Week 11, Oct 31-Nov 4-Methodology

As far as the methodology I chose for my Starbucks research, I first thought I would gather the majority of my information from actual time spent in the Starbucks store I chose located on Royal Oaks Blvd in Franklin, Tennessee. I found that this wasn't the case. While I did visit multiple times, the bulk of information was from friends, classmates, emails, and postings on Facebook. I first visited the Starbucks located in the Franklin Target store on Columbia Avenue. Christie is a barista that I have ordered coffee from so many times. So I introduced myself and explained that I was a student at Belmont University and for my third year writing course, I had to do a discourse/study on a topic and I chose Starbucks. She was very willing to help me and when I asked “what makes so many people love Starbucks”. “What makes people come back time after time”. She explained, “it wasn’t just the basic principle behind Starbucks nor was it just the atmosphere, music, and people, but it was the full experience.” She went on to say, “that the way customers are greeted, they feel like the barista about to take their order wants to help them, wants them to love their drink and feel fulfilled and happy once they leave.” I think having a Starbucks in the Target stores are a fantastic idea! I personally think the good thing with having a Starbucks in the store, is that your drink is normally consistently made. It's not like ordering something at a privately owned store and not knowing how there coffee is brewed and hating something about it. Rafeek Ghattas was another barista I was able to work with in gathering information at the Royal Oaks location. This is the store that made me want to research Starbucks. I have used this Starbucks store for coffee for over three years. I first used it because it was convenient to my house and on my way to work. I found not only convenience but wonderful customer service and great coffee when I would go through the drive through or go inside the store. I started going so much that the Baristas recognized me and would always start a conversation. It made me feel like I was special and apart of their day. There was a girl that worked there and no longer does that took the time and helped me find my most favorite drinks. It was like she knew exactly what I was looking for.

Facebook was another method I used to gather information. I posted a question on my status that stated I was doing a research project on Starbucks. While I had one person state that they hated Starbucks, I think we made her anxious to try another Starbucks store and helped her with what to order and explained busier stores normally are better at service than some of the stores that might only get a morning and afternoon rush so the coffee has an older taste. Also stores that are really busy can lack an extraordinary cup of coffee because they are concerned with speed. My friend, Aimee Pruitt, stated that she likes Starbucks for a few reasons, “I love Starbucks....excellent customer service (the one on west end anyway) when I pull up in the mornings there is always a super bubbly person with a huge smile on their face at the window, excellent coffee (I only get 2 things from there, a Caramel Machiato with extra caramel and a blueberry muffin which is always fresh), they have never mixed up my order; I like the CEO, Howard Schultz who came from poverty and he got himself out of it and is now extremely successful, I like his ideas, values, and the fact that he is for the “American people” and sees what we see in the political field EXTREME GREED, shadiness, and he stopped all of his political funding...spurred by what he describes as a failure of leadership on the part of lawmakers, Schultz is mounting a one-man bull rush against a political culture that has "chosen to put partisan and ideological purity over the well being of the people.” What does that mean? 

Week 13, November 14-18

This is the picture I decided to post as the screen shot. Because it's my own love for Starbucks! All the ways to make you smile and happy! In the classwork it said to draft a script for your digital story and I hope I get this right and if not, just let me know and I'll try again. I don't have a script so to speak, I went with many different photographs and music that reflects Starbucks because the singer is one of the most played artist in their coffee shops and it looks great and in the title I said, "Why Starbucks?" and the song title is "Don't know why?" I found it fitting! So it just flows from the stores, to cups, drinks, seasonal things, the CEO, and personal favorites. So I hope it's what was needed and what was expected.

Week 12, November 7-11

An update of my project: I completed this week a brief survey I posted on my facebook account, online information, and visited a few stores to try and gather information. I feel like going in person is harder than I thought. Some are busy and don't want to be bothered. I still need to fill the majority of my body section of the project with more substance but it's still coming together. I'm starting to at least get answers to questions I'm wondering and asking about why do people love Starbucks and continue to support the coffee chain. I am planning on a slideshow with captions of pictures mostly since I can't capture pictures myself of the inside and outside of the stores.

Archival materials

I think the most archival things in regards to Starbucks is their cup. No one has anything like it, although people try to duplicate it, no cup is better. Including the sleeve for hot drinks! I also think the Starbucks book is a material thing, although I will not be including that material in my paper it is still something that is a big part of the Starbucks story and the information that is included, The music and ambiance you get while in a store is an archival material. The exclusive coffee makers that help you to try and repeat the coffee experience at home is exclusive to Starbucks that is sold in their stores.

