I want you to free write about some subjects you might be interested in researching this semester. Consider some of the inquiry based questions you have generated in class on Monday and consider your own personal interests as well. This is pretty open and the content is really up to you, but here are a few examples of things you might write about:
How might you conduct your own study? (consider how the first two student examples pieces worked) Could a focus group work for your study? Write about what you already know about your subject and the stake holders in the discussion you are entering into. Consider alternate ways to frame the question to accentuate different aspects of the original idea. You might also develop a research experiment to test your inquiry based question.
If you are having a bit of trouble coming up with your research subject, consider the research articles that are published on Stylus. http://writingandrhetoric.cah.ucf.edu/stylus/issues.php
It is important to note that not all articles published on Stylus are inquiry based studies, so be sure to look for articles published from ENC 1102 classes. Also, you might try watching some of the videos posted on the blog or reading some of the articles for invention strategies that might help you.
Through this class, I’d like to take the opportunity to really delve in to a topic, to discuss and explore a subject that’s always intrigued me. That subject being the gender binary. I feel like the structure of this course creates the perfect atmosphere for further inquiry on a number of facets, including toxic masculinity, idealized femininity, gender coding and the interaction of nature vs nurture when it comes to defining one’s personal gender identity. My main objective in the study of this particular subject would be to get a diversity of viewpoints, as my own experiences only encompass a singular side of the topic. As someone who identifies as genderfluid, I’d like to think I’m fairly versed in the topic of gender expression. But as a scholar, I can recognize that there is always something new to learn about your subject, especially when it comes to such a broad and all-encompassing topic. My main focus will specifically be on the part strict societal constructs play in an individual’s self-expression, namely their gender identity, preferred pronouns, etc.
ReplyDeleteIn other words: How does gender coding interact with gender expression?
In forming my inquiry, I think a discussion group would be a valuable tool in exploring other people’s experiences when it comes to living within the gendered society that we do. I would love to assemble opinions from people spanning the entirety of the binary spectrum, crafting a broad answer to my proposed inquiry-based question. Another strategy I’d like to make use of is extensive research into the areas of gender and expression that I might not be so well versed in. As I build the framework for my essay, I’d also like to take the opportunity to further educate myself in the hopes it will effectively help me in my endeavor to educate my readers. In order to accomplish this, I foresee many hours of scouring libraries, stalking blogs, and delving into archives in my future.
As of now, I have no other solid possibilities for prospective research subjects, but that may change throughout the course of this lesson!
Hi Addison,
DeleteLooking into gender is a really interesting subject, and I think you can do some really interesting things with this project. Displaying particular identities are interesting to study, and to some degree they are always fluid and continuously evolving. I think we tend to think of these identities as fixed, but jobs, groups of friends, and institutions can influence and pull identity displays in a variety of directions.
Since you have a strong passion for this subject, I recommend you start delving into the literature to begin the process of narrowing your research and finding your own niche. Exploring individuals who display marginalized identities could be really interesting.
You might want to check out the work of io Tillet Wright:
http://www.darlingdays.com/
There is a lot of progress to be made in terms of accepting and celebrating difference, and if you can contribute to this conversation, you will be doing some work that pushes for the common good.
A lot of people in this day and age are dealing with stress anxiety and depression, this has greatly affected the young adult population as well. I aim to study a broad spectrum of young adults from ones that are in college and handling the stress of molding their future to young adults who are now responsible for raising a family and providing for someone other than themselves. My goal for this paper is centered around studying the effects these issues have on young adults today. As someone who deals with all of these issue personally I would like to take a look at things such as coping methods and other things of that nature. I feel like the best way to gather information on this topic is to go on campus and ask random people if they would be willing to do an interview and or survey. This way I could gain sort of a measure for the amount of stress they are feeling, what leads to this feeling (whether it be stress anxiety and/or depression), and what they do that helps.
