Whenever we embark on a journey that feels all uphill or one that engulfs us, it is easy to quit. This research paper is a challenge. It asks you to do so much that you are not use to doing or have not done in a while. For this week's blog, I want you to use this to reflect on this process and paper. Use the questions below to guide your thinking.
1. What did you learn about yourself as a writer? How do you write, what is hard about writing, and what works for you as a writer?
2. What did you learn about yourself as a reader? How do you read, gather information, process information?
3. What did you learn about yourself as a student? What are your work habits, how do you do at meeting deadlines, what motivates you, how much effort do you give the work you produce?
Write this like a letter to me telling me your thoughts on all of these things. Be specific.
44 comments:
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
1. The research paper taught me that I am able to actually write more than a standard five paragraph essay easily if I find a topic that I am really passionate about. I write in a manner that is very straight-forward and blunt, and even kind of sarcastic at certain points. The hard part of writing a research paper was making sure that there was enough factual data to support things that came across as mere opinion. What worked best for me was finding lots of surveys and touching upon a realistic aspect on the paper that would make it more relatable and more human writing.
2. As a reader, I learned that not all information is good information. I also became better at sensing what was opinion and what was actual fact. I read in a way that is kind of knit-picky about big picture details. I tried to gather information that came from well-known places and that would have more than one fact that could be used in the paper.
3. I learned that I could do much better work if the topic interests me so much. The research paper also taught me to not fall behind on work because the work-load was quite large and any missed work would build up. I was able to stay ahead on most of the research paper, and did not allow myself to fall behind on anything because I have a busy out of school schedule as it is, I could not afford to fall behind on the paper. What motivated me was that I was very into the topic I was writing about and that I have very limited free time so I needed to get a lot accomplished in small amounts of time. I also was very motivated because Mr. Kish kept complaining about how lengthy my paper was getting, so putting a lot of effort into it to make it longer and pleasurable reading was obviously a must. I gave a lot of effort into the paper (for example, the page length, the interviews, the massive amounts of resources used, etc.)
B. Geiss 5/6 Period
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
1.By completing this research paper I learned that I improved on writing introduction paragraphs. In the past I never really knew how to start an essay, but with this one I thought my introduction was pretty good. What I find so difficult about writing is not being able to use conjunctions and words like I, We, and You. I just want to put my opinion down on paper, but you can’t with these types of papers. I really like using quotes because they help me back up to what I have to say.
2.I always have read over things a couple times so that I can get a better understand. For example, for this research paper we had to use a song as one of our sources. I read over those lyrics several times and that really helped. I really understood what the song was saying and the meaning eventually became clear.
3.I have always been good at completing and turning in work on time. So this was not a problem. My sister is a pretty good essay writer, so my motivation is to outdo her. I always want to get a better grade than her. I give my 100% effort usually, especially on this research paper since it’s a huge grade. Hopefully my hard work pays off.
Sincerely,
Becca Gardella 5/6 Period
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
I like to write. However it was kind of difficult to write this research paper, because I ad to make sure that I had enough research and facts in there. I feel like I write more from my ideas, with a little bit of facts when it comes to a research paper like this. as a reader, I feel like I am more able to read things that I am interested in. My topic for the research paper was one of those scenarios. I think this paper would be easy for someone who picks a topic that they can relate to, or are interested in. I feel like I put a lot of hard work into this paper, even though writing essays and papers are not my strong suit. I really enjoy doing any project that allows me to connect song lyrics to something. This paper was nice because I got to do that. I didn't want my paper to be boring, and I think that the three pop culture pieces helped with that.
S. Schleich 1 Period
I actually really enjoy writing. I love the feeling of having so many thoughts in my head start to come down on paper. I love that sound of typing and the feeling of a pen pressing against paper. I have wanted to go into writing since I was 4 years old, but my father does not approve so scratch that. Writing a research paper is most definitely a way hard task than free writing. It is on the difficult side finding the right amount of research and than tying it all together in the end but taking the paper slow day by day and section by section really benefited my paper in the end. It made 13 pages "not" so overwhelming. While reading other students work you automatically compare it to your own style of writing. So, as I read other students papers I checked for the things I would check for in my own paper which made it easier to process. I would take it section by section and would mark in the margins all of the essentials like quotes and research and headers and conclusions. I counted out all the sources so in the end I knew if they had enough and as I read the quotes I checked the annotated bib for each author and explanation. I learned that writing a extended essay is not as easy as I wish it was. But, I had no choice which motivated me to push through the paper because the more I write the closer I am to being finished. When assigned the section I would go home and type it that night if we had two nights to type it I would spend the first one writing down my thoughts even if they are blurry and then the next night I would polish it up in time for the due date. I motivate myself by telling myself the more I write the closer I am to being done and I can move on to more lovely homework. I really feel myself I put in a lot of effort. I complain along the way but at the end of the day I know I did everything I could to turn in a A+ paper.
