Blog # 6

APA Style Essentials:

1. Document:  Font should be 12 point in Times New Roman.  Margins have to be an inch all around the page. The line spacing should be doubled, and for spacing after punctuation should be once after everything except a period which in that case should be twice.  The numeration of the pages should be on the top right corner of each page.  At the left side of the pages should be a running head which is a short title. The document should be in a passive voice format and the pages should be in the following order:  Title Page, Abstract, Body, References, Footnotes, Tables, Figures, Appendixes.
2. Title Page: Should contain Paper title, author(s), institutional affiliation(s), author note.
3. Abstract: Should be numbered as page number two, and it should have a summary of what the paper is all about.
4. Body:  Is the introduction of the paper which is followed by the whole paper.
5. Citations should be done properly according to the source. Ex: Journal, book or internet.
6. Quotations should always include the author, year, and page number.
7. References: Everything should be cited

Degelman, D. (1994-2010). APA Style Essentials. Retrieved February 16, 2010 from http://www.vanguard.edu/faculty/ddegelman/index.aspx?doc_id=796

Add a comment February 17, 2010

Blog # 5

Critical Reading Towards Critical Writing

• Critical reading is about making judgments about the text that is being read. 
• Critical readying is thinking beyond of what is writing in the text, and how that information will help the research.
• Always think about what kind of information is presented in the text rather than thinking how much information you can get out of the text.
• Determining the purpose is key in starting the critical readying
• Judging the contests, knowing the kinds of reasoning, examination of evidence and evaluating the information are ways in which a reader can get the most out of the text that is being read.

Add a comment February 8, 2010

Blog #4

My major concern about my topic is that it is unfairly judged by information which is mainly negative.  What let me to have an interest in this topic is the fact that every time I said I am from Colombia people either say something bad about it, or in some cases when they were a little more polite they just simply though about it.  People only see what they want to see about a topic they don’t know much about and stop there.  I believe that there is a lot of stereotyping in the world which is mainly lead by ignorance. For example just because a man from Colombia is a drug dealer, that doesn’t mean that every man from that country is a drug dealer too.  I think that we all need to stop stereotyping and get informed about what we say and think about a topic in order to be completely fair to it. My goal when all my research is done is for me to have learned more about the country in which I was born, and hopefully by showing my knowledge with other they will stop seeing Colombia through the bad image that it now has.

1. Everything that we see in the media for the most part about Colombia is negative.

• Why is mostly everything in the media about Colombia negative?

1. Not many people know that Colombia is a beautiful country that has many things to offer.

• How come people are aware of the negative things about Colombia and ignore all the good things about it?

1. The Guerrilla (group against the Colombian goverment) and Paramilitares (group who thinks the army does not do enough to defend the public) are a part of Colombia, however in the mist of a “civil war” there is much more to this country than the cruelty of an unnecessary war.

• How does the Guerrilla affect Colombia?
• Why Paramilitares seem to be as bad a Guerrilla in the media?
• As the years go by has anything changed with the Guerrilla or the Paramilitates?

1. Culture, Art, Coffee, Flowers, beautiful women, and Emeralds are just some of the good thing about Colombia that sadly gets over shadowed by the malice of armed groups.

• What is the Colombian culture like?
• How is the art of Colombia seen by other?
• Is Colombia really the biggest exporter of Coffee in the world?
• What does Colombia do with its beautiful flowers besides exporting them?
• If there are so many Emeralds in Colombia, how come it is such a “poor” country?

1 comment February 3, 2010

Blog # 3

Link to genres of research writing: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Write-Analytical-or-Argumentative-Research-Papers&id=806139

The genres of research writing are Analytical and Argumentative. I think that the explanation of both on this document is very informative.  Analytical is basically when the writer doesn’t know anything about the subject and he/she displays all of the findings without taking any sides about the subject.  Argumentative in the other hand, is when the writer does know about the subject and chooses to take a side on it. The writer then researches the subject to show the reader his/her point of view.  In both however the research has to be extensive, facts have to be given about the writers findings in order to have a good research paper.

I have already chosen my research topic to be about Colombia.  I have chosen this topic because it is very personal, I was worn there and I also lived there until I was twelve years old.  Other than the fact that this is a very personal topic for me, I also choose it because I feel that the information that most people seem to know about Colombia is always negative.  Throughout my research I hope to show the reality of what Colombia is today, including everything bad about it but also everything good that the country has to offer.

Argumentative would be the genre that I will be using for my research paper.  I know a lot about the subject to know that I want to writer my research about the pros rather than the cons of Colombia.  Knowing a lot about my topic doesn’t mean that my research would be simple by any means.  The more and more that I research about it, all I seem to find are the negative parts of it.  I am sure it is going to be challenging to show my point of view and that is why I can not wait to really start my research.  Not only am I am excited about my topic but I am also a little scared to see everyone’s reaction after it is done, I anxious to see if through my research I can change my readers views about Colombia.

Add a comment February 1, 2010