Working on research for a service learning project is quite different than researching for the family project. Of course, I am more emotionally detached from the service learning, but it doesn't mean it is any less exciting to be working on this. In some ways, it actually makes it easier to work on the research because I don't get as caught up on the "rabbit trails." I know what specific things I'm looking for so I don't tend to become distracted with something else or get off track.
In chapter four, we discussed spaces and how our connection to Lake James is not really there because of not visiting the lake. I think it depends on what part of the project we are each working on to the extent of how important that connection would be. I don't feel that I necessarily need to see the lake, because my greatest connection is with the early maps and early pictures of the lake. The time period I am researching is so early that seeing the lake as it is currently won't be as relevant as it would for some of the other project parts. If I was working on the bands then I would want to see the dance hall because it does provide an additional connection especially to the writing. Having the presentation from Jim and Flaim did help with learning some things about the lake and even seeing the few pictures they had in the presentation helped quite a bit.
My part of the project has very little information from Jim and Flaim. I was given two names of books and one little note on a letter about the name of the surveyor. I was able to find two books, one of which was listed in the folder. I am hoping to find much needed information in the James Riley biography, but I am finding that trying to match up names of places is confusing without some earlier maps. The challenge in this piece is the period of the early 1800s. It is early enough that not much is written on Lake James. The rivers apparently were more important at that time. I found a book that had been written on a different lake and they even had the Indian name for that lake. It would be nice to even find that additional information on Lake James and include that too in the early history of the lake.
Putting together the proposal of what I want to accomplish for the Lake James project has helped me to have some structure for this project. I will keep a running log on resources that I am looking at for information in case anyone later needs to go back for a second look. This will also help prevent duplication on looking for sources of information.
I have been thinking about ideas for the "product" for the LJSP, but it is hard to come up with a commonality at this point with the ten different pieces. Perhaps when we are a little further along and start taking a look at where everyone is at with the pieces, it will be easier to brainstorm some ideas. Right now it sounds like most everyone is organizing the information if there is enough of it, or researching if information is lacking.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Service Learning Project
I think a service learning project can incorporate many different areas not just in literacy with children as a learning project might typically have. Any group that has a need to be met by working with faculty and students can provide an opportunity for a service learning project. The Lake James project is unique because we are working with different parameters. We aren't involved in the field at the lake with the lake people with the exception of two lake residents. We do have opportunities for research and writing in a different way. I agree with whoever mentioned in class that using this different approach provides another viewpoint. We are outsiders helping put together insider information.
The unifying theme for our service learning project is Lake James, but it is also the people that had lived there in the early years and made it into the community that it is today. Jim and Flaime gave a great overview on Lake James. Giving us the subjects with folders of some information is a good start on trying to figure out what is needed. I think we also need some boundaries or an idea of the parameters in this project. Four of the subject areas deal with either certain people or groups of people. What are the time frames of research on these people? Are we dealing with pre-Lake James settlement up to the 1940's as an example?
How much early history do Jim and Flaime want? Are each of the folder subjects going to be a chapter that they want in their book? Is the surveyor Riley going to be a chapter or will he just be part of an early history chapter? Or does that depend on how much can be found on Riley?
If we wrote about a person traveling about Lake James in a story format visting each folder subject area, maybe the person could visit an old-timer while visiting the lake to hear the story about Riley and the Indians and any other events that didn't line up in time with the bands, trains and camps. We could even use one of the family members from the two families that are in the folders.
It seems like there are several different ways to write the information, but it really should be what Jim and Flaime are planning for their end product. I think once we have some more guidelines especially since we are on a time crunch, it will help everything flow smoother hopefully into the same direction. I plan on bringing some questions tomorrow for the first night of research.
The unifying theme for our service learning project is Lake James, but it is also the people that had lived there in the early years and made it into the community that it is today. Jim and Flaime gave a great overview on Lake James. Giving us the subjects with folders of some information is a good start on trying to figure out what is needed. I think we also need some boundaries or an idea of the parameters in this project. Four of the subject areas deal with either certain people or groups of people. What are the time frames of research on these people? Are we dealing with pre-Lake James settlement up to the 1940's as an example?
How much early history do Jim and Flaime want? Are each of the folder subjects going to be a chapter that they want in their book? Is the surveyor Riley going to be a chapter or will he just be part of an early history chapter? Or does that depend on how much can be found on Riley?
If we wrote about a person traveling about Lake James in a story format visting each folder subject area, maybe the person could visit an old-timer while visiting the lake to hear the story about Riley and the Indians and any other events that didn't line up in time with the bands, trains and camps. We could even use one of the family members from the two families that are in the folders.
It seems like there are several different ways to write the information, but it really should be what Jim and Flaime are planning for their end product. I think once we have some more guidelines especially since we are on a time crunch, it will help everything flow smoother hopefully into the same direction. I plan on bringing some questions tomorrow for the first night of research.
