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Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

Discourse Observation Analysis (Wednesday, August 28, 2013- Wednesday, September 11, 2013)

[u1]: The whole paper, I need to recheck my English grammar.

Description of the Location: This Catholic Campus Ministry House(CCM House) is located at the corner of Suther St and Sandburg Rd. It takes about three minutes from St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church by walk which is situated near UNC Charlotte. CCM House is one of the houses in a Charlotte residence community. It has one big living room, one kitchen, one bathroom and three extra rooms with clean gardens.

[u2]: My group members like my pictures because it is descriptive and make them understand my paper easily.

Figured World: Figured worlds can be defined as a kind of social and cultural community made with specific purposes, actors, activities, and identities in practice.

Catholic Campus Ministry House is a place to be built for socializing with university students with faith. Actually, most students are from UNCC but there are some people from different schools. Every Wednesday 6:30 pm a regular meeting takes place at the CCM house. The leaders are five of people and every CCM Wednesday meeting is leading under them. Everyone is required to check an attendance sheet and have their own name tag right after coming in CCM house. Generally the people are expected to attend on time but everyone would not mind about for someone to be late for the meeting. CCM people regard it as a more meaningful to participate the meeting. The meeting starts with one of the leaders

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

announcement in the living room. During that time everyone really concentrates on the leaders voice and talk s about upcoming events. After the announcement, everyone makes a big circle, prays for food together and have dinner. Everyone can help themselves but after finishing dinner all of them are expected to clean their own dish. After dinner, the people spend time to socializing with others. Each meeting is prepared with different kind of activities. For example, the movie night, the game night, the speech night, etc. This meeting is based on the same interest in faith so everyone tends to feel like a big one family and open their own mind to others, especially to new members. This meeting would be under comfortable atmosphere so actually there does not exist any dress code. Literacy Practices: It is kind of ways to communicate with others and negotiate the meanings. People in CCM house are very interactive with others and open-minded to others. Everyone in CCM house feels like be at a home so it makes them relaxed to talk anything and share their ideas. The CCM is composed of nice people who have the same beliefs and it leads them to be closer.

Actors: Actors are kind of people to be able to form and perform in the figured worlds in practice. Actors have deep interaction with the figure worlds, artifacts, and other actors. 1) Meghan ODonnell: President of Catholic Campus Ministry. Meghan gets involved in this figured world, other members and Sisters. Every time she has played a leading role for arranging and progressing the meeting. She really put emphasis on creating comfortable environment in the CCM house for everyone. In addition, she is considerate to others and listen carefully their opinions. She would be regarded as the friendly and responsible actor in the figured world. She also would be treated as an actor to have strong bond with the figure world. 2) Paulina Enrriquez: New member. Paulina is one of the new members in this semester. Although she has joined in the figure world just before few weeks, she looks really involved in the CCM and with other members as well. She tries to take participate in most of upcoming events in the figured worlds. This CCM meeting would be attractive to her because she can grow faith and make a good friendship with people at the same time through this. She is one of the people who are really trying to get more involved in this figured world and other actors. 3) Felipe Rivera: Last year president of CCM. He has joined in this figured world for three years. He is one of the old actors in this world and he is really helpful to others, especially new members. He tries to give advice to members and even leaders because he had an experience as a president. He is not a remarkable and conspicuous member during a meeting time but he has played really supportive roles to everyone in the figured world. 4) Sister Pat: Sister of the Catholic Church. She sometimes comes to Wednesday meeting and gives a great talk to CCM. She has volunteered for several 3 rd World countries. She tries to share her own experience with CCM and give them room to

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

think about new topics. Her role as an actor in this figured world is to open their eyes open and broad and make them go forward in prosperous direction. Artifacts: If you choose artifacts in the figured world, those artifacts have to be meaningful in the figured world. In other words, an artifact is a thing to open up figured worlds . 1) Group games: It is significant to everyone in the figured world because it would encourage old and new members to get closer each other. This artifact is meaningful to all of the members and it would be used as one of the methods to break the ice. 2) The white board on the door between kitchen and living room: This artifact is significant to CCM leaders including Meghan. It effectively shows the announcement and it is also beneficial to catch others attentions. Besides, even if some members were late they would notice the announcement by checking out that white board.

3) Three big couches on the living room: It is important materials for CCM to be provided with comfortable atmosphere. Those artifacts foster better circumstances within the figured world. Thats why most activities take place in the living room.

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

4) Name tags: It is significant for all of the members to memorize others name. Sometimes it could feel awkward about blanking on others name and it would distract the people to hanging out together. Everyone who enters in the CCM house is always asked to attach their own name tag on shirt or jackets. Name tags are also one of the ways to make them feel involved each other.

