WEEK 1: This article has two purposes: first, to provide a personal experience of how my identity as a Muslim Bangladeshi has been influenced by my ethnicity, gender, and religion; and second, to raise awareness about how others from similar backgrounds are portrayed in the media. I wanted to bring attention to my challenges, biases, and growth as a person. An autobiographical and personal perspective is provided in the article. My own life experiences, which included encounters with discrimination, misconceptions, and difficulties with cultural awareness, served as motivation. I wanted to be open and honest about my thoughts, emotions, and experiences in order to paint a true picture of my path in navigating the complexities of my identity.
In summary, putting emphasis on the roles played by religion, gender, ethnicity, and media portrayal, this personal narrative analyzes my identity and experiences as a Muslim Bangladeshi woman. It tries to emotionally engage the viewer while bringing to light larger questions of identity and cultural representation in the media.
WEEK 4: One article I used during my research is “The Affective Consequences of Social Comparison: Either Direction Has Its Ups and Downs.” The main conclusions and goals of the research are outlined in the article’s abstract, along with details about the emotional effects of social comparison. It offers a brief overview of the topics covered by the research. I saw that the introduction summarizes the study questions and gives background information. It emphasizes how crucial it is to comprehend the affective consequences of social comparison, which is helpful for my study. The discussion section offers an interpretation of the findings and situates them within the framework of earlier studies. Understanding the findings’ effects and their contribution to the field is essential. The key conclusions and implications are outlined in the article’s conclusion. This aids in evaluating the study’s importance within the larger framework of my research.
Yes, it was beneficial to annotate the article. It made it possible for me to access important details like the method used, main results, and study topic quickly. It was simpler to understand the article’s significance to my study and determine whether to include it in my literature evaluation thanks to this procedure. I would need to carefully study this article, take out any relevant claims or data, and think about how it fits into the bigger picture of my research to fully understand it. In addition, I would have to evaluate the study’s method, findings, and contribution to the area of social psychology, as well as how it conflicts with prior research on the topic.
WEEK 5: I was able to rapidly recognize important details and determine the article’s relevance to my research by annotating it. I can use this technique to expedite my research process by applying it to other articles and sources. I have acquired the ability to promptly determine the relevance of an article to my study by examining its title, abstract, and salient features. I was able to understand the writing arrangement better by dividing the work into sections like the abstract, introduction, method, findings, discussion, and conclusion.
However, I would like to focus more of my attention on the following areas: One of the most important steps in the research process is creating a thorough literature review. I’d like to find out more about the best ways to condense and combine the body of information already available on a subject. I want to improve my ability to evaluate studies critically, especially in determining the value of a study’s conclusions and both the advantages and disadvantages of its method. In case that clarification or extra attention is not provided in class, I will learn the information on my own. This may include looking for advice from mentors or instructors, reading appropriate books or online materials, or even taking part in online courses or workshops on academic writing and research.
WEEK 6: “Effectively conducting research using online databases and library resources” is one of the learning objectives. Through a number of paths, I gained knowledge on how to use internet databases and library resources to do research efficiently: There were plenty of tools and research help offered by my college. To help students find pertinent resources, access journals, and navigate databases, librarians offered workshops and one-on-one discussions. I had tasks that needed me to conduct informational research using internet databases and library resources. These projects made me more comfortable using a variety of research tools. I’ve improved over time in the following areas when it comes to utilizing internet databases and library resources for research: By mastering the use of Boolean operators, sophisticated search tools, and citation searching, I’ve enhanced my search tactics to locate the most relevant sources. I’ve grown better at assessing the credibility and validity of sources and can now tell books from peer-reviewed journals and unknown sources.
WEEK 7: The essay’s goal is to investigate and evaluate how social comparison affects one’s sense of self-worth, mental health, and general well-being in the digital age. It seeks to educate and convince readers of the advantages and disadvantages of social comparison. This article is written with a wide, educated reading in mind. People who use social media and are inquisitive about how it affects their lives, as well as those who are interested in the larger consequences of social comparison in the digital age, might find it interesting. It conveys the idea that although social media may be a motivating and connecting tool, there is a chance that it will have a negative impact on one’s mental health, self-worth, and general well-being.
