Introduction to Primary Research

Research papers have not been my strong suit. I wrote a paper for my class during the spring break thinking I had a excellent paper, had the library assistant look it over, and she told me, "You paper is plagiarism." I was so upset because I know the teacher told us we could cut and paste. After a good cry, some chocolate, back home to fix the paper. My teacher told me it would be fine to turn in, but I was up at 5am to correct my mistake. 

I have come a small way ahead when it comes to writing a research paper. After reading this article I now know there many ways to find information, Observations, Surveys, and Interviews. In my line of work as a counselor I observe clients all the time, watching their body language, moods changing through out the day from pleasant to depressed, and emotional behaviors (the world is going to end it I don't get in touch with ???). I must collect data constantly without bring in my bias opinion into the mix. If there something I see with the client I always run it by another counselor to make sure I do not document wrong findings. The deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning is a constant checking outside resources with other facilities such as, Mental Health, DSM ( Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), to narrow down a clients behavior to correspond with their treatment. 

I do face-to-face interviews with potential clients wanting to enter Casa for our treatment program. Using open ended questions if key to finding more about the person, and to obtain more information for the Program Manager to decided if  bring them into our program will be a good fit, or referring them to a better suited program for their needs.  Face-to-face is observation, survey with the initial interviewing process all in one. 

At this current time, I am taking surveys of all the clients who have completed the program (2015-2012), entering them into a spread sheet, with dates entry/one year out, email address and phone numbers,  calling every client to see how their recovery to going, how can we support you now, and with all this data the Executive Director will enter it into a power point for the board of Directors. 

So, I guess I am learning more about researching within my own job. Cool!

How to Read Like a Writer

At the beginning of the article it asked the question "Would you want to start you own essay with a quote?" (P. 73) If the quote can be tied into the genre with strong rhetoric references to back the quote effectively then why not. I been known to start a paper with a question or personal experience; if you are leading your reader on a journey or a memorable experience then I say "why not." Writing is an art in-it-self and you are the artist so make the paper your own style.

Speaking of style, I have been reading like a writer for years. I was a speed reader for years not retaining anything. My brain goes to fast and I was skipping over words, ad-libbing what I thought should be there, and just reading badly especially out-loud. A friend of mine helped me by giving me a ruler and had me read every word out-loud line by line. I would get the worst headaches, but it slowed me down to understand the text, where the writer was going with his/her article, able to comprehend the message, and most of all how much more insightful the writer could be. I always look at the style of writing to see if I could incorporate different ways to improve my writing such as, I like personal anecdotes or personal stories just to keep the reading interested, and to bring a small piece of myself to the reader. When writing a more formal paper I really tone down the personal touch because if the paper is more serious in nature then having details about me would not make the paper flow properly.

Backpacks vs Briefcases

"The Rhetorical Situation" reports there are three main topics to address when writing a paper exigence, audience and constrains. Requirement, intrinsic (belonging to a thing by it's very nature), circumstance or conditions helps find the leads to demands for rhetoric by obtaining the right reference to the an issues.  Knowing how to respond to the very nature of the audience will heighten the readers experience.

The article talks about  knowing your primary audience when writing a paper. Why are you targeting a specific audience and what is your argument or point of view/purpose?  When understanding your specific topic (subject at-hand) you can find ways to write on the topic by looking at other writers articles and dissecting their research to find if they achieved their goal of the argument  with clear point of view or did they veer-off  course. Using all three "artistic appeals" logos, pathos, and ethos will make your paper more evenly balanced.  I have a very emotional personality which could bleed into my writing if I am not careful. Understand the balance to persuade the audiences without my personal agenda in the mix can enhance my paper. How to be persuasive by addressing the paper with many aspects of pros and cons will bring in the audience into your world so-to-speak. Also, to be informative to reach many readers; even the scientific intellects who need prof or facts to bring them into the mix.

I am finding many different avenues to writing along winded paper with clear and-to-the-point and for these past few reading I am grateful it has come to my attention.

Finding Evidence

Finding Evidence has always been my downfall when I was instructed to to write a five page research paper for class. I am aware of on-line data, library reference, and connecting with fellow students, but in the article I have discovered a whole new world of ideas on how to seek out pertinent information to make my research paper even better.

