Achraf Tchatikpi                                                                                                            12/07/2016

Prof.Poltrack                                                                                                                Fiqws 2pm

 

Research Paper Reflection

 

The research paper was arguably the biggest piece of writing we have done this semester in the Fiqws composition class. It was a combination of all we have learned displayed in one big paper.

We couldn’t use sources we’ve studied together in class for the paper. We were encouraged to go out there and research. The professor also dedicated a class or two in taking us trough how to use the school library databases. We were educated on scholarly journals, how to figure out what the articles were about by reading their annotated bibliographies. We were also taught the importance of using key words in search bars to minimize the results into only relevant ones.

In class, we did traditional readings on the TSIS book. Additionally, The NFG walked us through a few examples of the components of a good research paper. That came in handy, since I was always more visual when it comes to understanding stuff. After these readings, I quickly was enlightened on the assignment. I had done the research mostly through Google scholar; however I have also used one or two sources from the library database. The research was the most brutal part, not because there wasn’t enough information out there, but because there was so much more irrelevant materials to my subject. Moreover, there was much more articles dedicated to portray the negative effects of gentrification. And since my topic was about the advantages of gentrification, I had a hard time finding sources to hinge on.

We spent many lessons in our sections for the purpose of formulating good thesis. We tried to incorporate pathos, logos and ethos within them. A good thesis should have some facts, should tell the reader who cares, and also incorporate some emotional value to hook the lector. Apart from the thesis, we also spent time on working on hoe to incorporate properly a quote into our writings. Quotes should be introduce properly with a little background information before the actual quote; followed by some analysis. This was to avoid the scenarios of having a quote just out there floating in space, left for the lector to figure out.

I have learned plenty valuable things doing this research paper. The entire process was very academic; from the scholarly journals to the Shakespearean’s Julius Caesar videos. The skills I have learned composing this research paper will come in handy through my entire college journey. I am more confident now for the challenges ahead and contrary to the beginning of this semester, I do not perceive writing as esoteric any longer.