Chapter 11

            Chapter 11 is about developing a thesis statement. When staring out, you should think about how you can use your sources and position statement. Try reviewing your statement, reviewing your notes by identifying important information, ideas, ad arguments that you’ve come across in your reading; consider whether the information, ideas, and arguments you’ve identified in your notes will allow you to pursue your personal, academic, and professional interests, review and elaborate on ideas and arguments that you’ve come up with as a result of your own thinking about the subject, and consider how your own ideas and arguments might allow you to pursue your interests. Consider your purpose and role. Ask yourself if your purposes or role as a writer changed throughout your process. Then reflect on your readers. When drafting your thesis statement, identify important information, ideas, and arguments associated with your question. Draft alternatives and consider the type of document you plan to write, the focus on your thesis statement itself. When developing your thesis, the main idea is to give an overview of what your paper will contain without giving everything away. You want your reader to know what they’re reading about, but you don’t want them reading a list.

Chapter 10

            Chapter 10 is about searching for information with field research methods. First you must figure out when to use field research methods. Then look at using interviews to collect information, once you’ve decided to conduct an interview, plan it out. Decide what you should ask. Then conduct your interview and analyze your results. You should consider using observation to collect information. If you’ve decided to conduct an observation, make sure you plan it. After that, conduct your observation and analyze your results. When wondering how to use surveys to collect information, decide whether or not to conduct a survey. If you decide to, like everything else, make sure you plan it. Then conduct and analyze. You can also use correspondence to collect information, and use public events and broadcast media to collect information. There any many ways for you to collect information and it’s important to figure out what works for you, plan it out before you do it, stick to your plan, make sure you get useful information, and analyze your results after. When analyzing make sure what you have is relevant to your topic, and can be used to better your paper. Field methods can be a great tool, but don’t get lost in too many. 

Chapter 7

            Chapter 7 is all about avoiding plagiarism. What is plagiarism? There are multiple types of plagiarism. There is unintentional plagiarism, intentional plagiarism, and plagiarism in group projects. All types should be avoided at all costs. Writers are encouraged to have research ethics as in using ethical research practices, but be aware that there is such a thing as common knowledge. Sometimes information is free use, but other times you should ask permission to use a source. Avoiding plagiarism is more simple than it sounds. Take steps like conducting a knowledge inventory, take careful notes, as you draft, distinguish between your ideas and ideas in your source, identify sources in your document, and understand WHY some writers choose to plagiarize. Some writers will plagiarize because it’s easy, some do it because it’s quick, some do it because they simply don’t care about the assignment, others do it out of a lack of confidence in their own writing skills, lots of writers will do it simply because they don’t think they will get caught, and some think that everyone cheats so why not join in. Some writers plagiarize because they believe the course they are in is a waste of time. The bottom line is that any form of plagiarism will cause you to loose your credibility as a writer.

Chapter 8

            Chapter 8 is about searching for information with digital resources. First you must prepare to research, and to do this, you should review your research plan and proposal, identify keywords and phrases, plan basic searches, plan advanced searches, and review and get feedback on your plans. Then you must search for sources with online library catalogs, and to do this by searching by keyword, search by author, search by title, browse by subject heading or call number, and search with multiple strategies. You mind find yourself wondering how to search for sources with databases, and it’s quite simple. Identify relevant databases, search news and information databases, search subject databases, search bibliographies, search citation indexes, and search media databases. Searching with web search sites can be difficult, so just remember to identify RELEVANT web search sites. To use media search sites to find sources, simply use image search sites and directories, use audio search sites and directories, and use video search sites. Its highly important to remember to gather all necessary bibliographical information while gathering your sources, or you could run into trouble down the road. Look for things like publishers, authors, dates, and titles. Reference the The Bedford Researcher for a complete guide.

Incorporating Sources Effectively

In Technology in Society Volume 29, Issue 3, written by, Roger D. Launius, curator of the Division of Space History at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, and professor Howard E. McCurdy, “Astronomers have already captured images of planetary objects around nearby stars. Using advanced observation techniques, they will someday produce an image of a blue and white planet with liquid water and a breathable atmosphere. It seems inevitable” (p. 273).

In their journal Acta Astronautica Volume 66, Issues 11-12, Tanja Masson-Zwaan, president of the International Institute of Space, and Steven Freeland, professor of international law, “Since the first space object was launched into orbit in 1957, humankind has been engaged in a constant effort to realise ever more ambitious plans for space travel” (p. 1).

