Final Project Update

 Hey guys! My final project has been... going. Not particularly good or bad, but it is going! There are definitely some places where I feel a bit stuck, but also a lot of progress I have made that I am proud of!

One thing I am proud of is settling on my topic. In my original blog post, I had a lot of hesitancy about what I wanted to research, and nothing I really thought of was interesting me that much. So, I decided to switch my "home text" to Hayy Ibn Yaqzan, and came up with a few ideas surrounding that. I settled on one I like, and was able to start my research from there.

The research itself is going alright! I have been trying to either find or read/annotate a source every day to stay on top of things, and I am proud of myself for sticking to that schedule for the most part. I have missed some days of course, and some days my research will not really line up with my bigger picture question, but I'm trying my best for sure. I had to request some texts from interlibrary loans, and it was cool to see and work through that process. I still have yet to crack open any of the books... they seem a bit daunting right now. But I know I will get to them soon!

Another major problem I am running into is all of my relevant sources being based in the Western and European world. I know a large part of this project is looking at sources from across time and space, but I can't seem to find many relevant sources outside of the United States and Europe. Michelle gave me some suggestions on my document today though, such as different keywords to try, so hopefully that will help find some information with a wider geographical scope. 

I think overall, I am making some decent steps on my research, but am definitely facing a lot of roadblocks along the way as well. Nonetheless, I'm excited to see where this all takes me! :)

Comments

  1. Noah English 11H BlogNovember 11, 2022 at 10:58 AM

    I have also been experimenting with a combination of different keywords. Based on how specific this project is compared to past Research Excursions, research has been more difficult. I also have struggled to find a geographical range of sources. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Monique Cov.November 11, 2022 at 1:04 PM

    Hey Cassi! I definitely know what you mean about your research final going. It's great that you are more sure of your topic and have a whole schedule to get it done! You got this! I am having similar trouble looking for other novels or stories that aren't western/European. Good luck🍀!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Catalina DegnanNovember 11, 2022 at 5:21 PM

    Hey Cassi! Wow, you seem so organized with your approach to this project, so I have to admire you for that. I'm glad you are now firmly grounded in a topic as well, I think choosing the topic is half the battle so it's good to hear that is out of the way for you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. HeatherLNovember 13, 2022 at 7:27 PM

    Hey Cassi! I've also been struggling with finding non-Western sources, but adding geographical regions to my search criteria has helped alot. I also really admire your strategy of annotating one source a day - it's a good plan and I just might try it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gema Sanchez GamezNovember 13, 2022 at 9:17 PM

    Hi Cassi! First of all, I think it's super great that Hayy Ibn Yaqzan is your home text! You always do a great job of exploring the research excursion mediums and topics that seem intimidating! I'm wishing you the best! I've also had trouble finding relevant sources, and I found turning to a librarian super helpful! I'd definitely suggest making an appointment!

    ReplyDelete
  6. James MaddenNovember 13, 2022 at 9:24 PM

    Hey Cassi! I'm glad that you've settled on your topic! That's a big milestone in the research process. I have similar concerns about my research that I won't be able to successfully find sources that are non-Western. It seems like you're organized and further along than the majority of the class. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Griffin JonesNovember 13, 2022 at 10:53 PM

    Hey Cassi, I think switching home texts is a fine idea! I couldn't quite find something that felt right either so I switched over to There, There and I'm so glad I did because I think I have a much better topic. I think it's an important lesson to learn that you sometimes the best way forward is to scrap something you've worked hard on if it isn't going to pan out.

    ReplyDelete

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