This blog will follow students enrolled in Professor Taczak's WRIT 1133 Section 08 course (Winter 2015) in their efforts to develop an understanding of research and academic writing through the use of key terms and reflection and the development of their theory of writing.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Research Proposal
Please respond to this blog post by posting your research proposal.
Due by class time on Tuesday, January 20, 2015. ***You are NOT responding to your peers for this post.***
My current question for my proposal, although I believe it probably needs refining, is the following:
How has software design changed over time, more specifically in the last 5 years, and is it a result of keeping up with trends or platform optimization?
This question is of interest to me simply because I like computers and I like design theories. I think I would find it interesting because I like developing applications and I like thinking about the best way to implement all parts of the application. This project will focus on front-end design and not coding, or back-end design. The "front-end" of an application is anything that is related to what the user sees/how the users interacts with the application. Working with this kind of data is obviously more accessible than trying to track down the source code for an app like Snapchat. Also, it's more relevant to analyze since it's what matters primarily in the sense of making a successful consumer application, the algorithms and technical details don't matter as much to a non-programmer, because usually the performance differences aren't staggering. Also, analyzing layouts and visual aspects is easier to do and easier to communicate. It's quite easy to talk about button locations, it's not so easy to relay why the sorting algorithm used in an app is not the most efficient because of the size of the data set.
As for the difference in keeping up with trends or going for platform optimization we'll need to look at many different platforms( Phones, Tablets, Desktop and Laptop PCs) and maybe even subcategories of these platforms. I'll be able to analyze the differences between a successful app like Spotify that exists both for PCs and phones and see what the differences are in them to see how the designers needed to change the app depending on what may not have worked in a previous version or a version on a different platform.
I think that this question is also super accessible to research since I can do many things with it. I plan on performing surveys and other data collection activities, I can do case studies on certain apps and how they've changed over time to remain popular with consumers, and I can look at the most popular apps of today and other eras to analyze what is shared between them. There are many ways to research this question, so I think I'll have plenty of things to write about or angles to research, which is very important for me as I don't like the feeling of needing to be done with something just because there's nothing more on it.
What I need to be careful about in my research paper is not alienating the reader by using very technical language without definition. I will make sure to stay away from that. I also don't want to make connections that aren't significant, or in other words I'll need to make sure to give explanation as to why a shift in design matters, and not just what it is.
Yes, this topic works but you do want to make sure you keep it narrow. Looking at the last five years is definitely a place to start although I'm not sure how much information will be out there -- maybe enough. As well, you might want to pick a technology -- cells, tablets, laptops, etc. all are very different and offer different trends. You don't want it to get too big. So, narrowing in terms of year and in terms of technology will help. You'll also want to define what "trends" means because it means something different here than it does in other avenues. So, keep it narrow but large enough that you'll have stuff to find. Dr. Kt
I think this is super cool, I think you could also talk about trends in other visuals through different time periods and how the designs of computers etc. have changed with or against those trends. I think it would also be interesting to look at technologies appearances in different countries and how they are changing there too. I think it would also be interesting to look at the studies of what people find most appealing to the eye and see if they fall in line with those studies. It would be cool to survey people on what phone they think is more attractive and why. Overall I think this is super cool and definitely researchable.
1. My main concern is in regards to what Dr. T said about whether or not your going to narrow your research down to specific types of software innovations in the last five years? I only ask this because today nearly every aspect of our lives from phones to drones, runs on some form of software and to incorporate every software innovation in the past five years may be too broad a topic. However, with that said you have a very interesting paper in mind, as software is something so integral to out daily lives that is oftentimes taken for granted, and I'm sure that your research will shed light on such things. 2. There's no doubt that this is a research-able question seeing as there are numerous studies out there on technology innovation, particularly in the realm of software and modern operating systems. 3. Overall, this is an excellent research idea, and I am really interested in your research ideas, particularly your proposed case studies regarding the popularity of apps. Although throwing another question out there I'd like to know whether you're focusing more on the social or technological sides of software innovations.
