Course Overview Essay: Writing and Research Process English 102 opened up a new vista in my mind. I figured out how to do research in a different language and realized my brain was covered in dust, this is the first time in 5 years that I'm a former student and I'm trying to get a second degree. Before I signed up for this course, I looked up a website called "Grade your Teacher" and the comments about the instructor were positive, so I decided to take it. At the beginning of this course (as of September 23) and after receiving a 0.0 as a grade for my first essay, I knew it would be difficult and I had no idea how I would pass this research course. One of the first concepts I learned was “marginalia” which – according to the teacher's explanation – means making random notes about something to think about later. This class was described as a journey where we wouldn't know the results until the end of the term, and while it wasn't easy to make it through, here I am. I am now exploring how my skills as a writer and researcher have improved over the past three years...