Thursday, November 17, 2011
Research! Research! Research!
Learning to research can be a daunting task. With the use of the Internet, researchers must be wise in choosing credible sources. It is also important to work with a variety of sources - from both the Internet and from hard copies of journals, magazines, newspapers, books, and anthologies. It is the PROCESS of research that is important to know. Once a writer has gathered all of his or her research, making a plan is next. Students write a research proposal that will identify the major points of the research paper. Once this has been accomplished, students will begin to see their papers unfold. In this blog post, reveal your thesis (if it is already approved) or your intended topic. Then explain how you are obtaining reliable research. You should also discuss how you are able to determine what a credible source might be. Finally, how are you enjoying the research process so far? Are you watching those points add up?
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High schools and professionals sports organizations should take more precaution with concussions, since they are now linked to symptoms similar to Lou Gehrig’s disease. That is the thesis for my research paper. That was actually not the hardest part for me so far. The hardest step that we have been assigned so far was selecting a topic. I was so concerned that I would not be able to find enough research or that I would get bored of my topic after the first week. Fortunately neither have proven true so far. I have been able to find enough information on my topic, actually there is so much information that I had to eliminate some of my sources that were not very valuable. In order to eliminate these sources I had to decide which ones were reliable and which ones had the information that I needed for my paper. I used the papers that Dr. Diiulio gave us, along with some common sense. Many times you can just look at a site and know that it is not a very good source. Other times you have to look for hints like, an author, their credits, publishing organization, and copyright. I found the papers that Dr. Diiulio gave us to be very helpful. During this process I have most definitely not become bored with my topic. I find more information about this topic practically every time I go on the internet or read a magazine. As a result, I have enjoyed the research process thus far. The hard parts for me are coming though. So in the future I will probably be more stressed out, and not enjoy the research process as much. I know that struggling now is only benefitting me because then I will not struggle as much in the future. I am enjoying receiving points; I think I have like 50 points already, but back to my topic.
ReplyDeleteDuring my research I have become aware of how serious concussions really are. Almost everyone in our class is an athlete, and even if you are not this is still important. Concussions affect so many people every year, especially athletes. Multiple concussions can lead to symptoms similar to Lou Gehrig’s disease, which causes muscles to break down. This eventually leads to paralysis and death. This may seem extreme, but it is true and something that is not to be taken lightly. As teenagers, adults are always telling us what to do, and that we think we are invincible. So when your coach, parents, or trainer are telling us that we have to sit out our last football, soccer, volleyball, tennis, or even cross country match we are not going to like it. I am not going to sit here and pretend that I would not resist at all, but I would eventually give in because my future is more important than one game, even it is the district championship. Sitting out for a few days, is much easier than sitting out for an entire sports season. If you go back into the game after a hit to the head, and your head gets hit again you will at the least be out for a few weeks. I know it will be hard to watch from the sidelines, but it would be extremely more difficult to not be able to participate for the rest of your life. Its your decision, sit out now or never play again? Use your head.
Morgan - you are off to a great start and I am very happy you have chosen a topic that you have passion about. This will have to stay with you for the entire quarter as you work on your paper. Your paper has great potential. I am confident that when you are finished working on some credible research relating to your thesis, you might even be able to have this published. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteSounds good to me. I hope that my paper is good enough for that. Also I wish that some of my classmates would blog so that I could see what they are doing their research on, and give them my opinion.
ReplyDeleteElectronic readers should be used in schools to enhance the acquisition of resources; as a result, this will provide students with a competitive edge as the advance to higher education. This is the thesis for my research paper. When I first stated my original topic I wanted to do the negative effects of electronic readers in schools, but as I began my research I realized that there are so many interesting pros to using electronic devices in schools. I thought that this would make for a great topic because it is such a new idea and it is so controversial still. I also thought that it would educate people on the use of them in schools so much, just as it did to me. Because sometimes people don’t have time to do all the research before picking a side. This topic is also something that is going on locally in our school community. Educators in our schools have voiced their opinions on the use of these devices in schools, some like the ideas and some do not. I am hoping that with my research I am able to show the people and teachers who are against the use of them in our school to think twice before picking a side.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was doing my research there were many article that were totally against the idea of students receiving devices such as i-pads, Kindles, Sony e-readers, and even smart phones in school. But there were so many more articles about the pros of the electronic devices. I did realize however when I was doing my research that I had to be care for things such as blogs and people just posting random opinions. There were hundreds of websites with people’s personal opinions. And most of these opinions were negative because, like me at first, they probably did not do research to see some of the great effects they could have on students. I knew I found a good article or was on the right tract when I found some that had a little of both opinions and data and numbers to back up both of these opposing opinions. I also found many articles and stories about real schools trying the use of these devices and how the students responded. But once again I had to be careful of the students and teachers personal blogs that they have posted. Science also has played a part in people’s ideas on the devices in school. This idea is so new but much research has been done at some of the top colleges in the United States. I found that these statistics published by colleges were a reliable source of information because most of the time more than one college or research institute studied this topic and came up with the same results. The papers that Dr. Pam gave us also proved to be a huge help because it made me look deeper into the website than just simply the article.
