ______. I have a renter/apartment manager relationship with the apartment manager. The management needs a peaceful and orderly apartment to avoid problems that happen with other dorms. These problems include complaints of party noises, alcohol, drugs, gambling, and others that can reduce future revenues if their luxury apartment brand becomes tainted with perceptions of noise, littering and disorder due to inconsiderate parties (Goot; Johnson; Kaysen et al.; Wechsler et al.). The list of potential benefits from the recommendations are as follows: (1) fewer legal ramifications from being possibly blamed for underage drinking and substance abuse problems that can come from morning-until-dawn partying; (2) better apartment renter relations; (3) a good brand management strategy to attract more students; (4) less expenses with litter that partying may cause; and (5) more satisfaction from renters who prefer to sleep or study or do other activities in peace during designated quiet hours (Goot; Johnson; Kaysen et al.; Wechsler et al.). These benefits have financial and social aspects that the UDR management will be interested in. The secondary audiences are the UDR apartment renters. Many are students like me who want peace and quiet, especially at night during weekdays (Johnson; Melnitsky). Some are employees who also need to sleep because they have to work the next morning. The recommendations will directly benefit them and provide the following benefits: (1) more rest and time for studying which is good for their health, grades, and wellbeing (for students); (2) fewer possibilities of confrontations with others; and (3) fewer possibilities of being victims of crimes that come from party people who are drunk or under the influence of drugs (“College Drinking”). They will feel more peaceful and secure because of these recommendations. The tertiary readers are my ENGL 393 classmates. They may also need to know more about managing dorm/apartment noise that is prevalent in College Park. As Johnson notes, College Park is known for its college party life. This disruptive behavior may demonstrate lack of empathy when done during weekday nights and which can be resolved through a contract that can mold responsibility and empathy skills. RAs can also give advice for these noisy people, so that they can stop disrupting other people’s peace and quiet. My classmates can find the report applicable to their needs. In addition, they can give me important feedback about the writing and content. Their feedback can improve the recommendations. The gatekeeper is Scott Moses, my professor in ENGL 393. He wants his students to have advanced skills and knowledge in communicating with others physically and electronically. He also needs us to learn technical writing skills. He will read our documents and offer suggestions for improvements. His advice is essential to the success of the recommendations because of how it can improve the writing style and other aspects of the report. Research The most relevant sources for me are, first, those who explored the negative effects of partying for college students because it can impact the image of UDR apartment as a luxury housing brand. I focused on college students because they are a special group that is part of the noise makers in the apartment. “College Drinking” is a good source for information about the prevalence of college drinking and its impacts on criminal and anti-social behaviors. Goot and Johnson report about college drinking and partying habits and their adverse effects on the partying students and those around them. Goot says that the police had confiscated alcohol and drugs from students who attended parties in college environments. Johnson reports of the drunken students who litter the streets around afterwards. These sources demonstrate that partying leads to littering and disruptive behaviors that taint the image of peace and order of the apartment. The next important sources are about empathy and contracts. I could not find empirical studies on how to change partying behaviors among college students and apartment renters, so I had to content myself with other student behavioral problems. Kaysen et al. note that for female college alcohol drinkers, cognitive behavioral management interventions helped them. Several studies, in addition, showed the role of contracts in influencing student behaviors. Lindemann and Harbke show that contracts can be useful in enforcing good self-monitoring habits. Shaffer et al. note that policies can affect gambling behaviors. Wechsler et al. agree that policies can help curb drinking behaviors among college students. These sources suggest that contracts may help renters change their inconsiderate partying behaviors. Finally, Van der Ryn and Silverstein offer an interesting analysis of residential spaces and social relationships. I find this source important in explaining how important people relationships are inside buildings. If people knew each other and cared for one another, I believe that inconsiderate partying at unreasonable hours during school nights and religious holidays will not exist anymore, except for those who have no empathy whatsoever. Definitely, nothing beats social interactions to improve how people treat one another, but a contract is a good measure for concretely assigning responsibilities to renters. From these sources, I learned that much can be learned from further studying no-party contracts and other social interventions for this issue. My primary research involves a survey and an interview. The interview will be for the apartment manager to determine what he thinks about the contract and what should be included in it. I will ask him about the advantages and disadvantages of the contract. The survey will be for renters. I want to ask them about the prevalence of noise during quiet hours. I want to know how they feel about it and what they think the effects of unreasonable weekday night partying are to their academic and social wellbeing. I also want to ask them about their recommendations and how they will feel about a no-party contract. I want to understand how they perceive these recommendations and if they will follow them. Conclusion Partying, as well as its accompanying noise and related negative social behaviors, is a serious problem for my apartment in Domain College Park. Inconsiderate weekday night partying may result to costly littering and legal consequences of underage alcohol and drug abuses that might incriminate the UDR management. It also has the negative effects of potentially leading to poor branding when the apartment becomes associated with party noise, littering, and rowdy behaviors in its premises. This paper recommends a no-party contract to the UDR management. The recommendation aims to change student behavior through making them accountable for their actions and influencing them to become more empathetic of others. A no-party contract can help end partying during weekdays and provide peace, security, and order to both the management and their renters. Sources “College Drinking.” National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. . Goot, Michael. “Drug, Alcohol Issues Surface at SUNY Adirondack Dorm.” poststar.com, 20 Oct. 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. < http://poststar.com/news/local/drug-alcohol-issues-surface-at-suny-adirondack-dorm/article_a3240bf8-39cf-11e3-8676-001a4bcf887a.html>. Johnson, Jenna. “Party Time in College Park.” The Baltimore Sun, 12 Sept. 2009. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. . Kaysen, Debra L., Lee, Christine M., and Sean J. Tollison, M.S. “Readiness to Change Drinking Behavior in Female College Students.” Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs Supplement (16): 106-114. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. . Lindemann, Dana F., and Colin R. Harbke. “Use of Contract Grading to Improve Grades Among College Freshmen in Introductory Psychology.” SAGE Open (2012): 1-7. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. . Melnitsky, Rebecca. “People Need To Sleep.” timesunion.com, 30 Jan. 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. . Shaffer, Howard J., Donato, Anthony N., LaBrie, Richard A., Kidman, Rachel C., and Debi A. LaPlante. “The Epidemiology of College Alcohol and Gambling Policies.” Harm Reduction Journal 2.1 (2005). DOI:10.1186/1477-7517-2-1. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. . Van der Ryn, Sim, and Murray Silverstein. “The Room, a Student’s Personal Environment.” People and Buildings. Ed. R. Gutman. New Jersey: Transaction, 2009. 370-383. Print. Wechsler, Henry, Lee, Jae Eun, Nelson, Toben F., and Meichun Kuo. “Underage College Students’ Drinking Behavior, Access to Alcohol, and the Influence of Deterrence Policies Findings From the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study.” Journal of American College Health 50.5 (2002): 223-236. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. . Zaki, Jamil. “What, Me Care? Young Are Less Empathetic.” Scientific American, 23 Dec. 2010. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. < http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-me-care/>. Read More