Final thoughts on the Family Project
The family project was quite a learning experience. I learned that research is fun, but very time-consuming. Well documented notes and well organized notes make the job easier when you start writing. When I was putting together the project, I had trouble lining up the graphics with my text in Microsoft Word. Everytime I made a small change, the whole thing would change. I searched on the Web for some ideas on how to publish this book for the family and found that software from Adobe might have worked better for me in putting this project together. I will certainly keep that in mind though I would need some practice in using the Adobe software.
I think that in retrospect, I wish I had kept my writing on this project to be about one person instead of two. The short time was a factor and while I was able to accomplish most of what was in my proposal, I felt that I shorted myself on the final editing of the project. This project was bigger than I had anticipated so I spent too much time just putting it together. I think my family will be happy with the project. I did have fun learning how to research genealogy and putting what I learned together in a story. I would like to continue this and write other stories about family members as memoirs to them.
I think that in retrospect, I wish I had kept my writing on this project to be about one person instead of two. The short time was a factor and while I was able to accomplish most of what was in my proposal, I felt that I shorted myself on the final editing of the project. This project was bigger than I had anticipated so I spent too much time just putting it together. I think my family will be happy with the project. I did have fun learning how to research genealogy and putting what I learned together in a story. I would like to continue this and write other stories about family members as memoirs to them.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
research and writing
Putting together the research is more difficult than it seems like it would be. Organizing the writing is what gives me trouble and trying to figure out what is the best way to present the material I have collected. As I have been writing this draft, I am finding when I go back through research notes, that I have inadvertently left facts or something out that I wanted to put in the story. So even after a draft has been written, it is a good idea to recheck notes to make sure all has been included from the notes that a person wants into the project.
I have found most of my stories from family members line up with each other. There has been a couple of recalled memories of individuals that have varied some. I attribute that to the perspective of each person that I have interviewed. My uncle didn't remember some things my mother remembered and he remembered some things differently or from a different angle. Of course, being at different ages when events happened, being a different gender, and being in a different position within the family all contributes to the varying factors.
I have found too that I have too much material in graphics and other documentation that won't fit into the project. So I need to weed out what really isn't necessary. I'm not sure how to handle the documentation and citing or if I do need to cite. I will probably use footnotes on some things in the project. Because this is a story more than straight genealogy, I don't want to lose the audience in too much citing of sources or even footnotes.
Accuracy seems to be a problem in genealogical research. I have found names can have several spellings and many people are named the same in same time periods. I have also found dates can be off and that can throw off finding information too. I have one great-aunt that appears to have died when she was three, but I have an interview that states without a doubt that aunt was alive and well until she was an old lady. So somehow, the dates or the name is wrong.
I wish I had more time. One thing I have noticed about research is that it is never done. As I have interviewed more people or found more information, something else will come up that needs a follow up. I receive tidbits when I interview of leads to pursue for either possible pictures or more information, but it all takes time to track people down and to track events. I'm not sure how complete this project should be before I print copies and distribute to my audience. I'm thinking that whatever I have done at the deadline will be good enough to make it be final just so I can get it printed and out to people. Otherwise, I think something like this is never really finished because something else will always surface. There has to be a cut off place at some point in order to even have a finished product.
This is really fun though despite my complaints about the research. It is like a jigsaw puzzle and each piece gives another part that was missing before. Maybe it won't be possible to complete the whole picture with each piece, but even having a mostly complete puzzle is exciting. I have found so much information that I didn't know before and found this in just 8 weeks. That is pretty amazing.
I have found most of my stories from family members line up with each other. There has been a couple of recalled memories of individuals that have varied some. I attribute that to the perspective of each person that I have interviewed. My uncle didn't remember some things my mother remembered and he remembered some things differently or from a different angle. Of course, being at different ages when events happened, being a different gender, and being in a different position within the family all contributes to the varying factors.
I have found too that I have too much material in graphics and other documentation that won't fit into the project. So I need to weed out what really isn't necessary. I'm not sure how to handle the documentation and citing or if I do need to cite. I will probably use footnotes on some things in the project. Because this is a story more than straight genealogy, I don't want to lose the audience in too much citing of sources or even footnotes.
Accuracy seems to be a problem in genealogical research. I have found names can have several spellings and many people are named the same in same time periods. I have also found dates can be off and that can throw off finding information too. I have one great-aunt that appears to have died when she was three, but I have an interview that states without a doubt that aunt was alive and well until she was an old lady. So somehow, the dates or the name is wrong.
I wish I had more time. One thing I have noticed about research is that it is never done. As I have interviewed more people or found more information, something else will come up that needs a follow up. I receive tidbits when I interview of leads to pursue for either possible pictures or more information, but it all takes time to track people down and to track events. I'm not sure how complete this project should be before I print copies and distribute to my audience. I'm thinking that whatever I have done at the deadline will be good enough to make it be final just so I can get it printed and out to people. Otherwise, I think something like this is never really finished because something else will always surface. There has to be a cut off place at some point in order to even have a finished product.
This is really fun though despite my complaints about the research. It is like a jigsaw puzzle and each piece gives another part that was missing before. Maybe it won't be possible to complete the whole picture with each piece, but even having a mostly complete puzzle is exciting. I have found so much information that I didn't know before and found this in just 8 weeks. That is pretty amazing.
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