Wednesday, September 26, 2007

D#7 H#1

In chapter 2 I learned about the Pathos argument which uses emotion to connect with readers. I think that this type of argument would be helpful in my research topic. I learned that one can use emotional appeals to make a stronger and more memorable argument. In chapter 3 focused on Ethos, or arguments based on moral elements. I think this would be a good method for arguments based current world events or social issues. The book stressed that the writer needs to build a form of trust with the reader and to claim authority of the argument. If the writer can do this then the reader will be less likely to question the writer’s knowledge.

D#6 H#8

This week’s assignments were pretty helpful. It was a good feeling to turn in my final WP#1. Hopefully I understood the directions and will be getting a good grade! I think that I am in a better place when it comes to figuring out how to properly structure a paper. It was really beneficial to read other people’s papers. I am able to understand the objectives better when I see how other people executed them.

D#6 H#6

The author seems to be very credible. Joan Jacobs Brumberg is a historian who graduated from the University of Rochester. Her interest in Anorexia Nervosa stemmed in part from her observations of social change in her lifetime. In 1985 she became a faculty member at Cornell University. She taught on the history of American women and the family. She has a broad backround in history, and has been researching anorexia for over 30 years. I believe the publisher to be credible too. This book was not only published for the United States but also in many other countries around the world.

D#6 H#5

As I listed in the reading reflection there are several different types of evidence that one can use while conducting an argument. The ones that I plan to use in my research paper are: firsthand evidence, research and personal experience. I can gain firsthand evidence and research through research on the internet, and in libraries. I have personal experience on the issue that I am writing about, so that makes it pretty easy.

D#6 H#4

Shelley, Rosemary. Anorexics on Anorexia. Philadelphia: Jessica Kinsley, 1999.
This book is a memoir of sorts that gives the details of 19 people who have suffered with this disorder. I found this book through using the internet library database and NAU. It is a really interesting book and I intend on using some information from it for my research paper.
Brumberg, Joan Jacobs. Fasting Girls. New York: Vintage Books, 2000.
This book gives a history of the disorder. It also tries to answer origins, demographics, and treatments of the disorder. I found this book through using the internet library database and NAU. It is a really interesting book and I intend on using some information from it for my research paper.
Levenkron, Steven. Anatomy of Anorexia. New York: Norton and Company, 2000.
This book goes into detail about how biological influences can potentially be on cause of anorexia. It also talks about the “four stages” of anorexia. This book has a lot of useful information. I will probably use some of the information in my research paper. I found this book through using the internet library database and NAU.

D#6 H#3

One of the steps I used in my WP#1 was critical reading. I tried to be as critical as I could be. This way, I would hopefully find any sentences that were grammatically incorrect. I also tried to find areas that I could clarify and make easier to read.
I am most proud of the fact I have such a clear idea of how to write my paper. Usually I just pick a topic and wing it. I do a little research, but I have never really thought of my audience, or planned how to reach my objectives. I know that is really bad, and I plan on never doing that again! Especially after all that I have learned this semester.
One of my main concerns is making sure that I did the WP#1 right. I didn’t get any feedback from my peers, and I don’t think the directions on how to write there paper were very clear. It was clear in some areas but I think there is a lot of room for one’s own interpretation of how to address writing a research proposal. I tried to address this concern by reading, and re-reading the directions, but I still was a bit confused. If there is anything that I could change, I would probably talk to the professor and ask for some direction or suggestions.
Last time I checked I didn’t get any reports from Turnitin. Hopefully I will with this one. I would really like to know how I am doing, and what I could change.
I strived to have a clear focus throughout the paper. This can be difficult for me at times. I accomplished this by being aware of my focus. If I was thinking of five other things when I was supposed to be writing my paper I would take a break and collect my thoughts. Usually when I went back to my paper after that I had better focus. One skill I will be diligently working on is smooth transitions from thoughts. Sometimes I tend to break the thought I’m discussing before it is finished.
One outcome I will be focusing on achieving for my next project is getting better at all aspects of writing. Especially grammatical structure and establishing clear focused objectives.

