Finals...finally!

I'm glad to be in the last week of this term. Although it would be even better if it was my last term to get my degree! I personally really enjoy writing scientific papers. I think using pure facts makes it a little simpler. It can be so much more complicated when using your opinion, like for a persuasive essay. I think one major part of writing a scientific paper is choosing a topic that you find personally interesting. If you aren't interested in a topic then it will be harder to sift through all of the information and choose a point of view to write about. Secondly, I think that time is another biggie. Don't start late. Follow the suggestions in the writing guide, break it down, and take your time. It seems like a very long process but it does pay off!!! Best of luck to students in the next term

Crunch Time!!!!

It's the last two weeks of class for this term and it's rounding on those final projects...argghh! Since my first term of class I have been working very hard on not procrastinating. Although I have gotten continually better with each passing term, this is definitely not something that I would say I have "mastered". I have been plugging away slowly at both final projects and think I am making good pace. I still have a lot of work to do however. And to add just a little pressure, both final projects are due this week! I will continue to work today and tomorrow and take a much needed breather on Saturday. It's my daughter's 7th birthday party and I plan to just relax and enjoy the day. I also feel it's important to be able to take those breathers and refresh yourself before attacking a large project again. If I continually work on one thing my brain begins to get what I call "mushy" and I just don't feel as productive. My brain at least needs a little down time and hopefully it will do me justice when I polish everything up before submitting those projects by Tuesday. Best of luck with finals to everyone else!!! 

Rough Drafting...Rough concept

Well I must admit that I have been rereading my rough draft many times trying to figure out how to make "substantial revisions". I'm completely at a lost. I have 5 sources and in my opinion have met the criteria for the final project in what was completed in my rough draft. Generally the rough draft is mainly the final project, except with any changes suggested after review. My rough draft paper received good marks so now I am sitting here thinking to myself how am I supposed to fix what's not broken???? So confused!

Writers Block...

Hey everyone! I must say that as I read the rough drafts from comp class this week, I am happy I used my KU handbook for Writers. It was really a pain to develop those research questions and then really narrow down a specific thesis. Even though it took me extra time to follow the process in the handbook, I believe it pays off very well in the end. Since I was able to figure out those three points I wanted to address in my thesis is helped with the flow and organization of my paper. I noticed in some papers written by those who's research paper didn't have a clear or concise thesis statement was a little harder to read. I also like that the thesis statement in the introduction prepares the reader for the flow of the paper. Without the thesis outlining the points that are going to be addressed a paper can seem less organized. I suffered a major writing block when looking at all my sources of research and going back and forth over and over deciding which aspects of the water shortage to address. Once that is done and the outline is done it was easier to just sit and fill it all in. Although it's more difficult I would definitely recommend the writing process in the KU Handbook. Good luck everyone!

Helllloooooooooooo Stress!

This week its time to submit the first draft of my research paper for Comp. I am usually a big procrastinator so thats always issue numero uno. I must say the weeks prior has helped me get a jump on my research. But finding exactly what it is that I am going to write about can be so challenging. Answering the appropriate questions, narrowing down the right research, and putting it all together in a way that makes sense and flows nicely. Arrrggghhh! All I can do is keep plugging away, take the constructive criticism and hope that in the end turns out well! That an a positive attitude. I can do it!

Add the Quotes....

We have been discussing plagiarism in Comp class this week and it has made me take notice more of the quotes on Facebook. I don't know what it bothers me so much to see someone post a status of a known quote on Facebook but not give credit. And even if you don't know the author is it really that hard just to add the quotation marks? If its an excellent quote many people will comment and the person make the post takes credit. It's very irritating, at least to me. It has to make you wonder that if a person will take credit for a well known quote and publish it on a public forum what else can they do? If I can see your status I am on your friends list because I know you or work with you. So will that person take credit for an idea of mine at work then as well?? I think mostly people don't think twice about giving credit and do it without malicious intentions. When I think of crime, plagiarism isn't generally at the top of the list. But once you take a college course you begin to realize that it is taken seriously and it should hopefully start to rewire giving credit when credit is due. 

Winter Weather

I must say that for living in Wisconsin the weather has not been bad at all! We had that one major snow dump of over a foot and since then it has been just flurries. Since I have been doing a research paper about the global water shortage it makes me wonder the correlation between global warming and smaller amount of snow we have been receiving. I remember when I first moved to Wisconsin five years ago and the amount of snow we used to receive has been declining each year. We have been hearing about the threat of global warming and the impact that it will have on our planet if we continue to deplete our planet's natural resources. I think that with the oil spills, the threat of a clean water supply and thousands of birds falling from the sky in Arkansas and other countries; we may be in a bit of trouble! It's a scary thought. I do small things now such as better lightbulbs, using windows in the summer for cross ventilation, lowering the heat by even just a few degrees in the winter, not preheating the oven unless necessary, cooking multiple dishes at once, shortening shower time, and recycling. I'm not sure at this point we as a society have conserved in such a manner where it's going to make a viable impact. I also REFUSE to use plastic water bottles. They drive me bonkers. Statistically water that's bottled is no more clean than tap water. And even if one feels that is the case, a filter is much more environmentally efficient. Most of my friends have followed my suit by not using them, probably more because they don't want to hear me complain about them! They take years to degrade and millions a year are piled into our landfills. I think it's all starting to catch up to us.....