Expert Document
Overview
Clemson University’s (CU) football team is a crowd pleaser, selling out most if not all home games at Death Valley. The men’s basketball team suffers from less loyal student fans, having only sold out one game, in 1980, at Littlejohn Coliseum. The Clemson University Athletic Department would like to find ways to increase loyalty amongst the men’s basketball team’s student fans and consequently increase attendance at home games. For my expert document I will survey students, interview numerous members of the Athletic department, interview members of the basketball team, and reference both online and print sources to find solutions to the problem. I will, then, compile these solutions into a problem-solving report recommending (expert document) ways for the athletic department to reach its goals.
Work Completed
I’ve distributed my survey on Facebook, in my classes, and in the library. Though I have not reached my goal of obtaining at least 50 surveys as of yet, I am well on my way having collected 44 completed surveys. In addition to distributing and collecting surveys I’ve begun the process of analyzing information/statistics I’ve gathered from other sources. I’ve also decided what exactly my expert document will consist of. After deciding on the sections of my report I started drafting my title page, transmittal letter, executive summary and abstract.
Next Steps
Next on my working plan is to reach my goal of collecting 50 surveys and then to begin analyzing the information I've gathered both from my survey and other sources. I will then take the statistics I've accumulated from online sources, print sources, etc. and my survey and depict these quantitative results in illustrations (i.e. graphs, pictures, etc.) that effectively and concisely present the information to my audience. In addition to the before mentioned, I'd like to have completed my drafts, revised, and finalize the following drafts by October 30:
~title page
~transmittal letter
~executive summary
~abstract
~working bibliography
Brief Conclusion
I’m still really excited about my project and I’m enjoying this whole process. This says a lot coming from me because I tend to get bored with things fairly easy. Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to seeing how my expert document evolves.
Lay Document
Overview
Clemson University’s (CU) football team is a crowd pleaser, selling out most if not all home games at Death Valley. The men’s basketball team suffers from less loyal student fans, having only sold out one game, in 1980, at Littlejohn Coliseum. The Clemson University Athletic Department would like to find ways to increase loyalty amongst the men’s basketball team’s student fans and consequently increase attendance at home games. Employing information gathered from my expert document, I will create a lay document, a blog, for the men’s basketball team. This blog will foster an increased awareness of the players on campus, a relationship between the players and their fans and indubitably an increased sense of loyalty towards the team.
Work Completed
I've established a working relationship with members of CU's mens baskteball team. I’ve discussed with the players my goals for the blog and I’ve collected input on their goals and expectations for the blog. Additionally, I've started the brainstorming process for questions that I want to have these team members answer on the blog. I’ve researched several icebreaker links because these questions tend to be light and fun. I want to humanize the athletes. I am hoping that the questions I come up with will help achieve that goal. Here’s my questions so far (remember these could and probably will change):
If you were to choose a new name for yourself, what would it be?
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from your past relationships?
What’s one of your worst habits?
What was the best day of the past week for you-why?
What are you wearing today which is most reflective of who you are?
Choose a unique item from your wallet and explain why you carry it around.
Share one of your most embarrassing moments.
If you were given a million dollars and 24 hrs to spend it (no depositing it or investing it) what would you buy and why?
What is/are your favorite hobbies and pastimes?
What is your most treasured possession?
What is your favorite color?
What is your favorite food?
What, if anything, do you like to read?
What is your idea of good entertainment (consider music, movies, art, etc.)?
How do you spend a typical Saturday night? What makes you laugh?
What, if anything, shocks or offends you?
What would you do if you had insomnia and had to find something to do to amuse yourself?
How do you deal with stress? Are you spontaneous, or do you always need to have a plan?
What are your pet peeves?
Needless to say I have plenty of questions to choose from. I plan on narrowing these questions down to 10 though. I’ve also considered doing something similar to the “About Me” survey that you see on sites such as MySpace (see separate blog post for an example of this type of survey). These questions and their answers will serve as a profile, so to speak, to increase awareness of the team members amongst the general student population on CU's campus.
Next Step
Next on the agenda for my lay document is to select my top 10 questions from the icebreaker questions I’ve gathered. These questions will then be distributed to the men’s basketball team at the beginning of next week (29 October). I will be collecting these questions on Thursday (1 November). I will then make a folder in word for each member of the men’s basketball team. In the folder I will include general information such as what high school they went to, their major, their rank, their position, etc. In addition to this general info their folders will also include their answers to the 10 questions and a picture.
Brief Conclusion
After talking with several of the players I am even more excited to begin working on this blog. Right now I have to focus on gathering the information needed for the blog and then I get to focus on the fun part of the blog—the actual visual communication. I guess I’m excited too because I feel like what I’m doing is going to make a real difference. I feel that it will be beneficial to both students and players alike. Furthermore, I can't wait to get to know the members of our men's basketball team a lot better! Stay posted for blog updates and get excited these are OUR TIGERS!!! GO TEAM!
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