Dan's Blog

The main thing that took away from this exercise is that no one is perfect. I went into this exercise thinking that my paper would be shit compared to my partners but it wasn’t quite so. I found that I as well as my partner are on two very equal plains when it comes to the amount of research and writing we have completed as well as the quality. So that was very reassuring. My writing, for lack of a better word, is shaky, and it was good to see that even with that mindset, other people were still in the same boat. It showed me that I still have a lot of work to do, but it isn’t anywhere hopeless.

As far as my own research is concerned, I’m right where I need to be with it. I still have to write up my conclusion with my evidence, but with the previous blog entry, it shouldn’t be too tough gaining focus onto what needs to be covered and what needs to be left out. I’m pretty excited to finish up this paper too, it’ll be nice seeing it all come together in the end.

http://www.languages.ait.ac.th/EL21RES.HTM#problem

Explains how the results should be presented to the reader to make sure that it is covered in a very specific manner. Getting the most bang for your buck is the focus here.

Significant results should be the focus here. Make sure the readers understand what is being presented here.

Too much text is sometimes a problem. Results being presented over and over again is the common error.

The method of organization should be crafted around the results achieved. Different results = different methods of organization.

http://abacus.bates.edu/~ganderso/biology/resources/writing/HTWsections.html#discussion

Explains what was already known about the subject being studied, and what was now learned from the research that was conducted. What was brought to the table because of this research.

Four fundamental questions are supposed to be asked to make sure that the research conducted really does provide something new and different.

This is the section to let character bleed through. Before the entire research conducted and explained is all very static. This is where character can take over and show the reader that this paper is “human”.

Provide references to other works to show that this research isn’t just created on a whim. There is factual evidence to support the new research being conducted.

This isn’t a section to introduce new results, just cover what was discovered.

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/conclusions.html

Conclusions may be the hardest part of the paper to write. It completes the frame around the paper.

Conclusion section shows the reader why the paper was written. Provides a sense of purpose.

Provides a space to throw the “last word”. If there was anything left out that may be considered important, throw it here.

Readers should enjoy reading the conclusion, make em happy.

Link it back to the introduction. Make it part of the paper and not just a standalone section. It should all be inter related.

http://linguistics.byu.edu/faculty/henrichsenl/researchmethods/RM_3_06.html

Conclusion should summarize the points made within the research paper

Review the paper in general

Discuss briefly what this research could mean to further topics

Offer research topics that could spring from the research conducted

Write up a brief abstract to bring the paper together

http://www.galeschools.com/research_tools/src/write_conclusion.htm

Summarize the key points made within the paper. Tie it into the research conducted

Restate the main point. This again helps tie the paper together and give it a sense of purpose.

Make sure the reader comes away satisfied. Provide closure for the reader.

http://www.experiment-resources.com/writing-a-conclusion.html

Make sure the conclusion answers the research question. Prove that the research conducted has a sense of purpose.

Make sure it provides answers as to what the research has shown, what has the paper added to the existing knowledge about the subject, where did the research fall short, are there some unanswered questions, and are the results relevant to the real world.

Well.. Half of it’s one. Shit. Where did this semester go? Anyways I’m pretty surprised that this paper came together as easily as it did.. the first half anyways. For me transitioning from paragraph to paragraph is hard enough for me, let alone transitioning from intro to lit review to methods and so on. It’s still a shitty first draft for me which I’ve been trying to go back through and refine over and over till I’m happy with it. But mainly I’ve just been using the transitional words that I picked up in grade school. I’ve gone back and remembered when writing all those 5 paragraph essays that certain words such as “then” and “secondly” make it easier for the reader to switch from paragraph to paragraph and that’s pretty much how I approached this paper.

The major changes that I’ve made thus far have just been grammar mistakes that I overlooked the first run through. Making sure that sentences make sense is a big problem for me and it’s always the focus when I’m correcting. Other than that I’ve been relying on those transitional words to pull me through.

At this point the editing needs to be focused on the paragraphs themselves. After compiling the intro, lit review, and methods, I’ve found that my paper is pretty lacking in the detail department. Fluffing up the paragraphs with more evidence to support my research and citing other sources is primarily my focus at this point. I’d like to see and increase of about 2 or 3 pages from what I have now (a little bit more than 7 at this point) to bring it up to about 10 pages. That way I’ll know that my paper will meet the required 15 pages and hopefully add a little bit more.

For my research paper, my participants will be my family and friends. In total, I plan on interviewing no less than 15 people for this interview. My family will be easy enough to find, just have to get home and sit them down one by one and ask them questions. For the other participants, I’ll most likely just ask my friends over facebook messaging to get the results. Asking them a set of pre thought out questions and getting their responses. I’ll ask questions such as “how many texts do you send a day to your parents and siblings?” or “how long do you spend talking to your friends on the phone”. Things that deal with human interaction through the use of modern technology. I don’t feel that there are any particular dangerous questions that I’m asking my participants. The only problem I can foresee is that my participants may not be able to answer the questions accurately. Privacy isn’t an issue, I’ll simply leave their names out of my study unless they explicitly ask to be included within the study’s text.

Purpose

• Knowing how the data was collected is important to know because the methods affect the results.
• Choosing a method of data collection is important because there are multiple ways of collecting it.
• The reader wants to know why the data was collected because the reader wants to know how it was related to the study at hand.
• The research must be “in sync” with the research. If the research doesn’t match up with the subject matter, then the paper will be weak.
• The methods should provide the problems that were encountered while collecting data and why.
• Other researchers may use the same methodology used so it is important that you as a writer state your methods clearly.

