I&S: Constitutional Monarchy Essay

Should We Keep or Abolish Constitutional Monarchies?

This essay also contributes to the investigation mark. We were provided with 6 sources where opinions and supporting facts, details, and examples are available. We were not required to look at other sites or sources. I read all the sites and decided what information justifies why or not we should abolish constitutional monarchies. Then, I take those points down in my research notes. We were supposed to have different sections for the research notes from each source. I completed my research part without asking a question or checking if I was on the right track.

My high-lighted research notes and my essay planner

What I then do was chose my side by deciding which side of the argument was more convincing. I decided we should keep constitutional monarchies. Next, I picked out all the points that convinced me, making sure I not only had the reasons, but also the facts. I categorised the points into three for my three main body paragraphs. Afterwards, I picked out some reasons we should abolish constitutional monarchies. The ones I picked out were relevant to my main points. This way, I was looking at both sides and using my reasons and facts to blow their point. Once again, I went through this process without any help. All I did was the process I mentioned.

The day the essay was due, we were to write the essay from start-to-finish in an 80-minute class.

   

I got 8/8 for Investigating, 7/8 for Communicating, and 7/8 for Thinking Critically. I thought it was a really good grade for an essay to be researched and planned in a week and written in a class. I am not a very quick person, but I completed it well all by myself. My self-confidence once again increased.

I&S: Religion Research Project

Zoroastrian Religion Research Project - Self Confidence

   

The Zoroastrian Religion Research project was a big project. My partner was Umair and we had 17 pages of research notes and a 20-page (with bigger fonts and spaces) report for Zoroastrianism. The whole process really tested and challenged my self-confidence.

We had to go through processes of searching for sources. One of which we chose to have an interview with a Zoroastrian man from the Parsi Zoroastrian Association of Singapore. Umair arranged the meetings and I planned some questions of what I wanted to know more or clarify. It was a nervous interview since it was face to face and it was only me and the man. And I knew it would be nervous for me. However, I thought it was a more reliable source of information, with the convenience of asking and getting a direct answer. Therefore, I took the risk. It turned out I learnt from the experience of preparing and interviewing someone for the first time. A different type of source also made our research more interesting. Thus, it had a great effect and encourage me to take more risks.

Also, it was a long process of researching. Just reading all our sources and taking down important notes took up ~2 weeks at least. I asked about skipping repeated information, the approximate length of our research. But otherwise, I listened to the instructions in class and was mostly researching by myself, trusting myself the rest of the time.

In the end, we had to write it up. I listened to instructions about how it should be arranged into sections (history, beliefs, rituals...). But then, I wrote it up without help. I picked out the most important points and information, arranged them into even smaller categories and paragraphs. Wrote it in a fluent and understandable format, and added in a couple of pictures with captions. I also constantly reminded my partner. So it was a very individual process that relied on my ability, concentration, and also my self-confidence.

In the end, I received 7/8 for knowing and understanding, 8/8 for investigating, 7.5 for communicating. It was a very good grade, and I realized how well I can do something on my own. Therefore, my self-confidence increased in the end of this Religion Research Project for Zoroastrianism.

Report:
https://docs.google.com/a/huskymail.cis.edu.sg/document/d/1wWHAfakqs-mCpWeIUtzKrPtiD3iFHmTIHj6rY_N1QY4/edit?usp=sharing

Research:
https://docs.google.com/a/huskymail.cis.edu.sg/document/d/1VFbF-3sJtCRoz5f-1Z8eh6J-4FJ7zcGjutx2Z4ETo8U/edit?usp=sharing

Action plan:
https://docs.google.com/a/huskymail.cis.edu.sg/document/d/13eRtTihFsX8Sg7rsYZgPXc13UCwydSUx6KeCS6KEuiU/edit?usp=sharing