history is fun

How to write your reflection?

Your reflection should consider the following points:

1. Has your research (oral history interview and studying of photographs) helped to answer the questions that you first thought of in the first part of the project? Has your understanding of the topic increased? What have you learnt?

2. Remember about your assumptions? Are your assumptions proven right or wrong? What did your interviewee tell you? Testing your assumptions is important as it exposes you to the basics of academic research in the university for years to come. If your assumptions are right, how has it been proven? If they are wrong, why? Have you been too naïve or simply lack a deep understanding of the topic? Now pick the main assumptions and write about it.

For example:

I assumed that the main reason why Chinese street opera is dying out because nobody wants to watch it. But I am wrong there are more reasons to it. Firstly, Chinese street opera performed by the professional troupes during temple celebrations and for other occasions is considered as low art and it does not have the support of the government and elites.
Secondly, it is on the decline because it is difficult to find younger generations of Singaporeans to take over the trade or to become actors or actresses. According to my interviewee, he will probably have to give up the trade in times to come as none of his children is interested to take over. It is not easy running a troupe and so far they are not even allowed to recruit performers from China because the government has not considered granting work permit for them.
Thirdly,…

3. What are the changes and continuities that you have seen in your chosen topic? What has your interviewee said about it? What have the photographs said about it? What do you think has persisted and what has changed? Ask yourself?

For example:

Has the profile of the churchgoers changed over the years? If yes, why? If no, why? What does this mean? If it has changed does it mean it has become ‘less exclusive’ or more Singaporeans are becoming Christians? If so, why? Then something about the significance of the church must have either changed or continued.

OR

For Chinese street opera, what has continued is that it is still being patronized by Chinese temples, clan associations and guilds that would employ them to perform for the gods and spirits. This has not changed and will also ensure the survival of Chinese street opera as long as the Chinese in Singapore do not give up their Chinese folk religions. However, what has changed over the years is that as the country becomes more affluent after 1965 and with the influx of new forms of entertainment such as cinema, television, VCD and DVD, Chinese street opera no longer appeals to the mass public. Other than a few diehards who are in their fifties and sixties, it would be difficult to see younger Singaporeans watching street opera. As home entertainment becomes more easily affordable, this also means that entertainment for the masses has become less communal and more private.

4. Has your research met your objective? One of my objectives is to get to know my grandmother better and I have achieved that because when I last visited her, we were talking about something we have in common…

5. Lastly, write a final paragraph reflecting on the whole project, your topic, its relation to history, memory (social or personal) and if possible identity as a Singaporean. Let your innermost thoughts about the entire research flow. Make it known.

I have no examples for this last part of your reflection. It should be something personal and hopefully insightful. You can do it alone or as a pair. Come to me or any of your teachers for help. You can write to me too.

Have a good break.

Thank you.

D Leo