5) Dinner time: During the dinner, everyone has chance to have a good talk with neighborhood. This time allows the CCM to have free talking out of the plan. It might make them more comfortable.

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

Discourse Communities: Those can be considered as small groups of the figured world. They are composed with the similar purposes or interests. 1) People with group games: All members of each group are desired to win the game. That feeling makes each group to strengthen their solidarity for win. Consequently, regardless of who wins the game, everyone would be able to feel involved with the figured world. The same goal and cooperation would motivate them to be much closer. 2) CCM Leaders: All of them tries to be responsible for this meeting so they are very organize and careful about everything in the figured world. Maintaining the meeting toward better direction would be their main interest and they would do the best for this goal.

3) Paulina and Felipe: Two of them have the same interest in one of the upcoming events, Eucharistic Congress. It makes them feel connected each other. Paulina is a new member and Felipe is an old one. Therefore, Paulina asks questions about this Congress to Felipe and Felipe tries to pick and tell his past experience as an example for her. They are communicating and sharing their ideas and experiences for a while.

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

Paulina would be able to realize and learn something new from Felipe s previous experience. Felipe is helpful for Paulina to get know better about the Congress. # Observations 1) The First Observation [08/28/13 19:40-20:20] The game night with free dinner 19:40-19:50 CCM members are having nice dinner and dessert. The main menu is Mexican tacos and the dessert is home-made peanut better cake. Some of them are eating at the backyard or in the terrace or in the dining room. The others are ending up their plate and cleaning in the kitchen. Sister Eileen and leaders of CCM are trying to help newcomers to feel comfortable and get along well with people. While having dinner, president Megan makes announcement of the next schedule, game time. 19:50-20:00 Everyone finishes dinner and cleans up. CCM leaders divide about 25 students into five groups. The number of each group members is four or five. Megan, one of the leaders, explains the game which is combinations of three different one. First, one person has to hold the spoon with ping pong ball by only using the mouth until they turn around the fixed point and pass the baton. Next, two of members in one group have to do three legged race. The last one has to run to the table which is far away from the start line. On the table there are mixture with whipping cream and gum. The first one make a bubble will win.
[u3]: My group members are impressed the observations in different eyes.

20:00-20:15 Everyone goes to start line. The game starts. All of them are cheering their own team. Some first players of each team drop the ping pong ball and they come back to the start line and restart. Some takes them pictures and others only focus on their turn to play game. During three legged race, one team falls down to ground and the other team comes from behind. Last part of game, making bubble is hard for everyone. Everyone have whipping cream on their face and giggle at each other. Finally, one of them makes bubble and his team wins. 20:15-20:20 Water balloon game starts. Making four big circles and throwing the water balloon to the others who are not right next each other. Someone miss the balloon and it bursts. They are wet but look so have fun.

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

2) The Second Observation [09/04/13 18:20-19:10] The movie night with free dinner 18:20-18:45 As soon as everyone comes in to the CCM house, they check their name on the attendance sheet in front of the entrance. They also make a name tag and attach to their clothes. The meeting starts at 6:30 pm. Except Megan, everyone is sitting on the couches and floor in the living room. Megan proceeds with today meeting and she is explaining several upcoming events on the white board. Everyone focus on Megans speaking and the white board. She talks about a project about small groups. It is the new project since this semester. Every Monday or Thursday there is going to be a small groups meeting. It is just for hanging out together and grabbing some food outside CCM house. Those who are interested in it are asked to sign up. Also, she makes an announcement that those who want to cook dinner for Wed night at CCM house write down their name on the sheet. 18:45-19:00 After praying for food, dinner time starts. This dinner is made from one of CCM members. Everyone expresses their appreciation to her. While eating food, members and leaders are talking about their week. Paulina who is a newcomer in this semester asks about one of the upcoming events, Eucharistic Congress to Felipe who has joined for about three years. Felipe tells her to their previous experience during the dinner. Paulina becomes to know this congress in detail. 19:00-19:10 Lexi introduces about the movie we will see today Wednesday night. It is call The 5th quarters. It is kind of football movie and a real story. To celebrating UNCC football game season starts, CCM leaders have chosen this movie for today. Everyone is sitting around TV and the movie starts. 3) The Third Observation [09/11/13 18:50-19:40] The speech night with free dinner 18:50-19:00 After praying for food, dinner time starts. Sister Pat has prepared a delicious meal of chicken fajitas, rice & beans and sugar free dessert that Sister created. Some people are eating in the dining room and the others are in living room. 19:00-19:20 Everyone really enjoys the dinner talking about how their days were. Some people are talking about on campus housing. Another are talking about UNCC football stadium and others only concentrate on eating food. 19:20-19:40 After finishing dinner, everyone come to sit on the living room. Most of them are sitting on the couches and the rest of them are sitting on the floor. First, Sister Pat asks to the people have a 3 minutes silence for Syria and 9.11 victims. Everyone sincerely pay the silence and then Sister talks about her life experience and what life is like for people living in 3 rd world countries. Everyone listens carefully to her voice.

