Reflecting on One’s Own and Others’ Writing, Thinking, and Creative Processes Chapter Notes | AP Research – AP Students - Grade 11 PDF Download

Introduction

This chapter focuses on the importance of self-reflection and peer review in the AP Research course. It explores how reflecting on your own research decisions and processes, as well as evaluating the work of others, can enhance your skills as a researcher. Self-reflection helps you understand your choices, improve your work, and prepare for the Oral Defense, while peer review strengthens critical thinking and provides fresh perspectives on your research. These skills are essential for academic growth and success in AP Research.

Self-Reflection

• Self-reflection entails critically examining your actions and decisions. This process goes beyond merely recalling past events; it involves questioning whether there are changes you would like to implement in the future.
• Ideally, self-reflection should occur consistently throughout your research process.
• As you conduct your research, it is crucial to understand the reasoning behind your choices, from selecting your research topic to deciding how to present your findings at the end. To effectively communicate these decisions, you may need to engage in self-reflection.
• Additionally, ongoing self-reflection is beneficial because it allows for continuous improvement based on your insights.

Now, let’s discuss methods for self-reflection and the specific aspects of the research process that you can reflect upon:

Ways to Self-Reflect

The most effective way to engage in self-reflection is by writing responses to the Oral Exam questions, although many of these questions can only be answered at the end of your research journey. Therefore, it’s beneficial to reflect continuously. 

Here are some other methods to consider:

• Journal Writing:  Keeping a diary of your research progress on a weekly or daily basis is an excellent way to track your activities and document your rationale and decisions. Some entries may even be utilized in your final research paper!
• Self-Questioning:  This involves asking yourself “why” when you make decisions related to your research.
• Drawing:  Some individuals find visual methods helpful for organizing their thoughts.
• Guided Contemplation:  This can involve responding to self-reflection prompts or participating in class discussions about your research process.

Remember, you can combine these methods for greater effectiveness. For instance, you might ask yourself questions while journaling.
Now that you have some strategies for self-reflection, let’s look at what specific areas of your research process to reflect upon.

Self-Reflection Topics

You can reflect on a wide range of topics. The end!

On a more serious note, self-reflection can encompass every aspect of your research process, from your writing techniques to your work ethic and your interactions with AP Research mentors. However, focusing on areas highlighted in the Oral Report Questions can be particularly beneficial.

Generally, consider reflecting on the following areas:

• Research Process: Consider how your research journey, including mistakes, shaped you as a researcher and deepened your understanding of the topic.
• Research Findings: Evaluate how you arrived at your results, your feelings about them, their potential future applications, and whether different approaches could have led to better outcomes.

Peer Review

Peer Review can be a challenging experience for many AP Research students! It often feels like a tedious task. However, if you approach it seriously, it can be beneficial for both your own work and that of your peers (and if your reviewers are equally committed, it will be even more valuable!)

First and foremost, reviewing others’ work enhances your critical thinking skills. Engaging with a paper different from your own can reveal new ways to express ideas or highlight gaps in your own work that you may have overlooked. Explaining your opinions to a peer can also clarify your understanding of how to improve your writing.

Tips for Reviewing

Here are some tips to make the peer review process smoother:

• Start critical feedback with “I feel” or positive comments to make it easier to give and receive.
• Ask the person being reviewed what type of feedback they need (e.g., grammar or structure) to make the process more productive.
• Use provided guidelines or peer review sheets with guiding questions to focus your feedback.

Follow these guidelines to ensure feedback is helpful and relevant for everyone involved.

Key Terms

• College Board's AP Research CED: The College Board's AP Research Course and Exam Description (CED) is a comprehensive document that outlines the curriculum framework, assessment strategies, and expectations for the AP Research course. It serves as a guide for educators and students, detailing the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct independent research and develop critical thinking through the research process.
• Guided Contemplation: Guided contemplation is a reflective practice that involves structured thinking and mindfulness, often facilitated through prompts or questions, to enhance understanding and insight into one’s own and others' writing, thinking, and creative processes. This practice encourages individuals to slow down and engage deeply with their thoughts and emotions, fostering a greater awareness of how these elements influence their work and the work of others.
• Journal Writing: Journal writing is a personal form of written expression where individuals document their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a structured or unstructured format. This practice serves as a reflective tool that can enhance self-awareness and understanding of one's own and others' writing, thinking, and creative processes.
• Oral Defense: An oral defense is a formal presentation in which a researcher presents their work and answers questions posed by a panel of evaluators. This process allows the researcher to demonstrate their understanding of their study, its significance, and the methods used, while also engaging in critical dialogue about their findings. Engaging in an oral defense encourages reflection on both personal insights gained during research and the perspectives of peers and evaluators.
• Peer Review: Peer review is a process where scholars evaluate each other's work before it is published, ensuring that the research meets the necessary standards of quality and credibility. This process fosters academic rigor, promotes constructive feedback, and helps authors improve their work based on expert opinions, thereby contributing to the integrity of academic literature.
• Self-Questioning: Self-questioning is a cognitive strategy where individuals actively engage in asking themselves questions about their thoughts, understanding, and creative processes. This technique allows people to critically reflect on their own writing and thinking as well as evaluate the work of others, fostering deeper comprehension and improvement. Through self-questioning, individuals can identify gaps in their knowledge, clarify their ideas, and develop more coherent arguments.
• Self-Reflection: Self-Reflection is the process of examining one's own thoughts, feelings, writing, and creative outputs to gain deeper insights and understanding. It allows individuals to evaluate their own work and the processes they used, fostering growth and improvement in both personal and collaborative settings.