Field Study on Six Train Commuters
Aaron Baichu
The City College of New York
Professor Steegmann
English 21002
Abstract
In recent years, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New York City Transit Authority have taken action to improve New York City’s beloved subway system. Running 24/7-year-round, New York City’s subway system transports millions of riders daily and it has no intention of slowing down. This paper examines the six-train subway line and the commuters of the six line. The paper looks to provide a better understanding and closer look at subway commuters who use the system daily. This examination is made up of several parts including proposals, observations, interviews, and assessments. Altogether, this study helps provide representation for subway commuters while getting a look at how transportation affects their lives.
Field Study on Six Train Commuters
In 2018, the New York City subway system saw on average 5 million commuters daily. That attributed to nearly 1.6 billion annual commuters across the whole subway system (Metropolitan Transportation Authority, 2018 Pg. 1). My study focuses on understanding what the impact of New York City’s subway system is on the daily commuters and how the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New York City Transit Authority operate to serve the large number of commuters. The MTA operates a total of 472 subway stations that span a total of 665 miles of track (Metropolitan Transportation Authority, 2018 Pg. 5). The 6-line will be the primary observation site for the study. This is where I will observe how the MTA/NYCTA maintains the system and it’s where I will find commuters to interview.
Background
Towards the end of the 1800s, New York City took action to incorporate new technology into their transportation system. This was seen with the introduction of new electric powered train (Lamp, 2006 Pg. 1320). Not that long after, New York City’s first subway system opened in 1904 as a result of the 1888 Great Blizzard which showed the need for an underground transportation system (Christiano, 2006). When the subway system was first created, three different competing transportation companies operated separate lines which made up the New York City’s subway. In 1940, the three companies, Interborough Rapid Transit Company, Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation and Independent Subway System were incorporated into one entity under the New York City Board of Transportation, which eventually became the New York City Transit Authority, a division of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Korr, 2003 Pg. 44). The 6-line was one of the original subway lines that opened in 1904 and it was created by the IRT company (Korr, 2003 Pg. 44). Today, the 6-line is a part of the A division, also known as the IRT Division. The line runs from Pelham Bay Park to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall day and night offering two services, local and express.
Research Proposal
The 6-line provides an important place for research because a countless number of New Yorkers depend on the services daily. Today, many New Yorkers use the 6-line as their primary means of transportation when commuting to work, school and running errands. The New York City Transit Authority and the MTA have instituted local and express services that commuters depend on heavily. The local service allows commuters to stop at all stations while the express provides some commuters the opportunity to reduce their traveling time. The service operators have also taken action to try and modernize the line, working on improving signals and rehabilitating the deteriorating system infrastructure. It is important to know about the commuters who ride the system, for they are the ones who make a system possible.
For my study I will be reviewing literature and statistics made about the 6-line. I hope to find out what has already been said about the commuters and the efficiency of the 6-line. I will look for information on the whole system by looking at information and statistics of the different lines and services and quality of the system. Previous research will allow me to better understand the state of the 6-line. I will also look for published works that were successful and unsuccessful so that I can better develop my study to avoid any externalities. Another study that could be done alongside my study that would allow for comparative data would be a study on the other train lines that are a part of the 6-line A division.
I will be using a participant-observer approach to do the actual observation of the subway system and commuters. For this method, I will be using the 6-line to commute to and from school. Due to safety precautions, I will not be conducting interviews during train rides. It may be hard to find commuters to interview especially during a train ride due to train crowding and the fact that people may not want to be bothered. Instead, I will be interviewing commuters who I know. I will ask them if they would be willing to participate, and I will give them the option to be anonymous if needed. Ultimately, I want my informants to be able to open up about their experiences as a 6-train commuter.
Conducting observation and interviews will help me see how commuters act in regard to the system, and I will also be able to find out how they feel about the system. By finding out this information, I can better understand the impact of the system on commuters and I can learn about ways the system can be improved based on feedback gained from the commuters who use the system as their main means of transportation.