Knowing there are many forms of resources available has opened up my eyes. Libraries have countless data basis which you cannot find on the Web. Understanding the more refine details to the paper can broaden the horizon of research with stories, journals, articles, and the secret data basis which can only be accessed through people who have knowledge of the data basis within the data basis. I spoke with a friend  about the project I am working on, and she told me "I can show you many library connection which can expand your research paper."  One of the things I tell my clients is to be more vulnerable by speaking up and not to feel uneducated about asking for help about something you are not sure of. Hence, that is what I did by asking for help with my writing project, and low and behold I now have a great contact.

Research is not just the library, websites, and fellow students, it's more than that. Knowing your audience gives you even more ways to explore outside of the box to have a more interesting paper without having a one-way paper going now where fast.  With personal experience can enhance the quality of the paper. Bring your self into the mix makes the paper becomes more human, compassionate, and real to life.

Murder! (Rhetorically Speaking)

Writing for the right audience is important to what genre will be presented before you even start. Finding various ways to convey genre conventions to fit the picture so to speak. With clear incite to the specialized jargon will allow your reader to have an understand of the concept with deep details for a more visual paper. 

If you read "Murder! (Rhetorically Speaking)" and in the story the man murdered was wearing a clown mask with a note attached "it's all in fun" you might have second thoughts to where the story was going and maybe it is not about a murder but a form of comedy. If you keep the convention genre the writing must stay on point or your audience will be confused, lost, and distracted from hearing the whole story. 

Details for using descriptive words in writing helps with movement, textures, sounds, and strong verbs. Being able to speak with this form of conviction allows the audience to stay focused and play along. In the topic "Cultivation Your Inner Coroner" was very helpful using more details can bring the man murdered into view with "having a birth-mark on his left forearm and a two-inch scar, or a detailed tattoo from maybe a local cartel gang. It's all in the details which I find helpful for my writing because the paper made me want to explore more in my mind to visualize how much more I could have added to the paper. 

Academic Argument by Georgette

Academic Argument,

One of the key elements in the article was developing your own paper with interesting subjects for a clear successful essay. Understanding the right way to formulate the paper from the beginning to the conclusion.

It does not matter if the topic is yours or the instructor pick the topic. There are many ways to explore in depth how to write an outstanding paper. To explore is the key such as. checking in with the library to find searches on the subject through the data base, keeping notes on the topic by discussing it with classmates, arranging the paper with the most important facts to less important to see which is the strongest argument and position them in accordance, know your critical view on the topic and understand what the argument you are prepossessing, know your evidence and how it supports the subject, have pertinent points of view, record you resources carefully (give credit where credit is due), organize the paper and with the help of  your instructor for any extra pointers  you might need to have a cohesive paper, interesting point is to reverse the outline to see what section reads better at the beginning, middle and end, and edit edit because there is nothing worst then a paper without the solid flow.

By reading many of the other articles it is clear some of them read with a clear point, and others were very vague.   Having knowledge of genes helps to find many points of view from all angles.

The cat in ME

I had a teacher ask me if I could be any animal what would I be and why? That's easy I would be a cat, playful, mysterious, and very loyal.

In the past ten years or so I have worked as a Chef in many restaurants and bakeries within the Napa Valley area. Cooking and baking have been my passion ever sense I was twelve years old. After college I starting down the road of learning many aspects of the culinary field. The business is hard work and after many years it took and toll on my body. I decided to exit the culinary life style and pursue a new passion.

I always wanted to be a teacher and back to college I went. A student in one of my classes told me about the alcohol drug counseling program SBCC and it kindled a fire in me. In my first year a student told the class about a part time position with Path Point. After the interview I started down a whole new journey of my life of helping others as a Case Manager. I graduated in May of 2012 with my counseling certificate. In order to be a Certified counselor I had to take the state board test, work as an intern for 2,240 hours, and be registered with state affiliated companies. I worked in may various places learning every aspects of counseling. Some jobs I had were very helpful and some not at all, but I knew every place has there own way of doing things. Then I received a call from Casa Serena about a counseling position. I heard many wonderful things about this home helping women to over come addiction. After some time passed working as a counselor I could see my limited counseling skills need to be improved. Addiction is not just a one sided coin there are many underlining aspects to addiction such as, emotional trauma, environment issues which is know as Dual Disorders. After careful consideration I decided to attend Antioch for their BA in psychology program. I am excited for more self improvement to help young women become the women they always dreamed of being.

So the cat... I am loyal to Casa, playful with my clients to make them feel at home, and mysterious well that is just who I am.