D#6 H#2

I submitted my final WP#1 to turnitin

D#6 H#1

I learned from chapter four that the type of argument I will be writing about in my research paper is called logos. Logos arguments are based upon facts, evidence, and reason. Even though the paper will be written upon facts the book stressed to “test the facts against our feelings.” This is something that I will keep in mind while putting together my research paper.
Chapter sixteen went into detail about the importance of evidence when presenting an argument. I learned that evidence can be gained through research, interviews, surveys, questionnaires, experiments, and personal experience.
Chapter nineteen taught me how to evaluate my sources. One should consider the personal views of an author and how that might affect the information they provide. Another suggestion was to be on the lookout for an author’s credentials. Sometimes the article will list the credentials of the author, but if they don’t you can usually find more information about that author in a search engine.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

H#5 D#6

Just like every week, I have learned a lot from the assignments that we were asked to do. I know have a better idea of how clear I need to be in my research paper. It is vital to have a good structural plan of the essay I plan to write. I learned a lot of this from peer-reviewing other classmate's work. Overall it good week.

I am uncertain as to what the syllabus meant by commenting on other people search terms. What search terms?

D#5 H#5

I could go to the Psychology Department on campus and try to interview a counselor or psychologist there regarding the issue that I’ve decided to write on. I think that this would be helpful because I would be able to talk to someone who has counseled someone with anorexia. A counselor or psychologist would be able to give me more insight than I would be able to find on my own. A couple of questions I may ask are: “Have you seen any similarities between patients as far as behavior, or thought patterns that have caused patients to become anorexic?” Or “What are some steps towards helping anorexics recover from their disorder?”
As far as observations go, I could talk to friends or people that I’m acquainted with who have body image issues.

D#5 H#4

Annotated Bibliography x3

Vandereycken, Walter, and Beaumont, Pierre J.V. Treating Eating Disorders-Ethical, Legal, and Personal Issues. Washington Square: New York UP, 1998.

Treatment of eating disorders can often be unsuccessful, so I thought that this would be a good book. It gives some background on treating eating disorders, both successful and unsuccessful methods.

Sandy Stewart Christian. Working with Groups to Explore Food and Body Connections. Deluth: Whole Person Associates Inc, 1996

This is a book of exercise/activities to use in a group setting. The exercises focus on discovering issues related with eating issues, body image, and attitudes.(both cultural and personal) This book would be beneficial because it would help me develop more of a sense of the thinking that goes on in the minds of people with eating disorders.

Hof, Sonja van't. Anorexia nervosa: The historical and cultural specificity: Fallacious theories and tenacious 'facts' (Book). Lisse: Swets and Zeitlinger 1994

The author of this book believes that anorexia is not bound to a specific time frame and culture. The author argues that people who think that are acting on presumptions rather than facts.

D#5 H#3

I learned a couple of things from Jennifer and James research proposals. I think that they both had plans and structure to their research question. If there is one thing that I can improve on in my research proposal it would be the clarity/structure of my research plan. Reviewing their proposals gave me an idea of how precise we need to be when conducting our research question. Another thing that I believe I need to work on is to focus on stating more facts in my papers, rather than my own personal opinion. No one has edited my research proposal, so I can’t reflect on what I need to change in other people’s opinion. After looking at the turnitin website, I could not find an originality report, so I cannot comment on that either.

D#5 H#2

For the peer review assignment I reviewed the proposals of:Jennifer and James

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

D#5 H#1

All of the required reading for this week contained useful and applicable information for my research paper, just like every other week! I found that the “Paradigm Online Writing Assistant,” to be very insightful. The article on the “6 Problem Areas,” probably helped me out the most. It was really useful and I plan on using it after writing my research paper draft. Chapter 6 in the Bedford Researcher helped me see how to utilize the libraries resources to the fullest. There was a lot of useful information on locating references that I may be looking to get for my research project. Chapter 7 gave many logical reasons as to why field research can be so beneficial. I thought it was interesting how observation can be used as a field technique.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

D#4 H#7-Reflection

I think this week I made the most progress with generating plans for my reseach paper. Writing the research paper this week helped me get a better grasp of the steps that I need to take towards writing my rough draft. I also have quite a few credible sources now, so I think I'm off to a good start!

Looking at other peoples blogs and reading their approach to the homework for the week is always a help. Especially when I don't fully understand the concept of the homework that I am supposed to be turning it.

D#4 H#6

The article I decided to do my “checklist for evaluating sources” was: Prah, Pamela M. "Eating Disorders." CQ Researcher 16.6 (2006): 121-144. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Your library's name, city, state abbreviation. 14 Sept. 2007 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2006021000.

