Research Paper + Ethnography [Post #4]

Tomorrow is the due date for the research paper and I'm unsure on my feelings about this. On one hand, I'm glad to get rid of this paper, yet, on the other hand, I think there could be more work done on my paper.

Today's little mini editing workshop made me realize that there was a lot more to English than what we already know. It seems like there's--as Miss Mork puts it--another language we're learning.

Well, today PK and I finally went to our ethnography group--the librarians. They seemed very entertained at the fact that we were observing them in their "natural habitat". We got a lot of notes down and I was surprised to find that asking follow-up questions are a lot easier than I though at first. Our next observation is on Saturday, so until then.

Research Paper [Post #3]

I had something in my head that I was going to type down for today's blog, but due to my sister's distraction, I've forgotten it.

Oh well.

I guess I'll just catalog my progress while I wait for that spark to come back.

Research paper--I'm on the fourth draft and I think it's about done. I just want to hand this in already. Then I've got to go and redo my annotated bibliography. Although, I noticed on easybib.com, there was a little button at the button that says "annotated", I think. I don't remember but I remember it looked interesting and I intended to find out what it was (forgetting later if you hadn't guess).

It hasn't come back yet. I'll just leave it at that then.

Ethnography + Research Paper [Post #2]

Tomorrow is Wednesday and that means that the field notes for our ethnography will be due the next week. This makes me panic. However, it does not make me run around in circles screaming like a headless chicken. This would be because PK and I have finally gotten around to getting down the specific dates for our adventure! The last two hours will actually take place that Wednesday night, though, so I hope Ms. Mork will be alright with that.

In any case, I can't wait to get started. We're heading into the wilderness on Thursday!

As for the research paper, the third draft is due tomorrow. Tonight, I've added in the internal citation. The problem is, however, I've forgotten most of what part of the information came from where. That and when I tried to open my Word document for my notes, for some unknown reason, the document would not open. It stated that it was corrupt, which confused me because I don't remember doing anything horribly to my jump drive.

In other news regarding my research paper, I've added a bit more things, cut a few things, changed the title, and decided against rearranging the paragraphs.

Let's take a deep breath, guys.

Research Paper [Post #1]

Dearest research paper, why are you so difficult to write?

I am having a tough time writing things out. I can't seem to concentrate on reading the details, the notes, and actually thinking things through to write my paper. I'm itching to write, to draw, anything, but writing something like a research paper is like pushing pins up the soles of my feet.

In other words, I'm stuck. There's a block, a large brick wall in front of me that will not move no matter how hard I try to push it. It's just there and I'm lamely standing in front of it, wishing it will crumble into dust.

Research Paper [Post #5]

Oh dearest research paper, why has your introduction evade me so?

It's already half past seven and I've yet to start my research paper. Maybe, if I just write, I can clear my mind and focus on the research paper then. Alright then, here goes:

Fingers twitching, itching, and writhing, wanting to write and yet, cannot. There's that damn tingly, crawling feeling again, sending shivers and chills down my spine. Like spiders. That's what it's like. Creepy, long legs skipping across the thin veil my skin is. Fidgeting, shifting from one foot to the other. Restless.

How on earth do you even start a research paper?

On another topic, I finally remembered to ask this question that has been plaguing me since the beginning of the term. Does anyone here actually look over their blog post and edit it before they post?

FSTI Chapter 27 [Post #4]

Persuasion and argumentative papers. I remember last year in AP English, we had something like that going on. PK and I worked on a topic involving nudity in art, which we both agreed that the topic was very interesting and different. It was a lot of fun, learning what people thought.

This paper seems more formal and I guess we can't really choose any topic at our discretion (based on our domain). Still, it looks as though the two are similar in their format. Beginning with the background, then moving onto the thesis, argument, rebuttal, and finally, the conclusion.

(I thought we were doing a trend paper, though. Wait, what's the difference?)

FSTI Chapter 34 [Post #3]

I liked that there was this one part that said you shouldn't overwhelm your audience with an overload of information. I tend to do that--I want to get everything done into my paper and so I write with my eyes on my notes and string each piece of evidence to the next. I guess it isn't the best idea.

So, like PK, I have hit many dead ends and have finally decided upon the trend of children and teens affected by ADHD. Actually, now that I think about it, I might change to the trend adults because we just don't see that as often.

