Friday, October 19, 2012

Research Sources: Student Recreation Complex


My project is going to be done at the Student Recreation Complex (SRC) at Arizona State University on the Tempe Campus. Although there are many other great places to evaluate on campus, I decided to evaluate the SRC because I feel it offers many resources to students. Being at the University can be excruciatingly stressful and many students often need a place to relieve their stress in a positive way, either by playing sports, engaging in circuit training, swimming or taking classes inside. This topic is really important to me because relieving stress, being healthy and fit; are all very crucial in a students’ life. The SRC really helps students, including myself, by offering a place that can provide all of these things. Not only is it beneficial in the ways I previously stated, however it is also an enjoyable place for individuals to relax and enjoy themselves.

Many times people change their eating habits when going to college and their first worry is gaining weight because of their body image and health. In todays society it is quite evident that body image is really important and the SRC also serves as a place to become stronger, muscular, thinner, or whatever it is that someone wants to be. This is quite important because it reflects how people feel about themselves and how they perceive themselves. Students’ should not have to stress about lack of exercise or fitness, or gaining weight on top of all their other worries involving school, and the SRC eliminates that one less stress. It provides students with the tools needed in order to feel better about them selves and become their ideal image.

My plan is to transform this very broad topic into a very detailed evaluation. I plan on evaluating many different aspects of the SRC in order to paint the bigger picture of how important it really is. I want to evaluate the positive effects of physical education and how it leads to better academics and a healthier, fitter body. I also want to evaluate how exercising relieves stress. Aside from its effects, I want to separate different parts of the SRC, such as the outside field, the pool, the rooms for classes, the weight room and the exercise machines. I want to describe the purpose of these different locations are and how there is something to do at the SRC for many different people of different taste. 

I found three sources that will help me with project two and evaluating the Student Recreation Complex. The first two are books and the third is a scholarly article. All three of my sources deal with the idea that fitness is very important in order to have a healthy lifestyle. The second source is quite different because it related more to pool exercises. All of these sources interest me because they will help inform me more for my project.

Cundiff, David., Brynteson, Paul. Health Fitness: Guide to a Lifestyle. Hunt Publishing Company. 1985. 252-299. Print.

Gibson, Terry-Ann Spitzer. Water Aerobics for Fitness and Wellness. Australia; Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth. 2003. 160. Print.

Nakamura, Y; Kikuchi, H; Oka, K; Ota, A; Miyauchi, T. (2006). Stages of Change of Exercise Affects Health Related Quality of Life.

International Journal of Sport and Health Science. 67-73

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Evaluation: Gossip Girl


        The well- known television series Gossip Girl has been providing entertainment for millions of viewers worldwide since 2007. Not only has it been airing for quite some time now, however it is still just as exciting as episode one. It is on its final season; Season six is scheduled to air on Monday October 8, 2012 on the CW Channel at 9/8c. This television drama is based on the books written by Cecily Von Ziegesar and is directed by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Salvage. It takes place in Manhatten in present time. The show stars various wealthy, beautiful individuals who are seen as the “popular kids”, all attending the most prestigious high school. They live their luxurious lives with limo drivers, big fabulous parties, and beautiful clothing. One might ask, what could possibly go wrong? The answer to that is Gossip Girl. Gossip Girl played by Kristen Bell; plays the third person omniscient. She is never seen in any episode, nor is her identity ever revealed. She is a mysterious character running a blog informing everyone about everyone’s business, drama, and secrets. People are constantly sending her information via text in order to tell her about the juiciest secrets and rumors going around. The show also stars Blake Lively, portraying the role of Serena van der Woodsen and Leighton Meester, playing the role of Blair Waldorf. The drama begins when Serena has come back into the city. She had been gone for quite a while now and nobody knows where or why, nor does anybody know why she came back. Amongst all of the people wondering is also her ex best friend, Blair. As Serena returns, Blair finds it her mission to make Serenas life miserable and to find out why Serena left in the first place. Serena holds many secrets that unfold throughout the series, which affect many others and tear everything apart. Amongst all of this drama there is also a love triangle between Blair, Nate Archibald (her boyfriend) and Chuck Bass (Nate’s best friend) that is revealed. It is a show filled with rich kids struggling with their daily dose of drama, dealing with friendship, affairs, sex, love, family and money. All of it is for the world to see as Gossip Girl reveals their deepest secrets to everyone. Each character plays a very distinct, unique character that provides so much thrill and excitement in the show. This show will leave you on the edge of your seat, always asking for more. It takes so many twists and turns, leaving you wondering what will happen next. Every episode is a “cliff-hanger”, making it unpredictable to know what will happen next. Unlike many shows that do not make it even past one season, gossip girl has been very successful in providing various seasons and much excitement to young people all over.