I really enjoy this style of research with all the broken down deadlines. I love setting goals and reaching them. I am someone who likes schedules and deadlines because it gives me something to aim for. I set specific goals almost every day to get certain things accomplished at certain times, so doing this is like what I do every other day. It is also really nice that Dr. Pam was generous enough to give us dates ahead of time. This way if we know we have a lot of homework or tests one week we can work on our research ahead of time. The deadlines allow us more one on one time with Dr. Pam so that we are able to fully grasp each step and concept. This way we are able to understand why something is right or wrong and we will be able to take these valuable research skills with us throughout the rest of our schooling and professional career. I enjoy just working on my research too because every article I read I learn something new, something I wouldn’t have thought could be possible on these devices.
Morgan,
ReplyDeleteYour topic really is a very relatable topic. One example I think of right away is a sophomore in our school who is unable to play a sport this season due to too many other previous head injuries. I agree with Dr. Pam’s post to your blog. You should think of getting this paper published especially in our school community. I think it would be beneficial for the schools coaches to read this paper, so that they are aware of what could happen if the right precautions are not taken. Our school is so proud of its sports that sometimes when players become injured they do not stop because they feel like they are letting the team and the school down. I know personally I hate having to site out of a game and watch it go on around me because I am hurt. And truthfully I usually don’t sit out or complain because I want to keep playing. I am lucky enough to have never suffered any injuries to my head but if I do I will “use my head” and take the right steps for a healthy recovery. I am excited to read your final paper and learn even more details about this important topic.
“Despite claims that sharkskin suits will shatter previous records to unbreakable times, they should be legal; it is the athlete, not the suit that earns the records.” Swimming has been something near and dear to my heart for seven years. It is a very low-tech sport which relies heavily on the athlete’s physical and mental conditions. Finding the proper reliable research references is very important to me. I found eight internet sources one evening and in the morning only decided on one of them. I was very cautious of all my material. I obtained most of my research using Yahoo! because it is the browser that my family uses. Only because Dr. Diiulio talked of it so much did I try Google Scholar. It was difficult for me to find anything at first; all I could get were people wanting to sell suits. I continued trying though under different titles and items and finally found one. I was very meticulous of my references looking at the author(s), organization, copyright date (or last date updated), and the number of ads (if any). I wanted to be sure of the legitimacy of my sources. My sources included USA Swimming (the official site for the United States’ Olympic team), a BBC report from the 2008 Olympics, and a magazine article from Science Magazine. I am enjoying my research at the moment; it was a little rough at first deciding on a topic that would be good enough. However, I have learned many new rules on swim wear that I did not know before. The process so far has not been too hard; all I can complain about is not having enough time in a day. Oh, and the points…definitely adding up.
ReplyDeleteWow, Morgan. You have a really good topic. There’s a freshman girl on the soccer team in my art class who just got a concussion and was talking about the same arguments. She’s going into basketball season now and although she doesn’t want to sit on the sidelines and not participate she knows it will be better this way. Your research topic seems very thorough. I agree that those sheets Dr. Diiulio gave us came in handy for extra advice on a good source. I used them for every site I thought about using. It is good that you enjoy your topic and are able to find so much research on it. The only argument could be when the coach tells you to keep playing. How do you defy a coach without seeming disrespectful or like a weakling? If you worked your butt off trying to get that spot and when you finally get in are taken out by something of this significance how do you cope? You know yourself best, but will your coach really understand or think you too fragile?
ReplyDeleteTaylor, you have a very interesting relevant topic. I think changing sides on an argument is a good thing it times. It proves that you are learning something you did not know before. It also gives you a less bias approach because you see both sides of the dilemma. You do need to be wary of the sources you look at, and I do not just mean the blogs. Watch out for those strictly for or against an issue. The references like the one you found comparing the two sides with research on both are typically the better choice. I agree that the break down on the steps is best. This steady process helps us with organizing time, looking at efficiency, and seeing where we would have gotten held up with other topic ideas. If I only learn one thing this year I hope it is to write a research paper correctly.
ReplyDeleteTaylor,
ReplyDeleteI agree that electronic readers should be used in schools, but only if they have a legitimate use for them. Schools should not just be buying them since everyone else is. Tax money would be wasted if it is a public school, and tuition money would be wasted if it were a private school. These electronic would allow students to have to most current information, allowing them to have to relearn topics. Also I know of many teachers that like to talk about current events that are relevant to the subject that they are teaching. If they had electronic readers they could go onto the internet and show their students the article concerning the topic, possibly allowing for a visual aid. Good topic Taylor! I also like having the deadlines in advance. This coming week I have our American Tragedy test, a Chemistry test, a Bone Practical, our American Tragedy notes are due, and our non-internet sources are due, but since I knew that ahead of time I was able to at least get one assignment out of the way.
Maura,
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with your thesis. The sharkskin suits are not fair to those that have worked hard and earned their times. So now that they have these suits athletes that are as talented or have not worked as hard will be able to beat these records easily or at least come close to them. Do you agree that athletes should be able to use drug enhancers? I do not think you do. What makes these any different? I think they should definitely be considered cheating. If an athlete wants to break a record they should train hard. They should not just be able to just put on a suit made of different material. I personally would want to be able to say that it was all me that broke the record, not me with the help of a swimsuit. I feel that if someone broke a record wearing a sharkskin suit they would regret it. How will they know what they could have done with good old-fashioned hard work? I guess that's what the world is coming to. No one wants to work for things, they just want the reward, and the answer for swimmers is sharkskin swimsuits. Soon or later they will be attaching light-weight jets to their swim suits.
