Research Notes 2/28/12

• Research is the world's biggest industry
• Research reported in writing is the source of what we most believe
• research is different than an opinion
• it is okay to be skeptical of the research you read
• What then is it? --- in broad terms, we "do" research whenever we gather information to answer a question that solves a problem
• writing up research: 
• remember
• understand
• to test your thinking

•  Why a formal report?
• satisfy demands imposed by a community of people competent in a given field
• you demand more from yourself when it is to be distributed to others
• embody the shared values of a learning community

• Connecting With you Reader
• research is a conversation
• research can be like a bad classroom experience
• you must think of your reader as someone who doesnt know it but needs to and yourself as someone who will give her reason to want to know it
• "ive found something new and its interesting"
• "The things ive found are going to help you to solve a problem"
• even if you dont have an audience right now, you must write as if you do.  You must present yourself as interested in, even ethusiastic
• always write with an audience in mind
• tehir more common role is that they help to understand something better

Three Role of a Researcher:

• I have information for you
• I can help you fix a problem
• I can help you understand something better 

• Undersanding the audience
• you must understand what they want
• you meet your end of the bargain when you share whatever would interest them
• you are concerened with a particular community of readers, with their interests and 
•  expectations, with improving their understanding, based on the best evidence you can find

• Checklist:
• Who will read my report?
• What do they expect me to do?
• How much can I expect them to know?
• How will my readers respond to the solution in my main chain?

Free Write 1/28/12

The best piece of research I have ever written was a research paper.  This paper was for my biblical studies class last semester and was on the 10 Commandments.  The paper consisted of an analysis of three different biblical passages that each stated the 10 Commandments in different form.  In my paper, I told the context and history of each passage, and I described their relationships with one another.  Also, based on the time period of the passages, I identified metaphorical 10 commandments within one of the passages.  From this paper, I learned a lot about the Ten Commandments and the history of the Bible. 

free Write 2/23/12

In this audio clip, the information is highly dependent on both research and analysis.  In this clip, they discussed the two main views on violent video games.  Do violent video games have a negative effect on children?  The research was from scientific studies.  These studies were from real practices and from real people, both adults and children.  Also, this research was thorough, and covered both perspectives of the argument.

Free Write 2/21/12

I could analyze the cookie by looking at the ingredients and the time that was put into it. Was the cookie store bought or homemade?  If it was homemade, who made the cookie? I would think about what made the cookie so good, such as the chocolate, frosting, peanut butter, ect.  I would think about the size of the cookie, and what made it the perfect size.  Was it good because it was big?  Or did the smaller size provide the perfect amount of richness?

Free Write 2/16/12

The best piece of research I ever read was an article about a college student that was diagnosed with Leukemia.  She was a college athlete on the Stanford Crew Team when she was diagnosed with this cancer as a freshman.  It was her dream to row crew for her college, but the diagnosis was a fork in the road for her dream.  However, the article described her hopeful and optimistic attitude as she struggled to continue to row.  Her body started to give up on her, but she ended up participating in the conference championship that her team ended up winning.  The team worked hard for this girl because she inspired them, and her dream was playing crew was more than fulfilled.

Free Write 2.9.12 (continued)

Practice
Tournaments
Friendships
Teachers and Coaches
Relaxation
Family
Workouts
Classes
Team dinners

Free Write 2.9.12

Homework
Reading
Studying
Practices
Workouts
Tournamnets
Late Nights
Stress
Naps
Relaxation
Friendship
Family

Free Write 2.7.12

When I am in a conversation and I am not listening, I feel terrible.  While not intentional, if i have a lot of things on my mind, I will sometimes wonder while the other person is trying to tell me something.  Embarrassed by my lack of respect, I pretend as if I was listening, however, I am not fully able to respond.  I try to be vague with my replies, and do not give them the feedback that they deserve.  However, when I am actively listening, I am moved by their stories or conversation and I understand what that person is feeling.  I am able to give advice or appropriate responses.  They are then much more appreciative of my answers. 

Free Write 2.2.12

Ideally, I would like to spend my life in bucket two because it is more practical.  It makes more sense to focus on the larger issues than to worry about small issues that do not matter as much.  However, realistically I know that i spend too much time in bucket one.  I tend to worry about the little things while I should be focusing on the big picture, and the things in life that really matter.  When you are overwhelmed with many various things going on in your life, it is easy to get caught up in minor issues that are less important.