authoralsmith

[authoralsmith]

How Research and Investigation Skills Development at Full Sail impacted me

Before this class my three goals were to learn how to craft a better article through 1. Better researching, 2. Being opinionated when writing my articles, and 3. Understand the documents I use to help create my articles. As far as better researching, I feel that I did not get any better at researching and I can say it is not a strong area for me, but it is not a weak area either. I just need to continue working on my researching so by the time I am finished with my degree, I will be at the vary least, able to compete in the journalistic arena. I can do this by following Scientific Method for Journalists from week two tutorials. One of the methods that I need to get better at is, “extensive research” (Scientific Method for Journalist). For me being a full-time father, a graduate student, and an author, time is something I currently have vary little of. Time is also difficult for me because all assignments are due by 11:59pm eastern standard time and I live on the west coast on pacific standard time. That means I only have until 8:59pm to turn in assignments. As I continue following the scientific method for journalist, I will get better at time management. Being better at time management, will help me provide accurate and researched information to me readers.

Next is being opinionated when writing. After listening to the tutorial on Researching Data, one thing that was said stuck with me, “Journalists also use data to build trust with their readers and convince people to listen to what they are saying. Data that supports the statements a journalist makes can help that journalist to prove to his or her readers that the reports are things people should take seriously and believe” (Researching Data). I have a tendency to insert my opinion more so than let the facts speak for themselves. If I can follow what was said in Researching Data, I can build trust and allow for my readers to see my point of view and how the topic I am writing on is important to at the vary least talk about. A good example of me following this is when I wrote the week 3 draft about the LGBQT community and children and young adults. I interviewed my 18-year-old son as the expert considering what he has experienced over the last 3 years regarding the LGBQT community and him. I asked a series of 10 questions and for a father to ask his child these questions were not easy on him nor on me, but I accepted each answer at face value and wrote my draft. I stuck to the facts and I think this was the best article I have written in this class.

Lastly, Understand the documents I use to help create my articles. According to Finding Meaning in Data, “Once you have gathered data that is relevant to your story, you will need to analyze that data to determine where the story lies, whether the information is accurate, and how to interpret the data for your readers” (Finding Meaning in Data). I find that I do not have an issue with understanding and comprehending what I read as well as interrupting the information so my readers can understand what I am presenting. I do need to work on better understanding documents such as court cases, more so building up my legal vocabulary. By improving my research and investigating skills, this will help me become a better storyteller that knows what I am talking about, that is not including my personal opinions, and that can be trusted to provide up to date accurate information.

Given that when I complete my graduate program, I plan on going into teaching at the community college level. With that said, the different ways of researching and investigating is one thing I have learned that I will include in my lesion plans with my students. I will also include the Scientific Method for journalist because many of these methods can be applied to academic writing such as essays and research papers. Finally, I want to include incorporating infographics. This can help provide facts that would not be easily understood with just writing it.

Work cited

YouTube. (2014, September 1). Scientific method for journalists. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iZsLTPcC1I 

YouTube. (2014a, September 1). Finding meaning in data. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_pTc_wt9L0 

YouTube. (2014b, September 1). Researching data. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBpBpZNb4_Y