ReplyDeleteHi Priscila,
DeleteI think the question of managing stress is a great area of study. It could be a bit tricky if you are looking at people who are chronically depressed because these people are considered part of a vulnerable population. Working with vulnerable populations is tricky business, and professional researchers who work with vulnerable populations undertake extensive training to ensure subjects are treated in the best possible way.
There is an immediate need for a study like the one you are developing. I just saw a recent news story where a reporter asked a UCF student if he was aware of the heroin problem on campus. The student replied with something to the following effect: I know about the cocaine problem, but I didn't know there was a heroin issue.
Part of the issue associated with mental health, stress, and anxiety involves social stigmas. What ways are these stigmas being tackled? Are the stigmas still really strong? Are student aware of the kinds of help that are available?
Since I am a Communication Sciences and Disorders major I find speech deficiencies such as stuttering very interesting. I have come across many people in my life who have dealt with speech impediments (including myself) and I’ve seen the obstacles and judgmental stares they have to endure. For this essay I think I would like to research the effects that speech problems have on a person’s life, from applying for jobs to simply making friends. I think that a focus group consisting of people who either have or have had a speech impediment would be beneficial in this study because I could ask questions and gather information from everybody involved to discover just how much of an impact a speech problem has had on their lives. I could also put my knowledge of the subject to use and separate the speech problems into categories such as lisps, apraxia of speech, cluttering, and stuttering. By doing this I think I could formulate a thorough research paper and possibly even further my own knowledge of the subject.
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy,
DeleteLooking at speech impediments and stuttering is an interesting subject to study, but there is a lot of risk involved in studying vulnerable populations. Typically, and you may know this from experience, people with speech impediments are probably not too keen on discussing their problems.
With that said, I think that if you were somehow able to organize some kind of support group, you may be able to develop some interesting conversation that is very supportive for people with speech deficiencies.
I think you might also explore the extent to which support programs are effective in ameliorating speech deficiencies.
In terms of the effect speech impediments can have on individuals' lives, I think we can assume that it will depend on the severity of the impediment. Some individuals are so blocked that they cannot even push out a single word, and I would imagine that we don't need to probe too deeply to see that this has a dramatic negative effect on these individuals' lives.
Are there any supportive clubs or organizations on campus that are designed to support people with speech impediments? The organizations are probably not public, but you may find some support groups to look at.
As a jazz studies major, I am very interested in the historical context of jazz music. Unlike other genres of music, jazz has played a crucial roll in so many of the historical events of the United States in the 20th century. However, most historians will opine that many of the greatest jazz musicians had been greatly influenced by romantic and modern classical music. For instance, Charlie Parker, one of the most widely known saxophonists of all time, was said to always carry around a score of "Firebird Suite" by Igor Stravinsky. This piece debuted in 1910, nearly 30 years before Parker even picked up a saxophone. For my inquiry project, I would like to research the classical influences of the great jazz musicians of the 20th century, as well as HOW these musicians were influenced. Although there may not be a focus group or experimentation process for this inquiry idea, I have plenty of living resources that I may be able to interview .
ReplyDeleteHi Dylan,
DeleteI think you are really onto an excellent project here. Jazz is the king of improvisation, and it seems clear that jazz, like many musical movements, draws on elements of other previous movements.
I think your project has a lot of promise, and if you can get interviews with local musicians (I'm not sure how big the jazz scene is in Orlando), but reviewing the literature on musical influences and then interviewing some professionals seems like a great approach.
Picking only one subject of interest is something that is going to be very challenging for me. As of now, I feel as though my chosen subject might change many times throughout the process of learning about inquiry deas. However, last semester, one of my assignments allowed me to explore the rhetorical situation behind a news segment on CNN. Because I am a pending Broadcast Journalism major, this topic is related to me and is a subject that I would love to continue to explore. Through that past assignment, I learned to look at why certain news shows air what they choose to air, and also why and when they air it. Investigating why the media covers certain stories and how they do so, is a topic that not only pertains to my future career, but is also a topic that I believe any news viewer should be knowledgeable about. My study would compare different news stations, the stories they air, and the details about the stories that they choose to share with their audience. It is common knowledge that certain news stations are directed towards certain viewers whether it be with different political beliefs or of different age groups. With my study, I plan to search deeper into how different medias interpret situations and how they decide which details they believe will be interesting to their audience.
