Final Blog Entry

Over the course of the semester my group and I researched an analyzed the ongoing conflict that is taking place in Syria.  Our research began with the Syrian government's use of chemical weapons on civilians while fighting a civil war against various army factions.  The use of these weapons caused a great international outcry for some sort of intervention.  We tracked the steps international powers were taking in order to prevent future use of these weapons as well as the ongoing violence that occurred between government and rebel forces.

I did my research each week by looking at various articles covering the conflict in Syria online.  I had a tendency to look at articles published by BBC News and CNN.  Working with a group definitely made the process of finding research materials easier.  We were able to send one another articles and discuss which topics seemed most important.  It was also helpful to research as a group because each member would have their own interpretation of what the actions described in the article meant for the people of Syria.  This made it possible to see the viewpoints of many people, rather than just your own.

Throughout this project I learned many things.  My knowledge of the civil war taking place in Syria has increased which has inspired me to learn more about the origins of this conflict.  I also learned a lot about the United Nations Security Council and how decisions regarding international intervention are made within the UN.  This project taught me how to find reliable research sources and to always look at more than just one news source on a topic in order to get a better understanding of the issue.  I also learned how to work cooperatively with a group of students on a project.  Luckily my group members and I  did not have any conflict or disagreement between one another, but we learned how to work as a group and bounce ideas and theories off of one another.  I learned that in order to gain a better understanding of an issue it is always beneficial to hear other people's opinions and ideas.