Living Sources - Response

Here are the three points from the readings I found to be important for data collection.

1. Making Contact: Obviously for an interview it is crucial to get to first-hand contact with the interviewee. The first things to consider are the methods in which you will contact them- start with the most personal (yet convenient) methods- meeting with them, then if that is not an option- telephone, email, and then finally mail if the former are not available options. Meeting with them is great because you can not only listen but observe gestures, both of which give you more perspective on the ideas you're searching for. 

2. When making your list of questions, create many possible branches, as you're probably not even going to use most of them. This is alright though, as interviews are supposed to be conversations*** not surveys being completed. This will create more synergy with you and the interviewee, allowing a more comfortable setting and thus a more flowing and efficient conversation.

3. Survey Design: Surveys shouldn't be too long, as should be kept short (6-7 questions max). Also it's important to remove all bias from the questions, as they will skew the data. In addition, it should be clear and concise with instructions. The person(s) taking the survey should know exactly what is being asked of them, if they are confused it will also affect the data. Avoid loaded questions that include presumptions into them, as well as vague questions that (as stated before) would confuse the reader(s). 

Researching Evaluation

1. I learned that there are many people against environmental reform (due to economic reasons), and it seems that there are even more against it than for it, surprisingly. I believe that I have a solid start but it is far from finished, as I need to elaborate more on additional instances where society clashed with government causing environmental reform, much like the Rachel Carson- Silent Spring example given.

2. I believe a literature review section supports and backs up my points- it solidifies and justifies the research being done on the environment to help shed light on the issues at hand in a constructive manor.

3. Right now, my research is very up to date with the current views of those who want environmental reform and who see its value in society.

4. I expect to contribute a greater understanding of the importance of environmental issues (and that action needs to be taken now) to the society who either was simply uninformed, or informed but given a "slanted" perspective on the issue.

"Quotation Sandwiches"

On an article about properly using quotations, Graff (2011) inquires "To adequately frame a quotation, you need to insert it into what we like to call a "quotation sandwich,"  with the statement introducing it serving as the top slice of bread and the explanation following it as the bottom slice"(Graff 46). Irony aside, I believe the usage of quotation sandwiches is crucial to any solid quotation, as it makes sure it covers not only the follow-up, but also the reasoning following the quotation.

"Then say I say" Reflections

1. It is important to frame your quotation
2. Do not incorporate "Hit and Run" quotes into your work
3. Create "quotation sandwiches"- start your quotes with solid lead-ins via strong action verbs or otherwise.

To begin, framing your quotes is important because it allows your reader to understand where you're coming from in regards to using the specific quote for your idea. If the readers are in the dark about a quotes meaning in a context that only you understand, you must incorporate why you said what you said to the readers so that they gain a better understanding. Through this your quote gains merit in use with your own ideas.

I'll be sure to steer clear of "Hit and Run" quotes in my paper. These are quotes that are just included into your idea without sufficient background information on them, or leading up to them. There needs to be synergy when applying quotes to your work, and readers will be confused if you do not properly tell them its relevance.

"Quotation Sandwiches" are a great way to add quotes into your work. As stated above, by the use of powerful lead-ins (action verbs etc.) and sufficient information, the quote gains purpose in meaning. Through this gain, the quotes now become something of the original authors and your own- you've successfully incorporated it.

Questions Cont.

I am writing about how philologists' ethics regarding experimenting have changed over the years, because it is interesting so see how they have changed and evolved over time. I am going to focus on their ideals regarding these experiments (ethics).

I am writing for anyone who is interested in learning about the field of psychology, and I hope that what they get out of this reading is how the field became what it is today, due to the experiments that were conducted.

I am expecting to find some pretty drastic changes, even in a short period of time as psychology is a relatively new study, in comparison to other fields. During its early years (those of Freud, etc.) much was discovered in such a short period of time. It will be interesting to see how other psychologists added or edited to theories of early psychologists, using their own unique experiments. These are some of the things I would like to discover during my research.

As I stated before, I hope to discover how drastic (or not) these experiments changed, due to the ideals of ethics in the field, and how the ethics changed as the field progressed.