Tanja Masson-Zwaan is the president of the International Institute of Space. In his co-authored journal Acta Astronautica Volume 66, Issue 11-12 published by Elsevier Ltd. “Probably the single most important element in this ongoing evolution is the development of technology capable of transporting large numbers of passengers into outer space on a commercial basis” (1). Backing up this idea, but taking a different approach at it, Roger D. Launis, curator of the Division of Space History at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, Howard E. McCurdy, professor of law “Scientists learned how to beam images back from orbiting observatories and reconnaissance satellites, creating a science of remote sensing that eliminated the need for humans on board” (273).

Roger D. Lanius is the curator of the Division of Space History at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum. In his journal Endeavour Volume 34, Issue 3 “The possibility of life surviving in space gained greater credence in the 1990s, as scientists discovered robust forms of microbial life in ‘extreme’ places on Earth” (1). The precedence to this is recognized in Tanja Masson-Zwaan, president of the International Institute of Space, and professor Steven Freeland’s journal Acta Astronautica Volume 66 11-12 “Since the first space object was launched into orbit in 1957, humankind has been engaged in a constant effort to realise ever more ambitious plans for space travel” (1).

Works Cited

Faith, G. Ryan. “The Future of Space.” World Affairs. Vol. 175, Issue 3, Sep/Oct. 2012.

Krishen, Kumar. “Technology Needs for Future Space Exploration.” IETE Technical Review. Vol. 26, Issue 4, 2009.

Dicht, Burton. “Shuttle Diplomacy”. Mechanical Engineering. Vol. 133, Issue 7, Jul. 2011.

Fridlund, Malcolm. “Future Space Missions to Search for Terrestrial Planets.” Space Science Reviews. Vol. 135, Issue 1-4, Mar. 2008.

Bhandari, Narendra. “Planetary exploration: Scientific importance and future prospects.” Current Science. Vol. 94, Issue 2, 25 Jan. 2008.

IMAGES

Dvidshub. NASA, 22 September 2009. “Hubble Images A Swarm of Ancient Stars”

Dvidshub. NASA, 19 September 2009. “Space Shuttle Endeavour”

Dvidshub. NASA, 15 June 2012. “Enterprise Title Transfer”

Dvidshub. NASA, 15 June 2012. “MSL Prelaunch Briefing”

Dvidshub. NASA, 15 June 2012. “Expedition 29 Preflight”

Chapter 6

                Chapter 6 is about managing information and taking notes. You must ask yourself the question: How can I save and organize the information I find? To do this, you must decide how to save and organize print information by creating an organizational scheme that allows you to locate your print materials, stick with your organizational scheme, make sure printed documents provide complete publication information, and date your notes, write a brief note on each of your print materials. Then decide how to save and organize digital information by copying and pasting notes, downloading, using email, use your phone, saving bookmarks and favorites in your browser, using bookmarking websites, using web capture and clipping tools, and using bedfordresearcher.com. Then ask yourself: Why should I take notes? You need notes for your information, you must know how to take notes. To take notes you must choose a method and use it consistently, quote directly, paraphrase, summarize, record your reactions and impressions, compare sources, classify sources, and plan your document. Eventually you will have to create a bibliography to organize information. You may choose to create a working bibliography and create an annotated bibliography. If you choose annotated, you must refine your arguments.

Source Evaluations

www.nasa.gov

1)      The domain of my website is .gov.

2)      The purpose of my site is information on expanding human presence into the solar system.

3)      There are many different sections and subsections containing information on my website authors

4)      Each article and journal entry on my website is dated.

5)      Everything on the site is extremely relevant to my topic as my topic is space exploration and my site is nasa.gov

6)      Publishers, authors, and editors are all listed. As well as contact information.

blogs.nasa.gov/tdrs

1)      .gov

2)      Information about the launch of the TDRS-L satellite

3)      Many different authors all accredited by nasa

4)      Last modified today 1/23

5)      Relevant due to the fact that it is the most recent launch

6)      Publishing information given

Technology in Society Volume 29 Issue 3 (sciencedirect)

1)      .com

2)      Information about humans and robots traveling in future space missions

3)      Link to information about author

4)      Relatively up to date (2007)

5)      Relevant as my topic is the future of space exploration

6)      Publishing information given

Acta Astronautica Volume 66 Issues 11-12 (sciencedirect)

1)      .com

2)      Information on the legal issues of space exploration

3)      Link to author information given

4)      Very timely (2010)

5)      Relevant as legality is an issue in space travel

6)      Publishing information given

Endeavour Volume 34, Issue 3 (sciencedirect)

1)      .com

2)      Purpose to inform of theories regarding colonizing our solar system

3)      Link to information about author given

4)      Very timely (2010)

5)      Relevant as exploration leads to colonization

6)      Publishing information given