Kevin Martinez

Discussing World Issues

One of the biggest skills to have at the start of senior year is time management. In my
English 12 class with Ms. Brunett, my peers and I were individually assigned a research paper,
on any given topic that affects the U.S today. I choose to research the topic of ISIL and the
influences of western intervention in the Middle East. I learned that the belligerent group of ISIL
is disrupting international borders and has killed thousands in the process, for the hopes for the
creation of a radical Islamic state. By researching this topic, I was invited to interview Prince
Turki bin Faisal al Saud, the former Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States and one of
the World Affair coordinators Mr. McCarthy to gain a new perspective on the issue through an
international perspective.
This project helped me grow to investigate the world on a serious humanitarian issue, by
gaining a new perspective that correlated with the research I was investigating. By interviewing
the former ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the U.S, I gained a unique position on the matter that
directly helped me craft my research paper. I asked both individuals on their opinion on direct
intervention from the U.S to combat ISIL. The ambassador of Saudi Arabias agreed with Mr.
McCarthy, agreed to isolate countries like Syria with a no fly zone, in order to tighten the grip of
the land by fully destroy the terrorist group all together. It was interesting to see how men of
stature react to a crisis the world. I learned on way to dissipate ISIL, but after the briefing, I was
left with another question, how would western territories would implement a new system of
government in places like Syria and maintain order without sparking mayhem?
The amount of research this assignment differentiates from former assignments by
forcing me to organize my time by the minute, in order to compensate for lost time. Prior to this
assignment I didnt know how to really organize my ideas into a large paper. This has been the
first time creating a formal outline, and I can clearly see the change of structure of work,through
transitional phrases and organization. Reflecting on past research papers, I did not dedicate as
much time to developed clear arguments into one coherent piece. By going through this long a
tedious process of researching and writing, I become fully aware on the small and major
components of what a well written research paper requires.
Furthermore, when I was first introduced to this assignment, I just classified the thought
of another assignment as yet another paper I have to write but, it turned out this assignment has
extravagantly helped me in organizing my thoughts and sources into a well written paper. By
doing so I indirectly improved on my time management skills by organizing each due date with
time frames. I also gained a unique international perspective from a former Saudi- Arabian
ambassador and figure head of the World Affairs Council, by asking questions on a topic I have
become well acquainted with. This research paper has set the tone for the college level papers I
will encounter in the upcoming years.