The theme that I chose for my research paper is a research paper that I previously wrote in my ENG 102 class last semester. In this paper, I was to psychoanalyze the main character from the short story “Bartleby the Scrivener” and come up with at least three possible diagnoses for this character, using the DSM-IV and one more alternate source. The reason why I decided to re-write this paper is because my researching skills are very poor and even though I was given an “A” in my paper, I wish I could have done a better job in my research.
Since we first started reading this short story, I was very positive about the possible fact that the professor was going to make us do some psychological studies on the character, because he was always mentioning the word “disorder.” This of course was very exciting for me since my major is psychology. I was looking forward to my final paper because I wanted it to force me to do research on my field. However, the professor decided to give us a copy of the DSM-IV because he “realized” how difficult the assignment could turn without it. After having the diagnosis book with me, I realized that it had everything I needed to diagnose this character, so I felt very frustrated because I felt any other source I found was going to be unnecessary. Then I found a source, a little article of a writer who made some comments on the story, and that was all my research.
By re-writing this paper, I want to prove to myself that not only I can become a good researcher, but that the more information I find, the more convincing my points of view will be. The information that I’m looking forward to find are articles of points of views of psychologists and other writers that I can either refute or agree with. Also take a deep look at the story’s author and try to see if this story is just fiction or is in fact a projection of his own life.
Hey! I think you have an organize blog but I think you talked more about how you did your paper for 102 and not so much about what you want to write for your research paper. I suggest that to make it more narrow you can just talk about some psychologist or one you agree with.
ReplyDeleteI think revisiting a paper, especially after a fair amount of time has passed is always fascinating. A good instructor/teacher would give a 101 student an A, yet the might give a lesser grade to a more advanced student or class. This is how we grow as students/
ReplyDeleteI have reread some papers I wrote that I got very strong marks on, and I often found them to be lacking in something or I found myself thinking "I should have done more of this or less of that. Suffice to say I am a big fan of reviewing and revisitng a paper. The DSM-IV is also a fluid text, always being updated and reviewed, as psychology is not a precise science.
Have you considered interviews with mental health professionals for your papaer? You could also advertise on one of the many social networking sites for patients and people who suffer from various mental illnesses and see if they will consent to being interviewed anonymously.
This seems like a very interesting idea. Keep in narrow (as you seem to be doing) - maybe there is an ongoing debate about a character's issues (autism vs. mute; sociopathic vs. sadist) that you could explore and then make a case for.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your comments. I am really keeping all of what you guys are telling me in mind. I am really glad that you took the time to comment on my proposal and I am also very glad that I decided to re-write this paper because the more information I find about Herman Melville (author of "Bartleby the Scrivener") the more fascinated about it I become.
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