I am the sole investigator in my study. I am currently taking a Writing for the Social Sciences class, and I have been learning about different types of field studies. This class has allowed me to learn the different skills and tools of a field worker and I’ve been given a chance to develop and conduct my own study. I will incorporate everything I’ve learned into conducting my field study and if I get stuck, I have the opportunity to ask my professor for help. When it comes to the study itself, I am no stranger to New York City’s subway system because I’ve used it throughout high school and now college. Technically, this makes me an insider, but for this study, I will be stepping out to conduct my study. I’ve also conducted a similar study before and instead of focusing on the commuters, I focused on NYC public transportation and its effect on society.
This study will help me better understand the impact the 6-line has on its commuters. It will also allow me to see how the NYCTA and MTA take action to help improve the systems and accommodate their riders. This system is depended on by many and it’s important to understand what the people think and that is exactly what my study will be looking to find. Without the commuters, the subway is nothing but a set of underground tunnels. The people make up a huge part of the system.
The Subway System
Have you ever realized the impact of The New York City subway system on society? The subway system has played a huge part in the development of the city ever since its introduction in 1904. The accessible system has provided millions of New Yorkers with a simple means of transportation. Many use the system daily to complete a wide variety of tasks, from going to work, school or even an adventure. The New York City Subway system is a highway to opportunity, and it only cost $2.75.
I left my house at 8:05 am on Friday. The sun was shining but it was merely a trick because a cold breeze came out of nowhere and hit me in my face. I was headed to the Castle Hill train station which is a five-minute walk from my house. When I got to the station, I walked up the metal stairs on to the station mezzanine, this is where the teller booth and turnstiles lived. Before walking through the turnstiles, I headed to the teller booth. There I encountered a Hispanic male. His head was bald, and he wore a light blue shirt with dark pants, and he had on an MTA tie. With a welcoming smile, he said: “Hi, how may I help you?” I soon replied “Hi, can I get a MetroCard for a dollar and can you put ten on it?” I slid eleven dollars under the little window and the man worked some computer magic, sliding back a fresh yellow MetroCard to me. “Thanks,” I said, “No problem, enjoy your ride!”
I saw that a train was coming soon so I swiped my card, passed through the grey turnstiles and made a right. The right side led to the Brooklyn-Bound City Hall (Downtown) trains. When I got on top of the platform, it was quite full. There were men, women, and children waiting for the train which was supposed to arrive two minutes ago. “Of course, it’s late,” I overheard a man tell his friend. After waiting a few more minutes, the train still hadn’t come so I decided to consult my Google Maps, but it was no use. Eventually, the platform display time immediately changed from “2 Minutes” to “Approaching.” Then the Announcer came on and said, “There is a downtown local 6 train to Brooklyn-Bridge City Hall, approaching the station, please stand away from the platform edge.” When the grey Iron Horse (Train) with MTA decals arrived, many commuters looked eager to get on. I decided to let everyone enter before me, and I soon regretted this because when I got on the train it was packed like a sardine can, from end to end. Thankfully I was able to squeeze into a spot, but I could not help but think I was violating someone’s space. As the train proceeded with its route, I began to regret taking the local service.
The inside of the train was a mix of old and modern aspects. The seats were occupied but I caught a glimpse of the seat colors, dark yellow and dark orange. It was like the seats came out of the seventies, but besides that, the train car was quite modern. The floors were black with white specks. The train walls consisted of several windows. Above, the ceilings were white, and a wide variety of adverts lived on the walls of the train. The only one that caught my eye was the Casper Mattress ad, “If only I could be at home sleeping.” As the train continued, many commuters entered and exited the train at different stops each following a different agenda. I eventually shimmied my way into a spot which allowed me to brace against the metal door with a glass window.