ReplyDeleteHi Deborah,
DeleteLooking into the choices that program directors make is really interesting. There are a lot of analytical approaches to studying viewing habits, what consumers want, and the viability of programming for audiences.
I think looking at the rhetoric behind two or three news stations comparing content, targeted ads, and timing of programming could be really interesting.
I think you will find out pretty early on in your process that very few from your own demographic (18-24) are getting their news from these networks. Do these news channels see it as problematic that their viewers are becoming heavily skewed towards older demographics?
I think you are onto something really interesting here. As you progress with the invention stage, I recommend you play with some ideas and see where the project leads.
I'm here to help, so let me know if you need anything.
Sports are a pretty big part of my life in terms of playing and entertainment. More specifically I am really passionate about football and hockey. Now being in Florida it might be a little difficult to interview or observe hockey orientated things so I feel that my research will look more towards football. A topic in this field that has only been growing over the past few years are all of the issues going on regarding concussions and the research of CTE with long term effects on the players. I would be interesting in looking into what type of influence all this new research and information is having on the game and its players particularly at the pop warner and high school levels. I think there would be a lot of information out there involving peoples reactions and hesitation to allow their children to partake in what is being labeled as a much more violent sport. When it comes time to frame a question around this interest I could look into what type of impact or what the long term impact looks like while looking at what have been the current results of the research.
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ReplyDeleteI know a lot of people who have been diagnosed with ADD and are given medication to treat it. A lot of these people have no trouble focusing on something they are interested in whether they have taken their medication or not. I want to do research on the idea that ADD could be a lack of wanting to focus on a specific thing (school, work, chores, etc.), instead of a disorder that makes it next to impossible for people to focus. I don't know much at all about this topic, but I think it could be interesting to look in to it and see both sides of this argument.
ReplyDeleteHow do your siblings or lack of them effect your personality and possibly your future? As the oldest of 3 girls I have seen my role as the eldest influence my younger sisters. I couldn’t help but wonder their influence on me and also the impact of other people and their siblings. I could conduct this study by interviewing my friends, family, and acquaintances. Even people who are an only child could be of use to this study. A focus group could also be of use because everyone has experience with having or not having siblings. Alternative questions may include: do siblings influence your life choices?, does birth order effect your personality type? and what role do half siblings and step siblings play in this?
ReplyDeleteI recently watched a Ted talk on the quantified self. It was interesting because it focused on the positive role technology plays in our daily lives. This got me thinking more about how technology is used every day in my life so I would like to explore something along the lines of how apps track our lives, with a main focus on the incredible power biometric devices contain. Apps are used on a daily basis to track life, food consumption, monetary spending, mood, and sleep habits…. Is this all necessary? Furthermore, in 2009, Apple filed patents to have apple ear buds receive information about the percent of oxygen in blood, the current heart rate of the users, and also the internal body temperature. The power of technology to be able to do this and the fact that it would be possible for a tiny ear bud to take all of the readings is unprecedented. I would like to look in this further. I currently don’t have an idea about an experiment I could conduct first hand but this topic has really captured my interest. Perhaps I could modify my question to be able to collect valuable first hand data.
ReplyDeleteA few more topics I am interested in is how food affects the body and what causes us to get sleepy after we eat, the human sleep cycle, dreams, how the brain interprets love (on a molecular level) and how hormones in fruit affect neighboring fruits. This are harder topics to experiment on but they were part of my brainstorm.
I am an elementary education major (at the moment) and when looking through the UCF catalog it shows that a lot of the classes required include behavior classes and understanding adolescent state of mind. So it had gotten me interested in possibly looking into child development. Why children act the way they do, why they feel the way the feel, etc. I want to know why they mold into the way they do besides just figuring it was the way they were raised. I am not sure the exact angle I want to approach with this essay but I am sure down the road I will figure it out since I already kind of have a general idea of what I want to write about.
