Students created a play called Intersections and conducted their research by using their own personal experience of themselves or someone they know. Each of these stories can be relatable from our own experience. For example, Janelle and her decision for taking care of her grandma as her first priority over school show how much her grandma means to her. And we all can relate to having a close relationship with a friend or a family member and show how much they mean to you. The research I want to do on my own is having a one on one Q&A interview with the cast members. I could also research about drugs in particular Marijuana. Marijuana can be used medically for people who are ill. Also, it’s a drug to make people feel relaxed. The reason why I’m mentioning drugs because in the play the character Janelle stated “the shit I can buy on the street is better than those fucking pills. At least with this, she will be at ease”. I also want to examine about why they chose to end the play with Alex and Janelle. I want to know if one of the cast members ever had someone gone through that experience.
The play Intersections grabbed my attention in the beginning by Louisa and Alex. Alex situation can be relatable because not many students have support on majoring something they love doing. As I read further, there were more characters involved but with different stories. All these characters are showing their emotion/mood on how they are struggling with their own problems. Doing research on this play will enhance my expressions because I get to receive good information about why they chose to end it that way, why would they change ideas in the script, which cast member is comparing themselves with one of the characters, etc.
Research is defined as investigating a question or thought you have about a certain topic. As you are researching you are discovering facts, theories and trying to figure out your analysis, it’s like you’re doing a jigsaw puzzle. Research should be guided as a helpful tool for trying to find out more information about your assignment whether it’s a book, play, video, poem, etc. Doing research can make you focus on the theory you have for example, in Intersections students will be focusing on the cast members comparing and contrasting the characters personal issues. Also, they would want an answer to their “why’s” questions.
Maria,
This is awesome — I love the diversity of types of research sources you discuss, and, before that, I love that you’re thinking about what the cast might have gone through during the writing process. Like I mentioned in class last week, we might be able to see the play in late May, and you can ask everyone about their writing process at that time. If you’d like to talk to any of the cast members/playwrights while you’re writing your paper, let me know and I can try to set something up for you.
Whether you go in the direction of researching the relationship between the health care system and street drugs, or something regarding education in the beginning scene, or something connecting that last scene with the first — or something else entirely — I’m really looking forward to seeing what you come up with. In class tomorrow, we’ll talk more about research methods and possibilities: I’m excited to hear your thoughts!