The commuters on the train consisted of men, women, and children of different ethnicities (Black, White, Indian, Hispanic), ages, professions, and social classes. From where I stood, I could see everyone, but I tried my best not to make it obvious that I was watching them. Commuters traveled alone, or with their families. I saw multiple commuters with headphones on and almost two-thirds of the commuters had out their phones browsing, playing games, reading and even talking. Since it was a weekday, many commuters also had bags. Children and teenagers had on backpacks and some wore school uniforms while others hand on casual attire. Some men and women had backpacks as well, but most of them either had briefcases, satchels or purses. During the ride, I realized that many people tried keeping to themselves probably because of how early it was, their commute was the only time they had to themselves before they clocked into school or work. Some commuters even took this time to close their eyes and rest. However, this changed when the train pulled into the Hunts Point Station. After commuters exited and entered the train, the announcer came on and said, “Sorry for the inconvenience, we are being held by the dispatcher and we’ll be moving shortly.” The announcer said the same announcement several times in five-minutes, but the train still hadn’t moved. This is when the commuters showed their true colors. Those who had their eyes closed opened them, and commuters were enraged. “This is ridiculous, I’m going to be late,” I overheard an African American male say and I saw others rolling their eyes and kissing their teeth. The commuters had become angry and the only way to fix it would be to move.
After the train finally moved, I felt relieved knowing that I was not going to be stuck underground. Since the train was moving again, commuters began putting back on their headphones, gazing at their screens and closing their eyes as they slowly crawled back into their own unique and individual habitats. Besides my enjoyment of the train ride and the obnoxious noise made from the train wheels riding along the track, the train car had become quiet as everyone did their own thing. That is until the middle door of the train car swung open and a man with a little sign entered. The man was old, and his clothing was worn out and he looked sickly and homeless. The man walked into the middle of the car said, “Excuse me everyone If you could spare some change, I would appreciate it. Thank you and God bless you!” I saw that many people didn’t pay attention to what he was saying, they kept on doing their own thing. On the other end of the train, I saw a woman give the man some change and after that, the man proceeded to the next car. I wasn’t surprised to see a homeless person on the train because the subway system could be seen as a safe haven for them especially on cold days like this one.
I stayed on the train until I reached 125th street in Harlem. This stop was different from the stops I passed because you could transfer to the 4 or 5 train here. When the train arrived here, I saw that many commuters were in a hurry. It looked like they were getting ready to run and that’s exactly what they did because the 4 train had just pulled into the station as well. Since I was standing at the back of the train, I was one of the last ones to get out. I saw that many commuters piled onto the train as well and as I watched as the train departed the station. The 125th street station was made of stone tiled floors and subway tiled walls with mosaics. The train tracks were very black and dusty. There was even garbage laying freely in between the tracks. One by one the 6-train side continued to fill up at a fast rate. Before I knew it, the station was full and hectic. Seeing that I had no intention of proceeding deeper into the city on this day, I decided to take the stairs up to the uptown platforms where I waited for a 6 train to return home.
The New York City subway system is like a giant organ that keeps the city running. Riding the 6-train allowed me to see how subway commuters act. I found it exciting to ride the train and learn about the commuters who make up the system. The main takeaways that I saw amongst a huge majority of the commuters were that commuters like to keep to themselves and avoid interaction and conflict. I also saw that many commuters relied on technology to get them through their journey. I don’t believe every train ride is the same, but I feel these takeaways are most likely present in every train ride. It was a great experience and I wouldn’t mind doing it for other train lines.
Interview Transcript – Danny Baichu
Me: Good Afternoon, I am about to conduct an interview with you regarding my field study on 6 train commuters. To start off, what is your name and age?
Danny: I know you know the answer to this but just for the record, My name is Danny Baichu and I am twenty-one years old.
Me: Now that we have that out of the way, how about I gather some more information.
Danny: As long as you don’t try to steal my identity, then sure
Me: How long have you been using the 6 train?
Danny: I have been using the 6 train daily since 2013, so basically 6 years
Me: So 6 years on the 6 trains? *We both laughed* okay, okay let’s continue, what do you primarily use the 6 train for?
