I met with my mentor on January 17, 2018 for thirty minutes to discuss the research I conducted over break and how to proceed for this semester. Over Winter Break, I did research to add to my literature review, but while I was reading through the various secondary sources, I felt overwhelmed and apprehensive as to how any of my research will contribute to the conversation. My mentor reminded me not to allow the literature to organize me and focus on how I wish to use it for my research.

I showed my mentor an example of discourse (the image of Aylan Kurdi) I analyzed for my final narrative paper, and Dr. Shinko offered a perspective I hadn’t considered. She said that visual images can take voices away from refugees by being used by those who want to make a political point. The image of Aylan Kurdi isn’t the little boy speaking but others speaking through the image. We discussed my narrative paper, and Dr. Shinko suggested that I read news articles on refugees in Europe and the European Union, including the New York Times, Washington Post, BBC, the Guardian, Foreign Policy, and the Atlantic. In addition to reading the news, Dr. Shinko recommended I watch PBS News Hour or read the transcripts. The purpose of reading the news and public discourse is to narrow my research topic. I know I would like to analyze elite discourse, but elite discourse where? Who are the elites that are creating the discourse I’m analyzing? And what capacity? Dr. Shinko encouraged me to find where the most interesting case study is and decide my country or countries of focus. In order to further define the context of my research, I need to narrow my study; one option is that I look at countries that are accepting the vast majority of refugees. However, I am still working to define my context, and it was a primary concern that I shared with my mentor. My current worry is that I will not be able to narrow my topic in time for my introduction draft.