Common Problems

• The paper isn’t a “how to for beginners” and there shouldn’t be an over complex explanation of the simple things.
• Overlooking problems when we come across them isn’t quite the proper approach. Make sure to record how the problem was overcome.

Overview

• Intro should explain how the methodology should be carried out.
• Lit review is the review of previous work relating to research problem
• Method is how the results were achieved
• Results and discussions is the presentation of previous results
• Conclusions ask if the research question has been solved or not.

Other types of research: analysis, case study, comparison, correlation-prediction, evaluation, design-demonstration, survey-questionnaire, status, theory construction, and trend analysis.

Summary

• Methods present in a study support the validity of a section.
• Clear and precise descriptions on how the experiment was done is a must.
• Everything should be explained. It makes it easier for the reader to emulate the research if one so chooses.

Introduction

• Methods section is the most important. It provides the information that will prove to judge the paper.
• The readers will be able to judge whether or not the research and conclusions are valid.
• The audience could carry out the research as well.

Basic Research Concepts

• Scientific method provides to find out the case and effect relationship between objects.
• A study constructed around cause and effect can be established.

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A literature review isn’t just a thumbs up or thumbs down deal.

Lit review refers to any collection of materials on a topic.

It could be anything from government documents to a paper on sprained ankle.

It discusses published information on a specific subject area.

Research papers support your own article as a writer. A lit review is going through and summarizing what everyone else thinks.

Lit reviews prove to be a handy guide on a specific topic a person is writing.

Many academic professions write lit reviews. Humanities, sciences, and social sciences usually write them.

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A lit review should provide the writer with insight into the field of study they are researching about.

Lit reviews enable one to define and limit the problem that is being worked on. Place your study in a historical perspective. Avoid unnecessary duplication. Evaluate promising research methods. Relate your findings to previous knowledge and suggest further research.

A lit review is an exploration of a certain topic under study.

Good lit reviews should be clear and concise. It should prove to the reader that the necessary research has been taken.

Works Cited
“Home – Literature Reviews – LibGuides at University of Melbourne.” Home – LibGuides at University of Melbourne. Web. 02 Mar. 2010. .
“Literature Reviews.” The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Web. 02 Mar. 2010. .

CRITERIA 5 4 3 2 1 0 Comments
1. Formatting – MLA/APA headers, titles, indentation, etc. X Only saw a heading, nothing else.
2. Introduction – sufficiently forecasted the remainder of the essay X Briefly describes what the article is about.. that’s about it
3. Conclusion – sufficiently wrapped up the author’s thoughts; connected to intro. X Doesn’t conclude anything. States that it will continue in the next blog
4. In-text Citations – at least 2 and properly formatted X Nope.
5. Works Cited/References – only work actually cited in the paper is included; properly formatted. X Nope.
6. Grammar/Mechanics – language choice; punctuation; spelling, etc. X Better than anything I could do.
7. Pre- & Post-writing paragraphs – did the author sufficiently describe goals and how to meet them? Did author sufficiently explain how goals were met? X Didn’t read about any goals. Proved his point though.
8. Flow – transitions between paragraphs; all sentences in a paragraph related; no run-on or fragmented sentences. X I think it flowed nicely. Showed graphs and then used those to transition
9. Hooked and maintained reader interest. X Mediocre, got me interested though.
10. Genre – Met the needs of the intended genre. X Mediocre blog entry for mediocre blog readers. I think he nailed his audience.
TOTAL = 26 / 50 Add’l comments: Very basic and forgettable. Probably better than me though so I really can’t bash him too much. Made me want to read more so he got my interest.

Dear Marlen,
You’re crazy. Eight hours of homework a night? That’s absolutely nuts, especially with my part time job, other classes, and homework from those other classes. Other than that, I’d say class is going pretty well. Thanks for helping me choose my topic by the way.. my previous one on toilets was going absolutely no where.
So to start out, I’ll steal some info from your previous 121 class and call this my monomythic journey.. thought I forgot all about that, yeah? Trust me, those steps and those archetypes are going to be stuck in my head for a while. If I were to place myself in any of these steps, I’d definitely go with belly of the whale. It’s probably the one stage that I’m always stuck in. Starting off class wasn’t too bad, but when I got my job down at Family Video, things started to get iffy… and that’s putting it lightly. This past weekend I worked more than I slept.. and for me that’s pretty much the worst weekend ever. It didn’t help that I had all this close reading to do. I actually just finished that blog about 30 minutes ago.. and this paper will be done about an hour before class. Proud of me yet? This usually won’t happen, but I was just really really unprepared for this week. It’s Tuesday and I’m already counting the days till the weekend. Please please don’t assign us a shit ton more of homework!
So basically, everything is pretty crazy, but that’s alright I guess.. I can sleep when I’m dead. I’m really looking forward to writing my paper too, interviewing my family should be interesting.. I rarely talk to my dad outside of just asking for something or letting him know where I’m going for the night, so this should prove to be interesting. I’m kinda formulating the questions I’m going to ask him as well as my mom, sister, and brother, but I haven’t quite figured it out yet.. But that’s just me being lazy. My religion class is starting in a bit so I’ve gotta wrap this up. See you in class!
Dan