Honors Seminar in European History was a course that challenged me in terms of critical thinking and analysis. This class focused on the medieval period and Joan of Arc, looking at how the prejudices of the time impacted the significance of Joan and her rise to prominence. For each class period I had usually one to two articles or chapters to read and make two discussion questions to be prepared for class, which challenged my time management skills with making sure to keep up with the reading as well as my work for other classes. During each class period, the professor would explain any necessary background information for the time period and then open up the floor for discussion led by the questions of the students.

These discussions allowed students to give answers based on the readings or knowledge from other classes as well as time for the professor to give his input and analysis. These discussions challenged me to actively participate in class as I find it hard sometimes to join in on class discussions as sometimes the topic changes too quickly or I lack the confidence necessary to join. To actively participate in discussions, I made sure to read the material thoroughly to get a good grasp on what the discussion topic would be and remind myself that I know the material well. The discussions held in class challenged me to think critically of primary and secondary sources, and to separate the past and the present in order to really understand the material.

The artifact I chose for this class is my research paper that I did on Joan of Arc and how medieval society’s views of supernatural elements and prejudices against women impacted her trial and achievements. This research paper challenged me due to the requirements of primary and secondary sources, which were hard to find as I was unable to obtain print sources as libraries closed due to COVID-19. I had an easier time finding secondary sources than primary sources for my topic as I had such a specific topic that it was hard to find primary sources that directly applied. My professor helped me hone the direction of my research paper and answered any question I had, which was very helpful in finishing the document on time.