Lives on the Boundary

I liked how passionate Rose was about making a difference in students lives. When he argues that writing and reading are fundamentally social: "We hear stories read by others and we like to tell others about the stories we read; we learn to write from others and we write for others to read us" (109). He confesses, "My first enthusiasm about writing came because I wanted a teacher to like me" (102). He also stresses that the academy is a community with its own language, and one must be let in as well as learn to enter and succeed. A high school teacher opened the door for him when he "gave me the right books to read" (34). In his own enculturation at Loyola University, he says, "I was encountering a new language" (54). Professors gave him "a directory of key names and notions" (49). Further, Rose dismisses what he calls "so many platitudes about motivation and self-reliance and individualism" (47); but he insists that the humanities must be truly human. Learning takes place in community, providing guidance, support and role models so that students may grow into confidence and inclusion.

I thought this read was easier than others we've had and a good story. He has over come a lot and made not only a difference for himself, but in others lives. I think it is a good book for this type of writing class because it lets you see some things from another perspective. 

Online Community

I looked up many sites for the Starbucks community. I feel as though I can do a better job without the online community or chat boards. I feel as though what I'm researching I can find what I need "in house" so to speak. Going face to face at the store I'm researching will help me more in this situation. I also felt like with my topic it was more based on opinions. Nonetheless, enjoyed reading some stories, unfortunately irrelevant to me.

Glossary for Starbucks

Glossary of terms from Starbucks:


     Sizes:

• Short - 8 oz. -The smallest size Starbucks offers, but you'll probably only get this size if you ask for it by name; anyone asking for a "small" will get a Tall, which is the smallest size for which the prices are actually on the menu. Only hot drinks can be served in the Short size. 

• Tall - 12 oz. -This is what you'll get if you ask for a "small" drink. 

• Grande - 16 oz. - This is the "medium" size. Pronounced "GRAWN-day." 

• Venti - 20 oz. hot, 24 oz. cold. - Pronounced "VENN-tee," and means "twenty" in Italian. For some reason the iced (cold) Venti cups hold four more ounces; for this reason, Venti espresso drinks have an extra shot of espresso in them, and cost a few cents more than their hot equivalents. 

• Trenta - 31 oz. Hot 32 oz. Cold- Not served in many areas, including Tennessee. Coffee version of "supersize". Appears as if no one serves the Trenta as a hot beverage. 

Drinks:

• Americano: espresso and hot water. Not for the faint of heart.
• Cappuccino: espresso (number of shots depends on the size), a little bit of steamed milk, a lot of foam; stronger than a latte
• Caramel Macchiato: vanilla, steamed milk, espresso, and foam, topped with caramel sauce. This particular drink is exclusive to Starbucks.
• Chai: spicy black tea "infused with cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper and star anise"; can be drunk hot, iced, or in latte form
• Cinnamon Dolce: flavor exclusive to Starbucks, includes sweet cinnamon, butter, and brown sugar
• Decaf: no caffeine; decaffeinated coffee
• Double: adding an extra shot of espresso to a drink that ordinarily only has one
• Doubleshot: 6.5 oz can with espresso and "a touch" of cream, also comes in Doubleshot Light (less fat and sugar)
• Espresso: highly concentrated, heavily caffeinated coffee; it comes in the form of a shot (not an injection, although many probably would like that); described on the Starbucks website as having "rich flavor, lingering aroma and caramel-like sweetness"
• Espresso Con Panna: shot of espresso with a small scoop of whipped cream
• Espresso Macchiato: espresso shot with a small amount of foamed milk
• Ethos Water: essentially just expensive spring water... but with a mission
• Flavor Shot: a few squirts of a particular flavored syrup that you can add to any beverage. coffee or not; many also come in a sugar-free version
• Frappuccino Blended Coffee: frozen drink made of coffee, milk, and flavoring (many options), blended with ice, can be topped with whipped cream -- Flavor options include Vanilla, Caramel, Cinnamon Dolce, Coffee, Espresso, Java Chip, Mint Mocha Chip, Mocha, Pumpkin Spice (seasonal), White Chocolate Mocha
• Frappuccino Light Blended Coffee: the same as Frappuccino, but with fewer calories, uses nonfat milk and sugar-free syrups if applicable
• Frappuccino Blended Crème: frappuccinos without coffee, each has milk and ice, but other ingredients depend on the flavor. Flavors include Double Chocolaty Chip, Pumpkin Spice (seasonal), Strawberries and Creme, Tazo Chai, Tazo Green Tea, and Vanilla Bean
• Frappuccino Juice Blend: just one blend, Lemonade (Strawberry Lemonade in the summer), made with lemonade flavoring blended with ice
• Grande: the middle sized drink at Starbucks, medium; hot espresso drinks come with 2 espresso shots
• Half-Caf: half caffeinated, half decaf
• Latte: espresso, a lot of steamed milk, and a little bit of foam on top; not as strong as a cappuccino
• Mocha: espresso, a lot of steamed milk, and mocha syrup, which is essentially dark chocolate syrup
• Pike Place Roast: Starbucks' newest coffee, described as having "a smooth, subtle flavor"
• Protein Fiber Powder: basically what it sounds like, adding powdered protein to you drink
• Shot: 1 oz, usually associated with espresso
• Skinny: made with nonfat milk; if the drink has syrup, the syrup will be sugar-free
• Soy milk: milk for those who either don't like or can't drink regular milk, made from soy beans, no lactose
• Tall: the smallest size (seems counterintuitive, doesn't it?), hot espresso drinks come with 1 espresso shot
• Tazo Tea: Starbucks' brand of tea, can be made into iced teas, lemonades, and lattes, hot and cold, many different flavors
• Triple: adding a third espresso shot to a drink that originally has two
• Veinte: the largest size, hot espresso drinks come with 2 espresso shots
• Via: Starbucks' latest initiative: their instant coffee, both for hot and iced coffee
• Vivanno: Starbucks' exclusive frozen blended fruit drinks made with Naked juice, whey protein, fiber powder, milk, ice, and a fruit. Flavors: Banana Chocolate (made with cocoa), Banana Chocolate with Espresso, Orange Mango Banana, Orange Mango Banana with Matcha Green Tea Powder.