-Ally Modie 3rd period
Dead Mrs. Perrin
1.this research paper really challenged me. I wasn't used to writing something so big with so many facts and points in it. It challenged me and proved to me that if I have the mind set that I can write such a long paper, I can do it. Writing is such a hard subject for me because I can never write as much as other people. I think things short and sweet and to the point. Writing pages and pages of research on the same topic was a challenge for me. What usually works for me when I write something is doing exactly what we did. I like being able to break down each section because or doesn't feel so overwhelming.
2. This paper helped me as a reader. While gathering my research, I read everything that I could about the same topic in different ways that helped me understand more of my topic. Analyzing songs in the past helped with analyzing the song we needed in this paper.
3. I learned that I can write so much more on a topic that I actually enjoy. I put a lot of work and time this paper. I don't have a problem with completing my work on time, so that wasn't a problem for me. The motivation that I had was I just wanted to finish it. I don't think I have ever worked so hard to finish a paper, and I know I went above and beyond of what I normally write.
Alex Krencis, 3rd period
1. What i learned about myself as a writer is that if I really take my time and focus on my plan and stick to it I can really produce some good paragraphs. I write more freely I like to not have anything plan and just go off the top of my head. But sometimes when I can't think of much I find it very hard to write.
2. The thing I learned about the most as a reader is that, I can gather and interpret information very effectively.
3. Lastly the thing I learned as a student is that, if one follows the teachers plan and process the paper is fairly easy. As in my case, I am very good at meeting deadlines and I usually put all of my effort into my work, with my motivation being able to get that A+
Eric Bulic
1st
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
Although this research paper was time consuming, and at times a struggle, I did learn a lot about myself and also about reading and writing in general. I learned that I was able to write a lengthy paper, but still stay on topic. In the past, I was forced to limit myself and my word count by other teachers, but with this paper, I felt that I was able to go more in depth on my topic and expand on my ideas. I was able to take information and decide whether or not I wanted to include that in my paper. What I found extremely helpful was trying to decide ahead of time, what type of articles would be best to back up my facts, and then looking them up to see if there were any articles out there like that. I thought that this saved me a lot of time, since I was able to narrow down a lot of information very quickly. Throughout this paper, I learned to recognize what information was factual and what was more opinion based. I found it best to skim articles and if they had any factual information then to put them aside and keep them, but if they were mostly opinionated then to eliminate them right then and there, that way my paper was not biased in any way. At the beginning of this process, I decided to pick a topic that I knew a little about, but wanted to learn more on. I have read books and have seen plenty of movies on people who show symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and was always curious on what actions were being taken to prevent it altogether. This was a little challenging because I had little to no background knowledge on this topic and was forced to read a lot about it to gain some understanding of it. As a student, I learned that it is easiest to write a paper on something that you are interested about, it helped motivate me and it made me curious to learn more. I also learned to manage my time well and to stay ahead of everything in order to make deadlines. I thought that the constant progress checks and the in-class reflections definitely made this process easier. With other school work and after school activities, sometimes I found it difficult to find time, but I was willing to sacrifice some things in order to give my best effort on this paper.
Muha, J 5-6th period
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
This research paper taught me a lot about myself as a writer. I learned that I do not like to write research papers, but I like to use my creativity and imagination when writing. I had done this in my first paragraph of my essay. The way that I like to write is to make emotional connections with the reader, but in a research essay, we cannot really do that.
I learned that I enjoy doing research on a topic that I am interested in, which made this essay easier. I read and gather information in a very basic way. If I can see myself using the information in any sort of way, I will then write down that facts. I I tried to use more reliable sources when writing the essay. This would include; newspaper articles, well known authors, and first had experiences.
Something I learned about myself as a student is that I'm pretty cool, and everyone loves me. I am a hardworking student and strive to get the best grades I can. I always try to accomplish assignments well before they are due so that I am well prepared. What motivates me is my future. I just want to be successful so I always put forth my best effort into things.
Pelka, E. 1st period
During this paper, I learned that I am not a very good writer. I put the information and my ideas bluntly on the page without literally devices or figurative language. I know that as reader, I comprehend the text better if I just read it all the way through without writing stuff down and annotating. To get the most out of text I have to read it all the way through and then I can answer questions about it. As a student, I do not procrastinate. I like to start an assignment right when I get it, because I do not like the stress of waiting till the last minute to start it. I like to give myself a nice amount of time to get the assignment done. What motivates me is getting the task done so that I don't have to worry about it anymore.
1.) In the research paper I learned that I had too much information for my own good which is not something you should do, but I also learned that I am good at getting the message across. The thing that is hard about writing would be knowing how to put into the text of what you think yet cannot make it bias. As for what works for writing would be taking the time out of your day and just focusing on the paper or whatever your typing strictly.
2.) As a reader, I learned that there are many different ways to include what you want in the text yet the information may not always be appealing or necessarily good information. When I read I have to process it which means looking over the text several times before fully understanding it.
3.) I learned that if I had more interest in what I was writing I would probably do better. I’m usually always good with completing work on time, what motivates me to get anything in general done is my grades. I did my best on the paper and with all the sectioning we did on the research paper I think I did pretty good so hopefully my hard work paid off.
