#fulllsailuniversity

Going into this course by what the title of it is, I thought it would be more of a research based course on how to research content we choose to write about. While that was a focus of the course, I feel the course is less about the research aspects and more about the investigative nature of journalism. Knowing how to find and use sources, how to interview people, and how to put out well founded content is what this course is really about. So, between my expectations of the course and what it really turned out to be, I was pleasantly surprised. The class is great at helping us find our niche in the topic we have chosen to focus on. 

I feel like the most helpful thing I learned in this course is to plan ahead. Interviews and planning a detailed well written article takes time. I think if everyone knows what topics they want to write about and outlines articles ahead of time, there is a better chance of the content turning out well. In the future I hope to use what I learned about investigative journalism, interviewing, and researching topics to better the content I am producing. I think this course has done a good job of preparing me to use what I know and how to look up what I don’t in the correct manner. 

The one issue I have that I became aware of because of this course and a previous course was that I was confused about what the program is trying to get us to do. I think we are not aware that we are trying to build a portfolio of work all based upon one selected topic. The NMJ program needs a class or section that helps students find their focus for the program as a whole. Students need to be able to sit down with someone who teaches the courses and plan out their path leading up to these classes I am taking now. The confusion I originally faced of not knowing what I was working towards has been relieved by a simple discussion with the course Instructor who was able to point me in the direction I was trying to go, but couldn’t see how to get to it.

I developed an interest in the written word while in high school, having spent two out of those four years as a Library Aide. I became fascinated with the idea of character creation and began writing just for fun. I continued writing through my teen years and into my college career, although, my writing was never a major focus until more recently. I am an extremely motivated and creative person who is constantly trying to develop my skills and grow professionally. I feel the best way to do this is to continue my educational journey and to learn more about myself through my writing. 

So, you may be asking yourself... how does one go from the social sciences to the humanities so easily? Sociology, which I have my Bachelor’s degree in, is all about people and how they work within their environment. When writing a story and creating a character, the author has to know who that person will be within the plot and what they will become.

The journey to my Master’s Degree is all about learning the ins and outs of writing in a creative and socially driven society. Social media has made it possible for an author of a book to promote a story in the blink of an eye, a video game writer to showcase their newest character profile to millions of people worldwide at the click of a button, and it has given readers the ability to comment and interact with their favorite article writers without having to send a slow snail mail letter through the post. Can you imagine going back to the days when book reviews were only published in newspapers and video games didn’t even have their footing yet? Our world, and therefore the writing world, are mutually dependent upon the interactions of humanity and society. I have learned so much about myself and my writing through my experiences.