Yes this example would help my accomplish proving one of the causes of anorexia: societal influence. There are a couple examples of anorexics who became that way because of pressures to be thin for careers and acceptance.I believe this shows a great amount of balanced evidence. It even gives statistics about then disorder. This is a fairly recent article, so I think that the timeline is perfect. I think the publisher is very credible since I found the article from CQ Researcher. The CQ Researcher is known for having liable and credible articles, from credible authors.

D#4 H#5

Berry, Kevin. “Sick to death of the pressure to be thin.” Time Educational Supplement. 4169 (1996) 1-4.
This article goes into the causes, signs, and treatments of anorexia. An article I found through using the NAU Cline Library database. http://libproxy.nau.edu:2061/library/ (The full article is only available through checking it out, not on the internet.)
Thomas, Natalie. “A TV Stars Anorexia Battle." US Weekly Jan. 2006: 76
The article discusses Scarlett Pomer’s struggle with an eating disorder. She was the actress who played the role of Reba’s daughter in the TV show “Reba.” An article I found through using the NAU Cline Library database. http://libproxy.nau.edu:2061/library/ (The full article is only available through checking it out, not on the internet.)
Soban, Catherine. “What about the boys?: addressing issues of masculinity within male anorexia nervosa in a feminist therapeutic environment. (Disease/Disorder overview).” International Journal of Men's Health Fall 2006: 251
This article talks about rising numbers of men developing anorexia. It also tries to seek different treatment routes for anorexic men. An article I found through using the NAU Cline Library database. http://libproxy.nau.edu:2061/library/ (This article can be viewed in full format online)
Prah, Pamela M. "Eating Disorders." CQ Researcher 16.6 (2006): 121-144. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Your library's name, city, state abbreviation. 14 Sept. 2007 .
This article goes into the societal causes/influences for anorexia. I got this article through the CQ researcher. (online library)

D#4 H#3

The issue that I will be researching for this project is anorexia. The question I will be using for my research question is, "What causes Anorexia?" I am interested in this topic because I think that it is an issue that thousands if not millions of adolescent girls deal with. With the interest and willingness I have to learn about this subject, my hope is to unveil some of the leading things that promote this disorder.
This can be a controversial topic because not one person can pin-point what causes someone to become anorexic. There are several different reasons that doctors and psychologists find to be potential causes of anorexia. Some of these reasons include: the environment that one lives in, genetic make-up, personality traits, and the influence from societal trends. Is it just one of this reasons that can cause someone to become anorexic or is it a multiple of things? Usually it is a multiple of things, but the fact is, no one really knows why this disease started, and what causes people to be more susceptible to it than others.
I have had quite a bit of experience with this issue. In my adolescent years, I suffered from severe body issues, and had a really hard time with my eating habits. Seeing how long I could get by without eating became an obsession for me. From experience I know that this issue can take over your whole outlook on life, and even your thinking. I've gotten really close to having to go seek treatment and I think that it is a really scary yet realistic issue that too many girls have to deal with.
This issue has definitely gotten out of hand in the past twenty years. It is probably at its peak right now. I believe this has a great deal to do with the messages and images that are portrayed through the media and advertisement companies. Adolescent girls are usually the ones to suffer most from these advertisements that are virtually everywhere: television, magazines, radio, retail shops, and movies. Whether we like to admit it or not, there is a version of how people are supposed to look that has been accepted by our society. If people aren't a certain way, then they are less accepted. So wanting to be accepted is a major reason that drives girls to anorexia.
My Audience for my final research paper will be open-minded individuals who have a desire to learn more about the topic that I chose. However for this assignment I will be addressing my topic to a couple of different audiences: my instructor and my fellow classmates. I believe the wants and needs of my audience would be a balanced view on the potential causes of this issue. This is something that I will strive for in the development of my research paper.
I have a general idea for my timeline. For the next couple of weeks, I will be trying to immerse myself in as much literature, articles, and TV programs as I possibly can. While doing those things I will be taking notes on things that I may be able to use for my research paper. After I feel that I have a good base of knowledge on this issue, I will start to piece together all the information that I've come across, and group it into sections that are compatible. Then I will start writing my paper.
I think that any issues I would have with this assignment would be the wealth on information that is available to the public. I need to make sure that I keep on course and only include credible sources and information that are relevant to my topic question.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