Evaluation of Research Questions

After reviewing the questions presented over my three questions, I think it is safe to say that I would be able to sufficiently answer all the questions. My questions are open enough to trigger other ideas, and being as they are over my major (psychology) I feel quite strongly about them. I do not believe that there  will be any problems with my research, given my choice of topic's relevance.

Brainstorming

Topic - Psychology (my major (profession))

What are some of psychologies applications in the real world?
What does it mean to be a psychologist in this day and age?
Why is psychology so important to us today?

I asked these preliminary questions while brainstorming, as I thought they were more than worth mentioning. For the first question, applications of psychology are crucial for me to know as I'm going to be going into the working world soon and I will need to know what the most relevant applications are in the field of psychology, in order to be a more effective worker. As for the second question, I thought that it would be important to find out how the field of psychology has changed and been updated over the years. Being a rather new field of study in comparison with other fields, there is much that can be discovered by us, the new upcoming workers of tomorrow. My last question has to do with the second, in that it deals with psychology's relevance to us. As we learn more about the human mind, we can discover new innovative methods at treating otherwise incurable illnesses.

Researching, Or How I Fell in Love With Post-It Notes

I thought that Susana Rodriguez' "Researching, Or How I Fell in Love With Post-It Notes" was a really insightful and modern view at the process of analytical analysis for writing. Often times, we are given prompts by our instructors telling us what to do, but seldom do they tell us how they want it done. Susana's 3 step strategy points out a unique way in which she was able to conquer this would of interpreting what exactly it was her teachers wanted out of her writing. It is stated that there are many founts from which writers can generate their ideas from, and each of these ideas can trigger new ideas- the roots of coming up with a solid format for your paper's completed product.

Researching One in Six Million

I thought Hilary Selznick's "Researching One in Six Million" was a great example of much genre has to do with the research methods that will be most effective for you while studying. Hilary realized that in order for her to tell her personal story, she first had to discover who her Grandmother was, as she had such a profound influence on her life. Hilary's mother recalls that "I (Hilary) reminded her of all the good parts of my grandmother". Because of this, Hilary went on a quest to dig up facts on her grandmother, who she (at the time) knew only as a person who was a Holocaust survivor, and seemed to be angry at life most of the time. Being a Holocaust survivor, Hilary realized quickly that secondary sources would not be as effective as primary ones, so she consulted her mother on the issue. Her mother was able to provide her with some but very little information, so Hilary decided to look up resources online in order to help her search. Contacting different Holocaust survivor organizations over the years, Hilary was eventually able to gather information on her Grandmother and Grandfather vis emails, and why they were they people that she knew as a child. Hilary realized that she would have to look "outside the box" when finding out information this personal- it would not be as easy as simply typing in her grandmothers name or "holocaust survivors" as they would yield results with little to no relevance to her interest. With stoic devotion to finding out her grandmother's past, Hilary via primary sources was able to uncover the time-lost secrets of her grandmother, eventually aiding her in telling her personal story to the world.

Linguistic Landscape

For the Linguistic Landscape project, I wanted to go with a topic that I personally felt passionately about, and that was the environment, and the sustaining of it. Many people seem to take earth for granted, feeling that it is here simply for no other reason than for us to exploit it. Such thinking is the kind of thought that caused our planet to get into the hazardous condition we find it in today. Its our home, yet we pollute and litter it as if its not. We cause problems that will be issues for future generations, but just because they don't affect us in the immediate we go ahead with these devastating revenuers anyways. This mindset MUST be reversed if we are to stop going backwards when it comes to environmental sustainability.

Visual Genres

Location: Berlin Wall

I think the message of this piece of graffiti located on the Berlin wall is quite self-explanatory. The Wall in East Germany was taken down in 1989 by the collaborative efforts of Ronald Reagan and Michael Gorbachev.  When the Soviet Union fell in in 1989 it signified a new era of peace and respect in others culture, as this piece of art shows. This hand gesture is the universal sign for peace, and 1989 was when the Soviet Union and Berlin Wall collapsed.