Midterm Assignment

Dear Friend,

I’m writing to let you know all I have learned so far this semester in English 1102. Coming in to this semester, I was frustrated. I was supposed to be in the English 1103 class last semester but it filled up so I had to take English 1101, which meant I would also have to take English 1102. I have always done well in my English classes and felt like it was unnecessary for me to take two English classes; however, I am really starting get a lot out of the two English classes I have taken so far. I can honestly say I am learning a lot this semester and enjoying it – it isn’t just a pointless review of English 1101 at all! I guess the fact that I came in to this semester with a closed mind and the mindset that I would just get through this class and be done with English kind of started me off on the wrong foot. I had already made up my mind that I would just do what was needed to pass this class with a good grade. However, one of the first things I learned this semester is the importance of inquiring and digging deeper. I learned about how writers are in a constant conversation with one another and I began to become intrigued. Our thematic question for the semester is: what does it mean to be healthy? I figured we would write a paper on this topic and how exercise is important, but this question was opened up on a broader scale. We discussed all sorts of topics in class anywhere from yoga, to mental health, to optimism, and to organic foods. I began to wonder how there are many topics out there that can be analyzed and made broader just like the topic of being healthy. This semester I have also learned how to truly do research. Rather than just Google searching my topic, I have learned how to really dig deep in to a topic and find sources from all over. By using the school’s database and taking trips to the library (which I had never done before), I discovered a whole new world out there of interesting and reliable sources. I learned how to take a source and use the sources from that source to find new sources. I also learned how to pull out key words from one source and create a new search for sources with those words. I learned that a source can come in every form: videos, magazines, comments on a website, and from people knowledgeable on the subject. Along with research, I learned a lot more about MLA format and how to be able to cite a source without using some website online. This will definitely benefit me throughout all my college years. It was nice to actually be taught this for once! One more thing I have been learning is how to do peer review effectively. Rather than just giving my friends superficial compliments about their work, I have learned to open up and be honest and give critical comments and meaningful suggestions. Lastly, one of the most important things I learned this semester is about myself. I learned that I need to reflect on the work I have done in order to be able to see how I am growing and what I need to work on. By creating a Blog online, I really was able to track my thought process and changes along the way and looking back this really helped me a lot. Overall, English 1102 has been an amazing journey so far. I am finally open to the idea of learning and engaging in this class and I am excited to see what I learn next.

Best of luck,

Kirsten Price

A major assignment that I have done so far in this semester is a reflective personal paper answering the question “what’s it like to be you?” This question was taken from the book Peace, Butter and Jelly – a book written by David Seidel about his family history, life story, and healthy recipes. I was having a hard time at first trying to figure out how to analyze what it’s like to be me and how I have become who I am. I wanted to explain everything in a formal essay style paper and have some sort of conclusion at the end. I soon realized that this would be impossible because life is not like this. There are twists and turns along the way and those are the moments that a person’s true self is defined. I really opened up for this piece and was completely honest. I expressed my fears, my flaws, my weaknesses, my strengths, things I liked, didn’t like, and everything else about me. The audience for this paper was my peers and this scared me at first because this paper was so personal and I didn’t really want everyone to know everything about me. I held back on my first draft. I kept a lot of things secret and did the bare minimum to finish this paper. However, I realized my paper meant nothing. It had no meaning to me and I was taking no risks in my writing. I began revising and ended up adding a poem right in the middle of my essay. I really poured my heart in to this paper and made it something worth reading – something important and meaningful. I even learned a lot about myself through writing this paper. Its ironic how an assignment that calls for writing about yourself really challenges you to dig deep and in a way, find yourself. I hope that the readers of this essay will learn more about me too and that they will see how I have become who I am and appreciate the small things that make me, me. I expect that I will revise this essay a final time and try to open up even more. For my last revision I plan on moving things around in this paper and placing things in the spot that will make them the most meaningful. I am really proud of the progress I have made this far and look forward to pushing myself even harder to make this paper perfect.

Peace, Butter and Jelly was an amazing book. It was not what I expected at all and was different then anything I have ever read. It related to the theme of being healthy but was also a great story that included recipes and meaningful poems. It really got me thinking about what it means to be healthy on a broader scale and helped me to appreciate my family history more. It was also really awesome being able to meet David. He is such a unique person and spending time with him was such a treat. He was so honest and genuine and humble about all he has done. I feel like I have known him all my life. I would definitely suggest having other classes read his book as well. It was honestly one those books that I will continue to go back to and read over again because it was so unique and unlike anything I have ever read before. David was so honest in his book and seemed so at peace, like he has it all figured out.