Giavonna Gilbride 5/6th
As a writer I realized that I usually try write as if I am some experienced novelist trying to use long words and confusing vocabulary, and that I should try to write more as if I am speaking to someone. What I seem is hard about writing is going back and examining what I have wrote. After spending a lot of time on an essay the last thing I want to do is go back and read it. Though something that helps me focus would be to constantly tell myself it needs to get done.
I am still a slow reader, never been able to read. I generally hate the idea of reading because it seems like a waste of time. I would generally rather watch a documentary or a movie instead. Though, when a book is assigned I almost always read the book by the assigned date n matter what. I do not like the idea of cheating when it comes to reading because there are certain details, hints, or jokes that can only be found if the book is read cover to cover. When I read I have to read every word. I do not understand how people can skim read. I feel that so many details can be lost that way. Though I guess they just may have had more practice that I did. I always catch myself narrating in the book in Morgan freeman’s voice for some reason and that why I think I have always read so slow.
As a student I have always seemed to end up doing every assignment at the last minute even though I tell myself to get it done. My motivation to do it though would be because I would rather do homework than doing chores or something. If I seem like I have nothing to do then I am put to work. I guess that too can be a reason why I procrastinate so much. It is because of this that my work quality is what it should be. Regardless I always do my assignments if given the time, because most nights there is just too much work that I have to do or the next day, be it my job or my classes. This year especially has been the most difficult for me when it comes to work habits. Since I have early release I get home before noon and the last thing I want to do is homework, and since I am not paying any sports this year either I have no motivation to get it done before a certain time. Leading me to start working on homework at 8pm sometimes.
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
1. Going through this long process, I learned as a writer, that when I'm put up against a task like the one that was presented, if I split the work up in a timely manner and take the time to do it, I will be able to accomplish the paper as well as making it a good paper. When I write, I write in a way that not only gets the straight forward point, but hints at other points as well. The hard thing about writing, especially a research paper is finding sources that will actually help the writing, as well as making sure everything flows correctly. What worked for me was once I had the information I was going to use, it was easy to explain it as well as build off of it.
2. As a reader, I learned that it is easy to glance over a source and think that it will be helpful but it is a whole other deal when you have to find the information you need in the source and it is not apparent. When I read, gather, and process information, I first find the source I think will work. I then read over the source carefully and make sure that it is a source that I can depend on to make sure my paper becomes stronger from it. I find that when transferring information from the source to my paper it is easier just top sum up what it says rather than quoting it.
3. As a student, I learned that when posed with a task as great as this was, it is imperative to make sure that you do not procrastinate and to make sure that you set time frames up so that you can get the work done on time and done well. Meeting deadlines is something that I need to work on. they are not easy to meet and require a lot of attention. My motivation is the want to do other things and not being able to do them until that section of the paper is done. The amount of effort I put into my paper is the amount that is needed in order to get the grade I desire.
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
During this assignment I learned that When I give myself time to sit down and plan out all my thoughts, I am able to produce some high quality writing (in my opinion). However, I also learned that the opposite is true. When I wait until the last minute I am not able to write as well, and my ideas aren’t always made clear. As a reader, I learned that to simply skim a source for information isn’t always going to be enough, and that I have to give myself enough time to read through everything to find the best facts and quotes to use. I learned that as a student I tend to procrastinate, a lot. That is going to end up hurting me when it comes time to look at the grades of our papers. Meeting deadlines, especially on a paper of this magnitude was quite challenging for me, personally. The amount of effort put into my work depends on how much time I give myself to complete it. When I have plenty of time and there are no deadlines in the immediate future I am able to put forth a good amount of effort, but when I wait until the last second, the amount of effort drops significantly.
Nathan Bardwell
1st Period
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
This research paper really made me put a full effort towards my work ethics and how I manage my time. As a writer I learned that while I may have a topic that I enjoy, it doesn't mean that I have to be serious in my tone all of the time. The majority of what I wrote was all within my own language and what I would have wanted to say. It helps with what I need to get across through my points and research. Not only this but it also makes the paper mine because it is my words.
When it comes to reading, I am able to take the most important information and use what will help in my work or studies. It's in the most effective things that I take from and use to my explanations as well. Since I like to make sure that my logic is always precise, I take that into effect on how I read as well.
As a student, I learned that I must use my time wisely and construct a plan of attack before jumping into what I want to do. I may have the greatest of ideas and motives for creating a paper, but if I don't know how to order the information then it cannot be used properly. By having a plan, I can sort my ideas to fit the guidelines and also achieve a greater imagine on how the entire paper will look. A lot of effort and time went into creating my essay, I certainly hope it meets the criteria promptly.
Sincerely,
Gino Romito
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
During this process, I learned that what I wrote wasn't always as bad as I thought it was. Whenever I wrote a part of the paper and we peer edited in class, I thought I was going to have a lot to change. It ended up that I would only have to fix minor issues. I write whatever is on my mind. What works for me as a writer is to just write whatever I am thinking about and then at the end, go back and fix what I need to. What is hard about writing for me is to write in the way that I am instructed. What I learned about myself as a reader is that I tend to skim but then go back and fully reread the information, in which I actually retain what is being said. As a student, I work towards my deadlines and try to get the work done way before deadline is there so I don't have to stress, but sometimes with work and other things going on in my life, I tend to slack every once in a while. I put all of my effort into my work that I possibly can so it's the best work I can offer.
