Just warning you that this post is extremely random.
So we started talking about Junior Theme on Thursday, and since then I have been struck with the difficulty of thinking of what exactly the outcome will be. We have not gotten an exact outline of the paper or all that it entails yet, but isn't it just another research paper? My sister just turned hers in after countless hours of editing and re-editing. Talk about stressful I plan to just go into it thinking of it as another paper, but on something that I am actually interested in, and I feel like that will not put as much stress on myself.
The theme that I am choosing to do is on education. More specifically, my favorite topic that I have chosen is on students with disabilities, and how they are viewed in society, or even by regular ed students. This is a topic that is very important to me, and I can't wait to start learning more about it, which seems weird that I am really excited to start writing a paper.
The words "Junior Theme" to me have a very negative connotation. It is something that we have been hearing about from older siblings or have been daunted by since freshman year. Should it really be viewed as something so stressful and unnecessary? Yes, I am supporting writing a paper right now because I for one am a person who likes to research a topic that I am interested in, and I think that I will have a really good outcome of this paper. Anyone else?
2 comments:
HannahD
This response may seem kind of random, too.
Choosing something that you are interested in is important learning already! All of the adults involved in this process want to avoid unnecessary stress for you, too. It's unfortunate that Junior Theme often has negative connotations -- maybe it will help to think of it like putting together a jigsaw puzzle – it may be frustrating at points along the way, but hopefully there is learning during the process that you can apply in the future (e.g., puzzle pieces with completely flat sides form the puzzle's frame; do that part first) and also satisfaction in completing the task and seeing the finished picture/paper.
As to education and students with disabilities – start thinking about some "why" type questions which might direct your research Why are these students viewed differently? Why has that view changed (or not) over time? Did you see the report about the young girl with autism who can communicate through her computer? http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4311223&page=1 That is fascinating. There are many books on this general subject – some written for educators (_Overcoming Dyslexia_ for example) and some written as memoirs by individuals with the disability (_My Thirteenth Winter_ as one example). You have many, many choices -- even changing direction and thinking about economically disadvantaged youth (_Freedom Writers Diary_; or _In Mrs. B's Classroom: Courage, Hope, and Learning on Chicago's South Side_). I am looking forward to seeing where your thinking and your research takes you.
Hello Hannah,
Another title that may interest you is:
Laughing Allegra: The Inspiring Story of a Mother's Struggle and Triumph Raising a Daughter with Learning Disabilities by Anne Ford, John-Richard Thompson, and Mel Levine
For some background articles, see:
Questia-- "Inclusive Schools Movement and the Radicalization of Special Education Reform"
Journal article by Douglas Fuchs, Lynn S. Fuchs; Exceptional Children, Vol. 60, 1994
see also: CQ Researcher article on Special education 11/10/2000 for ideas on narrowing your topic.
Mrs. G
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