Directions

Trace the possible directions you may go this semester with your work and the rationale for why you are heading down these paths. //Specifically: Brainstorming//

__2/1/2010__ As an Eagle Scout, I chose to explore this as my Senior Thesis topic. The picture society paints for a typical Eagle Scout is that they are a desirable type of person to be in the workforce or as a leader, but it seems that the questions I constantly run into is "why?" and "why is this important?" It's frustrating because I feel like I am making decent progress in these beginning stages, and at the same time it makes me feel confused. I want to explore the way requirement have changed, how society views someone who is an Eagle Scout, what have Eagle Scouts done for the country, how have Eagle Projects aided societies, who are notable Eagle Scouts through history, and what skills are taught to Boy Scouts and, in turn, what skills are Eagle Scouts expected to retain. These are just a few different paths I feel that I should take in my research, and expand on them as I proceed.

__2/4/2010__ Discussions with Mr. MacFarland made me narrow my focus a bit: I am thinking of studying either the effect of Eagle Scouts and their work on society, or what exactly is the motivation for someone to go through so much work to become an Eagle Scout, be it the drive for college searches or peer pressure. Both would be interesting to study, and I am excited to learn about something so relevant to my life.

__2/8/2010__ There really isn't a whole lot of sources available on my topic of study. I'm trying to find sources about Eagle Scouting in general (not just from Wikipedia) to get some history and info on Eagle Scouts, as well as some information about the psychology of motivation for something like achieving the Eagle rank. I'm trying to find sources for both areas and then synthesize them myself, but the problem is finding the sources. I'm also trying to formulate some sort of survey to give to fellow Eagles to see what they have to say on the matter of motivation for it and the societal impact, but again I want to find some solid sources before I follow through on that.

__2/17/2010__ After having such a long break due to the snow days, I tried looking up sources as best as possible, and I can't seem to find any, especially since I thought I did not have access to the University databases (which Mr. MacFarland chewed me out today saying that I did). It made me feel really stupid when he did that because I legitimately did not know how to access those sources, while he claimed that I did know and that it was a poor excuse. I'm struggling on this path to find my topic and hone in on it differently. I'm thinking of changing my focus to something other than the motivation behind becoming an Eagle Scout. I want to look into what it takes to achieve such a goal, history behind the Boy Scouts, the impact Boy Scouting has made on society, or the values scouting teaches individuals who go through it. My problem here is that there is no guidance on what direction I should go. Yes, I understand that this is a mostly independent project, but when I do need help I feel that it is not there to be given, and when I hit such roadblocks as not being able to find sources like what happened with me and Dr. Valenza, it tells me that I should change my source. However, I do want to pursude my focus on the motivation behind becoming an Eagle Scout, I just feel that I would need to focus more on one-on-one interviews or make up a survey for scouts to take during a scouting function I may attend to find out first hand what is going through their minds. I feel that would be the only way to carry it out at this point, as I don't see sources at all when I am trying to research, but at the same time that method would not meet criteria for the project. This is the first time I ever legitimately thought about dropping a class, but I really want to stick it out and try my best; I just don't see my best getting me anywhere though. I feel like the best course of action would be to go in a different direction before too much time passes, even though Mr. MacFarland seemed to be completely against me doing that, suggesting that I didn't look for sources as well as I should.

__2/19/2010 (Brainstorm)__

__3/2/2010 (Direction Rationale)__ (word 2007) (word 2003)

__4/9/2010 (Updated Directions)__ (word 2007) (word 2003)