I Want to Learn…

Intention:

When we are interested in learning more about a subject, we follow that interest in various ways. We take courses, read, talk with knowledgeable people on the subject, we immerse ourselves in the subject in one way or another.

One way to organize and analyze the information we acquire is through writing. The process of writing our syntheses about what has been studied deepens what is learned in any class.

Here we provide ideas for writing on topics of interest to you.

Instruction:

Decide on the topic to study.

You may consult people familiar with the topics of your interest to help you decide your approach, and guide you to possible sources of reference.

Interview or engage in conversations with individuals related to the topic.

Review the printed and digital literature available on the subject.

Take notes from the interviews, conversations, and readings, adding your ideas, and questions that arise as you explore the topic.

Prepare a written summary, be it one, five, or fifty pages long. Include reference sources, especially if you use exact quotes or texts taken from some source.

Depending on the purpose of your inquiry, you may want to consult style manuals, which offer guidance on grammar, formatting, and other writing standards.

Inspection:

·       What information, data and knowledge did you acquire through studying this topic?

·       What practices, skills and techniques did you learn by studying this topic?

·       How do you plan to apply to your personal and occupational life what you have learned?

·       What did you learn about yourself from studying this topic?