My topic for the research paper deals with the effects that Marcellus shale drilling has on the economy and environment, specifically in Pennsylvania. My thesis is: Even though there are many environmental repercussions from Marcellus Shale drilling in Pennsylvania, if fracturing done in an environmentally friendly way drilling boosts the economy while allowing an alternative fuel that saves complete fuel depletion. Selecting a topic was very difficult for me, and I went through about eight options before I fell onto this topic. I was picking topics on what I believed I could find a great amount of research on, not what I felt strongly or passionate about. Once Dr. Pam told us that our topics had to be something we were extremely interested in I thought about the stuff that I was interested like dance, tennis, reading, the environment. . . Yes! I thought, there is so many topics out there that I can research about the environment. I then realized that the Marcellus Shale drilling was such a new and upcoming process that I was interested in researching and finding more about. So from there my topic and thesis were born. For me finding the internet research was pretty simple, thanks to Dr. Pam and previous English teachers that taught us what to look for in good, reliable sources. I found the handouts to be extremely beneficial when selecting internet sources. I obtained a great deal of my research from Google scholar. Google scholar proved to be a very reliable search engine because it gave me sources that had an author, date, company, and other things that indicated it to be a reliable source. Next came the thesis. I read through all of the thesis handouts to get a pretty good idea of what a good, strong thesis should look like, and built my thesis upon that. This was actually the easiest part of the process for me. I am actually enjoying the research process so far. I am learning so much information about a topic that I am very interested in, and it is pretty neat to learn about something that is happening right in our backyards. It’s very reassuring to see all of those points add up. When looking at the points sheet it can be discouraging and overwhelming, but when each set of points is added to the sheet it can be very encouraging.
ReplyDeleteI have chosen a topic that relates not only to those around me, but especially to me. I began using Facebook about two years ago. I found that by being online, I have met many more people than I would have if I never joined the network. I used to play a game called ‘Bejeweled Blitz’ every day after school, and I realized how much of my time it took up. Since then, I have not played any games, which has done nothing more than been a benefit to me. When I first signed up for Facebook, I was like most people, confused and frustrated while trying to learn how to use it. At that time, I never thought I would use Facebook, let alone become addicted to it. When Lent came around last year, I realized that I was to the point that I thought I would never reach; addiction. I gave Facebook up for Lent, which was not easy. Because of my experience, I have chosen to research whether or not teenagers have become addicted to social media.
ReplyDelete“Social media is a benefit to teenagers in many ways; however, it is becoming an addiction at an early age that is ultimately affecting their time management skills.” I think my thesis statement says it all. Many would agree. While doing research, it is imperative to use sources that are reliable. Wikipedia is a site that comes up as the best result nine-times-out-of ten. I often want to use it, but I know that anybody and their brother could go in and change what is written. Therefore, Wikipedia is a very unreliable and non-credible site to use. When I was researching my topic, I used many sites that came directly from the news, or from online sources that were produced by prominent and well-known organizations. To make sure the source is credible; I had to look for an author, date, and the producer of the work. The papers that Dr. Pam gave me really helped when deciding whether or not to use a site. Without them, I probably would have used a random site that looked good, but really was not.
To be completely honest, I think doing a research paper takes hard work. I do not enjoy working on something that takes a few months. I like to get things done in a short period of time. Although doing research is frustrating, I know that the process will only help me when I reach the college level. I want to be the best prepared as possible, and I think the only way to achieve that goal is to dig deep and find the determination needed to excel with my paper. The best part about having the rubric is to see how many points I received from everything I have turned in. I think that it is a great confidence boost. All in all, I am looking forward to writing my paper. Hopefully, I can stay off of Facebook and get my work done.
Kristin,
ReplyDeleteI can see why you have chosen to write about the Marcellus Shale. What I find to be very fitting is that you are taking AP Environmental Science, so you can use what you have already learned to learn what you have not. I also love how your topic deals with the things that will eventually affect us in little 'ole Elk County. I heard Taylor talking the other day about how the water at her house was brown, which was a result from a drilling in Johnsonburg.
I think that by researching the topic, you will be able to inform others about the good and the bad of what the Marcellus Shale is doing to our environment.
The economy around here is also a major concern. I feel like we, as a county, have invested great amounts of money and land for the project, but are not seeing the beneficial results from it.
Taylor,
ReplyDeleteI am not sure whether or not to agree with you concerning your topic. You are totally for the use of the devices, right? I think part of me wants to agree, but the other part is a little leery.
I do agree that there are some benefits to schools who impliment the use of iPads and Kindles, but in every school, there are those students who abuse the privileges given to them. Take our school for instance. Half of the students in a study hall spend most of their time on a laptop while sitting on the couches in the library. Almost every single one of them can account for going against our school policy and using sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
I like that you are interested in possibly bettering our school by bringing modern technology into traditional styles of learning. I do believe that you are doing a great job with your research and I am glad that you found a topic that you care so much about. I also agree that it was very nice of Dr. Pam to announce the due dates so many days, weeks, and even months before each part of the research process was due.
