Thoughtful Quotes

Entry 13:

Reflection

Topic: Online Quote

“Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.” - John Lennon

    There is no proper way to live our lives, except what feels right to us. Yet, in our society, we often let others control and influence our thoughts and what we do. We make plans according to what we think will make others happy. Or maybe that is just me.
    I hate making decisions, I never make plans because they almost always fall through. Yet, when I make backup plans- my life feels better, happier.
    I guess the reason I picked this quote from online out of thousands of quotes, is because I guess I need to be reminded that life goes on when you have options, other plans.
So I guess per the quote- the best thing we can do, to live our most fulfilling life- make backup plans, make other plans.

Synthesis in Writing

 Entry 12:

Research and Connections

Topic: Synthesis

To start off: 

What is a synthesis?

    A synthesis is a written discussion that incorporates support from several sources of differing views. This type of writing requires that the author/writer examines a variety of sources and identify their relationship to your thesis. As we work on a research paper, I wanted to explore other types of writing ideas that we use without our knowledge of it. 

     As a writer, we use information from several sources to create new ideas on our analysis of what we just read. Synthesis allows us to combine sources with our own ideas. These separate elements are used to form a whole. Synthesis is typically assigned when people need to write a literature review, or other papers that require the use of multiple sources. 

Searching Databases

Entry 11:

Research/Reflection

Topic: Searching Databases

    As we are in need of answers to questions, whether for personal questions or for a research paper, we have research options. We can search through a variety of databases depending on what we need. So as we work on our research papers for class, we were told to use keywords in the database to find the best results. Further elaboration on searching databases: (image below)

Some tips included in this image:

1. Do not use full sentences, less is more (keywords)

2. Be able to narrow your topic ONLY to the main points

3. Think of synonyms for your main concepts

4. Utilize Boolean in you search strategy.

5. Start broad and work your way to specifics 

6. Understand your database system

7. Utilize the search filters. 

Personal experience: 

    Most useful tricks for me? Narrowing the search to "English" and whatever source type I am looking for. I also use specific words so my results are right to the point. Further options that could be used would be things like a specific author, title or more. It would take keywords from the search and include them in the title options. 

Critical Thinking

 Entry 10:

Reflection 

Topic: Critical Thinking

Quote: “You came into this world without opinions or judgements or values or viewpoints —and now your head is brimming with them.” 

    Reading this in my philosophy class it made me think. My thoughts? As we grow older we are impacted by our society, by the people in our lives and the place where we grew up. We are not born with prejudices or beliefs. How we are raised, who influenced our minds as we were in our most influential stages. The reason for mentioning this is that our way of thinking, how we think, is no more right or wrong than the way others think. If we can back up our beliefs and truly believe them, present them with good arguments- then it is worth believing. 

    So while we research and go through our classes and assignments- we need to remember that there is no “right” or “wrong” if we truly believe in what we are saying and can provide good evidence and reason for our beliefs. I think that it is important to note because so many people can argue their beliefs with good reason, and others can grow angry in their differences. We have to take into account that not everyone needs to agree with you because how they were raised is different, their right can be wrong to you and vice versa.  

Guided Questions (Week 3)

 Entry 9:

Research

Topic: "What counts as inquiry for academic research?"

    Inquiry requires scholars to actively engage in what they are learning by generating questions that drive them to conduct answers and explore problems. While research addresses the process of finding answers. Academic research writing is a form of research writing. It is different however because of it having a thesis, evidence, and citation.     

    So in order for inquiry to count for academic research, there needs to be an active engagement in the research being conducted. Thinking of further questions, looking into other options, and so on. 

Book Review

 Entry 8:

Reflection 

Topic: Last sentence of Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

"Between Barton and Delaford, there was that constant communication which strong family affection would naturally dictate;—and among the merits and the happiness of Elinor and Marianne, let it not be ranked as the least considerable, that though sisters, and living almost within sight of each other, they could live without disagreement between themselves, producing coolness between their husbands." 

    I have never read this book, but I wanted to see if with a little research into this last lines meaning and trying to see if I can get the gist of the book before I start reading it. 

    By just reading this line alone it seems as though there was a conflict build up throughout the book between Barton and Delaford, Elinor and Marianne; this line makes it appear as they got over it and realized family and friendship is more important than petty disagreements. Seems like a happy ending.

    However the "coolness" between husbands also makes me suspect that not everyone is happy. It seems as though this last line shows that not all relationships can be perfect all the time, that there will be ups and downs in their lives. I still think that no matter what though the last lines shows how true happiness and friendship should overcome all obstacles.

    After doing a bit of research on the ending there are a lot of questions on it there is actually a happy ending to the book. Wondering if Marianne really loves him? Or if she only married this man because it made "sense" to others. Saying that the narrator keeps telling us how much she truly does but the readers have still questioned her feelings. 

    There is no for sure way to tell by reading articles what the true meaning of the last line is but I figured I would give it a try. I guess I will have to read the book to figure out the true ending and the complete story. 

Addiction

 Entry 7:

Research/Experience

Topic: Addiction

Definition: the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity.

• Similar: dependency, craving, habit
  
  

  

    Addiction is a serious problem that every country has to deal with. Addiction is not always drinking or drugs. Addiction can be anything in the world that you feel you NEED. There are different types of addicts. I know a lot of people with a shopping addiction. These people will spend money on things that they don't need, even spend money that they don't have.     

    I think that the cause of many addictions can be started by society or their own troubles in life. People can use their addictions to escape from their reality. I see so many addictions currently going on in this society that no one even realizes is a problem. People just focus on the "bad" ones. Aren't most addictions bad though? There are so many like shopping, eating, gambling, phones, gaming, and more. 

 

    Things that cause you to lose a lot of money, shopping and gambling. Loss of motivation in their daily lives, gaming and phones. I have gone to family events, hung out with friends and almost everyone seems to be on their phones. It is truly upsetting how much technology has taken over our lives. Eating is a problem because it can cost a lot of money and obesity consumes 42.4 percent of the US adults. An eating addiction is only a problem if people are overeating and eating unhealthy foods all the time as obesity can lead to major health issues. While people think that only drugs and drinking are major addictions in the world. I see the other addictions that are equally bad, if not worse.