Danny: Well, I use the 6 train primarily for school and work, but I also use it for leisure especially when I want to venture into the city, which is often.
Me: I think it’s wonderful that you use the 6 train to do all those things… So where do you live?
Danny: I live in the Bronx with my family who also use the 6 train to commute but they don’t use it as much as I do. I use the 6 train 6 days a week from Monday to Saturday.
Me: Seems to me like you got a lot on your plate, and since you do use the 6 train 6 days a week, do you feel as if the 6 train plays an important role in your life?
Danny: Yeah, of course. Without it I cannot get to where I need to go. Without it I wouldn’t be able to commute to school and work, the two places that make up the majority of my weekly schedule.
Me: Now that we’ve gotten the general questions out of the way how about we move onto some more personal questions?
Danny: Yeah, let’s do it!
Interview – Danny Baichu
I sat in the hallway of the Colin Powell school located on the fourth floor of the North Academic Center waiting for my informant. The hallway was empty, and the foot traffic in this area was minimal so I thought it would be the best place to conduct my interview. I braced against the tan colored bricked wall and opened my bookbag to grab my laptop. My informant was due to arrive at any time and I wanted to be ready for when he came. I opened the word document with my interview questions and waited for my informant and two minutes later he arrived. He greeted me with a smile, and I got up and shook his hand asking him “Are you okay with this spot?” quickly he responded with “Yeah, this is fine! I sit in this spot and do work here sometimes because it’s nice and quiet.” He wore a light grey sweatshirt with light washed jeans that had rips on them. On top of his sweatshirt he wore a nice trucker styled corduroy jacket with white Sherpa fur, he looked like he was very warm. On his feet, he wore white socks with brown Clark loafers. His hair was black, and his beard was low and trimmed neatly. By the way he greeted me with enthusiasm, I could tell he was calm. He sat his belongings on the ground and turned towards me, saying “I’m ready if you are,” to which I said, “Let’s begin.”
Before I started asking him any questions, I explained to him that I would be asking him some questions regarding my field study on 6 train commuters. “Yeah, that’s not a problem.” I began by asking him some general questions that would introduce the topic and open up the conversation a bit. I didn’t want to start by bombarding him with random questions, so I decided to start with a simple one. “Can you state your name and age, please,” he laughed because he knew I already knew this information, but he played along. “Danny Baichu and I am twenty-one years old.” We continued with some closed questions and although they were meant to just give some background on the informant, I learned a lot about Danny. Danny lives in the Bronx and he’s been using the 6 train daily since 2013, “I use the 6 train primarily for school and work, but I also use it for leisure especially when I want to venture into the city, which is often.” Not only does Danny use the 6 train to travel daily, but he also uses six days out of the week so he’s no stranger to the system at all. Amazed at how often he uses the 6 train, I couldn’t help but asking him if he feels the 6 train plays a huge role in his life and without hesitating, he said “Yeah, of course. Without it, I cannot get to where I need to go. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to commute to school and work, the two places that make up the majority of my weekly schedule.”
Danny’s first time on a 6 train was when he was only nine years old and every time, he passes the Hunt Points station, he cannot help but remember the moment because it was the first time, he “went underground with a train.” Today, the 6 train has become Danny’s main method of transportation because he believes it’s “more efficient than bus services that run the same route.” Most of the time, Danny gets a seat on the train but sometimes he is forced to brace on the train door that says “Don’t lean on,” most of the time Danny has out his phone while on the train, and he either listens to music or browse different apps and sites. Since Danny leaves home early in the morning, he constantly finds himself shutting his eyes for a few minutes while on the train. As Danny and I continued talking I could see that he was more open about the topic, going as far as to express his feels toward the system.
