Genessis Huezo
Brett Cohen
Reflection/Advice
For this research paper, we began as separate members.
However, because we were interested in similar topics and our original topics
were too specific and difficult to research, we decided to collaborate and
write a full length research essay to delve more into the unknowns of
conspiracy theories. To future students, we wish that we had thought more
clearly about our topic beforehand. Although finding sources was relatively
simple for us, we wish we had known the library numbering system better before
wandering inside aimlessly (If you are going to use the library look at the map
that shows clearly where each section is, it will save you a lot of time and
wandering). We suggest collaborating on this assignment, because while you
might not do work on your own, you are much more likely to work on the
different parts of this essay if you know that others are depending on you.
Also, the other person(s) can encourage you to work when you don’t feel like it
and help you if you get stuck. It also helps to have someone to bounce
ideas off of. Remember, that while this is a research paper, you should include
a generous amount of “I say” in the essay.
Start researching early; I know people say this and you
won’t listen, but this really was the most helpful advice we got. Because we
started researching early we were able to complete Part 3 fairly easily, which
was the hardest part, and we weren’t forced to rush. We know it gets boring
hearing someone tell you to start early, but listen, because they know what
they’re talking about. The worst thing that can happen is that you start doing
research, and you realize that there are no academic sources for
the topic you had in mind. Then, you have to start thinking of something else
to write about, and before you know it, you’re up at 3 in the morning trying to
get some sort of draft going. Don’t let that happen to you. The best piece of
advice we can give you is to try to see if anyone wants to work together. It
makes the workload bearable and the whole task more enjoyable; after all, many
hands make light work.
Do what we did. Just write and write, even if there’s no
format or structure. All that can be sorted out at a later time, but if the
main ideas are on paper, then the paper starts to grow. Who cares if there’s no
connection between the quote and the topic? Sort that out later. It’s easier to
sort out excessive information then have to come up with some bullshit sentence
that doesn't make sense to show Jenny that there is a connection between a
random quote and the research topic. Our first draft had a lot of patchwriting,
but we found it easy to correct this defect by adding more of our personal
writing than it would have been to look up additional quotes at a later date. Jenny
will tell you how and what to fix when you meet with her (yes you must ask for
a conference with her). Worry about structure, grammar, all of that later.
Focus on content, because that’s what she’s looking for; show
that this assignment has real thought provoking ideas.
Our Topic
Our
primary research topic was conspiracy theories, specifically:
“Why
are conspiracies so widespread and believed by so many people?”
The
most useful source we found was a compilation of different essays edited by David
Brion Davis that gave many different perspectives and also included primary
sources. No matter what subject you are researching, we would recommend getting
a book with multiple essays because these essays are shorter and easier
to read than whole books, and a single book can give you multiple viewpoints
and ideas. We also found that journal articles were helpful when looking for
research. We found journal articles by using the university library website.
When you get to the website, click the tab labeled “Articles & Databases”.
Then choose the database called Academic Search Complete. From there, you can
pick keywords that the website will pop up with. And the best thing about this
search engine is that you can look for scholarly (peer review) journals, and
the best thing is being able to adjust the timeline to a certain time limit the
professor assigns. This search engine provided us with mostly statistics, which
is what a research paper needs. Yeah it’s great to be analyzing and connecting
to real life, but what can help a research paper is evidence or surveys, or
experiments done for the topic. It shows that people have an interest in the
topic, and that can be something else to talk about. We didn’t really use any
online websites and we would recommend not relying on them if you even use them
at all.
Davis,
David Brion, ed. The Fear of Conspiracy; Images of Un-American Subversion
from the Revolution to the Present. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1971.
Print.
(This
was found in the University Library)
Lobato E., Mendoza J., Sims V. and Chin M. (2014), “Examining
the Relationship Between
Conspiracy Theories, Paranormal Beliefs, and Pseudoscience
Acceptance Among a University Population”, Applied Cognitive Psychology
28. 5 (2014): pages 617–625. Web.
Newheiser,
Anna-Kaisa, Miguel Farias, and Nicole Tausch. "The Functional Nature of
Conspiracy Beliefs." Personality and Individual Differences 51.8
(2011): 1007-011. Web. 26 Feb. 2015.
Public
Policy Polling. Republicans More Likely to Subscribe to Government
Conspiracy Theories. Raleigh, NC 2 October 2013. Web. (Survey).
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