My thesis statement is this: The United States government should not have regulations on firearms because it violates the second amendment, takes away self protection, and causes an increase in crime rates. Main topics I want to further discuss in my research paper are the second amendment and the consequences that will occur if the right to own firearms is taken away. So far the research I have gathered has been internet sources. I did use Google scholar but only found one article that was not a court case. When I look for research on the internet I try to find a .org or .gov cite. Second I try to see if the author and publisher are at the bottom, or at least a way to contact site organizer. Lastly, if the page has links and graphs, I look into them. Links, I double check if there is more to the website or check to see that the links work. Graphs usually have a key on the bottom that states where the graph information comes from. I Google the name and information that is under the graph to see if I can find it and make sure nobody had tampered with the original data. So far the research process has kept me very busy. It took me a while to find a topic and it took a really long time to find three good internet sources. I feel that the whole ‘research process’ is long and tedious but I feel that it does need to be done correctly to get the best paper possible. As for watching the points add up… well I guess I am not really watching the points, but I feel like it is more of a check list… I look at all the empty lines and think “I have all this left to do” and not so much of “look what I already have done.” I feel that in the future when I have a couple more lines filled up I will feel more accomplished, but right now… we have a lot of work ahead. I feel it is important to write a good, proper research paper because then I will know how to create a research paper in the future for school or for a job.
ReplyDeleteMorgan: I also was worried at the beginning of the research process that I would not find enough information about my topic and that I would get tired of it in December or January. I really like your topic because as you mentioned, most of our class is athletes and even if some are not, it affects everyone. I like your point that a little time sat out is better now than a whole season later. Also, those papers helped me also, especially the ones that went along with our internet sources; it eliminated many of my ‘not so great’ sources.
Kristy: I really like your topic. I feel that many people are so addicted that social media is their life and that’s all they do. You can see people that never log off or have it on their phones, people constantly checking their news feed and updating their status every half hour, wasting so much of their time. I know it would be a challenge for some people to give up Facebook for lent, so I pat you on the back for that. Wikipedia, as I have learned first from Mrs. Evens never to use it, is never a good cite and I have been tempted to use it because it seems that the page has a ton of information. Yes, I agree that research is frustrating but it will pay off in the future.
Kristy,
ReplyDeleteYour topic is very interesting. People are becoming very addicted to social media network sites. I sometimes become distracted by Facebook when I should be doing other things on my computer. I however do not know how to play the games on Facebook so they have never really become an issue for me.
The other day I was in our school library and I saw two books that I thought would be very beneficial to your paper. Yours is about social media and the other is about addiction. I think that you should really look into reading those books or getting information on them. I did look at the social media one just out of curiosity and it looked quite interesting.
One thing that I do not agree with how ever is about taking a few months to do this research paper. I like how it is not so rushed. When things are rushed I feel that I cannot do the best job because I have to rush to get it done. Sometimes I am not able to write very well under pressure. By giving us more time Dr. Pam is able to better explain and teach us how to do certain things about a research paper. We will be able to use all of these resources and explanations she has given us to do research papers in our future educational careers.
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI think you have a great topic, especially for around here because owning a gun is so common. But I do think that there should be some restrictions on exactly who can own a gun. Sometimes guns end up in the hands of the wrong people because almost anyone of age can go and by a gun. One thing that I think that they should do is that anyone who is buying a gun should have a background track. It could be very dangerous to give someone who is in unstable condition to have a gun they could be very dangerous to society. I would really like to read your paper when you are finished and see how you developed your thesis
At first I was intimidated by the thought of this research paper. When I heard that the requirement is ten pages, I was stunned. It seems like so much. But, alas, as the process moves on, it doesn't seem so bad. The steps we take, along with professions, make writing a paper of this caliber a feasible task. Attaining knowledge such as this will not only help me in high school, but on the collegiate level, then off into the workforce. And in the workforce is where it truly matters.
ReplyDeleteThe sources that we acquire are integral to a successful paper. Finding a legitimate source is tough but crucial. Two of the source that I have are from internet journals from professions with important college degrees. Another, is an unbiased book that gives both opposing opinions. I must sift my way through to find what is important to my paper. I will rely on these three for much of the information to back up my opinion.
My thesis is 'Although the violence in video games may promote aggression and rebellion among young adults, they are not corruptive since they are fantasy, merely games that provide stress relief and personal enjoyment.' I back my thesis up with the passion and concern about this topic and adults misinterpretations of them. I am excited to get my point across. To tell all who read it my opinion about it and to hopefully convince them to sway with my thinking. Being about to convince somebody through words is rather interesting to me and I cannot wait to accomplish that.
Confessionalists Sylvia Plath and John Berryman, use their own personal experiences by diving into the human mind to write the poems "Daddy" and "Dream Song 1;" Interestingly, they are similar in mechanics, theme, and overall impression.
ReplyDeleteI chose to do this literary analysis basically because I love literature and poetry. I think that's why this whole research process thus far hasn't been too "daunting" for me, because I am absolutely in love with my topic. If I had to do my research paper on something scientific or math related, I know I would be struggling. I, however, do not think there is anything wrong with those kinds of paper, it just is not what I am interested in.
It was especially difficult for me to find credible resources for my paper because everyone can interpret a poem in their own way. That's what I love about poetry; that everyone can pull even the slimmest thread from it and still feel something. Although, not everyone who does an analysis on a poem is deemed credible. I tried to find sites that were hosted by say a literary organization or foundation. Poets.org (my main source of information) is hosted by the Academy of Poetry, therefore I found the information to be not only useful, but authentic. It was also very interesting to just read other people's analysis of the poems, just to see if they thought the same things I did. Another site of mine was hosted by a web organization that had been in the business for six years called Karmick-Solutions. I did almost a background check on them to see if they were legitimate. I found them to be, and figured their site would be credible -not to mention I loved their web design.
