Advice!

What I would tell someone that is writing their first scientific paper, is to pick a topic of interest. Another good thing to say is don't procrastinate, be on top of your units. Get prepared early for your unit 3, 6, and 9 projects. Take time out and pick good references. Make sure to ask yourself what subjects do I want to talk about in my paper, and pick references pertaining to those subjects. Picking a topic that interests you is a major part I think in writing a successful paper. It takes time to gather the proper information. Anyone entering comp2 will be surprised how much they will learn, and how much is remembered from comp1. The most important thing I could say to a new student is like what is being taught, and you will go far.

Change!

I feel that writing at this point is sometimes stressful, due to a lot of schoolwork that comes in all at once. I have really enjoyed writing on a subject of my choice, it also made me want to research the topic. It gives someone more interest, which in turn makes for a better paper I think. As time goes on through my courses, writing becomes better and easier to understand.

My idea of writing has changed going through this course. Ex-specially with all the different methods and techniques available. The paramedic method is new to me. It has helped revise my paper better than if I didn't have it. Throughout my journey in comp 2, I have been grateful to have such a dedicated professor. Nancy, has helped me understand everything in a new way. It helps to have a teacher who makes class interesting in such a course as this. I will take what I have learned in this course and put it to good use.

Keeping my Blog

I do plan on continuing my blog after the course has ended. I will occasionally check it out, and write something in it. Sometimes having somewhere to write about thoughts, daily events, and even what is on my mind at that moment. There hasn't been a time during this course, I haven't had a thought for my blog. Even just answering the questions provided for this class. I like to write about other stuff, but sometimes there is a lot that goes on in my life. As the time passes on after comp 2, I will still be writing in the blog.

Peer Reviews!

I feel that peer review is a good thing to have. Having peers look over what has been written helps improve my paper. Feedback can be positive, and making changes to some of the material can help the mistakes, grammatical errors, and make the paper flow better. Its always nice to have others to comment and suggest ideas to better my paper.

My experiences with peer reviews has been good. The suggestions and comments helps improve the parts of my essay that need it. All reviews have helped me build on the information that is already there. Telling me that my title and paragraphs need more info or flow better helps me change things around. Even just letting me know how well the essay flows, and where I stand is good. Every piece of advice from my peers is greatly appreciated, and helps improve my paper.

Ideas!

Consider how your ideas about your topic could be influential in later research?

My topic (The Effects of Dispersant's used on oil spills), can influence ideas for later research, because I can add onto the information already obtained. Just like my outline I put together, it will give me ideas towards my final paper. I will take my ideas and maybe use them toward further investigation for future classes. I could continue the ideas on what kind of effects do oil spills have on coastal habitats, ecosystems, and human health. For instance habitats, how much of a particular species habitat gets destroyed every ten years including disasters. I can even include natural disasters (hurricanes), where is the most that have occurred? and what if a man made disaster came with it like the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Their are so many ideas that influence me and they all can be put to good use.

Christina Raymond CM229-07

School and My Life

How is school influencing your life at or up to this point?

School has influenced my life up to this point in a positive way. I have been really motivated to finish getting my associates degree for Medical Assistant. I've seen my life become more busy, but nothing I can't handle. School has given me such a different view on life. Becoming an MA, has it's benefits like, their is always jobs in the medical field. I have enjoyed my journey so far in school, and will continue to do so.

Christina Raymond

Citing Sources

Based upon your reading on plagiarism, why do you think we need to cite our sources?

Based on the reading on plagiarism, I think citing our sources gives credit to the author that wrote it. Citing the source can also give the readers a chance to further there research on the subject if they choose. Giving credit is a major part of the plagiarism policy. Taking someone else's words and not giving credit to the source is like stealing, and making it your own. As a student at Kaplan, I want to let my professor's know where my references come from, and when I base my paper on that information I want to give credit to the author when needed.

Christina Raymond