Journal: Reflections and Observations

                                                                                                                   March 17, 2003
Writing the research paper has been the hardest part of the Senior Project.  I am hoping that the oral presentation is easier then the paper. This paper has basically taken up the whole third quarter.   In my English class we have been going to the library and researching. Clint Hopkins has been a big help in the research department. He went to Union College, and studied outdoor recreation.  Clint had many articles and was one of my biggest resources. The research portion was not that hard but just time consuming. After gathering all the research needed I started to write the paper.  First my introduction, and then the rest of the paragraphs followed. It made it much easier to write my paper after doing all the tedious research. To make sure that we were writing our papers and not procrastinating, Mrs. Abrahamson and Mrs. Bensusan made deadlines for us to go by. I am glad that they made deadlines for us because I know I would have been stress out on the last day before the real deadline. Mrs. Bensusan was a very big help, she was always reading my paper, making corrections and suggests. It was helpful to me when someone else read my paper not knowing a lot about outdoor recreation. Mrs. Abrahamson would read my paper and express that she was non clear about the definition of outdoor recreation. I have gone through many rough drafts, a least a half a dozens. There are always corrects and suggests beings made.  I am looking forward to turning in the best paper I can and passing!  After my paper is done I am going to celebrate! 

I have learned so much about writing papers.  This experience was long and hard but it was worth it.  I learned that if you take time to find good research before beginning a paper, it will be easier to write.  Also, I found how important it is to get someone else opinion of your paper. I am glad the research paper is almost over and I can then start working on my oral presentation.