This is an interesting topic because technology is growing rapidly now days. Apps and technology will change a lot and this perfectly relates to it. However, I feel like there are only so many apps and reasons that you can find because for the most part software engineers design in similar ways. That's just me but I'm sure you will be able to find many theories and changes about software design.
For this research paper, I will be researching sustainability. How can we, as a society, better our world through various acts of sustainable living, and how will this affect every day life? While I am aware that this question, and those that fall into it through my research after my topic has been divided into more specific subtopics, may not be particularly interesting to the general public, I am looking for this paper to appeal to a variety of people, so as to spread a heightened awareness concerning sustainability and the actions to be taken in order to create a better environment for both now and the future. I believe that the main issue within sustainability, within both land and marine life sustainability, is that most of the general public is not aware of what is happening, whether it is a drastically swift change, or, more commonly to be ignored, a slow change, that affects the entire earth on a large scale. Rather than research sustainability in general— and extraordinarily broad topic, that encompasses a vast majority of social and political issues, I plan to focus on marine life sustainability, and bringing light to the multifaceted problems that arise from 71% of the entire area of our earth— our oceans. In addition, climate change is something that greatly affects the oceans on a worldwide scale. In order to find ways to change this, and spread the word through written work and effective use of rhetoric, I look forward to researching within various organizations and committees, as well as informative books and videos. I need to be mindful of my audience and tone within this paper, as I could become enraged with the situation that our less than pristine earth is in, and blame the general audience rather than ways for change, in order to catalyze positive differences compared to how we are treating sustainability right now. In order to gain some perspective on how the general public has previously been handling issues of sustainability, I hope to interview members of SUSCOM, University of Denver’s Sustainability Committee, so I can better understand the perspective of those who have been committed to sustainability for a length of time, and have experience with attempts to fix some of the issues. Although I am unsure of how effective my paper will be, I plan on raising awareness about the topic through interviews with not only SUSCOM, but the general public as well, so as to get a better understanding of how much people know currently, and in order to inform them on how they can help, and learn more about sustainability in marine life so I am able to share this information.
This may be appropriate for a general publication, or as an article posted online on a page for sustainability, and, more specifically, a marine life organization. I would also like to take my research on this project for the next 8 weeks further, and have the chance to research marine life and its livelihood considering the currently poor conditions of our treatment of the oceans and those aspects that easily affect it with little to no thought.
I think it's interesting how you're willing to research sustainability issues that affect not only the global population but also our student body here at DU. My question is what other kinds of sustainability will you focus on? I think this is a good research topic because it is relevant to a large audience of people, and relatable to the students here. I look forward to reading this essay.
Great topic! Way to big -- I don't want a book. ;-) So, I say you either focus on Denver or DU. Either one would work. There's also a writing professor who researches this so she could be a great resource for you (Megan Kelley).
Dr. KT, Thank you for the suggestion with Ms. Kelley, I'll be sure to look into that! I think I will focus on DU, as Denver in general doesn't have any marine life to base any research off of.
For this research report, my question is “How does daily computer use affect our eyes, vision, and long-term health?” Even though this may sound like a cheesy question, I truly am interested in this topic because I am majoring in computer science and I love computers. Also because my vision is really bad and I use the computer a lot so seeing if these are related would be interesting. Although some people might not care about computers, this topic is about the effects that computers have on someone, not just about computers. Having knowledge about this topic can pretty much benefit anyone since computer technology is on the rise and more people will end up using computers. My research will focus on the specific effects that computers have on people’s vision and eyes. To be more specific, it will not cover physical or mental health because the term health overall is such a broad topic. For example, many people wear contacts or glasses. Did genetics cause that? Or did computers play a role too? I will definitely need to research and learn about the different parts of the eye and the functions of them in order to understand how eyes work in the first place. After finding the effects, I can then research about the prevention and treatments for this problem. This is important because people will not only be aware of the effects but also will know what they can do about it to minimize the effects. I feel that this question can even play a role in the optometry industry because insurances and people are paying so much money for eye appointments, checkups, glasses, contacts, etc. Of course computers aren't the main cause to this, but even if they are the tiniest cause, that cause still has “something” to do with it. If people are aware of the effects that computers have on their eyes, then maybe in the long run it will help out in preventing themselves from needing to buy glasses or contacts or even needing to go in for an eye appointment. These all cost money so maybe people might even be able to save money? This can be all part of the research. Researching this topic can also lead me to conduct surveys relating computer use with peoples’ vision status. I might be able to find a trend in this data or I might not find anything at all. No matter what the outcome is, this survey can help me gain more data about this topic. I need to be really clear and go into detail when I talk about the terms of the eye and how they all work. If people don’t understand this clearly, then they might have a harder time understanding how certain things can affect the functions of certain parts of the eye. Also, this topic is more appropriate for people who use computers for at least a couple hours a day, but can actually relate to anyone who barely uses or cares about computers.
