Aliou Cisse
FIQWS
Professor Sara Jacobson

In this reflection paper, I will reflect on my experience drafting my exploratory essay for my FIQWS class.

The day when the teacher assigned us the exploratory essay, I was very anxious about it, I had no idea what it was, I never heard of anything called an EXPLORATORY ESSAY in my 4 years of high school. Drafting a six-page essay on my own seemed stressful, especially given my hectic schedule. Honestly, I was afraid that I would fail this class since the essay is a major part of the final grade. All these thoughts were cycling in my head till I started the first paragraph. Surprisingly, I discovered that it was not as complex as I had initially imagined. Through this experience, I delved into the style of analyzing and synthesizing evidence, a skill I had always struggled with. I also discovered that I am a procrastinator because I waited until the first draft was approaching, and then I started. I also realized that I need to work on how to properly cite a source.

With the essay, I learned how to analyze and synthesize evidence in a well-structured style instead of just repeating what the evidence says. In my high school years, my teacher always used to tell me that I needed to work on my analysis because often, I do not analyze the evidence that I provide, instead I just repeat the evidence. With this essay, I was going through a stage where I was incredibly careful with the analytics, and I realized that great analysis is more than just presenting the information; it is about revealing something new, providing detailing something new, and improving the overall narrative.

The exploratory essay was a phenomenal experience because it helped me delve into the world of media and its significant impact on influencing public opinion. The more I researched the topic, the more I discovered the hidden way the media can mold public opinion by presenting biased or even false information to support specific points of view.

In conclusion, what appeared to be a challenging assignment turned out to be an informative journey of self-discovery and growth. I overcame my anxieties, learned to analyze, and synthesize evidence efficiently, discovered and attempted to overcome my procrastinating habits, and realized the importance of correct source citation. Furthermore, I developed an improved understanding of the purpose of the media in developing public opinion, highlighting the importance of information today.