Hi all!!! This is my first post at the forum. I am writing an essay for an OAS scholarship (organization of american states scholarship). The eassy instruction is the following: "The OAS Scholarship requires recipients to return to the sponsoring country for 2 years upon completion of the studies. Please indicate in a 5-year plan how you will apply the knowledge and experience you acquire through the scholarship to bring about change in your field of study".
Here is my essay (max words 450):
Studying in the US would be an extremely enriching experience: I would be able not only to broaden my perspectives and continue my studies concerning populist politics and the formation of new social movements in Argentina, but also to acquire the necessary research tools and methodological framework in order to carry on with these research interests. In other words, I would have up to date knowledge in theoretical sociology and research practices, and be able to immediately put those strategies to use upon my return.
Therefore, after completing my graduate studies, my ambition is to build a sociology department within Universidad TD, a longstanding project which I had the opportunity of discussing with my former professor in social theory, E. P., and that until now has not yet been realized. The idea behind this project is to renew and modernize argentine sociology, dismantled in past decades by authoritarian regimes but also tainted excessively with localism, and give a decisive boost towards the formation of a globally oriented social research center. This means abandoning the traditional oriented approach and developing instead an unique program in sociological studies that would offer students a fertile ground for new thought, knowledge, and interdisciplinary applications. It also means bringing new research tools and analytical frameworks for advancing social science research, particularly in the fields I believe will be crucial for Argentina in the next decades: the return of populist politics, the formation of new social movements, new ways of collective violence and an ever increasing social inequality.
Broadly speaking, this project entails a number of different activities over a period of five years. First, build a body of professors commited to academic excelence. Second, establish key research areas on current and emergent issues. Finally, foster the exchange between researchers and scholars and encourage graduates and undergraduates to participate in research projects with their professors as I had the opportunity of doing. Within five years since its implementation, the first group of students would have obtained their degrees.
Overall, I wish to gain from my education in the US the specialized knowledge and global experience that can be applied to modernize Argentine sociology and stimulate research in the field of Latin American populism and social movements. I intend to this by challenging myself and in return challenge others as well.
Can anyone comment on my essay?? Please be harsh!!!
Thanks!!!
The idea behind this project is to renew and modernize Arg entine sociology, dismantled in past decades by authoritarian regimes and also tainted excessively with localism, and give a decisive boost towards the formation of a globally oriented social research center. This would be much clearer if you divide it into two sentences.
It also means utilizing new research tools and analytical frameworks...
... for advancing social science research, particularly in the fields I believe will be crucial for Argentina in the next decades: the return of populist politics, the formation of new social movements, new ways of collective violence and an ever increasing social inequality. Should this say something like, "new way of 'combating' violence and inequality"?
First, is building a body of professors comitted to academic excellence .
Second, to establish key research areas on current and emergent issues. Finally, to foster the exchange...
Within five years of its implementation, the first group of students would have obtained their degrees.
I intend to do this by challenging myself and in return challenge others as well.
