Whompy27's Weblog

Blog 17

whompy27 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:33:09 +0000

Throughout the entirety of this class I hadn’t a clear image of what my final draft would look like. Only until now have I really looked over the whole paper and been impressed. Of course, I’m still dissatisfied with it and would like to edit more of it before sending off for publication but at least now I have something solid. I think that it would be awesome to present at a conference for free and I really would like to try for that as an ultimate goal. Being the same as last year, I think the strong sense of connection all of us students got with one another was a huge plus. Probably the most useful, however, is the actual skill of research writing that I learned in the past semester.

Post 16

whompy27 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:24:44 +0000

1. During this whole process I think the most important assignment for me was the constant revisions. Those helped me to keep checking on my different sections and turn it gradually from something shitty to something moderately decent for publication.
2. Definitely the peer reviews were the most helpful forms of feedback. It allowed me to receive criticism from peers at my own skill level while I could compare my own work to theirs.
3. The Lit Review was a bitch! It took me so long to just write it well enough that it didn’t sound like crap. As I got more sources I had to add to this section and I just got frustrated trying to find ways to include the new information.
4. I think my best ability is shown in my introduction. The personal account definitely lends me some credit for the reader. I wish the results/discussion section was my best one but… hey, it’s not. Definitely my introduction is the strongest section.

Blog 15

whompy27 — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:29:18 +0000

From the whole peer review process the main point I think I’ve learned is that no matter how many times I edit or look over my paper there will always be something to fix. I’m okay with that because it allows for a never ending allowance of improvement, which I could always use. This process also taught me how to get through several pages and not dwell on the actual subject too much so I can focus on what actually needs attention.

This paper… this paper… here’s one of those examples of free writing that we went over in class because I think that’s the only way I’ll be able to get everything out with. Let’s go! So this paper has been a bitch, a big fat sloppy bitch. This bitch is in dire need of exercise too, you know, just to make her look a bit nicer and better put together. Of course, with bitches and frustration one gains a sense of integrity which is what I guess I’m gaining? I’m pretty happy with the subject that I picked to research, sexual analysis was not for me I suppose. I’ve learned a ton from all this writing, too much to go into detail right now though…

Blog 14

whompy27 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:19:57 +0000

Results
Writing up Research: Results – This page breaks up the results section into topics concerning purpose, organization, advice, and others. It briefly summarizes what the results of a Methods section can mean and how it can be used. This source begins with an explanation of the actual purpose of the section along with short part about a common problem that is made when creating a methodology. The problem is sometimes people include too much unnecessary information that just repeats everything. It then moves into a section about organization and gives two different ways one could include all of the parts.
A Guide to Report Writing – This page has a whole section on the Results part of a Methods section. It is broken into three pages with a specific focus reserved for each page: Aim, which just explains what the results section is supposed to accomplish; descriptive statistics, talks about the introduction of the whole results section and how the research question must be repeated and then gives examples of how graphs and charts can be incorporated; the final section, analysis, discusses how to use the results for the paper’s benefit, it shows how to be more effective with the charts.
Discussion
How to Write Guide – This site explains the function of the discussion. It tells how the discussion should relate back to the lit review when using data the researcher has found. It asks if your findings show what other studies have shown. Including your own voice in this section is important, too; it keeps the dryness of this section down to a minimum.
How to Write Discussion page – This short page so far has been my favorite; it opens with a disclaimer stating that the purpose of research is to discover not to prove and it goes on to break up the discussion section into multiple paragraphs. Important parts such as stating what was found and then an explanation of what was found are necessary. Also, alternative explanations of results should be included.
Conclusion
Handouts and Links – This is the END of the paper… the last chance to give the paper some purpose. This site gives a whole slew of strategies for writing effective conclusions; it also shows strategies to avoid and just plain ineffective ones too. The section for strategies to avoid shows four strategies that I will certainly avoid using, they do a pretty good job as a deterrent.
Writing A Conclusion – This site shows how the conclusion of the paper imitates the introduction a bit. It takes the whole research question and rephrases it to fit into the paper’s entirety. It should review everything that was studied, what was found, what the hypothesis was, and a generalization of the results.

Blog 13

whompy27 — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:36:59 +0000

After combining my three papers I gained a sense that my whole essay was coming together into something legit. When reading through the combined sections I realized that the first draft isn’t the only shitty one – the second is too. Going through the essay in its entirety is crucial to the editing process. What I have now is a good chunk of my essay; it does not show the results yet but I have everything up to that point. This beginning gives my audience a chance to predict the outcomes and feel secure in the idea that I know what I’m talking about. As of right now, my Lit Review needs the most work – it’s shit and I’m going to fix that.

