Research and Methodology Inscription as a Liberating Practice

Aisha J. Brownlee
12:20-1:00
Last week’s freshman seminar lecture, given by Dr. Dana Williams, focused on the topic of research and methodology inscription as a liberating practice. Basically the lecture was on the importance of research and valuing its outcomes. The goal of the lecture was to gain an appreciation of research, offer independent discovery, and expand a commitment to academic excellence. This is essentially the focus of freshman seminar; this class assists students in developing issues in today’s society and being able to successfully conduct the research. I thought that Dr. Williams’s presentation on research was very informational and revealed to me the vitality of freshman seminar. This class was designed to aid the students in doing well organized and through work. Although my group hasn’t finished our research, I now know why it is important to know how to do research and how it is essential to every field of study. To summarize the rest of the lecture in relation to the research projects, the highlighted objectives were to identify principle components of research and relate them to the research question. For the group presentations, each group is to look at a specific challenge in relation to the research question. The basic components of research are vital in guiding how research should be done and good methods in finding research topics. Determining how you will address the research question is called methodology. This process is the method of data collection where one can collect information from a primary source, a secondary source, or an interdisciplinary source. The framework of the project is basically how the research is presented, whether as a report, presentation, or paper. Dr. Williams ended her lecture by stating some key facts in continuing our research projects, one, to know our limitations and two, ask ourselves what new insights the research reveals. This lecture highlighted many key concepts in conducting research and can be very helpful later on for future projects.

Research and Methodology Inscription as a Liberating Practice

La Brea Hill

Freshman Seminar   

    On last Monday, Dr. Dana Williams spoke on the subject of research and methodology. Her lecture as a whole, made the idea of the course much more reasonable and clear. To be honest I groaned at the fact I had to take the course, it didn’t seem relevant or to have any purpose for me. But once I was understood the goals that we are attempting to achieve while taking this course, I began to accept the course and make the most of it. Dr. Dana Williams discussed the purpose of our research as well as different ways that we should approach the research project. She gave us proper ways to research and different methods we could use when constructing a research so that it could be presented. She talked about the framework of research such as the structure, the presentation and whether it was scholarly or not. Dr. Williams gave an example of what the research should consist of and should look and general ideas of what we should aim for. She used our freshman seminar course as an example of a research topic (which made the course better to understand), by giving a thesis, and more information about what the course was designed to do for us as students. Some of the methodology that she instructed and s suggested that we took used was data and interview. The overall lecture was very helpful and gave much more reason to the course. Now, the next step is to achieve the goals that the course was designed for.

Research and Methodology: Inscription as a Liberating Practice

Faith N. Odigbo

Freshmen Seminar

Dr. Carr

12:10 -1:00

5 October 2010

Research and Methodology: Inscription as a Liberating Practice

Dr. Dana Williams had to be one of the best speakers we have had so far because she was clear and concise, got straight to the point, and she actually used her visual aid. Her presentation contained crucial information pertaining to our research project. Though she was the best speaker we had so far, in my opinion, the information she was presenting to the class was repetitive and some parts of the presentation would drag on for minutes, thus putting me to sleep or causing me to look in space. Dr. Dana Williams mentioned during her presentation that we should state the problem or the challenge foremost before we begin the presentation and with the statement we can acquire knowledge, solve a problem, or even inquire. Dr. Dana Williams mentioned that the statement should be as specific as possible to avoid a large scheme thus making the research process much longer then it needs to be. Then the next step is to consider the consider the state of the research project by indulging in reading other materials pertaining the subject, what information is needed in order to complete the research and to consider what has been said about the topic. Then conceptualize a research design, which basically is determining a method of data collecting, and which way will you present your presentation. Then the development of the thesis and the conclusion finishes the presentation. Dr. Dana Williams presentation was precise and contained important points that will not only help on this research project but for future research projects throughout our college career and beyond. The only thing I wished that Dr. Dana Williams did for her presentation was to make it more exciting I felt as though she merely was reading off her presentation and just reporting dry facts. I felt no excitement or any type of emotion in her voice but she did a good if not a better job then past speakers.

African Burial Ground

Faith N. Odigbo

Freshmen Seminar

Dr. Carr

4 October 2010

African Burial Ground

The trip to the African Burial Ground was interesting and was an eye opener for many people including myself. Though the journey to New York was long but it was so worth in the end. Once we arrived in New York, we entered the museum that was constructed in the honor of the four hundred and nineteen remains of slaves found in Lower Manhattan. There was a struggle for this museum to build and there is still fight today for the necessary funds to keep the museum running in tiptop order. The museum left some lingering questions in my mind such as why is the city more willing to fund some sports stadium instead of a museum that would help future generations to come with their history? This question baffled me but at the same time made me want to do something so that future generations would remember their history and what they can do to improve on their future. Even though the museum was interesting and quite heartbreaking to relive such a shameful period in American history. The trip would have been better if we had spent more time in the museum instead of on the bus or in Harlem. Harlem was also another quite exciting part of the trip but I wished I had spent more time in Manhattan because there is more to do in Manhattan and the stores are of a higher quality then in Harlem. The trip was an experience that I would never forget and that trip will forever be imprinted in my mind and will now shape my future for the better. Though the trip had many faults such as the short amount of time spent in the museum, spending more time in Harlem, and spending way too much time on that cramped bus but the overall trip was an experience that I will never forget.

