Wrapping up AP Research

Content Overview

Through this research project, I learned the intricacies of desire as portrayed in Murakami's novels spanning three decades. One of the most fascinating parts included delving into the Stanford Philosophical Encyclopedia and its article on desire and breaking down each desire. The philosophical exploration section of this project inspired me to continue my journey in philosophy in college. Additionally, these desires in Haruki Murakami’s novels provided me with experience in reading for information and analysis. The ability to read provided a fun and entertaining component of an otherwise time-constrained and stressed project. The data depicted an Action-based theory of desire in the majority at 54.3%, reaffirming my initial hypothesis. The other 45.7% of desires were theories other than Action-based, which shows the nuances of desire in literature. I learned that not only over time but in total, action-based seems to be the most applicable theory in both literature and reality. I learned that the exploration of philosophy in literature not only enriched my understanding of desires portrayal in Murakami's works but also contributed to the broader discourse on desire in contemporary literature. It opened my understanding of the limits of philosophy and its existence in every aspect of life, including literature. By exploring desire within the framework of magical realism, I learned how to illuminate how characters navigate and act upon their desires, offering a nuanced perspective on human behavior.

This Image show the final data visualization for my project, showing that Action-based theory of Desire was the most prominent throughout all 10 of Haruki Murakami's bools.

Product

The final presentation provided an opportunity to learn how to condense information, a crucial asset for further presentations because researchers aim to educate viewers. Without overloading as much information on our project as possible, we learn how to provide information for the audience, not for ourselves. The oral defense provided similar skills in addition to the quick thinking needed to answer the questions in a concise and relevant manner. This efficient verbalization became crucial in the oral presentation and the research paper. The main learning curve included how to write the information and data collection while avoiding confusing terminology or syntax. Overall, a learning experience from both the presentation and the paper included the successful maneuvering of communicating information for comprehension.

Process

I learned that not only do I possess a passion for philosophy but a passion for reading. Although the process was stressful and much more than I anticipated, combining two of my passions allowed me to discover more of the future that I want to pursue. One of the biggest lessons I learned included looking for essential information. When bombarded with information, the necessary information gets lost. As I became more acclimated to the reading process, I successfully distinguished important texts from unimportant ones by using context clues and patterns which allowed for an efficient reading process. This provided a useful tool in the plethora of reading I will undoubtedly experience in my future Philosophy classes.

Acknowledgments/Future Goals

Two of the most crucial people who contributed to this project included my amazing teachers Mrs.Dobos and Mr.Mcbride. I truly appreciate all the support you extended throughout the research process, from the time when I struggled to finalize my research question to the time you gave outside of class to refine my presentation and paper. I cannot thank you enough for making this both a successful and exhilarating experience. Your classroom environment truly made this my favorite class. 

I couldn't have succeeded to the extent I desired without the aid of my Dad. He motivated me and provided me with the tools needed to perform a confident and clear presentation. I am eternally grateful for the tips and tricks he never fails to give me to ensure my success. Thank you so much, Appa!

My Mom stuck with me through the thick and thin of this research project. When there came times all I was doing was reading she would never fail to offer help with the other parts of my life to relieve some of the stress. I couldn't have finished the reading if she hadn't gone out of her way to help me despite her busy schedule. Thank you, Amma!

My friends played a substantial role in making the classroom environment entertaining but they motivated me to strive to complete my best work in this class. Meeting outside of school to practice presentations or working on calls to complete our blog posts, being together made me a more confident researcher and a happier person.

The next steps after graduation include pursuing a degree in Philosophy in CU Boulder while continuing my extracurriculars of art, music, and Boxing. Hopefully I will continue my application of AP research either through my classes or participation in research in college. I hope to pursue a degree in law following my undergrad degree in Philosophy. Thank you so much to those who have guided me through this amazing journey, I hope to carry the expriences I have gained in the exceptional class throughout my future endeavors.