Hello everyone.

My name is Nicole Yanqui (that’s pronounced “Yankee”). I am a second year Professional Writing major with a minor in French Studies. I love languages, traveling, culture, history, and writing. I take academics way too seriously sometimes but that’s because I’m determined. One day I’d like to work in a publishing company, somewhere within the editing field, and bringing other’s stories out into the world (and perhaps some of my own). As reading, writing, poetry, spoken word, and music has been my escape, I hope to make it someone else’s too.

In terms of research, I guess all I really want to learn is how to be a better researcher (as vague as that sounds). To me, that means going past the search bar on Google and getting down to business; looking things up at libraries (which I’ve only ever really done a few times) and maybe even interviewing some people! I’d like to be as authentic and justified as possible.

I have personally never even heard of Refworks or Zotero until right now. I kind of wish I had in earlier years. They look to be very helpful and useful, especially to a course in research. The only research tools I have used are the common Google, Wikipedia, and Youtube. Mostly, I use them to search random things I hear about and want to know more about. I generally do more experiencing of that which I am curious of than the actual research part (although I guess going out and finding the thing I’m curious of is research too).

 I have made a radio ad for a media studies class in high school. It wasn’t much but it taught me some about timing, audience, and all that lovely stuff. I have never, however, made a podcast, but I have listened to a few. It was never really my thing but I did enjoy what I heard. I’m slightly intimidated to make a podcast but I am also kind of excited to try it out (except for the fact that I’m not a fan of my own voice).  I think trying something new out will be cool and I hope it goes well.
 
I’m looking into On the Media, Under the Influence, and Spark as potential podcasts because they talk about things that affect my everyday life. Something like On the Media seems easier to research, something like Spark would be cool because I am a bit of a techy myself, and something like Under the Influence would be good because I happen to know a little more than I should about advertising (thanks to my brother). If I end up finding something more interesting to me, I’ll choose that instead because it’s easier to write about (or in this case research) something you’re actually intrigued by.

Cheers to a new class and lots of podcasting!