“I do feel as if the 6 train is a reliable service because it’s always there when I need it,” Although Danny is met with delays and overcrowding a few times per month, he couldn’t help but praise the 6 train because of how much it benefits him. Even when there are problems, the MTA steps in to fix the problem immediately. This was the case when Danny recently got on a 6 train one morning just to be met with delays because of track problems but by the time he was ready to go home in the afternoon all the problems had been fixed. The only negative Danny mentioned about the 6 train was that some of its stations are very dilapidated, “the underground trains stations are a nightmare, especially 3rd ave 138th street station,” not only are there rats, the tiles are falling off the wall, garbage lies on the track and stains live on the walls. Besides this Danny has also been noticing new actions taken by the MTA/NYCTA to renovate and modernize the 6-train system, such as the renovations of the Longwood train station. He’s also seen the implementation of the new OMNY card system and kiosks.
After asking Danny about the subway car designs, he did not hesitate to stay that they are inefficient. “The designs are very vintage; however, I feel as if it’s time for a change when it comes to subway car designs. They are outdated and they can use some needed work.” And I couldn’t agree more with Danny. While we were on the topic of subway cars, I began asking Danny if he could tell me about the other commuters on the train, “most of them are just trying to get on with their day just like me, they are either on their ways to school or work.” Like other commuters, Danny likes when his train ride is nice and quiet but sometimes, he encounters some commuters who are loud, and sometimes he observes rude travelers, but he does his best to stay away and avoid conflict.
“I would allocate money towards three main things, the rehabilitation of stations across the city, train signal and technological improvements and customer service initiatives.” These are the things Danny would do if was put in a power changing position and given a large sum of money to improve the subway system. I could tell that Danny holds the 6 train in high regard because of the role it plays in his life. After interviewing Danny for almost thirty minutes, he told me he had to go because his next class was about to start. I thanked him for allowing me to interview him and he said, “No problem, I enjoyed it”, I too enjoyed it. We shook each other’s hand and he then disappeared around the corner and I was left alone in the hallway.
I never realized how big of an impact public transportation could have on a commuter’s life. Danny’s responses and thoughts on the system helped me understand the role of the commuter. Especially in a big city like New York, the subway system is an organ that keeps everything running. During the conversation, I could tell Danny had a genuine interest in the topics that we talked about, during some parts of the conversation his face began to light up as he gave me detailed answers to different questions. Being that I know Danny, this conversation was like any other that we’ve had before except this time I limited my input into the conversation. I also saw that Danny got comfortable in the spot that we were in, and when it was time for him to go it didn’t look like he wanted to go although he had to. As an interviewer, Danny made me feel comfortable he didn’t pressure me or try to take over the conversation, at no point did he start questioning me or act rude towards me. I am happy with the results of this interview, and I feel the information provided here helps me better understand my subculture, 6 train commuters.
Interview Transcript – Andrea Narine
Me: Hi, how are you? Today I will be asking you some questions that pertain with my field study on 6 train commuters. Just for the record can you please state your name and age?
Andrea: My name is Andrea Narine and I am twenty years old.
Me: Very well, now I’m just going to ask you a few preliminary questions.
Andrea: Sure no problem, go for it.
Me: So how long have you been using the 6 train?
Andrea: Well let’s see, I started City College in 2016-2017 so almost three years. I’ve been using the 6 since I was a freshman.
Me: Good to know, and I see that you’ve already touched on my next question, do you primarily use the 6 train for?
Andrea: Ah that’s easy, I use it for everything. I use it to travel to school, work and to just travel within the city.
Me: Since you use the 6 train often, would you just state where you live?
Andrea: Oh I live in Queens but like I mentioned earlier I’m always traveling within Manhattan because of school and work so I find myself on the 6 train often.
Me: Does the 6 train play an important role in your life? It sure looks like it.
Andrea: You’re spot on with that, the 6 train plays a huge role in my life. It’s my main method of transportation. The 6 train is one of those things that I depend on.
Me: Great! That’s good to know, so how about we go on to some more personal questions?
Andrea: Yeah, ask away!
