The most important thing I have learned for my composition process is how to research properly. In high school, my research was all over the place, very unorganized and I didn’t always use reliable sources, but now, I feel that I know how to inspect sources, annotate them for their key points, and organize them in a way that best serves me and my writing process.

Both my MMT and Research Essay have basically the same purpose and exigence, but differ drastically when it comes to their respective intended audiences and formats. For my essay, it was a serious academic paper intended for scholars, and it was presented as such. For my MMT however, I tried to make it as engaging as possible for someone who wouldn’t normally be interested in learning about such serious topics. I felt that this was the most fitting way to address the intended audience for my MMT, my peers, as I know many of them would not read my paper, but they might laugh at my video, all while still learning about the serious violence imposed on marginalized communities through systemic racism and its impact on American infrastructure.

As I continue my research, my argument has evolved to include more of a historical context on how modern day infrastructure developed to be as harmful as it is today. This involves examining the historical decisions, policies, and societal structures that prioritized segregation and economic gain over environmental sustainability and equitable access. By tracing the roots of today’s infrastructure back through redlining, I am able to better explain how these policies have contributed to environmental degradation, systemic inequities, and public health challenges.