From,
Jessica LaNasa
This research paper taught me that I am not the best writer. The hard part about writing a paper especially this long is trying not to repeat what you already said. I think I did that a lot in this paper the further I got into it. Laziness is also another factor because since this paper was so long I just wanted to get it over with and turn it in. As a reader, I learned that a lot of things are opinionated rather than actual facts. Finally ive learned that as long as I follow what the teacher tells me to do and put as much effort as I can into my work, then ill be the best student I can be. What motivates me is the good grade that I am working for in the end.
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
1. As a young teenage student I have always been an average writer, I never took an honors or AP language arts class in my entire high school experience, I always believed I was a decent writer but I never went to the next level with my writing. After writing this last research paper I definitely went to the next level, I took personal experience and I researched several websites to try and write the truth about the subject I was writing about. I have never gone to such lengths to receive data such as a survey or interview. As an average writer it was nice to go out of my comfort zone and I worked very hard on each section of the paper hoping for the best results.
2. I love to read, I read for fun all of time, now sometimes I don’t enjoy the books teachers pick but most of the time their choices surprise me. I like to read each novel from beginning to end, I like to take in the information the novel is giving me. I truly enjoy reading and learning in general. Reading gives someone a way to almost escape reality for a little while and almost enter a new world and that is something that I love to do as a reader. Also over the years, I learned that marking in my book does help a lot when studying for a test or writing a paper about the book. I like this technique because you can think of a part in the book you like but not remember exactly where it is, but if you make a comment in the margins it helps in so many ways.
3. I consider myself to be a hardworking student, I manage to get all of my homework done and I reach every deadline that is needed for any project. I don’t like to slack off or procrastinate. I rather get my work done as soon as I can so I can enjoy the rest of the time I had rather than waiting last minute and working frantically. I will not lie, if I don’t understand what we are reading such as Hamlet, I will use no fear Shakespeare or spark notes to help guide me through the reading. I like to get my work done, because it gives me a feeling of accomplishment and I feel relieved knowing my work is complete and done well.
M.Al-Zarraq 5/6th period
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
I have never worked harder on a single assignment as I have worked on this paper. I learned that I don't need an exact destination when I start writing, but that as I write, I will figure out just what I want to say and how I want to say it. Sometimes I struggle with staying on a single topic, but I think I have become a lot better at realizing this issue and quickly correcting it. I also have become better at really analyzing research and not leaving any points untouched.
As a reader, I sometimes find it difficult to read things I don't immediatly find interesting or to reread things. Reading other students' papers more than once was making it more difficult on me to help them edit and make their papers better. I also get bored pretty easily, so reading longer papers was hard too. When looking through research, I also found this to be true. At the beginning of the assignment, I printed off a couple of large journal writing that I had decided were usefull after reading a few paragraphs. At the end of the paper, I ended up not even using some of these sources because they ended up not being what I thought they were. I learned that I need to take more time to read and analyze works before I make my judgement on them.
As a student. I could improve my motivation and ability to meet deadlines and stay on track. Sometimes I just didn't feel like writing, so I decided not to. I know I will get some points off because of that, and now I am regretting it. I just need to keep telling myself that it will be worth the good grade in the end!
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
1. Through the process of writing this research paper, I found how committed i am to reaching deadlines and finding ways to perfect my paper. In the past, i was fine with just getting by and settling with a B, now my perspective has changed and I am now doing everything possible to perfect my papers. I believe that my writing is very to the point with no bluff. I enjoy expanding my own ideas and including my ideas and opinions.
2. As a reader, i believe that at times i can be very lackadaisical with information that i do not find to interesting, although i found a topic of my interest and i committed myself to including all necessary information so that the reader can be knowledgeable of my topic of research. When i read articles and newspapers i became very anal of the information that i used in my paper and i only wanted to use the very best information possible.
3. As a student, i found it very important to know when due dates are and to be very time manageable. I think knowing how to manage time will be very important in the next years of learning at college. My motivation is being the best at everything possible. Trying to take in as much information as possible and consuming as much as possible to better myself as i grow and mature.
Adam Weber 1st Period
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
1. One of the things I learned about myself while writing this paper is that, while it's easy to write about my own opinion, researching isn't quite as easy. For me, it is very difficult at times to find something that represents my beliefs while maintaining the message of the essay. Another thing I learned about myself is that I seem to have a hard time understanding that the paper is indeed a research paper and not just my opinion in an essay. I repeatedly found myself going on random tangents and having to backtrack a few sentences in order to stay on-topic.
2. I learned that I enjoy reading about how we process information, and how our earliest survival instincts impact our social behaviors today. It might sound boring, but one of the most interesting things I have learned about is what we fear, and why some things initiate different reactions than others. The general theory as to why we do things like fear is that it was helpful for us to do so in the past, before common civilization as it is today. To answer the second question, I read, gather information, and process information by reading about reading, gathering information, and processing information.
