The topic that I decided to choose for my persuasive letter is free universal health care. After watching several documentaries about America's health care and also the health care policies of countries similiar to the US (Great Britian, France, Canada, etc.), it's a subject that I have really thought about.
That databases that I have found most of my information is CQ Researcher and EBSCO Host. While I have been finding great information on why the country would benefit from free universal health care, strategies, proposals, and comparisions to other country's, it's been hard finding a decent source of people who disagree with free universal health care. I need to change my search stragey because every result that I am getting is articles of people supporting my view. Instead of using the keywords "free universal health care" I should use, "private health care benefits" or something along those lines. Hopefully once I do that I will find more articles that disagree with my stance and I will be able to find someone I can write my letter to.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Search Strategies
What is my search strategy for my healthy skeptic paper? What keywords will I be using? What synonyms? Stay current.
Some of the strategies that I have been researching has been using synonyms to broaden my search. For instance, I will use both "low-fat" and "non-fat" for a search term. Also, I use keywords such as diet, health, myths, and weight loss. Once I have a wide rage of results, I pick and choose on what I believe is legitimate for my paper. I always check to date and I make sure that the source is reliable. It helps if the author is a doctor or some sort of nutritionist. That way I am confident in knowing that the facts that I am reading and learning about hold merit.
Some of the strategies that I have been researching has been using synonyms to broaden my search. For instance, I will use both "low-fat" and "non-fat" for a search term. Also, I use keywords such as diet, health, myths, and weight loss. Once I have a wide rage of results, I pick and choose on what I believe is legitimate for my paper. I always check to date and I make sure that the source is reliable. It helps if the author is a doctor or some sort of nutritionist. That way I am confident in knowing that the facts that I am reading and learning about hold merit.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Healthy Skeptic Assignment
Title: In Defense of Food
Author: Pollan, Michael
Call #: RA784 .P643 2008
Title: Weight in America
Author: Wexler, Barbara
Title: Another failed diet? Blame hormones;
Differences in insulin secretion could determine the effectiveness of your weight-loss plan, a new study says
Source: LexisNexis
Title: Weight loss, simply;
FAT FACTS
Source: Lexis Nexis
Title: Shed the myths
Source: Lexis Nexis
Title: Big fat lies?
Source: LexisNexis
Author: Pollan, Michael
Call #: RA784 .P643 2008
Title: Weight in America
Author: Wexler, Barbara
Title: Another failed diet? Blame hormones;
Differences in insulin secretion could determine the effectiveness of your weight-loss plan, a new study says
Source: LexisNexis
Title: Weight loss, simply;
FAT FACTS
Source: Lexis Nexis
Title: Shed the myths
Source: Lexis Nexis
Title: Big fat lies?
Source: LexisNexis
Influential Book
Tho most influential book that I have read might be One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. The book just really shed a new light on how patients are treated in mental institutions and how they can be helpless. The reason it made a big impact on me was because Kesey used some of his real life experiences of when he worked in a mental institution in his book, so it wasn't completely fiction. It really started getting me thinking that the enviroment that some mental institutions have are probably not the right place for people who are mentally ill and need help. They can often be treated as prisoners more than patients.
It also made me think about what would happen if I was ever in a mental institution. Would people believe me if I really told them if I wasn't crazy? Just like McMurphy, who wasn't insane, people from the outside assumed he was because he was in the mental home and the Big Nurse made people believe that he was.
If I was ever in McMurphy's situation it would definitely play mind games with me. I might start to believe that I was actually crazy when in reality I wasn't, just because everyone around me is telling me that I am. It makes me wonder if some mental institutions are doing more harm that good to its patients.
It also made me think about what would happen if I was ever in a mental institution. Would people believe me if I really told them if I wasn't crazy? Just like McMurphy, who wasn't insane, people from the outside assumed he was because he was in the mental home and the Big Nurse made people believe that he was.
If I was ever in McMurphy's situation it would definitely play mind games with me. I might start to believe that I was actually crazy when in reality I wasn't, just because everyone around me is telling me that I am. It makes me wonder if some mental institutions are doing more harm that good to its patients.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Libraries Lost
In response to Fred White's article, Libraries Lost: Storage Bins and Robotic Arms, I'd have to say that I agree with White on many points.
