2/22/2010

I found several helpful articles tonight while I was doing research. Previously, in my paper, I had had no real discussion of the proliferation of NGOs in the 1980-1990s and their influence on transnational peasant movements. Some of the articles I found provided me with ideas on how to include this in the paper. I also found an article which goes through the history of agricultural development in Latin America throughout the later half of the twentieth century.

I have also been reading my paper and making necessary revisions. I think that my introduction is adequate. Now I need to focus on my sections on theory, and expand them significantly.

Finally, I have been working on my expanded bibliography. I now have 30 or so references. My topic/s have been thoroughly researched and I'm glad for the ample resources.

Continuing research 2/18/2010

Today I spent a couple of hours researching my topic in the library. I found some really insightful articles through some of the library's databases. The first is "Jose Marti and Paulo Freire: Approaches for a reading of the Critical Pedagogy". It is an article linking both Freire and Marti (two of the theorists i'm researching) together. The article suggests that Freire and Marti were both concerned with the liberation of oppressed peoples through some form of 'critical pedagogy'. To the writer, critical pedagogy provides an alternative to Oppressive Pedagogy. It promotes a critical mind and dialogue in order to create in the student a 'humanist vision'.

The other article I found was a philosophical analysis of Jose Marti's work by Raul Fornet-Betancourt. I haven't read this article in its entirety, but I believe it will prove helpful in my analysis of Marti (and especially his influence on Latin American thought).

Research

Today I spent our class time continuing research for my project. I found an article that proved very insightful, and I think it will add a lot to my project. It is essentially a tribute to Paulo Freire's life, written by a close friend. However, it gives a thorough explanation of Freire's pedagogical theories. Though I have researched Freire at length, this article expressed what I haven't been able to. Like I said, this essay is going to help "connect the dots" in my paper.

P.S I would recommend this article to anyone who has never heard of Freire. It is a thorough introduction to his life and work.