3. I learned that I write most effectively when I don't have any sort of time constraint or limit on what I can put on paper. Generally, I enjoy writing, but I always seem to take longer to write than other people do. Which is unfortunate, considering the fact that I don't always manage my time effectively, therefore threatening to limit the quality of my work. As for meeting deadlines, I'm not the greatest, but I am trying to get back on track as far as not procrastinating (as long as I used to, anyway) before college, since it definitely won't help me there. Usually my motivation for writing stems from what I like to write about, but it also comes from the fear of becoming a jobless deadbeat one day because I didn't put enough effort into my academic career... that wouldn't be ideal, now, would it? As for the amount of effort I put into the work I make, I like to think that I put a bit of effort into anything I sit down and take the time to do correctly. Like these blogs.
Vincent Franchino, 5/6 Period
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
This paper has taught me many things, the first thing that it has taught me is to definitely not be a writer for a living lol. This paper was very stressful and made your mind hurt at some points but the prize at the end is worth it all. I have never worked on a paper as hard as I did for this one. This paper made me stay focused, motivated, and determined to do it. This paper made me think out of the box and be very creative. As a student it made me realize how important due dates are and to get them done on time. I knew if I tried hard on this paper in the long run it would pay off. I feel that this paper has prepped me for college. It makes me realize that you can't just slop a paper together. You need to give your all out and make sure it is the best it can possibly be. Mrs Perrin you do an awesome job of prepping us and getting ready for the grand finale!
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
This research paper has been one of things that can be useful in the future for college. In order to be a writer we must have learn the basic in gathering our research, know when to use our sources, and have reader be open minded. These aspect are skills that student like us learn while progressing in high school. Different student who done papers like these, already know what is a good technique for developing an informational rich paper. For myself, I have used a brainstorm web to organize the topic I would want in a paper. And by using the data that was found and used. I learned to be detectives to look at evidence in a wired abstract way. To gather information is skim to get a general feel for a topic. Then, reader fast but, understandable to discuss what it means. Finally, paraphrase the whole information to understand it more effectively. The most important thing to this is the paper itself which eventually need to be made and meet deadlines. To overcome this is pacing the work out into section by the hour and using a reminder to keep a person up to date. As a student, I have learned that this is a work of showing creativity. And that all hard work gives outstanding reward.
Sincerely,
Jason Dhanraj
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
I learned that, as a writer, I take too much time to settle on something to write about. I was hung up on a few different topics. Even when I did know what I was going to write about, it still took me a long time to get started actually writing my paper. The hardest part of writing is the introduction, in my opinion. I think it is better for me to write my introductions last, and get straight to the hard information in my paper. As a reader, I learned that I spend a lot of time looking at grammar. I found mistakes in papers that were not grammar, but it was hard for me to see things other than wrong grammar. As a student, I learned that I need to strengthen my work ethic. I do very poorly with time management and long projects. I am great under pressure and meeting the correct deadlines, though. Overall, I think I gave a great amount of effort on this paper, and I think I did very well.
Sincerely,
Nick Bloxsom. 5/6th period.
Dear Mrs Perrin,
1.) I learned that as a writer, I can do anything. I can write papers on topics that in the beginning I thought would be difficult, but i powered through it. I learned that i work well when I take the paper in steps and that i shouldn't procrastinate on it because I won't finish it if I do.
2.) As a reader, I learned that I am really good at picking out key information about the topic of what I'm about reading out. This came in handy when I was picking out sources for my research paper. This made the quotes have actual purpose in the paper other than just taking up space in the paper.
3.) This paper made me realize so many things about myself as a student. I learned that I can be kinda lazy, I like to wait till the last minute to start my assignments, which isn't the best thing ever. However, I think that I work good on a deadline. I also learned that if I take my time on my assignments, they come out the best. As a student, and a person, I need to have more trust in myself.
Sincerely, Jenny Wiley (3rd Period).
1.) What I learned about myself as a writer is that I can adapt to whatever I need to write. I have never written anything like this before, and that made it very difficult in each step. Even with these difficulties, I learned that I can write with whatever is needed from me, and do so successfully.
2.) As a reader, I learned that I can use information that I read from other sources and implement them into my research project. I read through many different sources, and gathered and processed them so that I knew what to put into my paper and what to leave out.
3.) What I learned about myself is that I can do the impossible. When I first heard about this research project, I thought I was completely screwed. But as we worked on it in parts and for week after week after week, I discovered that it was not so bad, and that I can do well on this project by doing the best of my ability. I had to work harder on this project than I do for most things, but by doing that I was able to meet the deadlines, and put in all of my effort to hopefully get a good grade.
From this research paper, I learned that I cannot be on to procrastinate and need to do things in chunks the correct way, and if it is wrong, fix it then. I think as a writer, it is hard for me to put my thoughts onto paper and how to word it. What works for me is to just sit down in silence and write my research paper. This is what worked best for me to get it done. As for the outside information part, I feel like I am very good at gathering info for my essay, and good info. All of it was good and helped me a lot through this paper. As a student I learned procrastination cannot happen as much as it does. Get things done in a timely matter so things don’t come up when homework needs to be done.