Week 7, 1st post about transcribed material

I picked the worst place to get my first information. The airport, a venue I can't even get back in unless I have a ticket. Any who, I had a week that caused me to travel and was behind on my studies, so as I grabbed a cup of joe at 5:30am in the Nashville airport on September 30th, I asked the lady behind the counter if I could ask her a few questions. I also explained I was doing a study on Starbucks and I wasn't a crazy person wanting to know this many details this early. Not in the mood to talk, I got up enough courage to ask her why she worked at Starbucks? Sh simply stated she needed a job and the airport was close to her. Realizing this wasn't what I was looking for I switched gears and asked what she enjoyed most at her job. She said the people, crazy orders, and conversations. I also asked if she ever has the same customers being in the airport and she said at times. I guess the business men/women that live here and might travel for work on a routine basis.

So while I can't use this one for my paper because it doesn't have enough dense material, I can learn from it and be more selective in my question asking. Unfortunately it was getting busier and busier even at 5:30am.

Map-Brainstorming

I decided to draw this type of map after I received my email stating to choose a direction. This way of brainstorming is helping me see what I find most interesting. It helps me to see why people want certain things and choose certain coffee shops.

Cultural Artifact

I chose a Starbucks coffee cup. It seems so small and plain, innocent, nothing fancy, but it's like the cup heard around the world! If someone sees it in your hand, you can walk into a place and people want to know what drink you have in there. Starbucks has been known to change the design on the outside of the cup for seasons, years in business, and original design. I chose this particular object because it represents who they are. No-one has a cup like this one, although very frequently imitated. For instance, the brown sleeve that protects your hand. They were the first to my knowledge to invent this piece and so many have tried to master the same concept. Their cups and glasses teach class, a certain level of prestigious coffee drinking.

Mini-ethnographic account

I chose to start studying the culture of Starbuck's coffee. For instance, why do most people look so "retro" and put together that go to Starbuck's? How do most that order know what all the language means? It's funny to go to the same Starbuck's at the same time everyday and see the same people, not employees, that are there. If you are a Starbuck's fan, do they go at the same time everyday, get the same drinks/food everyday. How many favorite drinks do the average Starbuck goers have?

Observation Field Notes

What surprised me? I picked the park because I go there throughout the week and see the same things. I always see someone pull up, stay in there car, wait for someone else to "meet" them and they look like they both shouldn't be there. I probably should do this as my discourse but it's being too nosey. I can gather all this information while running around like a chicken. What intrigued me? Mothers who are there with there kids and if you walk up to them and say, "Enjoy this, they'll be grown too fast." They simply don't get it. They look at you as though you're crazy! As to when I had toddlers, all you wish is that they could run and play and do more. Little do you know it comes all too soon and you wish you had the time back. What disturbed me? The fact I feel like most of us are running and exercising while someone's wife/husband could be doing something wrong and we just don't know, nor is it our business.

Culture or Discourse that I want to study

I want to do my study on Starbuck's. I am a coffee lover, have my own crazy ordering ways, and want to reach deeper into the culture of the Starbuck's world. How anytime of the day you can walk in and the place is packed, people laughing, drinking, studying, listening to their own music. Why is it so big? Why do people, myself included, pay so much for a cup of joe? This is my new mission for the semester! Let the journey begin...

Competing discources

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What we were taught NEVER to do as writers...

When I first thought of this topic, I immediately thought of not starting a sentence with "and" or "but". I understand the principle behind it but at times I feel when it's done correctly, like Mr. Lovvorn mentioned in class, it grabs the readers attention. Although I probably do not use it exactly in the right manner. I do feel I use and break this rule the most often when texting. Almost like I forgot a thought and just keep going and pick up with a new sentence. For the most part I think it's a good rule but wish it wasn't frowned upon. I think if it is used correctly, it's worth breaking and risking the chance to make the point.