On Tuesday, my English class and I will be traveling into the depths of the library to find the archives.
Source: Gifbin
Over the past 2 weeks, we have been preparing for this moment and it is about to arrive. We have read many articles that have helped to create a list of tips when entering the archives. Some are
-have an open mind
-keep everything in order and in its place (order is very important when trying to piece together a story)
-follow all leads: obvious and crazy ones
-look in unexpected places
-it will be hard, but find a good stopping point (you could research forever, but eventually you need to do your paper or project)
-ask questions (questions are softened answered or followed by more questions and these questions typically lead to more sources and information)
-remember that everything is in layers
Just replace archives and ogres… Source: DreamWorks
I have no picked a topic yet for my project, so I am going into the archives with an open mind and hopefully something speaks to me and gives me inspiration. I am super indecisive which probably has a lot to do with why I have not chosen a topic. Another reason is that any topic that involves Santa Clara University is super interesting to me, so it will be hard to pick on.
One of the tips we have found when learning about archives is to enter with a plan. My plan is to enter first and foremost with an open mind. I am going to carefully examine as many pieces as I can until I find inspiration. I will take notes on topics that are particularly interesting to me. I will try to read more than just the header on the page, so I can really get a feel for each page. Once I pick a topic to focus on, I will follow leads and context clues. I will ask questions and record my thoughts. I will take pictures of different important articles that will contribute to my paper. If class ends and I feel I need more information, I will revisit the archives within the next few days, so my ideas will still be fresh in my mind.
Source: HBO
I am really excited to explore the archives and find a topic that is interesting to me. Next time, I will let you know my topic and show you all the amazing things I find in the archives.
Well its goodbye for now…
Source: Disney
But I promise there is always tomorrow.