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My Research Topics

Two research topics that I am considering are “Feminism in Zimbabwe” and “The History of Cherokee Indians in Michigan”. I came about these topics by way of my heritage and the fact that I am a woman. I know a little bit about American feminism, but not very much about feminism in other continents or countries. I can research American feminism on my own, but I want the African Feminist Movement to be known and appreciated in America. I chose Cherokee Indians as my focus because my father is Cherokee and Blackfoot Indian as well as black, since I do not know where the black part of my heritage comes from, I figured this would be a better topic.

My original topics were “The Feminist Movement” and “Cherokee and Blackfoot Indians”, I specified them to the previously mentioned topics because I felt like American Feminism is too well known and Cherokee Indians are a great foundation for my heritage. Some things that I know about Feminism is that is is the movement by which women are fighting for their right for equality, and not only that, but justice too. I say justice as well because there are some things that women need that men do not. For example, men do not give birth, so they do not need certain accommodations to make the workplace suitable for their pregnancy. I do not know much about Cherokee Indians at all, just that my father’s family is originally from Alabama, so I may find that some of the Cherokee Indians resided there before it became more populated with other races and ethnicities.

I plan to use the online sources provided by the college library mainly and possibly some of the hard copies provided in the archives section. I plan starting with Zimbabwean feminism by asking the question “How did it being?” I plan to start the Cherokee Indian research by finding out where in “America” they had resided before Columbus came and changed everything.

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Blogging About Potential Research Topics

You will select and write about two (potential) research topics for your final paper. Your post should be approximately 300 words in paragraph form, and will address the following questions that we discussed in class:

  • What topics have you selected?
  • What questions do you have about these topics?
  • Where could you find data to answer your questions about these topics?
  • What research methods would you use to find that data?

If you have two very different topics, you may find it easier to write a paragraph about each topic separately. On the other hand, if one topic led you to consider another topic, you use a segue to make clear the link between the two topics in your writing. (For example, you could say, “Thinking about X in Topic #1 led me to consider the intersecting roles of X and Y in Topic #2.”)

Think of this post as a “pre-“ or “draft” of a proposal. On a blog your tone can be a little more conversational than the typical academic research proposal or paper, but you still want to be somewhat formal. As you write, you may find it helpful to imagine that you are pitching your topic to an audience.

Read and revise you work—for organization; for spelling, grammar and punctuation; for clarity–before you publish your post! A good practice is to have someone else read it to find out whether they understand what you’ve written, and where you may want to revise.

Here are a few other things to do as you prepare to publish your post:

  • Title your post “My Research Topics”
  • In a blog post, you don’t have to add info you would usually add to an assignment or paper – no need to add your name, date, or my name to the body of the post
  • Under Categories, check “Blog”
  • Under Tags, add “Research topics” (Choose from most used tags)
  • Make sure the date and timestamp is correct on your post
  • Select “Public” to make your post available to all (and searchable online) or “Private” to make your post available only to our class
    • I encourage you all to at least share you writing with the class. If, however, you have a strong reason for why you do not want to do this, you can share your post only with me. To do so, select “Password protected,” create a password, and share it with me I encourage you all to comment on each others posts, to provide positive and constructive feedback or information about resources.  We did this in class today, and I saw how it helped spark new ideas among you and provided motivation for doing more research!
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Narrative (Kymberly Gurdon)

Throughout my childhood I have had many educational memories. My first educational memories took place in elementary school q135. However, the earliest one i could remember was back in kindergarten with my teacher Ms.James. Ms. James was one of my favorite teachers she taught me how to write my letters perfectly and she was really patient with us. Also , i could still remember when she was teaching us how to add one digit numbers she gave us starburst and had us counting them in a way we could put it together and add. After we will get to eat them.

I also remember in 5th grade close to graduation my teacher ms. Sarwee was an algebra teacher she was teaching us how to multiply big numbers to help prepare us for middle school. That class i remember because it was challenging for me it was a advance class. Even though it was challenging my teacher still made it entertaining and great learning experience i’ll never forget.

Going into middle school that’s when the experiences really started . the classes become challenging, the teacher become harder, and so did the work. I’ll never forget my social studies advance class with Mr.donor that class was really difficult he gave us several quizzes each day. However, it all paid off in the end because when i got to highschool i felt prepared and confident going into world history because of Mr.Donor i got one of the highest grades on my Global regents and ended up with a high grade in that class.

Honestly highschool for me wasn’t really challenging i was well prepared from overcoming my hardships in middle school. I felt like what others were struggling with i was already prepared. The only thing i struggled with was AP trig, other than that highschool was a breeze. Now in college ive been doing good so far with the classes that ive been given . I learned that in college so far studying is key to success.