ReplyDeleteLately with all of the College Football bowls and championships, a topic I have been wanting to research is Student athletes and how full time student athletes have enough time for their degree's while playing so much and traveling so much. Playing club hockey for UCF myself I can kind of relate, but D1 athletes must have 10 times the amount work I have. Some college football programs practice 5 times a week and have games on the weekend, how is it possible to get a degree with that heavy of a load already? I will always admire D1 athletes at that level because of the amount of work they put in. Final exams for me were hard, but how could you study knowing you are flying halfway across the country for a bowl game.
ReplyDeleteBeing a Finance major, another topic I was interested in is oil prices and how gasoline prices are down to $1.75 from over $3.00 not to long ago, and how the prices being so low affect people in America. For example, I can remember a couple years ago when the question, " Who is driving", was brought up around me and my friends and everyone was like, "Not Me!". Now its no big deal who drives because gas is so cheap. Also, gas prices being lower is making people travel more, with gas this low, I don't think twice about having to drive farther distances. I look forward to fully deciding what I will research about, these are just a few ideas.
I am very interested in the development of cancer in young children. In fact it is what I hope to study and practice on when I am older. For my research paper I would like to focus on this question: How does cancer develop in children with young healthy tissue? I may focus on one specific cancer, perhaps one that isn't usually genetic. This question will provide tons of information because there is so much research on children's cancer. By looking at geneticist's work and case studies I believe I will have a better understanding of children's cancer and how it develops. I am wondering if I could almost treat this paper as if I am writing a scientific study because I would love to come up with my own hypothesis and research the open ended question. I believe my reader would also be intrigued with this research question!
ReplyDeleteAs we are progressing more and more into the Information Age with the World Wide Web, computer security is advancing alongside with it. The baby boomers have a hard enough time as it is, keeping up with the newer generation on how to operate these magical devices. Unfortunately, now they have to worry about someone stealing their passwords and online banking information. I intend to survey multiple age groups about cybersecurity experiences/practices and quantify this data. With this I will be able to see at what age there is a gap in knowledge and what factors affect these results. For instance, someone may be older but have an interest in technology, so they will match or even beat the younger generation in capability. Hopefully with this information, we can learn a little bit more on how to inform the world of this growing threat.
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ReplyDeleteThe idea of Artificial Intelligence has always been intriguing to me. Movies like A.I., Her, Iron Man, Terminator, I, Robot, and Ex Machina all feature various AI technology and I think it would be interesting to research the effects it would have on the general population if used in more complex ways, instead of just the relatively simple Siri. Would people fear it because of the way media has portrayed it? Or would the benefits outweigh the risks enough that it wouldn't bother people? And how would AI technology effect other things, like ethics and religion? I'd like to survey people of all ages and see how people view Artificial Intelligence, as well as research other potential effects it has on society.
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ReplyDeleteI recently changed my major from Advertising/Public Relations to Political Science (pre-law track) and Environmental Studies. What prompted my quick change of major was the fact that I knew I wanted to do something that can help to change the world and better the Earth and people’s lives. I was in Ad/PR for the creative aspect but it just felt to materialistic and deceiving – two things that don’t really change people’s lives for the better. I definitely want my topic to be about politics, the environment, or the politics in environment. Politics amongst young people and how politics has drifted to extremes in the last couple of years can also be something I’d love to research and write about. I also love History and have found it interesting how history kind of repeats itself, like right now in the U.S elections the democratic candidates greatly mirror the candidates in 2008. I also wanted to go into law school because I feel like law is the best way to really make a direct impact on people’s lives. I’m most interested in corruption cases and a subject on corruption could be really interesting. If I was to focus and do a study on the environment, I think I could make one at the UCF arboretum which is the protected environment at UCF.