African Burial Ground

  The trip to New York was so fascinating and so intriguing. From the museum to the people in the city, I enjoyed it all. The fact that I have never been to New York had a huge affect on my visit. When we arrived in New York I was excited, but I was most captivated by the African Burial Ground. Libations were interesting and the museum walls and facts were great but I was mostly interested in the movie that we viewed. We had a chance to listen to the researchers who started and worked on the project, we got to see how the people of New York reacted to the founding of the site, and we even got a story of what life would have been like for Africans and the burial ceremonies. One of my favorite things in the museum was the barrel that we were allowed to push, that thing was heavy! The fact that our ancestors pushed heavy barrels around all day showed such physical and mental strengthen. Now days I see blacks that don’t even lift a finger at all! The sad part about it is, I’m not sure of blacks are aware of such hard work and labor that their answers went through. But as a student, I believe that it is my responsibility to share with those who are not aware of our ancestral history. Now I bet if they knew that in Manhattan under what is now a museum, laid many of their ancestors, they would work like no other. They would learn to appreciate and honor the prices paid from them.

  After we left from the African Burial Ground, we were allowed to have free time. And although shopping and a little trip to Applebee’s was not very education, I did notice something while walking 125^th of Harlem. I noticed the culture! When we first arrived in Harlem, I compared it to downtown Los Angeles, California, due to the people, stores and shops. But when we got off that bus, there was something different about Harlem than Los Angeles; the people were more intact with the African culture. There were many gift ships on the street where people were selling African artifacts, rarely seen in LA. By the Apollo theatre there was a show where the children performed. The people were live! It seemed to me that Harlem was more united as a black culture than what I was used to in LA and that inspired me and made me fall in love with the city!

African Burial Ground

Aisha J. Brownlee
Monday 12:10-1:00
Last week’s trip to New York to see the African Burial ground was breath taking. Before this freshman seminar class I never heard of this story and the findings of Africans beneath Manhattan. I find it so incredible how before people were just building and building on top of the ancestors without knowing. The findings of these African people are so essential and have made a vital contribution to the historical memory of this country. I cannot fault blacks for wanting other black scholars to research the African people and I can say that I am proud to say that I am attending the school that helped make such a profound contribution to history. I connected deeply to the first part of the trip where we poured libations, paid respect to the ancestors. Africans are the ones who built this country and to be in the presence of those who made many sacrifices was moving and a very powerful moment. I think it so beautiful how after the research was done on them, the researchers put their bodies back into the ground and held a traditionally African burial for the ancestors. The only thing that I can say disappointed me was the fact that I wasn’t there to witness such a breakthrough in not only African history but American history as well. The second half of the trip where we went to Harlem was entertaining. I never thought of visiting Harlem but am thrilled that I was able to visit such a cultural place, with a lot of history and life. The trip to New York was such a remarkable cultural experience and the African Burial ground is a historical monument that should be visited by all.

Self-Actualization and Communal Responsibility

Aisha J. Brownlee
Monday 12:10-1:00
Last week’s freshman seminar was very captivating and exciting. Dr.Segun Gbadegesind spoke on self-actualization and communal responsibility. Self- actualization means reaching ones full potential and communal responsibility meaning receiving an education to contribute to the community. He began his lecture by telling the story of Iwa, meaning character. When one loses Iwa, their character, they lose everything, their worth, health, children. He used the concept of Iwa to help center his lecture finally concentrating in on the importance of education. With education one is not only bettering themselves but their communities as well. Iwa can be looked at from different perspectives in relation to achieving ones full potential to contribute to community. Iwa as ones existence is the responsibility to yourself and your community. Many ancestors continue to exist today through immortality because of their many scholarly contributions. Essentially leading to the concept that education is the immortality of the crown of existence. Because of the many sacrifices the ancestors made for blacks and others, their existence lives through our memories. We honor them by trying and expecting to receive nothing but a higher education. Having a quality education leads to one having good character, the greatest talisman. Dr. Segun Gbadegesind was a very motivating and enlightening speaker. His repetitiveness of stressing the importance of education is something that needs to be stressed and instilled in many individuals. One thing that someone can’t take from you is your knowledge and with knowledge comes historical memory. With historical knowledge and a drive for a quality education African Americans can attain self-actualization and spread the knowledge to others along with providing an impetus for others to pursue the knowledge of the ancestors. I was very inspired by Dr. Gbadegesind lecture which reinforced the significance of receiving an education.

Self Actualization and Communal Responsibility

la Brea Hil

     “A man of character is a man of wealth.” This was a quote that Dr. Segun Gbadegesin used on Mondays freshman seminar class, when discussing the topic of Self Actualization and Communal Responsibility. Dr. Gbadegesin started his lecture of with a story about a girl name Iwa, character. The stories purpose was to simply inspire and show how having character and building character is very important for us as students and as blacks. The lecture based was based on this whole concept of character which shows to be the foundation of our ancestors. He goes on to say that “good character is beauty; good character is greatest talisman good character is essence of religion. I was really thrilled by the cultural performance. I think that the music and clothing that Dr. Gbadegesin showed us was very interesting and made me feel more involved as a student. “A man of character is a man of wealth,” this quote was the most important to me and grabbed my attention the most. I think that this is important because character defines who you are and what others will see you to be. When people describe you, they will describe your character quality, that’s why it’s important to build good character. You’re a person of wealth when you have character because character is something that makes you successful and no matter what happen it’s something that no one can take away but yourself. As students we should realize the importance in our character and in who we are. We obviously have some sort of character if we made it this far, but we must continue to build on it and take more notice of it.