Becky+Cardinali+RP+Post+1

RP Post #1

I: Presentation of research findings II: The pursuit of new knowledge III: Background and early knowledge IV: The rationale
 * I am leaning toward writing an extended definition paper. The paper will be a contribution to an unending conversation about my topic.
 * I want to write this type of paper because I am interested in delving into a question that does not have, and never will have, a concrete answer. The paper will be an examination of many sources that helps bring forth more clarity or a deeper understanding of the topic, even though there will never be a finished conclusion. I want to write an extended definition paper because I think it fits the research question I want to learn more about. I think this type of paper is adaptable and broad, but just to make sure, can an extended definition paper seek to add to the discussion of the topic and define several parts of the process revolving around a topic rather than clearly trying to define just one concept? Basically I am going to use the broad outline of an extended definition paper to answer my research question in a way that best fits.
 * Such an approach serves the important functions of adding to the larger conversation about a topic, bringing to light perspectives that may not be obvious or well known, combining research from multiple sources and points of view, clarifying ways of thinking, and providing the reader with a deeper understanding of the topic.
 * **What does it take to be remembered?**
 * How does the idea of being remembered differ on a large scale compared to a small scale?
 * How does one's ideal audience affect how they want to be remembered?
 * Are people more likely to be remembered for positive or negative contributions to society?
 * This topic is very broad so I have some ideas about where it could go. I know that people can be famous and infamous. There is a key difference between being remembered for positive contributions to society in comparison to being remembered for negative contributions to society, but people who have both types of impacts are famous nonetheless. I know that there is a well known quote that says something along the lines of "People say you die twice: once when you take your last breath and a second time when your name is said for the last time." The topic deals with the idea of leaving a legacy and being remembered after death, but I also want to deal with the topic in the short term. Smaller scale scenarios of being remembered and standing out can also fall under this unending discussion.
 * Early findings
 * According to wikiHow (http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Remembered-After-You-Die), the 6 steps to being remembered after you die are to get published, become a politician, invent, excel, start something, and gift something.
 * According to http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2013/08/21/the-best-five-tricks-to-remember-names/, almost 85% of adults who are middle aged and older forget names. So the person one wants to be remembered by plays a role in what it takes to be remembered by someone.
 * I like this question because it is something I have thought about on more than one occasion in more than one context. It's applicable and interesting to me. I really want to research this question because I can see a lot of directions where it may go. I think it relates to much more than just being remembered after death. Being remembered by someone really highlights key concepts of human interaction. Of course someone would remember things about someone they really care about. So what does it take for someone to care about you enough to remember you in the short term and the long term?
 * My motivation is based on both personal experience and personal interest. I think almost every student has had that awkward moment when they see a teacher they had several years back and, upon waving and saying hello, the student realizes that the teacher is trying to act friendly and enthusiastic while uncomfortably hiding the fact that they have no idea what the student's name is and only a blurry idea of what year they had the student in class. It interests me to find out after literary, experiential, empirical, and real-world research what it takes to have an impact on someone enough to be remembered by them.
 * I can see a large variety of directions that this work might go once research is underway. It is definitely evident that this is a broad topic. Being remembered depends on who the person is that will be remembered, who they are looking to be remembered by, and how they want to be remembered. The research could focus on fame or infamy, on being remembered by family or by the entire world. Monuments and documentation could come into question as well as the extent of the brain's capability to remember things over extended periods of time. I will have to choose one of these various directions to focus on once research is underway.
 * One worry I have is that the topic is definitely too broad. Hopefully, after further research, I will be able to narrow down the topic and look to answer a more specific question. Right now, my approach is basically to read as much about the topic as I can and hopefully be able to narrow down my findings after that. This plan which lacks structure may not be the best, especially considering the time constraints, but I'm hoping to actually learn a lot and gain epiphanies, and hopefully be able to create and crisp and concise thesis after that.
 * I care about this topic because I have thought about it a lot. One said but true reality that I have come to realize is that a teacher can have an extremely large impact on a student, but to that teacher, the student is nothing more than another one in one hundred fifty students who, after a while, lose their individuality and all blend together into one huge group. The fact that I will meet so many people in my life who will later forget me is alarmingly true. But the world doesn't revolve around me, so it makes sense. I'm curious to learn about the impacts that people can have on one another. I know I was on vacation once, and I really enjoyed this one tour, and the tour guides had a large impact on my positive experience. But of course to them, I was just another one in thousands of tourists and easily forgettable. As Ron Swanson described Justin in the wonderful television series //Parks and Recreation//, some people are just tourists, going around and barging into people's lives, having positive impacts on them, then moving on to the next group of people, never really caring enough to stick with one group. I want to explore people's desires to choose who they really want to care about and remember.