N.Pozna 5/6
Mrs. Perrin,
What helps me as a writer is if I enjoy the topic I am writing about. I find this generally works for anything, which is why people advise getting a job you enjoy. For this essay, I tried to choose a topic that I enjoy and am passionate about. My topic was the selfishness vs. loyalty of people in the world. I am very passionate about this and fully believe that if people were less selfish, there would be FAR less conflicts in the world. I enjoyed writing this because I feel that it gave me a chance to express exactly how I feel about this with the research to back up my thoughts. I had some issues with keeping my thoughts on topic though. It was easy for me to go off on a rant about how selfish people are and I had to stop a few times and go back to stay on topic.
As a reader, I found that it was hard to find legitimate sources that shared my view, or expressed the same idea I was trying to convey. The sources I used were not as strong as I would have liked them to be, but they were the best I could find. I also feel that if I use them in the right way, it does not matter how strong the sources are. They will work for my essay if I can incorporate them the right way.
As a student, I was prepared for this essay. I have written essays like this before, in your class as a freshman. I know from past experiences that the best thing I can do is follow each deadline. The essay was broken into smaller manageable chunks, then strung together at the end. As a student, I knew the best thing to do was follow this and it would all come together. I think I also need to remember this for my future. The work is not going to be pre-broken down for me. I need to manage this for myself, give myself deadlines, and I think this is what I am going to struggle with, even though I know it is the best way to complete assignments like this.
Sincerely,
Paul Smith 3rd Period
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
I actually really enjoy writing. I’ve always loved writing, but I’m more of a blog person I guess. I like to write freely and include my opinion. Research papers and formal essays are harder for me to write because I can’t really include my input on whatever the topic is. However, I like writing persuasive essays and blogs because I can express myself. It is easier for me to write if I can relate to the topic that I’m writing about because, then I’ll have background knowledge and I can write down what already previously know to help get my paper started. If I don’t have any background information, it’s very hard for me to start my paper. I normally struggle with thinking of an attention grabber to start my paper with. The way that I process information is very insufficient. I have poor comprehension skills, but I will try to find an easy source that helps explain the information that I need to me. Normally if we are reading a book in class that I don’t understand, I’ll have to read the sparknotes or shmoop notes that go along with that book. As a student, if I am able to stay on task, then I can be successful. I meet deadlines by doing projects little by little, so that the workload doesn’t stress me out. I motivate myself to get my work done on time because I know that if I stay on task, the work won’t be as hard. However, if I put it off, then I’ll be behind in my work and it will make the project more stressful, so I just tell myself that I need to do it, so that I won’t stress out about it at the last minute. I put the best effort that I can into my work because if I’m going to put my time into something, I want it to be something worthwhile. I don’t want to waste my time. I complain along the way, but in the end I put out my best work and I hope that it’s good enough.
Dear Mrs. Perrin, The research paper was very difficult for me. I do not think I am a good writer. I am also not a good reader. I really do not enjoy reading and it is hard to understand a lot of what I read. It was easier for me to understand examples of my topic in the commercial and television show. I did learn that I could accomplish such a big task as the research paper. It was easier to have it due in the sections and helped to keep motivated. I still need to develop better work habits. It took a lot of effort to complete the research paper and I felt very good when it was done. It was a great accomplishment and helped me to learn a lot about how I can treat all people the same.
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
This essay helped me to understand that I don’t like to write in an informal style. I think I view as partially pedantic and unnecessarily long. I get really bored with it. If people could just throw in a few jokes here or there it might make the pieces easier to take in. I also got to edit a lot of my own writing. It actually had become overwhelming. I had realized that I miss connections in some of what I write, and in other parts I have too many words and sentences than needed. It is difficult to be short and to the point.
As a reader, I didn’t learn anything in particular from this essay. This piece was a struggle because I was not really interested in reading the fully developed pieces that we had to use for sources. They were all relatively similar, just presenting different examples for me to use. As a reader, I just got to read some articles more in depth than I usually do, that is it.
I found that I really only have so many problems I can take on at once. I would try my best to get things done, but no matter how motivated I am to finish my work I still have to leave myself time to be happy and relax a little. Now, in terms of motivation, I really got to see how I responded to large amounts of work. It became a chore to have to tackle my homework, and the only thing that really motivated me to do my work was so I could have it over with. I wanted the freedom of having it done so I could do something that I felt actually mattered. Writing my paper, completing labs for AP Biology, the assignments I used to get for speech, and a lot of other things just felt like a brick wall. It all was an obstacle. I don’t feel that school really is meant to teach me a lot. If I wanted to just learn, then I would never have left homeschooling. No, I take as much as I can from school so one day I can apply it to my future and accomplish whatever goals I have. Until then, my only motivation to get my schoolwork done is so I have the time to grow on my own. So one day I can play the guitar, write my book, understand electrical systems, and understand the rest of my world. I put as much effort into it as I see the subject helping me, if it wouldn’t help me, then why would I ever try hard at it in the first place. Schoolwork is not for my education, it is so one day my grades will look good enough that I can get into a good college and hopefully one day have the resources so I can propel myself into a better world.