Interview – Andrea Narine
After interviewing my first informant in the hallway of the Colin Powell school, I decided that I would use the same spot to conduct my second interview. My informant and I met up and I told her we where we will be conducting the interview, asking her if that is fine, she replied: “Yeah, that’s okay.” After arriving at the spot, we both set our belongings on the ground and we each took a seat. As my informant patiently waited, I open my laptop up to the word document which was already open. My informant was light-skinned and had long black hair. She wore a navy-blue hoodie sweater with black pants. She also had on a dark blue jean jacket that she kept unbuttoned so that the design on her hoodie can be visible. On her feet, she wore white Nike’s that shined. “Are you ready?” I asked as she responded, “Yeah, you can start.”
I explained to my informant that I would be asking her some questions regarding my field study on 6 train commuters. “That will be fine, I’m hoping I can help in any way,” she said after I introduced the topic to her. “Can you please state your name and age,” I asked her, “Well, my name is Andrea Narine and I am twenty years old.” Andrea is from Queens; NY and she has been using the 6 train for three years. “I started City College in 2016-2017 so almost three years. I’ve been using the 6 since I was a freshman,” Although the 6 train doesn’t run in Queens, Andrea finds herself on it constantly because of school. But in the past year, her use of the system has increased because she now uses the system to go to work and she also uses it for leisure. She essentially uses the 6 train as her main method of transportation while traveling within Manhattan and the Bronx, which she does often. Seeing that she uses the system often I asked Andrea if she feels the system plays an important role in her life, she quickly responded with “You’re spot on with that, the 6 train plays a huge role in my life. It’s one of my main method of transportation. The 6 train is one of those things that I depend on.”
Andrea first used the 6 train when she was a small child, she couldn’t recall her exact age, but she could remember what she saw. “I was still able to get a seat near the window and I couldn’t stop looking outside,” the views that she saw from the train seat captured her and even today she cannot help but turn around and watch the different views as the train proceeds with its route. Andrea’s typical commute consists of her getting on the train and looking for a place to sit, depending on the time she gets on, she may get a seat but most of the time she has to stand but she doesn’t complain because the 6 train “gets me where I need to be.” While on the train Andrea is usually on her phone, and she always has her Airpods. Since she travels alone most of the time, she likes to keeps to herself, but she always stays aware of her surroundings because “sometimes there are some mean commuters, but you can’t let them get to you, you just got to keep your head down and go on with your day.” Otherwise, Andrea said her typical train ride is quiet, that is if you don’t pay attention to the loud noises made by the subway car running on the tracks. Andrea also noted that the commuters around her act in a similar manner, “most of the time they are quite just like me, they usually have their headphones on, or their phones out or they do nothing at all.”
“I strongly feel as if the 6 train is a reliable service because I depend on it daily to get me around and it does just that.” Although Andrea feels the system can be better, she cannot argue with the system already in place because at the end of the day, it’s there when she needs it the most. Andrea stated that she would love it if the different stations could be made better. The stations may do their jobs but many of them are old and they do not “accommodate people of modern times.” She said she would like to see “station renovations, new train cars, and more technology involved in every ride.” Andrea feels that technology is a big part of society and that more of it should be incorporated into the subway cars and stations, similar to how the MTA incorporated Wi-Fi and charging services in bus services and stops.
“The 6 train is missing modernity, it feels as if the system is stuck in a different period, the stations and trains need work.” Andrea made it clear that some stations failed to move on with time, and many stations along the 6 line show it because some are heavily outdated. Just the other day she stopped at a station, and all she saw were dirty stains on the once beautiful subway tiled walls. “It’s sad,” she said, after telling me that she realized that the MTA focuses on the bigger stations and projects, instead of smaller renovations. Andrea, however, has a plan in case she is ever given a chance to make changes to the MTA subway system, “ I would renovate the train cars and stations; it would be nice to see better aesthetics. I would want the NYC subway system to be on par with that of Canada’s TTC and England’s Underground.” She fancies a cutting edge modernized system.