I am interested in researching about how much time college students spend playing video games during the week versus how much time they spend studying or doing homework. These results could be compared to students who do not play video games and the amount of time they spend during the week studying or doing homework. It would be interesting to see if there is a correlation between time spent playing video games and time spent doing schoolwork. This topic appeals to me because I play video games.
ReplyDeleteI find the topic of the Deep Web very interesting and I'd like to do my research about this. Most people don't know about the existence of it and all the things that happen there. The amount of illegal activities and markets that are available for people online are endless. I'd like to see how much knowledge people in our generation have about all the things that go on in it and how easy it is to access it.
ReplyDeleteIt will be very hard for me to narrow my research topic to one thing or idea. There are a multitude of topics I would like to delve into such as: the common perception of space travel to the actual reality, or even the importance of space travel to the human race. These topics could be very interesting to learn more about. I believe focus groups could be very useful for either of these topics. It would be very interesting to here the popular ideas in a large group setting. There is also a vast database of scholarly articles on these topics on the internet. I believe space travel is very important for the human race but I might change my mind after researching more about the subject. It may even be interesting to tie both of these topics together. I am very intrigued by space and space travel so I know I would enjoy learning more.
ReplyDeleteAs of right now, I am majoring in Sports and Exercise Science because sports and fitness have always interested me. However, I intend to enter the Fire Academy after earning my bachelors degree. Growing up, sports always dominated a majority of my time and attention. Having experienced two semesters of college, I have come to realize that I must begin truly thinking about what I want to do with the rest of my life. I believe this assignment will serve as a great tool too help me learn more about my desired job as becoming a firefighter. As of now, I am not sure what question to ask or what direction to take in furtherance of the project. A concept I have thought about possibly exploring is a comparison between the perception the general public has of a firefighter and their job, versus the reality of the vocation. In my family alone, there are three active firefighters that I believe would serve as great assets to my research. Potentially, using this assignment to help me learn more about firefighting may be beneficial long term.
ReplyDeleteThrough this class I would like to learn more about what makes someone a good writer and whether the use of grammar "rules" are really necessary to be a good writer. There are many Grammar rules I was taught in school that I have seen many authors ignore. Are they really important? I myself have been accused of using too many run on sentences and losing points in papers because of it while author James Joyce only used two periods and one comma in one of his books. I would like to learn more about why grammar rules are set in place and if they are truly necessary.
ReplyDeleteI think a big issue today, which has been a big issue for many years, is racism. I have always sat and wondered "why are people racist?". Is it the way they were brought up? Children with racist parents are more likely to think that being racist is okay and it is a normal thing when its not. But what are the underlying reasons for racism? Is there even any?
ReplyDeleteAs more and more of our day to day commerce has moved online, it has become increasingly prevalent for illegal black market operations to move onto the internet. One of these markets which has caused great concern recently is that of fake ids. These days, just about anyone with a small amount of tech savvy can go online and order these highly illegal documents without the hassle and worry of being caught. While most people would think that this increased access will only benefit underage college students, it is actually a very taxing issue in the realm of terrorism and national security. This increased availability of fake identification has changed the way both law enforcement and international security experts operate and the severity of how this issue is handled. I would like to analyze the impact of the online fake id market and how it affects both law enforcement and consumers looking to purchase these illegal goods. I wish to look at this issue from both sides in order to gain a better understanding of just how widespread this issue really is.
ReplyDeleteAs more and more of our day to day commerce has moved online, it has become increasingly prevalent for illegal black market operations to move onto the internet. One of these markets which has caused great concern recently is that of fake ids. No longer are fake ids made in a dorm room with a printer and laminator. Now a days, any tech savvy individual can order fake ids from the other side of the world in a matter of minutes just by knowing about a website. While most people would think that this increased access will only benefit underage college students, it is actually a very taxing issue in the realm of terrorism and national security. This increased availability of fake identification has changed the way both law enforcement and international security experts operate. I would like to analyze the impact of the online fake id market and how it affects both law enforcement and consumers looking to purchase these illegal goods. I wish to look at this issue from both sides in order to gain a better understanding of just how widespread this issue really is.
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