Haiku:

My research question
Is really interesting
I hope to learn more.

Time to Reflect.

By doing this blog, I have learned a lot. There is something about taking the time to reflect on what you have done that really helps you look back and see what you have learned, how you plan to improve, and what the next step is. I have learned that I need to reflect on my work in order to see my progress. I need to be able to write out all my questions and concerns. I need to be honest with myself. This blog has helped me do all of that and has helped me realize that I need to take the time and reflect on the work I have done and the progress I have made even if it isn’t a required assignment. This blog has challenged me to really dig deeper and inquire more. I have spent a lot of time doing research even after finding my sources because I have become extremely interested in my topic. Not only have I learned a lot about my topic and the process of researching, I have also learned a lot about the process of writing. I learned that the first step in writing a research paper is not to just jot down a first draft and add in all the sources and facts next. I guess I have been doing it wrong my whole life. It is better to do all the research on the topic and feel comfortable with it and then go about writing the actual paper. I have never felt so confident before writing a research paper – especially and argumentative one – but I am honestly looking forward to putting all of these facts and opinions together and joining in on the conversation of drug trafficking in Guatemala.

And the research process continues...

(1) Some of us struggled a bit with the infamous "list" on pg. 2 of our textbooks, so I'd like to revisit some of those concepts here...

Readers: I am writing to inform citizens of the US of the dangerous drug trafficking that is going on in Guatemala and let them know how that affects the United States. I am also writing to possibly people in the government of the US/Guatemala letting them know how big of an issue this is.


Timeliness: This topic is definitely crucial. In the past few years, drug trafficking has gotten worse in Guatemala and other issues are starting to result such as murders and violence.


Investment: I am EXTREMELY invested in this topic for many reasons. The main reason is that one of my family’s best friends was murdered violently on the streets of Guatemala in front of his children and wife. He was a pastor and the drug lords believed that his church would prevent them from selling drugs so they murdered him for no reason. Also, my dad is a missionary and travels to Guatemala a lot and is considered “wanted” among the drug lords. I definitely want more to be done to stop the drug lords and drug trafficking. I think that the reason high school teachers want us to write objectively is because they are training us the format of writing: how to organize paragraphs, how to write a thesis, how to form opinions, how to use transitional phrases, how to use correct grammar, and how to write a powerful conclusion. These are important steps in writing and in high school, students are required to pass standardized writing tests and write for the SAT. In college, however, there are no standardized tests. The professors would rather us write about passionate topics and take risks in our writing rather than just following the correct format in order for us to develop a unique writing style and in order to help us to actually learn and dive in rather than following simple steps.



(2) Are you starting to see multiple viewpoints emerge in your research? Can you list them here?

I know that there are multiple viewpoints to my topic but I have not really found many sources to back up these other opinions. Some people believe that America should not play a role in the drug trafficking issue in Guatemala because they don’t believe it effects the US and they believe we should stay out of foreign affairs. Other people believe that the drug trafficking issue is starting to be resolved in Guatemala when it is actually getting worse.

(3) Tell us about one new and interesting thing you've learned about your topic this week. What have you learned about the process of researching?

One interesting this I learned this week is that Guatemala is considered one of the poorest third-world countries in the world. I am also learning a lot about the process of research. I am starting to realize it is better to read through a source and then search for another source by using some of the information you just read. I also learned it works really well to use the works cited or bibliography page of some of the other sources. It has been a little difficult for me to find a lot of sources on this topic but I am starting to find more and am really able to dig deep in to the information I am finding.


(4) Read and respond to at least one other student's blog. Find a blog that interests you and provide an interesting perspective, some helpful advice, or ask some questions. In your post, please mention the blog you commented on so I can see it, too.

I responded to : Sam Vineyard (blog #2)

Complete topic change!

-Tell us about the most interesting source you've found so far. What type of source is it? What's the title, and who is the author? Why is it interesting? Give us a brief summary of the source, in 5-6 sentences.
The most interesting source I have found so far is an article. Here is the cite: "Guatemala And Organised Crime: Reaching The Untouchables." Economist 394.(2010): 39-40. Education Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 12 Feb. 2012. This is a really interesting source because it talks about the history of Guatemala drug trafficking and how it has somewhat improved but is still a huge issue today. Because it has been difficult to regulate weapons, drug lords have had easy access to weapons which makes it easier for them to get away with committing these crimes. The murder rate in Guatemala is included as one of the worlds top ten! It also discusses how many of these murders go without being punished. This article gives a lot of facts and statistics about Guatemala's government and other issues going on in this Latin America culture. I definitely think I will be able to use this as a source for my research paper.

