Project #1 Worksheet

Your Place: ___Devil’s Den_________________________________________________________

What are the intended functions of the place?

To provide a place for students where they can be comfortable. A place where people can be themselves and meet new people. Devil’s Den is a place where people can connect with their past when they play the arcade. They can play games like pool or ping pong and meet people with similar interests. 

What overt messages does the place send (i.e., openly communicated through signs)?

The MU displays many signs and posters that make Devil’s Den seem like a wonderful place. There are signs like “See you at the MU” and many pictures of Sparky doing things like bowling. The many signs of ASU make students feel school pride when they are attending Sparky’s Den. 

What covert messages does the place send (i.e., hidden messages)?

The covert messages that Devil’s Den sends are the propaganda signs that indirectly make kids want to come to the MU. Signs that stress the importance of coming to home football games will make kids want to spend money to go to games. Signs like the “See you at the MU” will make kids want to come and spend money on things like pool and ping pong. 

Have previous users left traces behind in the place?

Yes there have been stickers that have been placed of ASU. I saw some marker writing that said ASU and some inappropriate things. Some people have left traces behind the place but that is because they did not want to clean up their mess. I saw empty cans. Empty coke bottles. Ice cream was left at the bowling tables.

Has the place been re-appropriated (i.e., beyond its original functions)?

I believe the Devil’s Diner was always supposed to be a place for students to relax and hangout. 

What social or cultural customs did you observe (i.e., rules governing appropriate behavior)?

I saw a lot of social customs when I observed the Devil’s Den. I saw a lot of Chinese kids playing ping pong. I believe that is a result of the influence of ping pong in China. I saw a lot of social aspect at the Devil’s Den. People were all talking laughing and having a good time. I saw a lot of people smiling and joking around. 

Who has access to the place?  Are there insiders and outsiders?

Everyone has access to this place. Adults can come and play but mostly students. I saw a lot of kids playing pool and playing ping pong. I played with two adults two on two ping pong who had their kids with them. Everybody can play but everyone must play.

Who owns the place?

Arizona State University owns this place. 

What is the place’s value (i.e., monetary or otherwise)?

It is a very good place to make straight cash (homey) because all of the events cost money. Ping pong, pool, bowling, arcade and even air hockey cost money per hour.

Are there official representations of the place (i.e., online, in promotional materials)?  Do they accurately capture the place as you experienced it?

The promotion of Sparky’s Den is a little exaggerated but is still a great place. I don’t think Sparky’s Den is a perfect place as they make it seem but its place to be.  

Is the place in transition, a changing place?

This place will probably not change. I believe Sparky’s Den will be Sparky’s Den for a long, long time

What conflicts or tensions are there in the place?

There are some conflicts because it can be a very competitive place. People can argue about a ping pong rule or fight over the score. When people want to win, they will argue. 

What is the place’s history?  Do you see evidence of the past there in the present?

I do not know this places history but the MU itself has a long history dating back to 1956. The MU was built when theyre was only 6,000 students so I see a lot of changes. The MU is huge. Things like Sparky’s Den have been added.

How does this place differentiate itself from other places?  What other places is it similar to, but how is it different from those places? Sparky’s Den is different because it lets students be themselves and have fun. It lets students play games and get to know people. This place is different than places like my lounge because it is a place to relax and hangout but isn’t nearly as fun. My lounge does not have a bowling alley and doesn’t have a great atmosphere like Sparky’s Den has.

What questions do you have about your place?

I want to know who owns this place. Is it ASU or someone else? How much do the people get paid? 

Key Features / Profiles (taken from the Norton Field Guide (Goggin and Bullock) Chapter 16, pages 165-166)

An interesting subject.  What is unusual about your place?  Alternatively, is there something ordinary about it that you can show in an intriguing way? Devil’s Den is unusual because I feel lucky that I have a bowling alley and a ping pong table but I have to pay for it. Usually if I had to pay for something I’d wish it was free. But I’m happy to give them my money. The only thing ordinary would be the chairs. They aren’t great or special but they’re chairs.

Any necessary background.  What background information will you need to include about the place in order to situate readers? They would probably need to know that you need to pay for everything. They would need to know that they can’t beat me at ping pong. Other than that, they could enter Devil’s Den without any previous knowledge.

An interesting angle.  Rather than trying to tell readers everything about the place, what angle(s) might you use? 

I would probably use the atmosphere and the past that Devil’s Den connects kids with by the use of arcades.

A firsthand account.  Did you interact with people in the place or participate in some way?  What experiences did you have there that you can write about using “I”?  (Yes, first person point of view is encouraged, especially for this paper.) I had experiences with many people when I play ping pong. I’ve played ping pong with a Chinese boy who didn’t speak any English but we connected. I made friends with a group of Korean students who came to study here. 

Engaging details.  What specific information must you include in your description of the place?  What potential does your place have for the use of sensory images, figurative language, dialogue, anecdotes, and showing rather than telling?  What do you want the dominant impression to be? I must include information about why the descriptions are important and why they mean something. I think images are very important because it gives the reader something to see. I think figurative language is important so people can interpret things. Anecdotes are important because it gives the reader stories to relate to and think about.

Generating Ideas and Text (taken from the Norton Field Guide (Goggin and Bullock) Chapter 16, pages 168-169)

Explore what you already know about your subject.  Why do you find this place interesting?  What did you already know about it? I find this place interesting because it was the first place that I felt comfortable. This place really let me be happy. The ping pong made me think about my dad since we played together all the time. I’m asian but I’m adopted so it isn’t what you think!

If you’re planning to interview someone, prepare questions.  What would you like to ask someone in the place in order to better understand it? I would ask them what they think of the place? Why they think that? If they like playing ping pong? Pools? Air Hockey? I would ask if they had a place to hangout? 

Do additional research.  Does your place have an online component?  How else might you gather additional research?

This place does not have an online component. I could ask others for additional research to find out more about this place.

Analyze your findings.  What patterns, images, or recurring ideas or phrases did you use to describe your place?  What contrasts or discrepancies do you see?

The recurring ideas or images are the pictures that I find or the Sparky images. The propaganda is what I think about when thinking about Sparky’s Den. A recurring idea is that everybody is happy and being social. I think I saw people being happy and spending money which is great for ASU.

Come up with an angle.  What is most memorable about your subject?  What most interests you?  What will interest your audience?

The most memorable thing about my place is the relationships I’ve built with people. I bonded with my friend Austin because of ping pong. We’re now great friends. This also led me to have the courage to join the ping pong tournament. I think the atmosphere will interest my audience and a place for people to hangout and have fun is appealing.