Marah Betillman 

Joseph Furlong  

Writing for the Social Science 

May 22, 2025 

Writing for the Social Science: Reflection 

The very first essay, personal object, was by far the most difficult paper for me, I did not know how to make something so personal sound professional. I write professionally; I like to follow exactly what the rubric says to get a good grade. I had to dismantle that idea to be able to write the paper. In the end I could not figure out why I hated my paper so badly even after my tutor spoke so highly of it. This same problem happens in my next paper, peer interviews, I did not think highly of it, I thought it sounded stupid. The best thing I did this semester and something I am still working on is my writing voice. Dismantling the idea of perfection really made me write a bit more freely. I still have those same ideals as before this course because they are needed but I also am learning to use my writing voice more freely. In essay #3 I really had to figure how to sound unbiased about a topic that interested me, I ended up changing my topic because I realized I was unable to stay completely unbiased, or as unbiased as I could be considering I choose the topic. While I’m not much of a fan of my third paper I do think it gets my point across swimmily, but I still may have unknowingly used some bias language. Essay #4 was extremely difficult and my least favorite. In theory it is a wonderful assignment, but the execution was difficult all together.  

I have progressed in letting my writing voice flow through instead of trying to sound as impersonal as I could. Like I said, I was able to be a bit freer in the way these assignments were set up. I can still work on that as well and with more practice I will know when to be freer and when I should not. I also can work on grammar; I do well but I am not perfect and can always do better. 

Ethnographic writing is important because it brings people together. It brings ideas together and it brings cultures together. Taking the time to research a culture and or subculture in any capacity can be deeply rewarding. You are learning as well as being a part of it in one small way. You also could bring light to issues that ae overlooked because they may not be mainstream. I do not believe I did that well; this is my first time doing this type of writing and it will take more time to perfect this style of writing. I also find it more interesting to read than to do. I enjoyed reading all the examples. It felt like listening to what the writer did from inside their head.  

My interviews went well; I was able to get more information when I just allowed them to talk and express themselves. During my interview, the interviewee said, “I don’t know if that answered your question” and I was not bothered because “it didn’t have to” I allowed them to speak and have my questions as guidance. Most of the research was personal to the person writing, this was not a fact and data type of topic, and I used the anecdotes to add feeling into my writing. This type of writing is useful because it is all round informative. If I wanted to learn about firefighters in my spare time, I would read the student example to keep informed. Listening to the interviews would give me a pathway into the interviewer and interviewees mind and now I feel a part of that interaction.