Sunday, January 26, 2014

Blog 1: My Research Topic Ideas


     When it comes to thinking of a topic for my research project, I am quite overwhelmed. I fear I’m going to pick “the wrong topic.” It is not that I am saying that there is a “right or wrong topic” for research, but that the topic will be wrong for me. Being an indecisive person even when it comes to small things like where to go out to dinner, I am not surprised that such a major commitment is causing me distress. That being said, I know that inspiration will strike me at some point.  

     Despite my hesitation, I do have two ideas for what my topic may be. First, as I mentioned in class, I would like to research on how advancing technology changes the way we communicate. In my own experience, in elementary and middle school, to secretly talk to my friends in class, I would pass notes back and forth. However, now students simply text back and forth if they want to communicate with friends in a hushed matter. If I researched this topic, I would like to collect data from three varying age groups: preteens, college students, and middle-aged people. I feel that way will give me a wide array of opinions on the subject while also conveying the difference in technological use amongst these groups. I understand that certain precautions must be taken when dealing with children, but I think it would be vital for the project to include them, as they are the first generation to grow up with technology from Day One. I would like to focus on the generation gaps and the fast changing age of technology. I find it truly fascinating how fast technology is growing!

     The second topic is not as developed, yet I see more interest in it. Drawing from one of my favorite movies, which was shown to me by the most influential English teacher I have ever had, is Dead Poets Society. The film is about a liberal English teacher, Mr. Keating, who starts his first year teaching at a strict preparatory school. His creative, out-of-the-box teaching methods open the eyes of his sheltered students. However, his methods prove to be too much for the school and after the suicide of a student, Mr. Keating is fired. As he is collecting his things and walking out, most of the students in his class stand on their desks and send him off with a quote of, "O Captain, My Captain." The quotes of Mr. Keating explained literature to me in a way that writing is an art that has so much power behind it and must be treated as such. My favorite line from the movie is, “No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.” Taking that line into account, I would like to research on the power of writing. I don’t really know where to go with it or even what angle to take. Nevertheless, I have always felt most invigorated by the force and impact that result from words on a page and to harness that into a research project would be incredible. I just don’t know how to make it into one.

     My ideas may seem scattered or undeveloped, but in time, I know they will evolve into something worthwhile, whether it is by fate or sheer force of will!

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