I chose these particular two poets because they are Confessionalists. Confessionalists are poets who were part of the confessional poetry movement who use their own personal experiences to rewrite the human psyche in the form of a confession. This really resonates with me personally, because I believe that all poetry is a confession; it is the point at which your strength gives out and you burst with emotion in the form of language. I really love that about these two writers, and when I was doing some non-Internet research on them at the public library, I found so many similar aspects not only in their poetry, but in their biographies. I am really loving the process thus far with my research paper.
I think the deadlines set for the paper are very helpful, because if the paper itself was not broken down into fragments, I think it would be very overwhelming. Plus, more people would be prone to procrastinating (including myself). I think no matter how frustrated we may become during the process, in the end it will be worth it.
Ryan,
ReplyDeleteI think that your thesis is very interesting. I know a family member of mine does not let even her twelve year old song play those kind of games because of the violence used in them, but I don't think she has ever considered the other point of view you are trying to present. Do you think there should be an age limit or restriction on the more violent games? I would interested in reading your paper, as well as showing her. I also liked what you said about how this paper will help you at the university level. I know that going into college being a double creative writing and art major will be extremely difficult, and that I will have to write papers like this all of the time so it is very useful to have acquired that knowledge prior to going. I also agree with you about how in the workforce is where it truly matters.
Kristy,
I really love your topic. I know for me personally I use Facebook as a way to procrastinate actually doing my work. I'll mill around there just to avoid doing my homework. Do you think that has anything to do with it being an addiction? I think it can definitely be considered an addiction, and I remember when you gave it up for Lent and how much you were struggling. I would be very interested in reading your paper just to see what kind of information you found on the actually definition of Facebook being an addiction. I also loved the last line of your blog, it was very relatable and witty. I really hope to read this paper so maybe it could help me with my "addiction."
Taylor,
ReplyDeleteI think your topic is very good. It’s a current, relevant topic, which always makes for a good research paper. I would be very interested in reading your paper, because I believe that I would be for it, but it would be interesting to see what kind of information that you find. I think it would be great if you showed some teachers and administrators your paper. There was been many cases in classes were it would be so beneficial to use ipads or other electronic readers. With such advanced information and apps that you can download onto ipads it would help educate us in many classes with current up to date material. It was very smart of you to avoid bias articles, they can be tricky to identify sometimes. I agree with you that the broken down deadlines is so helpful, I also love setting goals for myself and enjoy deadlines and schedules.
Ryan,
ReplyDeleteI think it is great that you are so passionate about your topic, like Dr. Pam said that is one of the most important aspects of picking a topic. I would be very interested in reading your paper, mostly to see if you could get me to see your side of the thesis, because as of now I believe that violent video games may cause a minimal amount of violence on players, especially if they are younger. I feel as though these games let younger children feel like killing and that kind of behavior is acceptable, but I would love to be proven wrong. I hope that you present both sides of this and incorporate the use of statistics and research findings from other sources. Have you tried Google Scholar yet? If not, you might be surprised to find very reliable helpful information on your topic.
Hello Class!
ReplyDeleteYou are all doing an amazing job on your blogging. I can feel your passion about your topics. It is quite exhilarating to see the collaboration that is developing among all of you. I love how you affirm one another's topics. Also, it is interesting to see some disagreements when you clarify your positions. Seriously, you are all magnificent! When we are done with these research papers, how would you like it if we bound them and made copies available for whoever is interested?
For my research topic, I am writing about if you should be vaccinated as a child. There are so many different opinions on this topic that it was easy for me to find evidence supporting and opposing it. I personally find that children should be vaccinated. It stops the spread of disease and keeps them from becoming epidemics. Other opinions that disagree with my thoughts are that we are breading a super germ, and that it is putting a child at risk for autism. There is no conclusive ways to prove either of these, and until there is, children should not be put at risk. My thesis statement therefore is that: The benefits of vaccinations outweigh the risk associated with autism in children. I love this topic! I never knew much about why people were opposed to vaccinations and I my self have never received a flu shot, when I asked why my parents would say they didn't see the point. I went about my research on the internet starting with government sites that explain why we should be vaccinated. Then I looked into health books to see how they work. The research I have been doing has helped me to find out if a a source is creditable. I always make sure that there is contact information. The research process may seem to be pointless at times but I think it will make it much easier to write the actual paper. The points adding up are ambition to keep going.
ReplyDeleteTaylor,
I find myself very interested in why you find that we should use electric readers. Without knowing much about the topic I find that I cannot fully support my opinion of thinking that schools should stay traditional. I find that i can't learn as well without a hard copy of a book in front of me. I easily get headaches while being on electrical devices for a long amount of time. I do however see the benefits of them, as they keep school up to date. It's very controversial.Good topic!
Maura,
You have picked a very interesting topic. I have never heard of such things. I'm sure you'll fill me in on it. I agree in what you said about its the swimmers that matter not the suit. You must be a good swimmer with the right training not the "lucky" suit. Especially if your lucky suit is shark skin, I myself cried when I hit a chipmunk with my car, could never imagine wearing a shark skin suit, it's nit morally right to rely on the animals to make up for what you can not so yourself. The fact that you pointed out that there is so much you didn't know just goes to show that you can always learn more.
