To: Dr.

Kevin Brooks From: Abby Hammes Date: October 26th, 2011 Subject: Building a Mystery assignment My Building a Mystery assignment will focus on the value of fine arts involvement in high school, college, and beyond. I will be researching how this involvement affects students academically, socially, and vocationally. Research Question Does involvement in fine arts sooth students journeys between discourses (friend groups, academic settings, in the job market, etc)? Relevance/Expectations Involvement in the fine arts is very important for me and I believe it is important for future generations. When funding gets cut for public schools, usually the fine arts are the first things to go. I and we as a society need to show how the arts can benefit students, not only while in school, but throughout their lives. I expect to find that students and academic figures alike believe that involvement in the arts can help students in school and beyond. I believe they will see how the arts can benefit a person and how it can help them adapt to adverse situations. What I Know I know research has been done as to how being involved in the fine arts can decrease stress, increase GPA, etc. I will simply need to find that research so I can reference it properly. I also know my background story and how I feel that theatre and music have helped me to succeed. My Research/Interviews Textual research: I know that information exists and studies have been done on the affects of arts involvement on students, I will simply have to find it. Human subject research: I would like to interview some NDSU theatre students (I know several in the program- Ill probably choose at least one senior and one freshman), a director or professor of theatre/music, and hopefully the Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. My questions may include: o How did you get involved in fine arts? o Which of the fine arts do you believe is most valuable? o How do you think being involved in the arts can help students in school? In the workplace? Beyond? o Have the arts helped you be more flexible socially and mentally? How? Can you give an example? o How do you think proponents of the fine arts can show their value to the general public? Do you think its important that they do so? o Has involvement in the arts changed how you think about people and relationships? In what way?