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| What did you learn? How will you apply it? |
Instead of meeting synchronously today, you'll post a comment here as per the homework assignment listed in the course syllabus. The assignment is to reflect on your learning experiences from writing the Short Research Essay and to articulate here, in one paragraph, how you will apply that learning to choosing a topic for, researching, and/or writing the Long Research Essay. This assignment counts as one participation grade and is due by midnight tonight, on 3/19/12.
During the course of writing the Short Research Essay, I discovered a few things I need to take into account when writing my Long Research Essay. The first thing I learned is that I need to narrow my thesis down, even if I think it is already narrow enough. The better the thesis, the more analyzing that I can do of the actual text. The second thing that I will do when writing the next paper is to narrow down my research. When researching, I was too broad in my topic and I didn't narrow my research findings down until I started my rough draft. I need to do this before actually writing the paper so I don't waste time looking through things I don't need. The last thing that I will take into account is the revision process. A twenty page paper will involve more revision than a ten page paper so I need to make sure I have an excellent draft before I sit down to write the final copy. This process has taught me a lot about my writing skills and what I need to work on in the future.
ReplyDeleteI have learned a lot of helpful things relating to my writing process through the Short Research Essay. I think the most important broad category of this is my organization in general. The research notes and annotated bibliography, in specific, really helped me to stay organized and keep my thoughts organized as well. Another helpful tip was that of the outline. As I wrote my Short Research Essay, I changed the outline several times, but hammering down a concrete outline to go along with the essay helped to keep the essay organized, so it did not sound like a bunch of random thoughts being placed on paper. Free writing also helped me immensely. It allowed me to narrow my thesis and form many ideas that led to the outline and the final paper. The Short Research Essay was very helpful in preparing me for the upcoming Long Research Essay.
ReplyDeleteWhile writing my short research essay I didn't run into any major problems but I definitely learned a lot. While choosing a topic for my long research essay I need to keep in mind the scope of my thesis. The topic for my short paper was concise enough but it involved following threads through the entirety of the work. This was difficult to do, and in choosing a topic for my long paper I will either choose a shorter work or work specifically with a small section of a large work and then try to expand that to apply to the whole, rather than work with the entirety of the text. I also need to start writing earlier. This will make the whole process smoother. I should start writing even if I haven't finished all of my research. Chances are I've probably got enough of my own ideas and secondary research to get something down.
ReplyDeleteThe short research essay taught me a lot about my strengths (which happen to be few) and weaknesses (which I have many) when analyzing while incorporating literary research. I can use excerpts from my literary text well, but have trouble separating summary from analysis. Other than blurring the line between summary and analysis, I needed a larger scope of literary research. I thought that my sources involving the economic effects on families that occur after divorce would provide enough research to uphold my thesis, and as my paper evolved into a thesis centered around imagery, I needed more research. Rearranging my paper into a cohesive unit was a continuously evolving process that I'm improving at. I hope I can clarify my thesis immediately in this next paper so my literary research is less vague.
ReplyDeleteWhat benefited me the most in writing the short paper was the preparation. Before the short paper, I thought that I knew how to look for resources. I found that I was far from being good at it. I'm not at all ashamed to admit that before the assignment I had never used an ILL or even checked out a book from the library, nor had I ever gone beyond a basic search in JSTOR. That's is not a good research method considering that I am in my last semester as an English major. I am very excited about the long paper because now I feel that I know what I am doing. I don't have a pit of dread in my gut, feeling like the research for resources will drain my soul.
ReplyDeleteAnother great benefit from the short essay assignment was discovering that I was on the right track in terms of organizing the process of writing. My plans for the long research paper are to get started by brainstorming my topics and follow through with the research writing strategies we have learned. NEVER PROCRASTINATE!
Heidi
There have been several very important things that I learned while doing my short research essay. The first thing that I learned is that I need to diversify my sources more, I had a lot of sources agreeing with my thesis but I was struggling to find counter-arguments to it. I fell that for my long research essay I will need to address this issue so that it helps me not only strengthen my thesis but also provides a better base for my thesis to stand on. I have also learned that drafting several times will be critical to having the best possible final paper. One of the last things that I learned doing this essay was that I do not always need sources that relate directly to my main thesis, I can use sources that only address a very little part of the thesis but in the end help my build a complete thesis. I feel that these three things will help me build on my learning experience from the short essay and apply it to the long essay.
ReplyDeleteI have learned a lot during the writing of my "short" research essay. I was surprised, because I had written plenty of research papers before taking this class. For one thing, the book is EXTREMELY helpful. It presents an organized way of planning, researching, outlining, and writing a research paper. Also, I learned certain things about researching, like how to narrow my searches to find exactly what I need. I will do this earlier for my longer essay. I learned that one may need to do more research while writing the paper. For the long paper, I will be sure to start REALLY early researching and reading, to make sure everything fits my thesis. And of course I need to have a first draft that is actually worth something. I think that having a good draft for the long essay will make revising easier. Also, like Megan said, I can start writing if I haven't finished all my research. I have this idea that everything needs to be done step by step -- first deciding on a thesis, then research, THEN writing.