Blog 12: We must protect dis house!

whompy27 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:54:07 +0000

Over the past week or so I’ve been thinking of possible questions to ask in an interview for my research. I think I have a few good ones but that still needs work. Anyway, I’m hoping to find students of different faiths to get a good bit of variety, although that may be tough to do here at IUP. I don’t think that my subjects will come into any danger – at all. I just wouldn’t assume that anyone here would want to cause harm with such a simple topic. Abortion maybe… but not this. I think I might use one of those confidentiality waivers to ensure privacy with my subjects. About 15 -20 participants should be adequate in getting what I need; I’m hoping to just find people in the Oak Grove during classes.

Blog 11

whompy27 — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:00:03 +0000

A big point this article stresses is that the methodology should be specific as to how the data was collected and analyzed. It talks about how the reader must know what the source is that one pulled the information from to give a perspective. Some parts of the procedure are pointless to explain and can be excluded. This site also showed how, exactly, a methodology fits into the finished essay – where it goes.

http://www.essaytown.com/writing/write-methodology-chapter-dissertation-thesis

This site explains how the methodology is broken into four significant parts: a simple review of problems that must be identified when doing research; a broad definition or overview of the approach taken; an analysis of how data will be collected and what it will mean.

Blog 10: Rampage! review

whompy27 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:00:50 +0000

Organization: 3;

Amount of Information: 2; Most of the information and statistics he used was from only one source, the New York Times.

Quality of Information: 2; His information pertains to the topic but he never really goes anywhere with it.

Sources: 1; He blew it.

Mechanics: 4; All of his grammar was correct and his spelling was fine.

Paragraph Construction: 3; Most paragraphs had introductions, some body, and conclusions but a good amount did not; they were only around two sentences.

Diagrams and Illustrations: 2; The diagram is neat and easy to read but the information it shows is not effective in the study.

17/28! Ya blew it…

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Research Report : Bloggalevin

Dr. Neil n’ Sam

Student Name:
________________________________________

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Organization	Information is very organized with well-constructed paragraphs and subheadings.	Information is organized with well-constructed paragraphs.	Information is organized, but paragraphs are not well-constructed.	The information appears to be disorganized.
Amount of Information	All topics are addressed and all questions answered with at least 2 sentences about each.	All topics are addressed and most questions answered with at least 2 sentences about each.	All topics are addressed, and most questions answered with 1 sentence about each.	One or more topics were not addressed.
Quality of Information	Information clearly relates to the main topic. It includes several supporting details and/or examples.	Information clearly relates to the main topic. It provides 1-2 supporting details and/or examples.	Information clearly relates to the main topic. No details and/or examples are given.	Information has little or nothing to do with the main topic.
Sources	All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented in the desired format.	All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented, but a few are not in the desired format.	All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented, but many are not in the desired format.	Some sources are not accurately documented.
Mechanics	No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.	Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors	A few grammatical spelling, or punctuation errors.	Many grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.
Paragraph Construction	All paragraphs include introductory sentence, explanations or details, and concluding sentence.	Most paragraphs include introductory sentence, explanations or details, and concluding sentence.	Paragraphs included related information but were typically not constructed well.	Paragraphing structure was not clear and sentences were not typically related within the paragraphs.
Diagrams & Illustrations	Diagrams and illustrations are neat, accurate and add to the reader’s understanding of the topic.	Diagrams and illustrations are accurate and add to the reader’s understanding of the topic.	Diagrams and illustrations are neat and accurate and sometimes add to the reader’s understanding of the topic.	Diagrams and illustrations are not accurate OR do not add to the reader’s understanding of the topic.
- Please Choose -	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined

Date Created: Oct 06, 2009 10:17 pm (CDT)

Book Test #1: Siddhartha

whompy27 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:01:30 +0000

1. Herman Hesse must have done a great deal of research in the culture of Hinduism with just the vocabulary alone containing so many specific words that the majority of the Western World probably had never heard. Differences in words such as Brahman and Brahmin are emphasized throughout the whole novel. On page 38, Siddhartha states, “I was seeking Brahman…” Brahman is different from Brahmin in that Brahman is what Brahmin seeks. It is the understanding that is sought after throughout the entire story.