White writes about how many libraries are quickly shifting from using books as resources to computer and internet research. While the internet is an extremely beneficial and convenient source to find information, the importance of books cannot and should not be overlooked during this shift. White states that many librarians no longer see the importance of "browsing", and by scanning books onto the web, it will be much easier to eliminate pointless browisng that many do in the library and people will be able to go straight to the source that they need once everything is available online. But White also states the importance of browsing and why it should remain in the process of searching for resources. White says, "An important stage of research is searching, and a crucial part of that process is serendipity — the happy accidents of discovery that stem from intellectual and imaginative readiness, not simply, as some believe, from a haphazard stumbling onto things." This couldn't be more true.
I believe that many people will lose important information that they would discovered by stumbling upon it, rather than looking for it. Sometimes people find the best information or learn important things when they are not realizing it - in White's words; a happy accident. Browsing is easy to do in a library but may not be as easy to do on the internet. Although the information is available on the web, people may not "stumble" across it if they are not looking for it. It is much easier to find things that you weren't originally looking for in a library than on the internet.
Another point that White writes about is the aesthetic side to books. In my opinion, I think that there is something extremely comforting and relaxing by reading a book. It's a way to escape to a new world and it's a way to just wind down and relax. It's definitely a way to cure bordem on a cold winter's night. Although I do enjoy my time on the internet and I find it incredibley resourceful and entertaining, I can get bored and restless if I am staring at a computer screen for an extended period of time. While reading from a book, I seem to lose track of time and find myself absorbed in it and sometimes it's hard to put the book down. I often don't get that same feeling when I am on the computer. It's a nice feeling to have when reading a book and I truly would feel it would be a shame if people do not experience that feeling due to the phasing out of books.
White writes about how many libraries are quickly shifting from using books as resources to computer and internet research. While the internet is an extremely beneficial and convenient source to find information, the importance of books cannot and should not be overlooked during this shift. White states that many librarians no longer see the importance of "browsing", and by scanning books onto the web, it will be much easier to eliminate pointless browisng that many do in the library and people will be able to go straight to the source that they need once everything is available online. But White also states the importance of browsing and why it should remain in the process of searching for resources. White says, "An important stage of research is searching, and a crucial part of that process is serendipity — the happy accidents of discovery that stem from intellectual and imaginative readiness, not simply, as some believe, from a haphazard stumbling onto things." This couldn't be more true.
I believe that many people will lose important information that they would discovered by stumbling upon it, rather than looking for it. Sometimes people find the best information or learn important things when they are not realizing it - in White's words; a happy accident. Browsing is easy to do in a library but may not be as easy to do on the internet. Although the information is available on the web, people may not "stumble" across it if they are not looking for it. It is much easier to find things that you weren't originally looking for in a library than on the internet.
Another point that White writes about is the aesthetic side to books. In my opinion, I think that there is something extremely comforting and relaxing by reading a book. It's a way to escape to a new world and it's a way to just wind down and relax. It's definitely a way to cure bordem on a cold winter's night. Although I do enjoy my time on the internet and I find it incredibley resourceful and entertaining, I can get bored and restless if I am staring at a computer screen for an extended period of time. While reading from a book, I seem to lose track of time and find myself absorbed in it and sometimes it's hard to put the book down. I often don't get that same feeling when I am on the computer. It's a nice feeling to have when reading a book and I truly would feel it would be a shame if people do not experience that feeling due to the phasing out of books.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
What if...
What if libraries were to disappear off the face of the Earth. Would you miss them? Why or why not?
Libraries are definitely an important part of education. They are helpful, friendly, and resourceful. It's a place to go if you need to take out a book, do some research on internet or online databases, or just a place to find a relaxing place to study or read. Sometimes it seems as if libraries can be taken for granted and people do not realize how important and essential libraries can be. The library is always there for me, whether I am working on an important paper or if I just want to relax and wind down.
Libraries are definitely an important part of education. They are helpful, friendly, and resourceful. It's a place to go if you need to take out a book, do some research on internet or online databases, or just a place to find a relaxing place to study or read. Sometimes it seems as if libraries can be taken for granted and people do not realize how important and essential libraries can be. The library is always there for me, whether I am working on an important paper or if I just want to relax and wind down.
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