Blog Post #4

Throughout this research process, I have learned many different things. Looking back on the research I have accomplished, I have come to a better understanding of different venues of religious thought. As I have come to a completion with this specific research topic, many more curiosities have come up. Some of the extended curiosities I have are what other religions have many themes in young adult fiction novels? I am also curious about the similarities between the Bible and other religious texts. It would be really interesting to see these different correlations.

During my research process, there were a lot of uncertainties with the topic, such as choosing themes that were not too universal. To combat this, I did extensive research on other themes that had been chosen in previous research done to eliminate anything that was too broad or too centralized and obscure. I also had some uncertainties with interpreting some themes in the novels that I read. To help with this, if I was uncertain about whether or not the paragraph or sentence I was reading contained a theme, I would highlight it in a separate color, flag it, and come back to it after I had finished reading the novel. This helped me to determine whether or not it counted as a theme by also better understanding the novel as a whole and, therefore, the intentions of the author.

As I reach the end of my research process, I have come to cherish the many things I have learned throughout the journey. I have learned to be very patient and to not get too disappointed with the lengthy and slow process. I have also learned that it is a great encouragement to be able to look back and see all the progress I have made. Optimism was one of the most important aspects of my research because it was easier to keep going and give myself encouragement than to get frustrated or distraught. I also learned that research does not usually go exactly as planned, and that is okay. Trying again and making efforts to go around the obstacles that come with the research has been a good skill that I have learned and that I can use for the rest of my research career and my life.