Because the semester is coming to an end, it means that the research paper will be due soon. For many of us, this is a scary thought! We have worked so hard all semester to ensure that we do a good job on it. Right now, I am working on the analysis and conclusion aspect of my paper. This part has been very difficult and I am nervous that I will not write it thorough enough.
The analysis and conclusion are so difficult because you have to rely on the interviews you have conducted with people knowledgeable on the subject area. Once you connect with these people and they are willing to speak with you, it is not too difficult to interview them and get the necessary information for the analysis. But, it is the contacting part of the interview that is hard to achieve. Many of these people have busy work schedules that often conflict with our schedules for the Washington Semester Program seminars and our internships. The seminars and my internship consume much of my day from the early morning to sometimes 5:00pm. Therefore, it is difficult to set these meeting times. Even if we do have spare moments in our schedules, some of these people are unwilling to speak to us. I have noticed this with my topic because it includes information that is considered confidential for many police departments. Many are hesitant to discuss reforms they have implemented and how they feel about the system.
I spoke to a teacher here at American University who was very helpful and provided me with relevant information on my topic. He has written a book on the subject I am studying, so it was helpful that he had done much research himself. It was even more beneficial because he provided me with additional sources to read to learn more. This part of the analysis should be a solid inclusion to my paper. This weekend I will spend most of my time writing the paper, so I hope the weather is not too nice where I feel like I am missing out on a great adventure throughout D.C.!
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