Josiah Prejean
I chose to write this research essay about investing in stocks because it is something that directly affects people’s financial futures, especially in a world where technology is making investing more accessible than ever. I was inspired by how often people my age hear about money, wealth, and the stock market without fully understanding how it works or why it’s important. I wanted to find how investing has changed over time and explain why it is no longer limited to wealthy people or banks. My goal was to make the topic feel engaging and understandable, while also showing why it is an important skill in today’s society.
This essay reflects universal ideas such as financial independence, access to opportunity, and the impact of technology on day-to-day life. A key theme I explore is how advancements in technology have reduced barriers, allowing more people to participate in investing and potentially build wealth through the stock market. Another important issue is economic inequality. Historically, investing was limited to those with resources or connections, but now apps and digital tools are changing that. The essay also touches on responsibility and risk, since investing can create opportunities but also involves uncertainty and decision making.
One of my main choices was to organize the essay in a logical, explanatory way that moves from general ideas to more detailed explanations. I began by introducing how investing has become more accessible, then explained key concepts like dividends and stock value, and finally discussed the role of technology and its broader effects. This structure helps connect specific financial ideas to larger ideas about economic growth and accessibility. I also used a formal and informative style, including technical explanations and even a formula, to make the essay feel credible and research based instead of opinion based. These details help show the depth of the topic while still connecting back to the larger theme of opportunity.
During my writing process, I relied on informational sources such as articles, and financial explanations as mentor texts to guide my tone and structure through research on google scholar. One challenge I faced was balancing technical detail with clarity and finding more current information. Some concepts, like dividends or interest rates, can become confusing if overexplained, so I had to revise sections to make them easier to understand without losing accuracy. I overcame this by breaking down ideas step-by-step and using examples where I could. In the future, I would focus on improving transitions between paragraphs and possibly simplifying some of the more complex sentences to make the essay more readable for a wider audience for greater comprehension without dumbing it down too much to where it seems too childish.
In one section where I explain how technology allows people to trade stocks from their phones, I made specific choices in pacing and voice. I slowed the pacing slightly by listing examples ,such as apps and accessibility features, to emphasize how much easier investing has become. The narrative distance remains formal and somewhat distant simultaneously , since this is a research essay rather than a personal narrative, but I still tried to connect to the reader by using inclusive language like “people” and “individuals.” The voice is informative and objective, which helps build trust and allows the reader to focus on understanding the concepts rather than the writer’s personal opinion.
From working on this essay, I learned not only about investing but also about how to communicate complex ideas clearly. I realized the importance of organization, especially when explaining topics that involve both technical details and broader themes. This project also helped me understand how writing can make complicated subjects more accessible to others. Overall, I improved my ability to research, explain, and connect ideas, and I now see how writing can be used to inform people about real-world topics that impact their daily lives.