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Educational Narrative

Foulera Toutabizi

ENG 103

Prof . Kitana Ananda

I remember elementary school back home in Ghana West Africa.School was a little different compared to the one in the states. I really didn’t know how to speak english so i was placed in an ESL class so i could better learn and speak good english. Being  a fast learner i was able to accomplish that goal.everything was different because back home in school we had uniforms but here you could wear whatever you choose to wear which was a little cool i guess.we have to move from class to next class where by back home teachers have to do the movements. I happen to like the system here where students have to do the movements.You get to know places in the school.I remember being that lost girl from a different county experiencing something new and totally different from where I came from. It was all fun until i met some new student.they were not all that friendly but i had to blend in. it was abad and good experience at the same time. There were so many good memories and friends from my previous school many of which I’m still friend with. But now I’m in college and everything is totally different. New thing, new friends ,new professors etc. that,s a different story to tell.

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James Macay Educational Blog

James Macay

Prof. Kitana Ananda

ENG103

September 18, 2017

Thinking back to one of my first memories of learning encourages me to laugh. As a young child, I was always very nosy and clever. My first learning experience comes even before my age met the requirements of being enrolled in school. I was with family at a waterfront and there was a fence that I wanted to climb over, simply to make it to the otherside. However, my mother convinced me that there would be consequences if I climbed over. In a nutshell, I tossed my hat over the fence,  climbing over suddenly became an obligation. From this, I learned that certain rules can be bent under acceptable circumstances. Seems manipulative, but nothing was taken from anybody, at most I gained some physical capabilities and sense of balance. From this I took the idea that I am free to live up to my potential in a harmless and instinctual manner. Remember, baby steps are still signs of progression.

Now, on the topic of school, the amount of mixed emotions I have are too broad to individually narrow down. It is absolutely a love hate relationship that I have with school, but overall appreciate it and feel that everyone should be entitled to an education. Alongside this people should feel the need to go to school, to build an education for themselves. Aside from becoming educated, school comes with endless memories and experiences. Whether it makes you smile, laugh or cry, it is an experience that leads to a fresh perception of the world. Most of my memories in school are either moments of struggle or success. Being in the midst of pre-school the realization that mom or dad aren’t around struck me. To be respectful under the rule of someone that has no tie to my life aside from feeding me education seems odd at that age. We all know that we should be capable of caring for oneself and to be respectful to our surroundings, but as a kid it feels as if you are breaking your instinctual actions and begin  to warp into the systematic standard. My love for school is the education and how much can be accomplished if you use your education properly. The hate comes from the system, the unethical ways of seeing and ultimatums that we are forced to fear.

In my more recent experiences, I’m enlightened to know that college has a different method of getting through to students. The capability to be able to think for yourself, to rationalize what we see without judgement but mere fact. This concept can be appreciated at a heightened level when you consider that most college students have no idea what they are going to do for the rest of their lives. Even if you are studying a specific field, who’s to say that is where you are going to end up for the rest of your existence? College allows our minds to float and absorb what our surroundings give off. Whilst dealing with the workload we also find ourselves alone, similar to elementary, when your parents drop you off. Only in college, you realize that priorities change, and managing the load trains you to manage yourself in the real world.

Outside of school, my education has a lot of street lessons, some random, some meaningless, others full of meaning and morals. I was an aggressive rollerblader for 7 years of my life. Starting at 5 years old and getting my first sponsor at 9 years old, (I have my older brother to thank.) Overall, my youth consisted of countless street hours while maintaining good grades in school. Had my grades been poor, my mom wouldn’t have let me skate. Now in my more recent years, for the past 4-5 years I have been a cyclist and taking it to a professional level has lead to me endless social and professional encounters. It is safe to say that regardless of the caliber in which I perform , I do it purely for the love of it. Which eventually lead to a great source of physical activity. What I want for people to take from this is simply to always remember, you are allowed to live life instinctually and freely, never turn down knowledge, and always ask questions. I believe school can improve these aspects of your life.

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My First Education Memory

My earliest childhood memory was going to Preschool in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with my two older cousins. My cousins and I were always in the same class, being that we were born the same month of the same year. I still remember our teacher name, Ms. Jill. She was an amazing teacher who loved what she did. I remember she moved to Canada a few years after we left there.

My cousins and I went to school together until Primary School (6th grade), and then you take this test called Common Entrance and base on your grade it determines what high school you go to. I scored higher than my cousins, so I went to a High School in town; while they went to a High School in the village. At first I was thinking about how the three of us won’t be together in school anymore for the first time in 10 years. But I was still excited that another cousin and my best friend (they are cousins also) were going to be in school with me. We also had a friend who was a form ahead of us. Then my best friend grandmother decided she did not want my best friend to go to school in town. I was so disappointed, because like my cousins; we have been in school together since Preschool also.

Education is very important in the Caribbean, because without it; you cannot get a good or decent job. You see your parents and older siblings and/or cousins struggling to make it, and how work they have to work and much much more time they have to put it. Once you are really good at something, you’re encourage to excel in that.

I remember when I moved from Saint Vincent and came to New York. I was in for a real surprise. I could not believe the way children spoke to adults, even to the teachers; all I kept thinking to myself was if this was Saint Vincent they would be getting lashes. In Caribbean, it really does take a village to raise a child; because everyone looks out for one another. You can get punished by a neighbor or an older family member, and if it gets back to your parents; you’ll be punished by them too. I learned from very valuable lessons that I still have instilled in me to this day. The only way it wouldn’t go that way is if I am being respectful and someone disrespects me.

