Wrapping Up Our Project
We have conducted several interviews from community members during our clean up days. We have data that will need to be analyzed in order for future classes to continue research with the Washington Park community. On another note, we as a class are putting together a paper and two panel presentations to present at the Midwest Sociological Society conference that will take place in Omaha Nebraska this spring. With this in mind, I thought chapter 28 would be the most beneficial for this blog post!
Writing Up for Social Research:
Although some of us have written research papers in the past, writing for research you have conducted on your own may come with some difficulty. I know I am personally going to start writing my thesis this spring, so I found this chapter very helpful! I think learning about the different section of scientific research writings could also benefits those outside of this class. It could help people navigate the journals and writings in a quick and easy way to get the most out of it.
The main sections of the writing consist of
Abstract: A brief summary of your writings as a whole
Introduction: Explanation of what you’re writing about and its importance. This should make readers aware of topics that will be discussed throughout paper.
Literature Review: Includes current knowledge from other research publications on your topic. Will pull from multiple sources and publications.
Research Methods: The steps you took to complete your research. Although you are explaining the steps your take, you should not list it as a step-by-step process.
Results: a presentation of your findings. Although don’t mistake this for the place where you explain reasons for these results.
Discussion: Go into detail on results in this section. This does not mean you need to include ALL your results, but the ones that support your research questions. This is where you will interpret and explain your results.
Conclusion: Relate your findings to the research questions you have!
Appendices:Any additional materials you may need to include (questionnaire, letters, etc.)
References: Include all your publications that you have cited in your text here in this section.
Although this video does not have all the components discussed in this chapter it is quick and informative on the parts it does cover!
Questions:
Is there a part of your own research paper that intimidates you the most?
What is a part of your own writing process that you’d like to share with other writers?
Wrap Up:
Over the course of the semester we have done a lot of work in helping Derissa prepare for the community garden. We completed two clean up days, and I’ll admit after the first one, I was worried we wouldn’t get done in time. After the second clean up, my perspective completely changed. So much amazing progress was made during the second clean up, that I think with the continuance of these successful clean up days the garden will be ready for planting by late spring 2020! I think we have made a lot of good connections with the community so far, and we want to continue to build this relationship to ensure the completion of the garden and the research that comes with it. We want to prepare the next set of students to ensure their success for next semester.
Check out our Facebook page to see the progress made during the two cleanups!
https://www.facebook.com/tinysgarden618/?ref=br_rs
Questions:
What do you think is the most important thing we can leave for the future students?
What is one personal piece of advice would you give to the next set of students?
What is something you would like to see done by the end of next semester May 2020?
What is something you would like to help with in the future of the garden?
The work we did this semester was more than just a class assignment for me. Helping Darissa was a way to connect with a community and meet new people. I also gained skills and experience that I wouldn’t be able to gain in the classroom, because the class was about applied sociological methods (community based participatory research, CBPR). I am grateful for my time spent in Washington Park and I look forward to being there for putting in the planting beds. My advice to the next set of students is to take the project seriously and you won’t regret the hard work.
In the future of the garden, even though we will not be in this class anymore I would like to be able to return and help out. It would be nice to come back when the building and planting begins to not only help but also be able to see the progress that has been done. I think it is important that even though there will be future classes that will come in and take over, that we as a class try to keep up the relationship and continue to come out when we can and help in any way that we can.
What I’d like to advise future students and people in general is that you should always go into a project with an open mind. It makes it easier for you to learn about your topic and its issues; build connections with your fellow researchers and or others involved and it makes the project more enjoyable. Although it may be stressful at that moment, remind yourself why you are doing this and how it can potentially benefit the community (if project is similar to the Tiny’s Children Garden.)
What I love about participating in this process of building a garden is that it helps me step out into the community and gain knowledge/experience as to how I can make a difference in the world. This is a great way to challenge yourself and get out of your shell socially.
By the end of May 2020 I would like to see a groundbreaking happening on the garden with beds begging to be raised. For the future students, I would recommend to have clear goals set at the beginning of the semester. The most important thing we can leave for future students is the notion that this is work that matters to a community.
I think the most important thing we can leave for students is advice on how to approach the garden and the people who are impacted by the garden. Get to know the community and get engaged with why people want and need the garden. This project will also open your eyes to the reality of food deserts in our area, and how to best approach food deserts.
At the end of April 2020, I would like to see the construction work take place in the garden and to get to see a clearer image of what Derrisa imagined the garden to be like. I would also hope to see better community engagement and to reach up as many members as we could from the Washington Park community. My advice for the next set of students is to incorporate their skills, talents, interests to the project,
I am very excited to stay engaged with the garden even if it isn’t in a formal way. I would love to help Derissa and Kenneth with developing and implementing fundraisers going forward.
My personal piece of advice to leave to the next group of students would be to really get involved and do not take your actions lightly. This is a real project, a real garden, and real lives are being affected.