ReplyDeleteI have learned a lot from this short research essay first. I first learned the importance of organization. Having to do the research notes, the annotated bibliography, and then having your comments, really helped me understand what I was doing and help me organize better. What also help me was the source engines, I got introduced to so reliable sources than just googlescholar and I feel like knowing about JSTOR and others, helped me a lot. For my long research essay, I need to apply an outline, for the short essay, I just started writing and that's not good. I also want to apply the MLA book to my writing the longer essay this time. It kind of just sat in my book bag. I will also use the writing center and the conference to my best interest as well. Having a good first draft is the key and I want to make sure I'm on the right track.
ReplyDeleteOn Monday, Julie says: Organization, organization, organization. I have learned a lot, too, from short paper. I used stickies. I used note cards. I ended up using an outline. I even did that print it out, cut it up and make piles thing. But it didn't seem to be enough. So next time (and for all future papers, essays, and novels) I double-dare, pinky swear to be more organized. I made the mistake of leaving my stickies in my sources this last time. So in the future, I'll label well my stickies (page number and source) and pile them according to where they belong. I'll take pictures of the long paper project and post them on FB, or here in the blog (insert evil laugh).
ReplyDeleteDuring the Short Research Paper I was reminded again and again how much organization I need to add and improve upon in this process. Not to mention the fact that it is a process much more than I ever considered. While going through several outlines and doing the annotated bibliography, I realized how little effort I have previously put into my papers. So in order to kick the LONG paper's butt, I'm hoping to use these new realizations to conquer that fear we all (I hope) get when staring at that blank page and mocking placeholder. I'll just have to chant the whole time "organization equals salvation" as my mantra...so no one stare at me in class.
ReplyDeleteI’ve learned that if I don’t pick and narrow my thesis from the start, I will probably end up changing it a bunch of times. Giving myself a broad thesis only gave me continuous problems for the short paper. Another thing I need to consider is that with my scattered thoughts, I MUST be more organized. Although I tried it way too late, the visual organizing we talked about in class ended up being what I needed to do all along. Literally pinning paper to the wall and mapping out my paper is what I need to do for the long paper, and I’ve already cleared a wall to do that! Now to pick a thesis..
ReplyDeleteTurns out that a english research paper and a history one are actually really different (besides the obvious subject difference). In an english paper, you take the same steps as in a history one, just focusing on your english topic and not history. I learned that not narrowing down a thesis from the getgo is not a good idea....it was hard to figure out what i was doing when i actually got started. organization was also a major issue when it came down to sitting down and writing it....organization and an actual thesis are key in any research paper.
ReplyDeleteSomething that I’ve learned is that it’s pertinent to put a considerable amount of thought into selecting the actual topic. I had several initial ideas that I was excited about (everyone always says it’s better to write about something you like) but the more I thought about it the more I realized while good they would not make for great research papers. It’s important and certainly makes one’s life easier to pick a topic that has a good amount of available research (maybe not something that has been beaten to death but something that is not too obscure). I think I was able to compromise in the end and pick a topic I was enthusiastic about but also had a good amount of resources to consult. If I had gone with one of my original ideas I think I would have struggled each step of the way. I think if you have a good topic it will help facilitate the writing of a good paper. It might seem really basic but I know for some classes I have ended up picking something simple to write about because it seems easy when really it is easier to pick something complex that will generate a lot of food for thought.
ReplyDeleteSettling on a single short story was a great approach to kick off the writing of my short story paper. It was narrow enough to give it a concise focus, but "One Holy Night" by Sandra Cisneros still had more than enough material and secondary sources to flesh out a ten page paper. For my next project, however, what I will want to focus on tightening is my work schedule: the creative process of the short result paper yielded good results but very sporadically. I wouldn't get to it for a few days, then would come back and have a burst of ideas or fruitful note-taking, then it would lie dormant again, then I would have to reengage and refresh myself on what I was talking about... Next time around, I will try to work on it more consistently and regularly.
ReplyDeleteIn the writing process I have learned the formation of an outline as well as research in gathering information is essential. When gathering information the research notes were a big help in writing the paper. Also having an outline along with actual PRINT books. The writing guide for analysis and interpretation was very helpful as well. I think it’s better to have an informed topic and or thesis before going into the research. I also believe that before you write a thesis you should write the question in which you intend to prove. Many times we move forward and end up failing to provide facts and an adequate conclusion. Stay focused on that particular question in which you intend to prove and research articles/facts that do to support your argument.
ReplyDeleteI have learned a lot from this research project. First thing I learned is what is a scholarly source and what is not. Coming from a community college, my professors weren't as strict on what to consider scholarly. Now I know what information not to pay any attention too. Second I learned you are the best source for help. I am always scared to show what I'm working on to my professors but going to you really showed me that you are here for me. You are not going to bash on what I was working but help me so I can understand better. I learned I need to be more organized. Sometimes notes everywhere can be a bit overwhelming. I learned that a proposal, outline, annotated bib, etc. are all very helpful tools to writing a paper. I feel more confident now about writing my long essay and I can't wait to start it.
ReplyDeleteI have got much knowledge reading your post.It has made me to remind my past time.It is really helpfull.Essay Editing Checklist
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