Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Research Exercise #1

Topic: Alternative Energy

Works Cited- Yiguand Ju, Joanna Austin. "Propellants and Combustion." Aerospace America Dec. 2007: 70

Summary: According to Yiguang Ju and Joanna Austin, in the article "Propellants and Combustion", the needs for alternative energy sources in energy are discussed. Alternative energy is becoming a widely discussed issue that is becoming more and more serious every day. With a lot of research on alternative fuels the use of hydrocarbon liquids in aviation technology is discussed, with the advantages and disadvantages. These ideas are further discussed the the benefits and draw backs to long term usage of both types of fuel.

Response: The use of alternative energy sources in aviation is a great idea with the amount of air travel that is going on today and growing for that matter. The use of hydrocarbon fuels would greatly reduce the amount of harmful emissions into the air benefiting everybody.

Additional Ideas: I could look at other types of alternative fuels in aviation or land transportation such as cars or ships. Also I could research more in depth about the effects that aviation emissions are having on our ozone today and compare it to the predictions for what would happen with the switch to hydrocarbon fuels.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Thesis Statement: Cheating has become an ever present problem in schools today, starting in lower level education students are finding it easier to cheat and feeling less guilty about it, disregarding the effects it has on them and others around and the punishments they may face due to their actions.

Topic Sentence 1: Many students are unaware of what classifies as cheating and even if they know they are still tempted to cheat because of external factors out of their control.

Transition Topic Sentence 2: With the number of students cheating increasing the question of whether it is the parents fault is being raised.

Transition Topic Sentence 3: Though the reason why and who is to blame for the growing cheating epidemic the consequences for these actions is clearly defined in almost every school today.

Transition Topic Sentence 4: In the previous paragraph the question of who is responsible was raised, in this paragraph preventative measures will be discussed.

Conclusion: Throughout this essay the problem of cheating has been evaluated. The reasons for kids cheating keep on growing whether it be a time factor or just the knowing that they can get a way with it without any consequences. Also, the question of who to blame has been a huge factor in why students keep cheating. With teachers becoming more knowing of what is going on with students they are beginning to crack down harder than they ever had with huge consequences. The only problem is making sure that these kids are aware of their responsibilities and know what they are getting into if they decide to cheat.

Essay Topic

I have choose to write my argumentative essay on alternative fuel sources. It is an increasingly interesting topic and has a very broad range of debatable arguments. I will start with the types of alternative fuel sources used today. I will also talk about the ways in which these types of fuel sources can be implemented and the impact that they will have on the earth for the better.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

1. Road rage is the number one cause of deaths on US highways.

2. Many of todays youth are finding themselves locked up because they act out the violence they watch in Disney films.

3. From red ants to carpenter ants these bugs roam in different groups all over the world.

4. Today, the number of animals rescued is rising along with the hearts of individuals giving their time and effort to support.

5. With the number of droughts rising we need to look at our actions and realize how big of an impact global warming is having on our world.

6. In the book, The Shining, the author Stephen King gives a brilliant insight into the mind of a terrified individual.

7. There are many things about the Atlantic Ocean we do not know about including the elusiveness of the Titanic.

8. Drug addiction in America today is out of control and taking many peoples lives.

9. In Saving Private Ryan, a young man with two dead brothers is unknowing of his position and the impact it will have on his life.

10. Rabbits are a a wild animal that is not practical for a pet.

11. The nation is willing to vote in a president knowing that they have charisma, compassion, and control.

12. Many beautiful women show up to beauty pageants hoping to get crowned but only one is good enough to receive it.

13. School uniforms provide a proper work atmosphere for everybody.

14. William Shakespeare was a writer that had many talents with his pen, writing classics that are still read by people today.

15. Aromatherapy is a relaxing type of massage that benefits a person as a whole in many ways.

Fake News

"Fake news" is a genre that is still very misunderstood. Although is can be misleading and interpreted the wrong way, it is a genre that is intended for people who will understand that. In the Daily Show they take news clips that are potentially serious and flip them to make them funny and more appealing to the audience. This type of news is not fully understood by everybody. Like in the show Crossfire they try and butcher John Stewart because they think that he has no idea what he is talking about. This genre is intended for a younger audience. Shows like Crossfire and CNN take the serious approach to broadcasting news, whereas John Stewart takes that same news cast and puts a twist on it that both conveys the message and gives the audience a laugh.
Shows like Crossfire bore the heck out of me. I am not a very government savvy person and I know i should be so I try to watch these shows once and awhile to keep my stuff up to date. I often find myself drifting off or doing something else and miss the whole point of the show. With shows like The Daily Show I can get a lot of the information that they so boringly convey on Crossfire but with a chuckle at the end.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Audience

Audience does play a large role in my writing. The context and composure of my writing differs depending on my audience, whether it be an email to my teacher or a letter to my grandmother, every piece of writing I write I think about who it is going to be written for before I put my ideas on paper. If I am writing something for myself, an audience of one, I tend to think less about what I am writing and just do it. Because I know what I was thinking at the time of the writing it is much easier for me to do rather than stressing over what other people are going to think about it. The biggest difficulty I have with my writing is the audience. I find myself trying to think on the audiences level and eventually I get so lost that I forget what I am even writing about.
Purpose is the most important thing to think about in your writing. Unless I am writing a paper for a class that I have no interest in, I try to make my writing as thoughtful as possible. I attempt to put my emotions out on a platter whether they are good or bad. I feel this is the best way to write because you are not holding anything back. If you are trying to make stuff up that you have not experienced or have not felt it makes it harder for the audience to grasp on what you are trying to explain.
I do not find myself concentrating on the design of my writing unless like I said it is for a class or a project. When I write I try to just let my ideas flow however they do and I go back after words to examine the structure of it. Although design is a very important aspect of writing I do not think about it as much as the purpose of my writing and who I am writing it for.