Sincerely,
Colton K. 1st
PS. I don't like writing out my opinions. It makes it very difficult to give ones actual tone since it can be interpreted differently for each individual. Speaking is a lot easier to tell people how I feel. I can explain more things in a more concise and realistic fashion. (This doesn't count stories, those things have a lot of meaning to them and I think they can clarify a sense of emotion to the perspective)
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
Although this research paper was a very stressful experience I learned a lot from it. I learned that I cannot procrastinate once I reach college. The schedule we used is going to be very useful for me in the future. It taught me practice makes perfect and to make the best out of the time I have. I also learned that I can do much more than I thought. I have never been fond of reading and writing so I have always been lazy, but thanks to this research paper I learned that anything worth doing, is worth doing correctly. This paper may have been a struggle but it was definitely worth it. For all
The lessons this paper taught me, I am thankful for and feel a great deal of accomplishment.
Mrs. Perrin,
as much as I normally struggle with writing and all of that nonsense, I really got in to this one. This really helped show me that not all types of writing sucks, only the writing when you are given one thing to write about do. It also showed me that the more I get into a paper, the more research I do to find things to help support what I am writing for. Some of the stuff I read really got me heated. In most of my writing, I like to ask the reader rhetorical questions that really make them think. Unfortunately, that is usually a no-go for Mrs. P.
Another big thing I noticed for myself as a reader is that I am a skimmer almost all the time. I look for key words that I make me think of ways to help support my topic. This is the main way I read information, but I enjoy manipulating the words sometimes to help support me even more.
Lastly, I learned that I can accomplish some serious writing tasks even under some time restraints with work and sports. I also learned that time-management plays a huge role when writing a paper, just as it does in tournament fishing. That is a major part in getting things in on time just like it is making it back to the ramp to weigh in.
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
1) I learned that I'm a perfectionist when it comes to writing. Every sentence needs to flow together, or else I get stressed out. I love having guidelines for my writing assignments as well because, when those are not given, I feel as if I'm doing everything wrong. During this process, we only had a few set guidelines, but I was shocked to find that I actually could write freely. The amount of essays we've had to write honestly helped me to accomplish this research paper with confidence.
2) As a reader, I learned that the more I research information about a certain topic, the more I understand it. I'm definitely not one of those people who can skim through an article and truly understand the meaning behind it; I need to read it thoroughly. I also feel as if I can differentiate between factual and opinionated sources and whether or not they are credible.
3) As a student, I learned that I procrastinate. I wait until the day before to do an assignment, sometimes unintentionally because of work or other extracurricular activities. I am never late with an assignment, however, and make sure everything is turned in on time to avoid feeling stressed out. I am definitely a hard worker and strive to put my best effort into all of my assignments.
I had a lot of fun writing my research paper. By me doing the research paper it helped me I think in how to organize a paper, and also to put the right research in the area it should be at. One thing that had my slumped was the introduction because I had a hard time quoting stuff from my pop culture sources. one thing that helps me as a writing is seeing or reading things more than once. I learned that you think you know a lot about your research topic but while searching stuff online you get to know stuff you didn't think you would ever know. one think I learned as a student while doing the research is that I had to give up a lot of spare time to finish and stay p to date on the paper. the only thing that motivated me to finish and do everything on the research is that baseball is coming up and I cant wait and I need to graduate highschool and if I don't pass LA I don't graduate highschool
Mrs. Perrin,
Honestly, I did not like writing this research essay. This research essay took a lot of time to write and find research. I know I am a good writer. I have always loved reader. It is one of the reasons I am doing a double major in Journalism. For me, creative writing is the easiest. I can make up an entire world have make it my own. That is just something that I like. Research essay's are actually the hardest. I am bad combining all the information and putting it together. Once again I love to read. It is one of my passions. I could read all day if my parents would let me. I am good at gathering information and trying to incorporate it in the essay. As a student, I know I could use more work on my procrastination. I tend to wait till the last minutes on my work which is really bad. As much as I hate research essays I know it will help in the long run. Having silks like writing a good paper are good for college and/or a future career.
-Alexa Shaneyfelt 3 period
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
1. I learned that as a writer, I usually don't know where to start. There is so much information and I had to learn to narrow it down. Something that is hard for me as a writer is transitioning from one thing to the next.
2. As a reader, I gather information and just don't know what to do with it. I find it hard to separate between what is important and what isn't.
3. My work habits include procrastinating and being disorganized. I am motivated by the desire to get the message across.
-Megan Zajkowski
5/6
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
Growing up I was always into math and science. I’m not sure if it was because of the activities we completed, or if it was because they just came so easily to me. Writing on the other hand, has always been a struggle for me, so when you brought up this research paper, I was nervous that I wasn’t going to be able to provide a well written essay. I did learn from this experience though, for even though I didn’t believe it would happen, I was able to turn in an eleven page research paper. I learned that even though I’m not the best at writing, if I’m passionate about a topic and I’m given the freedom to write more than just a five paragraph essay, I can provide a well-supported paper.
As a reader, this paper helped me realize what information is good information. Not just being able to realize if it’s a reliable source, but being able to understand what sources will be the strongest in backing up my topic. Also, using the skills that I have learned in class, I was able to analyze the research I was looking at which helped me decide what information was strong enough for my essay. I didn’t want it to be biased, I wanted it to be factual, and so that’s what I looked for.