D#4 H#2 Grammar Assignment

Here are a couple of paragraphs that I was thinking about writing for my research project: (keep in mind that it is a rough draft)

Before the 1980’s anorexia was not a disease that was well known. It was practically unheard of, and had gone unnoticed in prior generations. Recently the number of people affected by this disease has sky-rocketed, but why?
Although anorexia nervosa is a relatively modern disease, female fasting is assuredly not a new behavior. Anorexia was known among physicians as early as the 1970’s however, it wasn’t until the 1980’s that the press ran news articles on this subject did the general public begin to know about the disease. A few things that may cause this disease are personality traits, control issues, and a societal influence on adolescent girls.

“Readability”- From: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/GrammarGirl/Default.aspx
This lecture stressed that formatting documents is an essential part of writing. It also talked about the presentation of an article. Make sure to use an eye friendly font and keep ample white space in-between lines. The lectured said that poor presentation can distract the reader. Also, break up text into manageable chunks, and divide the sections by categories. Put sections that are more important before less important ones. This will not only help the writer in writing, but also the reader in understanding the topic.
Wordiness and Idioms”- From: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/GrammarGirl/Default.aspx
I learned the phrase “go ahead and” is completely redundant and that prefixes in front of verbs are irrelevant. Idioms are things that don’t mean what they really say, so the only have meaning to native speakers. For example: ‘under the weather.’ The main thing is to say what you have to say, don’t fill up what you want to say with all sorts of words. This will only delude the meaning.
“Commas”- From http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
Commas have been something that I have used and abused in the past, so I read this article to clarify the proper uses of a comma.

I learned quite a bit from reading and listening to these exercises. One of the major things I took out of this exercise is taking a critical look at wordiness. The more words one uses to flourish a sentence the less impact that it has on the reader. So be upfront about what you have to say. I’m pretty good at adding words that don’t need to be in sentences, so this has already helped me in the two paragraphs that I worked on tonight.

D#4 H#1

After reading this week’s assigned chapters I am now able to more fully understand how to evaluate and identify relevant databases and website searches. I also learned several different types of search methods on the internet. Chapter nine talked a lot about evaluating not only the authors and publishers, but also the effectiveness and comprehensiveness of a topic. It’s always better to use sources that have a balanced view from both sides of the topic their writing about. I think I got the most out of chapter 8. In the past I have struggled to read critically when it came to my own work. After reading the, “how can I read with an attitude?” segment I was able to better understand my role as a critical reader.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

D#3 HW#8

Here are the comments that I made on peoples profiles this week:
Eric Covington
https://www.blogger.com/comment.gblogID=5334375890308704240&postID=4903716470477811866
Ashley Oberst
https://www.blogger.com/comment.gblogID=731139315427777821&postID=1611240669315921787
Joe Barcelona
https://www.blogger.com/comment.gblogID=736310198566053611&postID=9071915808702761557
Brittney Salazar
https://www.blogger.com/comment.gblogID=526369098487795328&postID=5221796892212721329
April Oberst-leue
https://www.blogger.com/comment.gblogID=6932975575205014666&postID=2765349111457202195

This week helped me get closer to my course objectives because I did a lot more research. I also learned a lot in the readings that were required for this week. By doing the exercises in chapter four, I know have a better understanding of how to plan and execute a quality research paper. By reading and replying to other my other classmates work, I was able to see how other people take their plans and put them into action.

D#3 HW#7

Litton, Sheila. “Sublime Hunger: A Consideration of Eating Disorders Beyond Beauty.” Hypatia 18.4 (2003): 65-86

http://search3.webfeat.org/cgi-bin/WebFeat.Dll?Command=Search&Client_ID=clineli&BypassSessData=yes&noserial=1&format=JS&rtmpl=js&wf_field1=wf_keyword&wf_term1=anorexia&Databases=wf_ebscoxml_aph,wf_acesswn,wf_ift:itof_new,wf_muse,wf_sciencedirect&wf_all_years=yes

I found this article via NAU Cline Library’s database. This article journal called ‘Hypatia.’ Hypatia claims to be “the only journal for scholarly research at the intersection of philosophy and women's studies and is a leader in reclaiming the work of women philosophers.” This article covers the contributions that society and culture have on eating disorders.