High school was where I started writing poetry, and learning to use that to express my feelings and to speak to others in a different way. I was also able to take college courses, and even got to take a program at Columbia University for a week during the summer before my Senior year. I know this sounds cliche but high school was where I really learned a lot about myself, and really found and developed myself better. My high school always college prep us, so when we graduated it would not be a hard transition from high school to college. The only thing is no one warns about the transition back into college after you take time off.

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My Educational Narrative

Jonathan Castiblanco

Dr. Kitana Ananda

Educational Narrative


My earliest memory of learning, would have to be roughly in the first grade. I remember learning different words and how sentences go together. The early introduction to making sentences/structures is what sparked my creativity for reading – but not only reading, I immersed myself in all educational topics, I discovered at an early age to appreciate what I read , despite of its content. I vividly remember travelling around New York in train and bus and seeing posters and ads and reading all of them. Even if they did not make sense.

My education was based in New York City – all public school. From kindergarten to senior year of high school, I have learned that public institutions, no matter how much people berate it, have significance and importance in so many people’s lives – including my own. Aside from having traditional public institution education (i.e., public elementary and HS as well as college), I have also gotten education in the military. I spent 5 years in the military, learning everyday new procedures and laws pertaining to what my career goal was. I have assisted in times of high stress, as a translator/linguist, during drug busts, migrant interdictions and search and rescue cases.

One particular instance of learning something outside the classroom is how to translate and interpret on the spot. Growing up, I never took any spanish classes, all the spanish I know I learned at home (Colombian mother)  and with friends (multi-latino). Having the opportunity of being exposed to these languages at an early age, gave me the upper hand when choosing what I wanted to do with myself in the military. During times of high stress, being an asset to case, one has to be specifically mindful of words and sentences employed. The translation has to seamlessly be integrated verbatim and there has to be mutual understanding between both sides of the translated conversation, in order to avoid confusion and to make sure there is clarity between both parties. In most cases, this goes well – in others, there are words that can’t really be changed to english, due to the nature of the spanish language.  

Certain things are “lost in translation”. I use this term because there are instances where finding the appropriate conduit for language can be particularly grueling, a seemingly impossible task, where words are stuck “on the tip of the tongue”, once you  add a drug bust scenario where there are men dumping kilos of cocaine over the side of the getaway vehicle as you chase them, you are at a loss for words momentarily, but you refocus your attention to the task at hand: conveying the message clearly.

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Educational Narrative (Kai Nedd)

Kai Nedd

Eng 103

Ananda Kinata

                                Educational Background 

 

   Growing up, my parents were very strict in terms of education. They placed me in a private school in Harlem by the name of The Children’s Storefront Academy. I attended “Storefront” from pre-k to 8th grade and I will say that being in that learning institution instilled certain values in me I am thankful to have. Academically my educational upbringing played a huge part into my transition from a small child to a young adult. Being that my parents were pretty big on education and my mother acted as another tutor/teacher at home I felt as though in certain subjects I was more than efficient. That all changed however when I noticed that my difficulty in math started to not only affect my ability to keep up but it affected my esteem as well. While the others in my class were speeding by and through math problems I was stuck on the first problem, frustrated because I couldn’t get through it. I remembered in third grade my teacher at the time sitting down with both my parents and I. She said and I quote, “Mr. and Mrs. Nedd Kai’s reading comprehension is extremely well, her ability to read 4th grade and 5th grade books are amazing. However, she is struggling in math.” I could feel my cheeks heat up almost instantly because I knew this was going to come up. I began to fidget with my fingers and play with the twists in my hair. I just knew something negative was going to follow that statement. With my parents undivided attention on my teacher I tried my hardest to finagle out of my seat to the restroom but was proven unsuccessful after being told no.

“I feel as though Kai, should repeat the 3rd grade seeing as those her standard test scores for math were extremely low.” I watched as she gave each of my parents a copy of my testing scores while I cringed on the inside. I could feel the tears surface at the brim of my eyes and I wanted to do now was run and cry. I wanted to curl up in my dad’s arms and cry my eyes out. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that way before that time. So, they continued to talk while I tuned them out, Finally, leaving the meeting and heading to dinner my parents had the discussion with me. They were soft, gentle and understanding in terms of their approach which made accepting me having to repeat the third grade again somewhat easier. While I worked on getting stronger with that subject my reading and writing improved immensely. Before you knew it, I was in the 7th grade reading some of the most profound readings with my favorite teacher, Ms. Cardwell. She took so much pride in not only teaching us about literature and language enrichment, however she took in pride in teaching us about our culture as well.

I remember analyzing “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison my absolute favorite author, and Ms. Cardwell making us critically think and break down each character starting with the complex one of all, Pecola Breedlove. At the time immaturity crept in and I was a tad bit annoyed but now that I think back to that moment, that made me the person I am today and I’m thankful for that.

If I hadn’t experienced what I experienced then I wouldn’t be in that place I’m in academically now. I wouldn’t have the skills to endure hard work and night-long studying. All of those experiences from my childhood made me stronger today.