Even though I have had trouble writing papers in the past, this one helped me realize that it’s easier to write a paper on something that I’m passionate about. The topic I chose gave me a reason to sit down and really dig deep into my resources in order to provide a well written essay. Also, with the time checks throughout the week, I learned to manage my time and stay on top of things. When I did, it made the process much easier and I wasn’t stressed out as much with timing. While going to school and working two jobs, I knew my time would be limited, but I followed the process in order to fulfill the expectations for this paper.
Winston, S 5/6*
Dear Mrs. Perrin,
1. As a writer, I have learned I like to get to the main point right. away. I don't like to waste time or space with "fluff" Before I sit down to write (anything), I ask myself: Why am I writing? What’s the desired outcome that I want with this particular piece of writing? One I have that figured out (Which is quite difficult and takes time), I can begin with simple sentences and then turn those into my essay quite quickly once I have the outcome I want.
2.As a reader, I feel that I read too slowly, especially compared with others, but the truth is that the faster I read, the less likely I am to comprehend fully what I'm reading. To me, the best readers are flexible—slowing down when needed, especially if difficult concepts or unknown words are grouped closely together. If I get to the end of a paragraph and realize I haven’t absorbed any of the information, I do not hesitate to re-read the passage. Reading is a lifelong process. Learning to read closely and slowly will help me become faster over time without missing anything and that's why I have stayed on this path.
3. When it comes to being a good student, I think I meet the criteria or at least come close to it. I like to believe I put a lot of effort into the schoolwork I produce. I schedule time each day for studying and homework completion. I pick a time when I am awake and alert to maximize my time. I create an area in my house for homework and studying. I like to choose a quiet, well-lit area without distractions. These simple things help me stay on task to complete my priorities to meet my deadlines (Just like I met the deadline only minutes before it was here).
-Mike Glencer
5/6 Period
Dear mrs Perrin,
1- I learned as a writer that i never know how to start a paper. The only way to really understand what to do is have something I can look at and use as a model. Even once I know what to do, actually sitting down and being able to get something done doesn't go very well.
2- as a reader, this is something that I've know forever, but that I read really slow. Mostly by choice. I can read faster and keep up with everyone, but I realise at the end that I have no idea what it is I just read. Even readng skowy, until I rewd it a second time, it doesn't always make sense.
3- as far as being a good student, I think, more like know, I'm very capable of it. I just don't have the care or desire to out the effort in. To me so much of school is a waste anymore, I don't understand how most of this stuff makes you a good student. All it seems anyone cares about is if you're a good test score or not. This is why I don't have the desire to do what I'm capable of. I could do all my work on time. I did with the paper, except when there was outside problems that got in the way. But even this is late. I could have done it last night, or even last week. But why? I know what I'm capable of and can do, and don't care what other people think or say. If anything I learned that I really don't care what other people say or hunk about me as a student.
Dear Mrs. Perrin
1.This paper has thought me how to write maore than a small paper. I tend to write in a strait forward way and some times my ego gets the better of me. The hard part of this paper was makeing sure I got my point aross with enough detail. What worked best for be is find the resrearch that hit the point very hard.
2.As a reader I learned that some informatian is not enough. I read as if I was writing it and if I wouldnt say it I marked it up.
3.I leraned that I could put so much passion into something that I like. What motivated me was that I was very into the topic I was writing about and that I have very limited free time so I needed to get a lot accomplished in small amounts of time. I put all my effort into this paper and would like to do it again on another topic.
Through writing a paper based on the lack of integrity in an individual I have come to learn how to live by integrity myself. For me to write I must find something that I can relate to and that I find fascinating. Being able to write isn't as easy as it looks, but once a person finds a topic that strikes them at heart the pen will flow just as easy as their own thoughts do. Being able to read and analyze is an entire different subject. In this part one must have the passion to farther expand their knowledge and not simply just discuss what is plain to see by the human eye. A person must be able to create a strong argument with great support and finding the support can be difficult. My habits are incredible simply because they are "my" habits I've come to learn as a student that every individual is given opportunity to some it just comes in different forms. One must learn that anything is obtainable whether it is a deadline, personal ego, etc. As a student I have learned that the only thing getting in the way of personal goals is the sole fact people are to quick to give themselves excuses as to why something can't be done. If an individual would simply spend as much time coming up with ways to achieve and solve problems rather then wasting energy over excuses.
Jeff Anzo 3rd
Doing this research paper made me realize a lot about myself as a reader and writer. It made me realize that I often skim and miss the point of the text when reading. I learned that I need to really dig into the text and realize what the author is trying to convey. I learned as a writer that I dump write then delve into the actual writing way later in the process. It helped me realize that I am a lathargic student and doesn't always give her 110%, but for this research paper I was forced to change that.
Doing this research paper made me realize a lot about myself as a reader and writer. It made me realize that I often skim and miss the point of the text when reading. I learned that I need to really dig into the text and realize what the author is trying to convey. I learned as a writer that I dump write then delve into the actual writing way later in the process. It helped me realize that I am a lathargic student and doesn't always give her 110%, but for this research paper I was forced to change that.
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