When I said I was looking forward to this earlier, I meant it as though we could pick some random topic that sounded interesting. Although ADHD is interesting, it's definitely not something I'd choose to research in my spare time. Now, I just want to rush this paper.

Which brings me to another dilemma: the ethnography. Did I mention I wasn't going to go to PK's workplace anymore? I'm not sure I can dig up a good enough report... and PK thought we should work together. I agreed and now we're stuck.

Edit: Of course I go and read the wrong chapter.

FSTI Chapter 33 [Post #2]

This chapter was relatively short and concise. It began with telling us that we should organize our notes. Before taking this class, I'd never really thought much about the organization of notes. Sure, I took notes and rewrote them so each piece of evidence fit with the other. But I never really went out of my way to cut out large pieces and actually sorting them out.

We spoke a bit in class about organizing notes. This, I liked. The suggestion of copying and pasting evidence onto word documents with the source right by it was a neat idea that I immediately took to. I'll be trying that for this research paper.

I remember back in 10th, my English teacher spent a lot of time talking about how we should write in quotes. We'd spend the period writing and I remember her overhead--the one with the quote cookie sandwich. I think I remembered it clearly--clearer than other lessons--because she brought in Oreo cookies. Me and my stomach. The point is that she taught us how to stuff quotes in our papers and that's how I've always written it.

Alright, so the chapter continues to talk about the thesis, "developing a design", and finally the outline. Of course, I should hope that the class knows how important the thesis is. I don't really think there's much to say about it other than that, yes, it is important and our paper centers around it.

I think the design development is the hardest. It's like trying to begin your personal narrative again, only with a different topic. Still, with the outline, it might be easier than the personal narrative this way. The research paper has loads of evidence and we have a support: the outline while the personal narrative has nothing but our fading memories.

FSTI Chapter 31 [Post #7?]

There are too many topics out there that a person can research. FSTI says you should choose something that interests you but there are too many things that interest me. Still, the guidelines they have for choosing a topic could be helpful.

1. What do I want to know and why is it important?

2. What do I already know?

3. How do I find new information?

4. How do I evaluate what I find?

5. What have I learned?

Alright, so that's what we need to think of while working on the research paper.

The part about working in solitude is ironic because while reading that part, at that moment, my sister was studying her history with her music on full blast. (Of course I had to read it out loud to her.) While I understand a lot of people are like that, I'm not. I need an absolute silence to work on subjects, or to even think. Sometimes, I can manage to tune out the surroundings though.

The evaluation part reminds me of AP European History last year when we did our DBQs. In that, we wrote an essay based on a series of documents. There was this one part where we had to evaluate a document's credibility or biasness.

Hopefully this research project will turn out well. I'm actually a bit excited to learn about a specific topic of my choosing (which, again, reminds me of European History last year. Those historical investigations...).

[Post #1, 2, 3, + 4]

I haven't posted in a while but here I go...

First off, personal narratives. Since it is due on Friday and today is Wednesday, I am nearly complete. Or, I could be. Before this class, my revisions consisted of merely reading over once or twice and correcting a few words, deleting some phrases, and checking the spelling and grammar. That was it. However, with this class, I learned many new techniques that have become extremely helpful and will continue to use. Never have I written and rewritten a paper so many times. I am on my fourth revision! And that's not including the first crappy draft. It's strange yet I feel a lot more comfortable with my essay as each revision passed.

Today's workshop was also helpful. I'm sure many of my classmates knew some of the things we talked about, but there was a lot of things that I hadn't noticed. Commas are so tricky and I had a lot of trouble with that and still do! The writing groups were also extremely helpful. At first though, we were still in a daze and unsure of what to do, so there wasn't a lot of modifications. However, with the second workshop, I got a lot down and fixed. I also realized that I did repeat a lot of words but when reading them aloud, it seemed even more prominent.

On the subject of papers, I have started ethnography just today. Since I've never done this, I was unsure and uneasy as to how to even begin. Mainly, I just walked around to get the feel for it and watched the employees of Chuck E. Cheese--PK's work place. There were not a lot of people there; it was only Wednesday.

Finally, research papers. The research, I think, is due next Wednesday, right? That leaves less than a week to find a topic (if not already done so) and finish the research. I am unsure about my topic at the moment. I kind of want to do one on how age affects the ability to learn new languages. But that may be tricky--I'll poke around some more and hopefully will find something that interests me.