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

# Interviews 1. CCM leaders Interviewee: Lexi Neitzay (UNCC/ Education/ Sophmore/ CCM Treasurer) Meghan ODonnell(UNCC/Psychology/Senior/ CCM President) 1) How do you know this CCM house? How long have you joined this meeting? Tell me why you decided to join this CCM meeting. Lexi: This is my second year. My roommate brought me to one meeting. Meghan: I became aware of the CCM house when I had a meeting with Sister Eileen and learned about the group here at UNCC. When I decided to transfer from my other school I naturally decided to get involved with the Catholic group here as a way to meet people and grow in my faith. This is actually only my second year as a member. 2) Could you explain what the CCM house is for? What is your position in the CCM and what is your main job? Lexi: The CCM house is used for weekly meetings. Im the treasurer of CCM and in charge of all finances of money Meghan: The CCM house is a place for people to come together with different students to grow in a faith community and have a home away from home. Currently, I am the president of CCM and my main job is to oversee each event as well as the leadership team.

[u4]: My group members told me they expected spoken language interviews. So, first before I explained how I interviewed, they felt weird about my interviews. [u5]: My group like the details of interviewee.

3) How involved do you feel with other members? Please tell me what you would expect to the members. (Participation, etc..)

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

Lexi: I feel very involved with CCM. I expect other members to have my same excitement and involvement. Meghan: I feel very involved with other members especially since I am ALWAYS interacting with CCM members as part of my role. I do not really have expectations of members but I do hope and pray they choose to get involved and open themselves up to our community.

4) What kind of Wed meeting would you like the most?

Lexi: I love hearing talks, watching movies, plus of course eating! Meghan: My favorite Wed meetings are our social nights because as an organization. We tend to really establish bands on these nights. 5) What have you learned through this meeting? And what is your goal in this CCM meeting? Lexi: Ive learned a lot about myself and relationship with God. My goal is to continue growing in faith and to help other to do the same. Meghan: My goal in very CCM meeting is to make everyone feel welcomed, loved and at home. Through these meetings I have become a stranger Catholic leader and have gained an understanding of those around me.

2.

CCM Members Interviewee: Felipe Rivera (UNCC/ Exercise Science major/ Senior/ old member) Paulina Enrriquez(UNCC/Engineering/ Junior/ new member) 1) How do you know this CCM house? How long have you joined this meeting? Tell me why you decided to join this CCM meeting. Felipe: I found out about this house when I went to church freshman year. There was a table outside and I signed up. I have been a pair of this for three years. I joined to meet, know people and to grow in my faith. Paulina: I found out about CCM after I attended church on Sunday at the beginning of the semester this year. Therefore, this is only my 3rd CCM meeting. I decided to join since first I am Catholic and this group shares my beliefs and I wanted to meet new people and the group seemed very nice and outgoing.

Observation Assignment Site Location: Catholic Campus Ministry House

Jiae Kim

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2) What inspires you to continue attending this meeting? Felipe: The people and the environment is just so inviting that I enjoy myself each time I come.

Paulina: The group is formed my great people who are very outgoing, nice and welcoming. They also have exciting events and I like being part of a group where people share the same beliefs and values that I have.

3) How involved do you feel with other members or the council? Please tell me what you would expect from them. (Participation, etc.)

Felipe: I was a leader last year and actually know the people very well. Paulina: I feel like they care about our opinions and ideas. They are constantly asking us for ideas, preferences and opinions. These actions make me feel part of the group. I would expect that they keep these actions up and that they look for the groups interests.

4) What have you learned through this meeting? What sorts of things do you expect through this CCM meeting? Felipe: Each week we learn sometimes different. But overall Ive learned to be a better person and how to grow better in my faith. Paulina: I have learned to live more spiritually and to interact with a group of people that share my beliefs. Also, working in a team and organizing attitudes. I expect to collaborate and meet more people.

5) What kind of Wed meeting would you like most? (Ex. Movie night, game, etc.)

Felipe: I like game nights a lot because you set to interact with everyone and get to know everyone a little better. Paulina: I would like to movie night and game night.

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