In search of a claim

In an attempt to figure out what interests me as far as topics to discuss in a paper, I have been reviewing some of my previous work. This has not been an easy task. It appears as though my interests are sort of across the board.

So to categorize, I used the criteria outlined by my English professor in his post here.



1. Review your recent writing, notes, discussions, etc. to find topics and issues that have intrigued you.

In blog posts specifically my writing tends to lean towards fiction. I guess this is fitting since I am apart of the Coming to Terms with Fiction blog. Although there are several instances where I attempt to delve into poetry. However, I think I'd rather stick to fiction since poetry still scares me a little.

2. Review your recent reading-- perhaps looking at passages you have annotated or notes you made in the margins. What are the ideas, characters, or issues that most interested you?

In my personal reading I have been reading a lot about birth to prepare for my upcoming labor. This has come in the form of blogs and nonfiction literature. I've also really enjoyed what I've read recently by Oscar Wilde. I don't suppose the two connect somehow.

3. Review others' recent posts or comments to see which of these elicited from you interest or a desire to respond.

I really enjoyed the idea of reading as a form of travel which I got from Sined's post. I also commented on several posts about The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.

4. Pose some questions to yourself 

Is there some fiction about birth that I might want to look into?

Are there any themes of birth in Oscar Wilde's works of fiction that I can delve into more?

Could I look at fiction associated with children?

Maybe I could look at fiction associated with children (children's books) with a theme of metaphorically travelling? (That seems like a stretch.)

5. Transform questions into provisional claims. Try out different categories of claims in order to see which type might fit best to your topic and interests.

This is the hard part. I have to take numbers 1-4 and turn it into some sort of claim. Hmmm. I think I'm going to have to do a little more research and get back to you guys. Then I can work on number 6 which is getting feedback on my claim/thesis and revising it.

So stay tuned to see if I come up with anything. This oughta be interesting.