As this blog is focused mainly on my writing class, many posts will also… mainly focus on my writing class. The assignment last night was to dutifully read a 16-page article about how to write a research paper – at least, I think thats what the article was about.
Titled “BEAM: A Rhetorical Vocabulary for Teaching Research Based Writing”, my reading was, at a minimum, boring. At a maximum, this reading was of equivalent interest to the busy work your 10th grade English teacher gives you after you finish your vocab test early… Meaning, this is probably great stuff – just not so much for me.
Okay, I know that was harsh (sorry, Professor, I know you’re reading this) but hear me out.
I like research! I might even argue that I’m better at research than the average 18 year-old college first year. Not to brag, but I know my way around a library help desk.
What I haven’t done, not unlike most 18 year-old college first years, is conduct my own research. Quite honestly, I don’t think this article covers that, or at least it REALLY didn’t make that information clear to me.
Research, for me, isn’t as boring as it is stressful, I feel as though there is always something I’m missing… a new piece of information, a different perspective, a more in-depth analysis, something! Research, for me, takes a long time… like a long ass time. It’s the small stuff…
It takes so long that it often ends up with be upset or frustrated to the point where my papers end up with the same tone as this blog post – cynical af.