Merhi 1

Faysal W. Merhi
Ms. Jizi
UWRT 1104-015
16th October, 2016
What did you discover Quiz?
1. Write about your inquiry. What made you interested in this question? Briefly, tell the story of
your own experience with your chosen topic. (If you did the pre-writing before the research
proposal, you may have most of this written already.)
Your Answer:
For my inquiry project, I asked the question What about Architecture?, mainly because I
told myself my whole life that, thats what I was going to become when I was older. After getting
rejected form my preferred design school and some surprising stories about how the career was
turning into a desk job, and how it lost its true meaning of design by being limited by
regulations and safety codes. All of this seemed to push my childhood dream out of reach. Now
Im at UNCC studying finance. I wanted to use this project to research architecture a little more
and make my own opinion about the career and decide whether to still chase it or not. I had lot of
pre knowledge about this topic from friends and family associated in it, but I was still curious
about what I could learn.
2. Why is your question important? Who else would want to know about what you are inquiring
into? How many people are affected by your topic? Why should anyone care about this?
Your Answer:
My inquiry question can relate to anyone that is also overwhelmed with the requirements
of architecture, but is still interested in doing it. I cant imagine that my topic has affected a lot of
people, its more of a personal question, that I wanted answer by researching to find my way.
This question was important for me, because it answered my constant thoughts of whether or not
I should chase my childhood dream job, and with the research I put it and the time I spent
searching for reviews, interviews, and the ups and downs of the career. I made a decision that it
wasnt right for me. In each source I visited they all complained about the workers they worked
with and the amount of education and training it took to get them to become an architect. I do
believe people should care about this topic because, I thought I knew everything about
architecture, but I didnt, I learned a lot of stuff and it made me change my opinion on certain
aspects of architecture, which I didnt predict.

3. In your search, who has made a significant contribution to the conversation on this topic?
What have they said, and how does that relate to your inquiry question? What important
questions do these other voices raise for you?

Merhi 2
Your Answer:
Out of all the architects Ive read about I would say Curtis Miller made the most significant
contribution to my topic of conversation. He is an architect project manager that had been in the
industry for over 27 years and has worked with more than 9 different firms. He was my third
source on page five of my annotated bibliography. Curtis Miller pointed out that architecture was
more than just designing and building, its about the collaboration with other workers, the
misconceptions of architecture. Its not a lavish and wealthy occupation like everyone thinks it is.
Millers toughest times in his career were when he buttheads with engineers on projects.
Working in a group of people of different backgrounds and techniques to build something, was
no where near my expectation of an architect, I thought it was more of a one-man project job. He
also explained how college teaches you a lot but it doesnt teach you everything, he says the
most valuable employees are the ones with the most experience. This was perfect for my
question because it gave new information about the career that I neglected, helping me get closer
to decision. This source made me think of specific questions like Do I work well with others?,
and What are other misconceptions of architecture?.
4. What was the most pervasive and convincing answer to your inquiry question? In the end,
whose voice was the most convincing? What might you add to the conversation? What do you
want to say?
Your Answer:
Bob Borson was the second source of my annotated bibliography on page three, he, by far gave
me a different perspective to look at architecture by. He was a licensed architect in Texas and had
won several awards including the Young Architect of the Year award. Bob Borson explained
how anything can be different if you face it with a positive attitude, he has used this technique in
his career and its made difficult things much more enjoyable. Another key point was that
architecture has to be a passion, you have to love it, and want it. He spoke about his experience
with the Architectural Registration Exam, the exam wasnt an exam to him, he loved architecture
so much that he enjoyed revising the information for the exam because it interested him. Making
the exam simple. In the end this was a pervasive article, but I decided to drop architecture and
pursue business, the cons out weighed the pros in my perspective. I love designing but the career
involves a lot of education and train for a not that high of a salary. I think I will take the safer
strategy and go with finance as my final answer.

5. What have you come to understand about the topic that you didn't fully appreciate when you
began your inquiry? What difference will the discoveries you made about your question make in
your life? In the lives of others (potential audience)?
Your Answer:
Before going into this assignment I thought I knew most of the things to know about
architecture, but I was wrong. Ive learned architecture is not only about design but also about
the collaboration with others, and getting together to create something amazing. The economy

Merhi 3
also has a huge affect on jobs that have to do with construction, in a bad economy not as many
buildings will be in demand to be built, and people are less likely to expand their businesses. I
had never thought of the reason why architecture was in less and less demand these days. I was
surprised with the amount of school and exams that were needed to became a licensed architect, I
knew it was a long process but not twelve years long, thats a big difference between a four-year
bachelors degree, not only in time but money too. Bob Borson also helped me realize, that you
have to, have a passion for architecture, and you need to put in the work to become successful.
Its not a career you can force yourself through. Over all this project has taught me the value of
researching and examining a decision before jumping into it. At first I was stuck between these
two decision but now I have a way better idea of what I want to do. I hope too capture a small
audience of college students going through the same situation I was going though.
6. What do you remain curious about? What questions remain unresolved? What directions
would more inquiry take if you were to continue? What new questions were raised by this
inquiry?
Your Answer:
I have decided that architecture isnt right for me, but what about other design majors? Like
automotive design, or industrial design, these majors pay more and are less school and exams
than architecture. I have put some thought into these majors and plan to also research them and
see if I have interest in them. I have a lot of question regarding if the same types of problems
that occurred in architecture, like economic stability and a restriction in laws, and if they will
occur in theses other design careers. Ive noticed that Ive been looking at the finical and work
load of architecture and not as much as the passion I have for it or if its what I want. But I still
stand tall to my decisions of not going with architecture, I know its not for me, but some of
these other majors that this assignment opened me up to are still possibilities.