Kristin,
ReplyDeleteBeing passionate about your topic is undoubtedly fundamental to a well written research paper. Like you said, you're interested in the environment and those two things correspond. What about the political or ethical sides to it? Should they be included into your research. Also, there is obvious two sides to this controversy. There are also many amateurs on the web that claim they know a lot. It is vital that you intricately pick through these with a fine toothed comb. Get all the genuine and relevant information you need then go from there. Be sure to acknowledge the bias of these sources. Possibly, you could interview two different people with opposing views, just to get what they have to say.
Now for your thesis. Don't be so quick to write that thesis in stone. I had to read your thesis in my head numerous amounts of time before it made any sense. Then I had to read it out loud but I still struggled with it. It could just be me but I feel that it is most definitely too wordy and confusing. The thesis should be simple yet effective. I hope my critical analysis can be helpful in any way, other than that, good luck!
Laura,
ReplyDeleteIf I am not mistaken, I believe you would like to enter the medical field. Your topic surely reaffirms that. With the knowledge you gain from writing this, it will help you in years to come. Because, in my opinion, that is all that really matters. I mean, college is still important. Be sure to involve your Catholic faith (I don't know your standing on stuff like that I'm just saying) with the different morals and ethics involved with something like this. They are important to value.
And about your thesis. Are you sure the benefits outweigh the risks? A risk may include a child developing an incurable condition such as Autism. A benefit may be that a child does not develop something as simple as the flu. Also be sure to expertly study the tests and experiments dealing with this. Other than that, I'm rather intrigued by your topic and am anxious to review your conclusion. Good luck!
When I started brainstorming topics to write about, I was overwhelmed by how many subjects were out there. After some time and thought, I narrowed it down to a few topics and then chose the one that seemed suitable. I chose the topic of how athletics affect academics. Many people think that athletics take up valuable time that could be used studying or doing homework, but it really teaches discipline and raises the chances of scholarships. Athletics challenge students to work for a common goal and challenges then to work hard for what they want. After I chose a topic, I did some research to make sure I would be able to find sufficient information. I was worried when i first picked a topic that I wouldn't be able to find enough research but I found tons or information from journals, experiments, and many internet sources. I decided the thesis statement “The mental and physical challenges as well as the discipline associated with participating in athletics enhance a student's academic performance.”
ReplyDeleteWhen you’re looking for sites to use for research you have to be careful of the ones you chose. Anyone can go on the internet and write things about a certain subject. Just because it is on the computer does not mean that it is valid. When searching for sources it is important that you double check the source and make sure that it is credible by evaluating the author, host of the site, and year it was updated. It is good to make sure that it is not a “cheat site” such as Wikipedia or yahoo answers.
Writing a research paper seems like an intimidating task at first, but when you break it down it is not so hard. If you sit down and try to write a ten page research paper off the top of your head it is going to be a lot harder than starting with preplanning and simple steps to complete the paper. Once you have found your sources and planned the essay, writing the paper is much easier. I think that it is encouraging to have small things due separately because you can see what points you have so far and it makes writing the paper seem like an easier assignment.
Ryan,
ReplyDeleteI thought it was intimidating at first too, I was dreading the fact of having to write this paper. When we got the rubric and the steps that would be due at different times, I was so relieved. I love your topic, I completely agree with you. My mom was always against violent video games and would never buy my brother any. She made a big deal out of them but I always tried to tell her that she was making mountains out of molehills. Then finally, my brother got a hold of call of duty somehow. He plays it all the time now and even got her to play the game once or twice! It just goes to show, that someone’s opinion can be completely changed under the right circumstances. I hope that I get to read your paper, It’s sounds like a great topic.
Kristy,
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw what your topic, last year when you gave up facebook during lent was the first thing i thought of! Before I even read your blog I was already on facebook, going back and forth between that and my work. You definitely have a point that it is very distracting. It always takes me twice as long to get my work done when I'm doing it on the computer. It's going to be a great topic to write about because there will be lots to support it I'm sure. Especially now that more and more people are getting smart phones that have facebook on them. I know that whenever I'm just sitting somewhere bored I'll automatically go on facebook on my phone for something to do and it's just so convenient. No computer, no logging in, it's just right there in the palm of your hand.
When I started to look for a topic for my research paper, the first thing I did was look through debate topics from when I was on debate team at my old school. I did this because I remembered many of the topics had stuck out as very interesting to me. I knew I wanted to research something that I actually would enjoy learning about. However, these topics posed issues of finding good research and being able to meet the length requirement for our paper. Once I determined that none of those topics would work, I then started to look for literary topics because I love to read. I decided on doing something with “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseni and middle eastern women. Finding research wouldn’t be a problem, and I would easily be able to write at least ten pages on that topic. However, I changed my topic once again to “Because of major cultural differences, Afghan women, in comparison to American women, have numerous restrictions in political affairs, education, and personal relationships.” I realized the inclusion of the novel wasn’t really necessary.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I do to determine whether or not to use a particular source is just look around the site to see if it looks nice. Sometimes that’s all it take to figure out that a source isn’t reliable. I then look for things like spelling mistakes, authors, and posting dates. I think that the papers Dr. Pam gave us were really helpful. There were some things on them that I had never thought of doing like checking the reference sites and backtracking.
I am enjoying the research process so far. I love to write, and I’ve always been interested in middle eastern culture. I’m glad Dr. Pam broke the paper up the way she did on the rubric. Not only is it great to be able to work ahead and know when everything will be do in advance, but it makes writing a ten page paper seem a lot less over whelming. I think it is also very beneficial that she is taking the time to go over everything so much in class, and willing to take extra time to help us. We will all most likely have to write a lot of research papers in our lives, and I think the time she is putting into teaching us is going to help us all a ton in the future.