The impact of the 6-train runs further than the boroughs it runs in, especially for Andrea, the Queens native who finds herself using the system constantly. I was glad to see how a train service could have an impact on one’s life, especially when they depend on it to get to school, work and home. The conversation between Andrea and I went very well. Before this interview, we’ve spoken before, so there were no “barriers” to be broken so I didn’t feel nervous or uncomfortable. I feel she was comfortable as well because of her facial expressions which displayed a sense of interest as we spoke about the topic. At no point was she overpowering or rude, she followed my initial lead then expanded on each question at her own will. I am glad about the result that I received from this interview and my other one because they helped corroborate the data I gathered while conducting research and the actual observation of my field site.
Final Reflection
What’s a subway system with commuters? A subway system cannot survive without commuters, and commuters cannot not live without the subway. Over the past few months, I conducted in depth research, including observations and interviews, to better understand the commuters of the 6-train system. Although not every train ride is the exact same, I found several take away that are present during each ride.
- Most commuters travel by themselves
- Most commuters try to avoid conflict, during rides they limit their interactions with other commuters and they mainly try to keep to themselves
- Commuters utilize technology to help them get through their ride, commuters are usually seen on their phones, texting, talking, surfing etc. Commuters also use music to pass time, you often see people with Airpods, beats etc.
- As a collective, commuters tend to get angry when the train has been stalled due to delays and other problems
- If there is a small space available to sit, commuters will squeeze their way in. While other commuters stand.
- A crowded train is an unhappy train
Using the three key questions – what surprised me? What intrigued me? What disturbed me? – I will be giving my final thoughts in regard to my filed study and the six train commuter subculture. Using the three key questions – what surprised me? What intrigued me? What disturbed me? – I will be giving my final thoughts in regard to my filed study and the six-train commuter subculture. I was surprised that I was able to find so much information on my topic by just conducting the interview and observations. These key parts of my study helped me write about the six train commuters. I was surprised that so many commuters depend on the 6 train, for some commuters it’s their main means of transportation so it’s held in high regards. I was intrigued by the fact that many commuters were the same through the ways they acted and portrayed themselves. I was also intrigued by the fact that the subway system is used by people of all classes, ethnicities, ages etc. The subway system is a place where all differences are bridged to some extent. During this study I wasn’t really bothered by anything, and although the MTA tries their best to provide reliable conditions I feel as though the system could use necessary updates.
Self-Assessment
Writing is inevitable, it’s something that you can’t escape. Writing for the Social Sciences has allowed me to develop my writing skills tremendously. I have learned the necessary skills to effectively express my ideas through field working, which includes observing, interviewing and writing. This self-assessment is my way of measuring how much I have grown over the past fifteen weeks as a student of English 21002. Besides documenting my progress, I will also be utilizing the writing techniques my professor taught me in order to convey my assessment.
The Writing for the Social Sciences class was built upon a set of nine core course objectives. Throughout this semester I was able to learn about each one of them, and I strongly feel as if the professor taught the material in a way that changed my mindset about what writing is truly about. The one objective that resonated with me throughout the semester was “Practice field research strategies, such as observing, writing field notes, and interviewing,” because it was unlike anything I’ve ever done before, especially in an English class. Field working pushed me out of my boundaries, it made me uncomfortable but that helped me grow. A perfect example of this involves the “Peer Interview” and “Class Observation” assignments which severed as practice for intervening and observing. The practice taught me how to effectively interview informants and observe field sites. When doing the interview and observation at first, I felt out of place but after more practice, I was much more comfortable conducting interviews and observations that went along with my field study on 6 train commuters.