At one point, Siddhartha comes to a realization that escaping who he is will help reach enlightenment. He says, “I will no longer study Yoga-Veda, Atharva-Veda, or asceticism, or any other teachings. I will learn from myself, be my own pupil.” (Hesse 39). When reading that section, I was unbelievably confused as I had never heard of either of those terms. Upon doing my own research, I found that Yoga-Veda and Atharva-Veda are both sacred texts of Hinduism. Without a fund of knowledge in Hindi culture, Hesse would never have been able to write with such accuracy and understanding.

2. In Siddhartha, the author uses the rhtorical device, pathos, to bring up an issue of emotional difficulty. When Kamala dies (p 113) Siddhartha is given his son to watch over. As the next chapter progresses, Siddhartha realizes that his son is not like him and does not wish to live a simple life. The son eventually runs away and as Siddhartha searches for him, Vasudeva gives a look “as if to say: Do you not see what your son wishes to say? Do you not see that he does not wish to be followed?” (Hesse 125) Siddhartha goes through a great struggle within himself deciding whether or not to follow his son. Hesse uses this to connect with the reader in a sense of loss and struggle; debating to do what one wants over what is right gives a commonality between character and reader.

An impecible sense of ethos is presented throughout the whole novel. Every character has dialogue that is matched perfectly with his or her personality. All of the Brahmin and the monks speak with slow, meaningful language that further gives life to the character. For example, towards the end of the novel Siddhartha speaks with Govinda about enlightenment, “It seems to me, Govinda, that love is the most important thing in the world. It may be important to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it. But I think it is only important to love the world, not to despise it, not for us to hate each other, but to be able to regard the world and ourselves and all beings with love, admiration and respect.” (Hesse 147) With dialogue like this, one gets an impression of the loftiness of these monks thoughts and the simplicity they live with.

3. From just the first sentence in the whole book, “In the shade of the house, in the sunshine on the river bank by the boats, in the shade of the sallow wood and the fig tree, Siddhartha, the handsome Brahmin’s son grew up…”(Hesse 3), author Herman Hesse captures the reader’s attention with an introduction that leaves one with an image that must be imagined and a question that needs to be answered: Who is this Siddhartha character whom is incorporated into all surroundings of nature and what becomes of him?

After a brief physical description and a list of how and who Siddhartha influenced, Hesse states, “That was how everybody loved Siddhartha… But Siddhartha himself was not happy.” (Hesse 5) From just reading the first few pages, one gets an impression of the glory Siddhartha holds and the reader would assume that the character is fully satisfied. With just one sentence though, the reader encounters a conflict that sets the whole novel in motion. This single sentence is what marks the reader’s journey into Siddhartha’s future.

Entry #7

whompy27 — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:22:54 +0000

In every case that I have come across, so far, introductions are much more interesting than lit reviews, and they should be. The whole point of an introduction is to capture the reader’s attention with, possibly, a witty quote or interesting bit of information and persuade him or her to continue into the next paragraph. An introduction should also explain to the reader what the subject will be about and layout the whole essay, including main points, in just a paragraph. A Literature Review, on the other hand, is a review of all the sources contained in a work cited showing who has researched the topic previously and what information has been found already. With this, a writer/researcher can know what will be possible for he or she to contribute.

An annotated bibliography can greatly help one write a lit review by providing information, accreditation of authors, and even framework. Engel, Blumenthal, and Cosgrave (2009) explain pretty well the significance, “the purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.” Long story short: annotated bibliographies and lit reviews help each other build and, mainly, help the reader gain as much information as possible.

It is very important being able to differentiate between “good” and “bad” sources; a site like Wikipedia can not be trusted because the information can be altered by anyone. A peer reviewed journal, however, is pretty safe. Using a peer reviewed journal allows some assurence in knowing that the information coming from it has been researched and cited and has been looked over for mistakes by others in the author’s field. I feel very comfortable taking information from a reviewed journal, such as Guilty or Not? A Path Model of Women’s Sexual Force Fantasies by Shulman and Horne because they have so many sources from other scientific journals and their essay was reviewed by peers.

When writing the introduction and lit review it is extremely important to consider the audience. An audience of people who do not know or care about the subject will only result in failure. To target an audience is neccesary in the introduction so that there is a bit of focus to start the subject on. For the lit review it is also important because it shows what information is important to include. Audience is key.

Engel, Blumenthal & Cosgrave. How To Prepare an Annotated Bibliography. 2009. September 23 2009

Horne and Shulman. “Guilty or Not? A Path Model of Women’s Sexual Force Fantasies” Journal Of Sex Research Nov. 2006: 43.4. Academic Search Complete. EBSCOhost. Indiana University of Pennsylvania Library, Indiana, PA. 23 Sept 2009