Research Paper Process Reflection [Categories: Where to Invade Next, Research Paper, Reflection]4/18/2018 Who did you work with to compose your research paper? Was this a good approach?
Unfortunately I worked on the research paper without consulting any one else. I did however rely on the resources from Dr. Mangini’s web page. I found the links under the research paper category to help me cite my work in (almost) correct MLA citation. I reviewed several research papers written by students in past semesters to get a feel for formatting as well. This was a decent approach. I wish that I had submitted my paper to Smarthinking to see areas that I could have improved on before completing my first draft. I will probably use this resource for the second draft. What rhetorical mode and genre are you using? Argumentation is the rhetorical mode. I chose a topic, developed a point of view, researched the topic and formulated an argument to persuade the reader(s) and made my thesis seem like the most logical solution to the problem. The genre is MLA Research Paper. The Modern Language Association has established a comprehensive system for authors to borrow existing literary work and integrate it into a composition of their own. This system allows readers to access further information regarding the topic as well as citing where the information came from and who intellectually owns the information. When did you write this project? Good approach? I started writing this project about a week before it was due. I chose my topic shortly after we finished watching the film. I spent a lot of time contemplating my point of view and my argument for something that I personally had strong feelings about. It was great to explore the topic through my own inner dialogue but I think I should have started writing sooner. Where did you write this project? Good approach? I wrote this project from home. It was a good approach for me because there was a lot of research involved and I found it helpful to get messy with it, like physically messy. I scrabbled a ton of things on paper and had three or four word documents open at a time just to jot notes or ideas down so I wouldn't forget them. I found an overwhelming amount of relevant information and the chaos of this process helped to grind out a more linear product. I couldn't have been more expressive anywhere else. Why did you choose to write about your chosen topic? Good choice? I wrote about the lack of paid time off for workers in the United States. I chose this topic because I have spent years working in heavy industry and I see a lot of people who work as laborers and they are treated like expendables. I felt passionate about the subject so I chose to write about it because there are many people who work hard and they deserve a break equally as much if not more than everyone else. I felt motivated to write about the topic because it's something that I have strong personal beliefs about. It was a great choice. How did it feel to write this argument ("during, after, and since")? Do you have any "if only" moments that can help you revise the draft? It was empowering to write this research paper. As I was finding facts and writing them, I gave me a sense that I was right and “they” were wrong. After I submitted my first draft I could only think of ways to make my argument stronger. Since, I have been thinking of changing my tone of writing to come across as more humble. I think that may improve the ethos of the work. How will you revise your argument? I am planning to dig deeper and make some more discoveries about what other people are saying about the subject. I think looking at the matter more from the opposing viewpoint could help me understand the topic and allow me to approach my argument in a more holistic manner.
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Where to Invade Next, Michael Moore, February 12, 2016, https://www.amazon.com/Where-Invade-Next-Michael-Moore/dp/B01EGW9EOU
Where to Invade Next is a documentary film in which various countries are visited by Michael Moore to understand how governments handle education, workers rights, women’s rights, prison systems, and health care. He compares the principles of these countries to those of the United States to highlight the fact that we have a lot of areas for improvement. Moore provides very important perspective on the issues that are highlighted. His aim is to inform the audience of issues that are present and shows that there may be many more solutions than we thought. The film includes many sources of statistical data that show the differences that are present and help support his argument. He uses humor as a way to keep the viewers engaged but in a way that shows a desperate need for change. Are We There, Joe Robinson, June 2008, http://search.ebscohost.com.libdb.dccc.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=31876672&site=ehost-live This article is from a periodical called Sierra Club that focuses on Environmentalism and outdoor recreation. The article discusses the declining amount of vacations being taken by Americans. It highlights contemporary issues and trends that are causing this phenomenon. There is a lot of information in this article including valuable statistics and interviews that give support to the trend highlighted in the topic of the article. The author makes the topic feel relevant by providing personal stories and experiences. This helps set the tone of the article and allows the reader to relate. I am writing about the lack of vacation time for workers in the United States. This article specifically talks about this issue and integrates statistics that support my argument. The personal accounts of the issue can help readers to relate to the argument. Take time off, like it or not, Kaitlin Pitsker, April 2016, http://search.ebscohost.com.libdb.dccc.