Morgan, I think it’s great that your topic is so closely related to what you what to do with your career. I’m sure you’ll gain a lot of information that will help you in the future. I also think your topic is great because it’s something that almost the whole class should think about. As far as I know, almost all of us are in a sport, and a lot of times when we are injured we don’t say anything or push ourselves too much because we don’t want to sit out. As hard as it is to sit out though, not waiting until we are healed really isn’t good for our health.
ReplyDeleteKristy, I remember when you gave up Facebook for lent last year, and I thought that you were crazy. Then, I realized how much I get on it myself. Anytime I get on my laptop, I almost always have Facebook up in another tap. I would get things done so much faster if I didn’t stop to go look at it every twenty minutes! I think it’s great that you are doing this as your topic because it is something that 99% of teenagers, and even a lot of adults can relate to. Something else that you could maybe look into for your paper is how young kids are when they make a Facebook account. One day I logged on and one of the kids that I babysit added me as a friend! I wasn’t even allowed to have one until I was in eighth grade.
ReplyDeleteMaria,
ReplyDeleteThis isn't necessary being my 3rd response but after reading your post I was so moved that I had to say something. I completely 100% agreed with your statement. Athletics are help in so many ways. Some being, improved physical condition, mental anguish (good and bad), teamwork, friendship, and time management skills. I'm sure there are many more. I read somewhere that students who participate in sports are better off than those who didn't, both physically and intellectually. My passion of running (along with all other sports [and activities]) test you. They teach you how to work hard to achieve success. This same premise can and should be used in the classroom. You work hard in the classroom and it pays off on something like an "A" or that gained knowledge. Sports just teach so many things that can be used in the real world. The opposing opinion only has one good argument. Their argument is that it takes away from class time and learning time. 1. Colleges like well rounded students. and 2. (more importantly) athletics teach you so much about yourself. Which to me, is on the top of my list as crucial life skills. Something that could never be learned in the classroom. Sorry for the ranting but I hope what I've said has helped you or at least made you laugh at me a little. I wish you the best of luck and I am eager to read the finish product.
Since our paper needed to be based on an augmentative topic, I chose to work with the controversial topic on stem cell research involving a human embryo. Now this topic can become extremely heated so when looking for research on the internet I had to be sure that I wasn't reading and basing my paper on a "pro-life" person's opinion, rather than actual scientific research. My thesis worked out to be, "Contrary to the belief that stem cell research robs a human being of a life, this science saves lives and is necessary." Now being a catholic I actually struggled with myself to write this thesis down in ink because deep down I thought of the embryo as a living person created by God, and of course I think it deserves a chance in life. Thought, the possibility is there to save the suffering of millions, so I had to go with my gut that stem cell research is a necessary evil. Like I said previously when looking for my research copies it would be easy to find a very opinionated piece of work rather than something completely factual. To make sure all of my research was legitimate I tried to use only works by that of Doctors or professors at universities, and I was usually successful with this when working with Google Scholar. I have found some very good research papers done by professional scientist that include both their personal opinions, but also hard scientific proof that stem cell research has endless possibilities for the future of ending cancer and other serious conditions. Using Google Scholar and looking for works of PhD. authors I could assure that I had legitimate sources. I really like how we are taking this process step by step, some may say that this is just drawing the process out, but I think that doing it this way is just drastically improving the quality of our work. Some teachers may just give a final date of a paper and say "have it done by then" and many students would rush through steps like Bib. Cards and research copies and the final paper would show that by being poorly done. Having designated times for each part of the paper assures that we focus on each step, inevitably leading to a good final paper. The points adding up is nice also...
ReplyDeleteKristin,
ReplyDeleteSince the drilling companies are sinking their teeth into land that is a minutes walk from my back yard I will be excited to what research you find and I would like to read your final copy. I have a stern hatred of the Marcellus Shale because they do their work quickly, poorly, and with little respect for the land they are working on. My good friends pond was just on Channel 6 News because toxins from the fracturing killed off all of the fish that have lived in it for many years. Even though I feel so strongly against the drilling, I would like to say that if the drilling is done responsibly that it would be a great, great way to boost our economy and cut our ties with foreign countries that hold us like puppets because of how greatly we rely on them for oil and natural gas. I am excited to read your final paper.
Taylor,
ReplyDeleteI think that trying to make sure people look at both sides of the argument before picking a side is a great idea, and i'm sure your paper will change some opinions on the topic. I thought it was interesting how at first you were against the idea, but after research your own opinion was swayed by the overpowering pros of the electronic readers. Now, and i'm sure Dr.Pam would agree with me on this and maybe even yourself, I have to be against the use of electronic readers in schools. For one reason and one reason, it eliminates the use of text books. This means a lowered need for paper, which leads to a lowered need for paper factories, which leads to an end of Johnsonburg. This is a sad fact, but bringing electronic readers into schools would drastically reduce the need for paper and would terminate the jobs of many people in factories that produce text books and paper products. Also if all of my information was held on a Kindle, I would always know that one slip of the hand could lead to a glass of water spilling on my device and erasing all of my important sources. I think that electronic devises would be so much better than a book-bag full of text books. But, I would live in fear of the failure of the devices.