I feel as though the objective “Formulate and articulate a stance through and in your writing,” has allowed me to improve the most. Writing is all about expressing yourself and this class taught me that the use of “I” has the power to strengthen your paper. I am a freshman and I recently graduated from High School. It was a big change for me to use “I” in my writing. In High School, I was discouraged from using “I” in papers because it creates a bias. English 21002 has shown me that this is untrue because a paper can be written in first person, and it can still include concrete research and details about a topic. I was first exposed to this idea when I was tasked with reading Rick Zollo’s field study Friday Night at Iowa 80, in which a young man used the first person to document his time at the largest truck stop in the United States. After reading Zollo’s field study, I understood that “I” could be used to convey a string of evidence and tell a story. I also became drawn to the three key questions – what surprised me? What intrigued me? What disturbed me? – and I used them throughout the course to guide my writing pieces. The use of “I” played a huge role when it came time to write up my different accounts throughout my fieldwork, and by doing so I improved on creating my voice in each one of my papers.
At the start of the semester, my perception of writing was biased. I have always been taught that there is a certain way to write an essay, and that each essay had to follow a uniformed formula. To me essays weren’t meant to be creative, they were meant to be informative, and let’s be honest, torture. My view about writing changed when I started taking this class. This class defied many writing principles I learned in high school, this class broke me free, allowing my creative side to flow more. This class allowed me to be expressive with my voice and add my opinions and thoughts into my work without the fear of being told I was “wrong.” My perception of writing has definitely changed, and I can truly confirm this statement because I was excited and motivated to complete each one of the assignments I was assigned with this semester.
The “Peer Interview” assignment helped me develop my writing skills because I was tasked with writing about the interview and documenting key parts that stood out, all while noting my own feelings and thoughts. Not only did this assignment push me outside me boundaries, it taught me how I should document and write up the final interview. By using double entry notes, I asked my partner various questions to learn more about him, and I tried to effectively describe my partner so that any reader could visualize him. I learned that while writing up an interview, it is best to summarize parts of the interview but highlight specific lines with quotes to emphasis the meaning of what the person said. When writing up an interview it is best to be as detailed as possible to help capture what the person tell you. It is also best not to be intrusive during the interview, know your boundaries with your informant and let the conversation flow and don’t forget, maintain a sense of control when interviewing others. I’m happy that I learned how to conduct an interview, and I feel this skill will come in handy one day.
I further improved my writing skills with the “Class Observation” assignment. Much like the interview assignment, I was required to pay attention to details. To do this I used double entry notes to record everything I saw while observing a City College Economics lecture. When the time came to write the paper, I did my best to try and recapture the essence of the lecture hall while I was in it. I documented everything from the way the lecture hall looked to the type of clothing the professor wore. By approaching the assignment this way I became more comfortable observing. This practice helped me when I observed and wrote about my field site. I got a higher grade on my field site observation than my class from observations.
My portfolio shows my growth. I was told to put three different graded assignments into my portfolio, so I decided to put my peer interview, field site observation and field study interviews. I chose these three pieces because they each represent a different grade and level of understanding that I had with each task. I also had to put up three discussion post so I decided to include three writings in which I reviewed three different field studies; these assignments helped me decide how I would go about writing my own field study. The last thing that can be found in my portfolio is the final and the assessment essay. Overall, English 21002 provided a unique experience.
Now, I will answer the three key questions – what surprised me? What intrigued me? What disturbed me? – in regard to my experience with English 21002 Writing for the Social Sciences. I was surprised that this English class was different than every other English class I have ever taken before because it didn’t depend on novels and books. I was surprised at how much my writing could improve by using the first person to relay my thoughts. I was intrigued by the idea of field working because it was something I never thought about or even knew about. I was intrigued at how I was able to pick my own subculture and perform my own field study like the ones read in class. What bothered me? Well nothing really… This class helped me improve and I am grateful.
References
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Riggs, Thomas, editor. “Mass Transit.” Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History, 2nd ed., vol. 2, Gale, Farmington Hills, MI, 2015, pp. 765–767. Gale EBooks, link-gale-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/apps/doc/CX3611000522/GVRL?u=cuny_ccny&sid=GVRL&xid=b09f4c9e. Accessed 13 Dec. 2019.
Aaron Baichu - The New York City Subway 