“Anorexia Nervosa” U.S. National Library of Medicine. A.D.A.M. Inc
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000362.htm

This article came from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. It states in the website that; “MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.” This article defines what anorexia is along with signs and complications of the disease.
Brumberg, Joan Jacobs. Fasting Girls: The History of Anorexia Nervosa. New York: First Vintage Books Edition, 2000.

http://cline.lib.nau.edu/search/tfasting+girls/tfasting+girls/1%2C2%2C2%2CB/frameset&FF=tfasting+girls+the+history+of+anorexia+nervosa&1%2C1%2C

This is a book that I found using the NAU Cline Library Database. This book answers questions about anorexia’s origins, demographics and treatment. The book also describes changes in society and culture and its influence on anorexia.

Shelley, Rosemary. Anorexics on Anorexia. London: Jessica Kinsley Publishers; 1997

http://cline.lib.nau.edu/search/?searchtype=t&searcharg=anorexics+on+anorexia&SORT=&extended=0&searchlimits=&searchorigarg=wanorexia

I found this book through the NAU Cline Library Database. This book was written by a recovered anorexic, and is about anorexia through the eyes of those who suffer from it. It is an insightful book for families and friends of sufferers. The book goes through several different people who struggle with this issue and their own experiences with the disease. (Including the progression of the disease, the effect it had on their families, the treatment they received, and their perceived reasons for developing the illness.)

D#3 HW#6

What is the Research Question?
Causes and Effects of Anorexia

What is the context?
The context of this paper is to get at the root causes of anorexia; whether that is demographically, genetically, or culturally influenced. Through thorough research I would also like to inform those about the effects of this disease.

What is the purpose?
The purpose is to educate and inform people on this topic.

Who is the Audience?
Intended Audience: Anyone who can acknowledge that this is an issue for a lot of people in the culture we live in.
Unintended Audience: Those who are not aware of this problem in society.

How Do I fit into the context?
I am devoted to writing this paper for a couple of reasons: to inform people of the severity on this issue, and to get a good grade. (Hopefully!)

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

D#3 H#5

Age: May be geared more toward the younger crowd, but almost anyone of any age could identify with this subject.
Sex: both
Sexuality: all
Race: all
Ethnicity: all
Nationality: This subject is more dominant in the western culture.
Living environment: all different kinds
Vocational environment: any
Vocation: any
Education: any
Political beliefs: all
Religious beliefs: most if not all
Leisure activities: most


My intended audience is the younger crowd, as well as anyone who has curiosity about this subject; including family members, and close friends of those who deal with this issue.

D#3H#4

I think the people that would be invested in this research question would not only be young women, but also anyone who is related to, or has known anyone with this disease. A person who is curious about this disease, or anyone who has dealt with someone who has struggled with eating disorders would want to know the answer. There are several different types of people that would want to read about my research question: young women, mothers, fathers, friends, and family members of someone who is affected by this disease.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

D#3 H#3

I plan on answering my research question by giving a brief background of the disorder and when it first came about. I also would like to acquire some field research from televisions shows, or interviews with people who have had issues with anorexia. I will get sources from books, as well as articles from journals or magazines. Tying together the genetic causes with the pressures of today’s society will also help me with answering my topic question. I will be going to the NAU library to get books, magazines, and articles on the subject. For any additional sources that I will need I plan on searching internet databases, and news websites.

D#3 H#2

After working through the exercises and reading chapter three, I decided that my research question should be “What are the Causes and Effects of Anorexia?” I think that it is straightforward and to the point. The reader should not have to guess what the paper will be about. My only concern is that the topic may be a little too broad. However, if that is the case, then I will just have to refine it some more! One of the ways I came to this conclusion was by figuring out what roles I would have to adopt in my writing. Also, the exercises on page 39 really helped me narrow down some ideas into clear questions.

Monday, September 3, 2007

D#3 H#1 Reading Reflection

I found the readings this week to be very beneficial. I thought chapter 3 was great because there were a lot of questions and exercises that were geared to help refine my research ideas. Doing the exercises helped me find my roles as a writer. Chapter four gave a lot of tips on where to find your sources, and how to organize them. I think creating a “working bibliography” is a great idea that will save me time in the long run. Chapter five was extremely beneficial when it came to giving examples of how to find relevant web search engines and databases.