When told that our assignment was to be a ten paged research paper, I inwardly shuddered. Not only had I never done a paper that long before, I am also an avid hater of research papers. It was a bad combination for me altogether.
ReplyDeleteThus far, I have found my prior thoughts completely wrong. We were permitted to choose from a wide variety of topics that we dealt were concerned about. The fact that I could pick something that fit my passions was amazing. The research itself hasn't been bad either. I've recently discovered Google Scholar. It helps me find accurate sources that I can use to wrote my paper. This is so much easier than using an average detach whine where o have to go through mountains of useless information to find something actually valid. I can also speak to many other people to find their opinions on the matter.
That may be the most enjoyable part. My topic is actually the death penalty. When most people hear my thesis question "Should the death penalty be allowed in the United States?" they immediately shout a quick and sharp response without thinking. But hopefully, as it has made a few people already, it will press people to think more about the implications involved in the actual capital punishment.
"Although used liberally in the past, the use of death sentence should not be permitted in the United States unless the defendant is guilty beyond all doubt." This is my thesis statement. So far, it has made a few people question what is really going on.
While I understand that some people are so horrible and put society at a huge risk, unless there is no doubt at all in the reasonable minds on twelve jurors, the death penalty should not be issued. The problems is that the death penalty constitutes as taking a life. By adding more and more death to the scheme, does it actually make anything better? Also, who is morally upright enough to pull the switch or the button to kill another person that they are accusing of murder? These are just a few of the questions I intend to face in my paper along with the actual history of the death penalty. Hopefully, it does some good.
Maria, you have such a good point although I do want to make sure you really think about one thing. Participating in both athletics and keeping a high academic score puts an extreme stress on the student and their body. Many people wonder whether their children can keep up with the rapid rate involved. Sometimes people need to work extremely hard to keep both at an acceptable level. Nonetheless, such a program schedule can teach them time management and prioritizing skills necessary later on in life. So far, it sounds really interesting.
ReplyDeleteMitchell, I can see exactly what you're talking about here. The moral implications involved in writing such a paper from a catholic standpoint is extremely difficult because we are pushed to believe in so many things. I was recently given the opportunity to learn a bit more about abortion and I hope you are prepared for what you are getting into. It's a gruesome and morbid process. The same goes for stem-cell research. It is taking a life. I'll be interesting in seeing how you develop it. I often wonder whether taking the life of an unconscious baby is worth the information used an discovered in the process.
For my research paper my thesis is: even though cell phones are a good form of communication, teenagers are addicted to them because they have become primary sources of entertainment. This is my thesis because my paper is on the use of cell phones and how teenagers have turned them into something more than to make a phone call on. In today’s society, teenagers use cell phones for the internet and to play games. I know I do that myself a lot, especially when I am bored. Teenagers also make stupid decisions regarding their cell phones and that is becoming a common theme. Teenagers use cell phones while they are driving. They also use cell phones to do illegal things such as sexting. There are so many teenagers recently that are getting arrested and/or fined for committing those crimes and they then become listed as sex offenders. This is a scary trend as also why teenagers are becoming more and more addicted to their cell phones.
ReplyDeleteI have tried a lot of different ways to figure out if my research was credible or not. I will not use a website if I do not know the host organization. However, I will sometimes research the host organization and see what they are all about. I do this because my topic could easily be lied about and statistics could be made up, so I always have to be careful. To find sources, I have really only used Google Scholar. It has given me everything I have need to find.
So far, I have not really minded having to write the research paper. When we first started writing it, I was so worried. I thought it would be so hard and overwhelming. However, because of the way this paper is broken down, I have not had any trouble at all keeping up or understanding everything about it. My biggest issue has been actually finding research about it. I think that is because my topic is still kind of new and there is not a ton of information on it yet. The other stressful thing is that, I have to look at about six or seven websites before I find one that I can use. This is mostly because most of the articles have to be purchased. I also love my topic. That is because I know I always have my cell phone by my side, so some of this pertains to me too. I would never do any of the illegal things, however I check Facebook and play games on my phone constantly. I love finding out about how everyone else does it too. Some of the statistics have also amazed me. I am truly amazed how many texts are sent a month around the country. However, if I think about it, I send a lot of texts too. However, I have noticed more of mine are because I have a question or something to say quick. I do not usually carry on long conversations with people on my phone.
This research paper is going to make this second quarter a great one and I am excited to finish it.
Taylor,
ReplyDeleteI really like your topic. It affects you and I think that is great how you chose it. I remember this coming up at the end of last school year, but I never even thought about it again until now. Things such as iPads could be great in school. However, I worry about the misuse of it. Thinking about people in events in our school, I can truly see how they would be misused. People would take advantage of the privilege that we have to use them. I can see where you would think they would be great, but I think they would be greatly misused and not taken care of. All that money would be wasted, just look at how some people treat the laptops in our school. Keys are missing, they are left around and lose all the battery life in them, and so on.
Maura,
I also think you have a great topic. I knew you were a swimmer, so this topic for you makes perfect sense. I also see your point when you talk about the suit not changing anything. I have one argument in that. How expensive are those suits, and if they are overly expensive, would it be fair if the swimmer who can not afford it be held back. I think those suits could be a great idea if everyone could have one, but at the same time I think they could be a terrible idea if half of the population can not afford them. If you think about it, professional swimmers come from all walks of life, not all will be able to afford brand new suits when it first comes out.