1) what was the most important lesson that you learnt throughout the research process in your seminar class?
The most important lesson that I learned throughout the research process in this class was learning how to choose a topic that I was passionate about giving a clear message. I am in the process of becoming an actual writer who knows how to get my point across, make proper arguments and not bore my audience mid way.
2) how did you approach looking for sources? how easy/difficult was it and how did the class influence your process?
I am thankful that information is so easily accessible on the internet now, everything is basically one Google search away for countless sources and information. I wouldn’t say it was difficult to find information but it wasn’t easy finding usable information from every link there was to open. Getting input from my teacher and peers greatly influenced the flow of my writing! It was interesting to hear the advice my classmates had to offer and seeing how I could put it all into perspective. I understood they were only trying to help which in the long run, they did. .
3) once you started drafting your essay, did you change your topic or did you change the direction you wanted to take in your essay? what role did your sources and the class discussion have in shaping your opinion and your essay?
I think I was one of the last students to pick a topic! Seeing that there is so much to talk about I see why broad topics are discouraged, they are very easy to get lost with so it’s not that I kept changing my topic but I kept narrowing my topic down and finding a topic with a clearer direction and argument about the topic I originally started with.
4) what surprised you the most about the process of writing the final essay? what was the most challenging part?
What surprised me most about the process of writing my final essay was seeing how much I actually had to say about my topic. I usually dislike writing essays because most of the time I never enjoy the topic I’m given but since I was given the opportunity to choose my topic, it was surprising to see that by the end of my paper I had 9 pages. I’m usually one to write the bare minimum. The most challenging part of writing my final essay was the feeling of being overwhelmed by information. Some nights required lengthy time periods of research and rough drafts and figuring out how to get my point across. With the pressure I put on myself to get my work done, I would forget to take breaks and become overwhelmed with the assignment. Not only that, on nights like the previous statement suggests, I’d forget that the assignment wasn’t due the day after so my work would become rushed for no reason.
5) how is your seminar work connected to your studio work? what do they have in common?
My studio work and seminar work relate in topic. Both discuss aspects about who someone is as a person and how one decides to project themselves onto society.