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=113204393&site=ehost-live This is an article that discusses the how employees are so attached to their work that they don’t take vacations. Tech companies and new companies are beginning to require workers to take days off and are calling it “forced vacations”. The source points out how including incentives for employees can help them feel better about taking time off. Gives real world examples of companies allowing more time off. It talks about personal experiences of some to relate to the reader and makes the argument seem more valid. Offers advice to the reader of how to personally handle a situation with employer. This gives the feeling that the author cares about the topic and would like to see things change. The personal experiences could be very useful for my argument. The fact that companies are implementing forced vacations could help the reader to see that this is what many employees and employers alike want. The Benefits of Vacation: Why Letting Employees Off Makes Sense, Sean Pomery, July 2013, https://www.tlnt.com/the-benefits-of-vacation-why-letting-employees-off-makes-so-much-sense/ This article covers the benefits of vacation time for workers, why american workers are afraid to use vacation time and how employers can offer this time to their employees. Research and a report from credible sources is included to back up the claims of the article. The author mentions that he is a business owner which reinforces the fact that other executives may support his argument too. I think this adds to the persuasive effect of the article. He includes several clear bullet points stating claims and provides sources to back them up. I like the fact that the author is a business owner and may be able to tie that into my argument. There is a clear “cause, effect, solution” structure to the article. This offers great perspective and gives clear answers in how to solve some of the issues. I will definitely be using that to persuade readers of my paper to realize that it could be easier than thought by some to enact change. Americans Are Taking More Paid Vacation Days, Rebbeca Greenfield, May 2017, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-23/americans-are-taking-more-paid-vacation-days This source brings up the fact that Americans are taking more paid vacation days on average but still are not using all that they are offered. It talks about how the recession affected worker attitudes toward taking time off from work. Workers are afraid to take time off because they don’t want to seem lazy. This source provides information in a clear and concise way. I would like to tie in the recession with my argument and this article provides some insight into the connection of the two. In this blog post I will be summarizing three topics from the documentary Where to Invade Next and developing a research question and an argument for each of the questions. This will help me further analyze the film and develop a topic and argument for my research paper.
Topic #1: Defense spending in the United States. Research Question: Is it viable for the federal government to reduce the defense budget and use those funds for other resources? Argument: The United States spends more on defense than the next eight countries combined. China’s economy ranks second in terms of GDP yet education, social security and transportation all rank in the top ten funding areas. National defense spending in China is less than spending for healthcare or public service. In 2015 the United States congress allocated more than half of discretionary spending to the military. If China can maintain status as a world economic power without spending half of its budget on national defense, the United States congress should be able to figure out how to at least reduce military spending and allocate those funds where they are needed more. Topic# 2: Labor rights. Research Question: Should the US government intervene to give workers more time away from work? Argument: The United States is the only industrialized country without statutory agreements for minimum leave for work. After five minutes of research and simple math, I found that the average number of paid days off for the top nine countries in terms of GDP is 24.8. This includes paid vacation days and public holidays. I think that there is a stigma in America that the government should not mandate paid time off because it will directly affect productivity. If anything, I believe the opposite is true. Topic #3: Prison system reform Research Question: Should private prisons be made illegal? Argument: Private prisons take advantage of prisoners and their families. The two biggest prison corporations in the country made $3.3 billion in 2012 profiting from government payments and prison laborers. A company called Global Tel*Link charges more than a dollar per minute for inmates to talk to their families or friends. Global Tel* Link makes more than $500 million a year from exploiting these people. The reason we have prisons is to rehabilitate offenders, not to make money by exploiting them. |
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