Jason-- I found your question to be very interesting. I feel like this will be a fairly easy topic to research, as it concerns the vast majority of people in today's society. I think it is a good idea to be very clear and detailed in your paper, as I am assuming this topic has been researched at length. I am wondering what unique aspects of your research you will include, and how you will relate this to the viewers, as it seems that your audience is the general public. I think that this proposal is a really sound start to your research, and I think you will be able to create a well crafted paper out of it, good job!
This is interesting because now I am thinking about looking at my screen, reading your proposal, is affecting my eyes/vision, and overall health. I think that this is a very good idea because vision (i believe) is through genetics (since everyone in my family wears glasses), but I also believe that your eyes become even more damaged depending on how long you are looking at a computer throughout the day. I agree with you when you say it is crucial to go into detail when you are talking about the eye, or else many "non-science" people will be lost; however, I think that it is important for you to not go too far into detail, to the point where you lose the reader. I think that another interesting aspect that you could bring to this is if computers really do worsen a persons eyes, then why don't they make screens that are more friendly to the eye--is it a consumer reason, or is it just impossible to do?
I like this question a lot because as I got older I had to start wearing reading glasses because of my vision and it would make a lot of sense to me that it's because of computer use. I think in your research you could also include what is in the computer screen that affects our eyes, because constantly reading from a computer screen is probably more harmful than constantly reading something off of paper. Are you going to focus on people of one specific age group or all ages?
This topic works -- you want to probably keep it on health in general though (vision and eyes are the same thing...). And, you'll want to focus on figuring out specific amounts of time -- so what is a long time to be sitting in front of a computer? How is 5 hours different from 15 hours, etc.
This is quite an interesting and relevant topic. Since I use a computer for so many hours of the day, I'm quite curious as to what you find from this research. I wonder if it might be too easy to directly answer though. I don't know if it lends itself to being researched very far, as the answer may be quite direct. I think that you have a great plan though, focusing on the eye and learning how that works then moving to the computer seems like the best way to go. I'm super excited to see what you find.
This topic that you've come up with is quite interesting. I suppose that in this day and time, computers play a huge component in everyday of human lives. It's interesting how you'll be researching the possible correlations between use of computer screens and the downhill effects of eyesight. How will you be conducting your surveys? Will you be surveying an x number of people or will you be gathering people and surveying them based on variable such as age, number of hours on the computers, lasiks history, etc, etc? Something that I found to be working really well is how you plan to not only find the correlation but also research the possible sources such as genetics as well as consequences of the possible correlation you find during your research.
Thinking about it now, talking about health in general would probably be a better idea because it will allow me to research more information which will make the paper more interesting. I just didn't want information to be scattered everywhere but I can find a way to organize the information so readers will not get confused. Also, I agree that going into detail on specific amounts of time would be a good idea because there are the people who play computer games all day and night, and the people who use the computer for couple hours here and there.
By health in general do you mean, physical and mental effects? For example obesity, lack of exercise, carpal tunnel, etc. I feel like the list can go on and on but I don't really know if that's a good thing or bad thing.