-As you've been researching, has your topic changed? Have you revised your inquiry question? For instance, say your initial question was "Why do some people choose to be vegetarian?" As you've been researching, you've realized how you can narrow your scope to something like "Is it healthy for vegetarian parents to raise their children as vegetarians?" OR "In what ways is being vegetarian better for the environment?" How will narrowing your scope affect your research -and the eventual writing you'll do about this topic?
My original topic was going to be on healthcare in third-world countries. I wanted to write about America's involvement in helping and wanted to mostly inform other about the healthcare situation going on in other countries (mostly Cuba). After doing some research, I realized this was a really broad topic and there wasn't much of an argument going on. I also found out that the healthcare in Cuba has drastically changed for the better and there really isn't much need for help from the US anyways. I have decided to keep my topic about third-world countries but I now want to write about drug trafficking in Guatemala. There is a huge issue with drug lords and drug trafficking is a huge issue. I want to argue that the US is not doing enough to prevent this from happening and is allowing it to happen by not creating stricter rules and laws.

-What challenges are you facing in your research? How might you address these challenges? What research "tips" do you have for your peers?
I am having some trouble finding a lot of sources about my topic since it is very specific. I am going to address these issues by speaking with a friend that lives in Guatemala right now. He is exposed to the drug issues first-hand and can give me some more information on where to get more sources and I can even cite him as a source. Some tips for my peers: search the internet for articles, look at the works cited pages of sources you've already used, interview people who know a lot about your topic, and use the librarians for help!

Research so far...

-What is your research question/inquiry question?

I am not 100% sure what my question is going to be. But I have been researching healthcare in third-world countries and would like to inquire more about America's role. I guess what I want to know is if America is playing a big enough part in helping out these countries in need. Should America help more or less?

-Why did you settle on this question? What interests you about the topic? Explain.

I am interested in this topic for multiple reasons. First of all, my parents are missionaries and do a lot of working helping out third-world countries through volunteering, donating, and planning missions trips. I have always enjoyed traveling to third-world countries and it is clear that there is a need for better healthcare in these countries. Also, the company I am working now participates in donating health-care supplies to Cuba and other countries so I would like to find out more about what the send and how it helps. I really want to know more about what healthcare is like and I am looking forward to learning a lot more.

-How is your question/topic timely? Why is it important to address this topic? Why should people care about it?

I think this is a very important topic because the health-care in third world countries is dangerous, unsanitary, and poorly funded. Even though the economy is not the best right now in our country, I still believe we play a role in helping less fortunate countries in need. In the past, we have always tried helping other nations and I think we should continue to do that to ensure that other people of the world are getting the health care they need. It could save so many lives and prevent many diseases.

-What do you expect to find in your research? What preliminary research have you done that makes you expect this?

I expect to find a lot more details about what the healthcare is like in these third-world countries. So far in my research I have found a lot of facts and statistics that really help get the point across that there is a need for help in these less fortunate countries.

-Are you coming across scholars w/ different answers to your question, or different views of your topic? (If you're NOT and people seem to all agree, then your research question and topic probably aren't worth pursuing, right?) Explain what these answers/views are that you are finding. (Remember that our textbook warns us of the dangers of binary thinking on pg. 6.)What do you think about the different viewpoints? Where do you stand on the issue, and do you think your mind could change the further you get into this semester-long inquiry?

There are definitely many opinions about the role America should play in helping third world countries. Because the economy is horrible right now, a lot of people believe America should stay out of these issues and take a more isolated role. On the other hand, there are many people who think it is America's duty to help these other countries. I believe America should play a role in helping these less fortunate countries. I think these countries are in desperate need of help and support and that America has many more resources and ways of helping. I can definitely see both sides of the argument but I feel like I am pretty set on my opinion because I have been to third world countries and seen first-hand the needs they have.

-Any questions or concerns you'd like to address?

So far, I feel like I am on the right start! I am really getting a lot out of the library website and am looking forward to learning a lot more about my topic. I am a little concerned that I don't have a very good research question yet and I might need help formulating a better question later on.