WEEK 9: This research examines how media influences people’s perspectives of love and relationships by utilizing a variety of media sources, such as academic journals, novels, and statistical data. Gillespie & Aaltonen’s research and Henry Jenkins’ “Convergence Culture” offer insights into how relationships are evolving as a result of various media platforms. Together with Reinecke’s chapter on “Entertainment Media and the Quality of Romantic Relationships,” Valkenburg, Peter, and Walther’s “Media Effects: Theory and Research” also provide scientific insights into how media affects relationship dynamics and emotional connections. The Pew Research Center article “5 Facts About Online Dating” by Smith & Anderson adds statistical insights regarding the impact of online dating on relationship experiences, enhancing these academic studies. Together, these diverse media sources support the paper’s main claim that media has a significant impact on modern relationship dynamics.
WEEK 10:Numerous relevant theories are in line with the study of how the media shapes people’s views of love and relationships. According to Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, people form their expectations about relationships by copying the actions of important models they encounter in the media. Furthermore, the Uses and Gratifications Theory clarifies how people deliberately choose media material to satisfy particular needs, which is related to the study’s focus on how media representations affect attitudes toward relationships and love. These theories offer a framework for comprehending the ways in which media impacts personal perceptions of romantic relationships as well as societal standards.
WEEK 11:My research on how romantic relationships are impacted by modern entertainment has developed into a more sophisticated understanding. It now places a focus on the various ways that media outlets, from social media to dating apps, have shaped people’s conceptions and expectations of love. It additionally shows the complex connection that exists between individuals and media impact, acknowledging that although the media is a major factor in establishing norms, interpersonal dynamics are greatly influenced by individual experiences and personalities. Furthermore, research has focused on the cultural, generational, and psychological aspects of media influence, recognizing how different origins and internalization of media representations influence attitudes and behaviors in relationships.
WEEK 12: The goal, audience, content, and format of the research essay and the MMT (Multimodal Text) are similar, even though they use diverse techniques that are suited to various situations and degrees of participation. The research article has an academic tone and attempts to offer a thorough examination of how digital media affects relationships in the current world. It uses a formal writing style, incorporates academic references, and delves thoroughly into the topic matter in order to appeal to academic readers. The MMT, on the other hand, uses a visually appealing, brief, and engaging structure to target young adults and people in relationships. It was created as an Instagram page brochure.
The essay’s main points and conclusions are summarized, but the content is modified to fit the interests and browsing patterns of an Instagram audience. The MMT emphasizes visual appeal, conciseness, and accessibility over in-depth exploration and analysis of the topic as does the essay. It does this by using vivid images, memorable taglines, and straightforward language to communicate important ideas and spark discussion among a wider, more informal audience on the Instagram platform. As a result, although the essay and the MMT both focus on how relationships are affected by digital media, their rhetorical contexts are different in terms of audience, goal, tone, and structure. This allows them to appeal to different readerships with different interests and levels of engagement.
WEEK 14:
The process of writing has been a worthwhile academic effort that has provided me with great insights that have improved my writing style. One of the most important things I’ve learned is how important it is to carefully plan and organize your work before starting. Making a detailed plan with distinct sections and points of emphasis helped me organize my ideas and keep the information flowing logically. Furthermore, it became clear that one of the most important factors was to comprehend the expectations of the audience and modify the content to suit their tastes. Realizing the value of stylistic flexibility and the fact that various formats and tones call for various strategies in order to communicate effectively has been eye-opening. One more important lesson learned is how important it is to interact with feedback.
The writing process has proven how important accurate citation and thorough source research are to producing written work that is trustworthy and well-supported. It has been essential to comprehend how to properly incorporate citations into the text and create a comprehensive citation. Properly referencing sources not only gives my views more authority but also enables readers to double-check the facts and conduct more research. An essential component of my writing process has been learning where to look for trustworthy sources from scientific articles, academic journals, and respectable media.
Accepting helpful criticism and incorporating advice from mentors or peers has made a huge difference in the quality and depth of my writing. Finally, the creation of engaging and educational content has been greatly aided by placing a high value on precision, concision, and extensive research. In general, this reflective approach has reinforced how crucial careful planning, understanding your audience, and ongoing improvement are to creating writing that has an impact.