What effect do female celebrities have on Western cultures view of women? For this research project I plan on looking into the way popular, mainstream female celebrities have an effect of the everyday view of women. I plan to look at this in terms of how women see themselves as well as how others view women, in regards to sexuality, feminity, their roles, and how they present themselves to those around them. I would like to look at this idea not only in our modern society but also in the past, to see if celebrities and their media has influenced generations of the past and how our ideas of women have evolved in both daily life as well as in the media. I also plan on looking at this situation in different ways, for instances how men view female celebrities as well as everyday women, along with how different age groups view these areas and dissecting the differences and similarities between different groups. I believe that female celebrities do shape he way we view women, whether we know it or not, but I don’t know how they have in the past and to what extents they do now. This issue could and does deal with media as a whole but I would like to stay focused on the female celebrity because I feel like it is something we are already talking about constantly as a nation. I think the view points across age and gender will differ and it will be interesting to discover in what ways and why. I also think looking as how the female celebrity has evolved over time and how people feel not only about the female celebrities we see every day as well as the female celebrities of the past will be interesting. I think this issue also goes beyond just interesting but may also be able to show us how much we do or don’t rely on media queues to form opinions around certain groups.
I think your research question is super interesting! It seems like it will be hard to write this without being biased, especially because you live in Western society and therefore are looking at it from the inside rather than from the outside. However, I think you can still find a way to write a paper on this that reflects truth over opinion. One question I have is how you plan on doing that. Also, I think this has the potential to address opinions that are disparate across cultures, so maybe think about addressing that too :) Otherwise, it seems like this will be a good topic to research and that you'll be able to write a solid paper with your question. Nice job!
Emma, I really like your topic because it makes me think of our FSEM, and how we were constantly talking about the way that media influences individuals. Because this is an issue that does exist all over the world, I think that you will be fine when writing this paper. To make the paper even more interesting, however, I think that you should also discuss how these views change for one as the become more mature.
Hey Emma! Your topic is really relevant to modern day media, and everyday life. I have a quick question on how you are going to take a subject that is incredibly biased and find facts? Even though you were right when you were talking about what you believe "that female celebrities do shape the way we view women" because they do! Looking at the view points across age and gender is a really good idea. It seems like this will be a very interesting research paper!
1. I certainly think that this should be an interesting topic for research as the role of gender in film is a constantly evolving and hot-button issue. I'm just curious how you plan too fit so much information into one paper, seeing as you noted several different points that you will be examining. However, with that said I'm sure you can achieve this and create an excellent paper. 2. You should have no problem researching this as I'm sure that there are innumerable studies on gender roles, and the evolution of gender portrayal in media. 3. Excellent topic, and I think you're on the right track, should be an awesome paper!
How is the use of ultra-violence in Quentin Tarantino’s films portrayed and what is it used to achieve?
I’ve been a movie buff for as long as I’ve lived, and Quentin Tarantino has always been my favorite director. Whether it’s Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, or Kill Bill, Tarantino creates a unique blend of comedy, action, gorgeous cinematography, and meaningful storytelling that is unparalleled in film. Viewing and analyzing movies has always been a passion of mine and what better to examine than the works of Tarantino. Cinema is a topic that nearly anyone can relate too, from the hardcore cinephile to the casual cinema-goer. For this same reason many people know of Tarantino, whose films have brought him widespread commercial and critical success.
However, Tarantino’s films are not without controversy as he is frequently criticized for his use of gratuitous and graphic scenes of violence, often dubbed ultra-violence. This ultra-violence is considered by many to be excessive, and solely for shock value. In my research I plan to identify the reasons behind Tarantino’s use of ultra-violence, and the means he hopes to achieve through it. More specifically, I’d like to identify specific instances in Tarantino’s films. of which there are many, and determine if these were used for commercial, cinematic, symbolic, or for some other purpose. From this I’d ultimately like to form a general conclusion about the use of ultra-violence in Tarantino’s films, providing an answer as to why it is used and why it has worked so well in his films.
Whether you love him or hate him, there’s no denying that Quentin Tarantino is a legend in the film industry, and it is of great interest to any movie lover, to examine what makes his films so powerful, much in the same way that we examine literature from the canon. Additionally, Tarantino’s films are reviewed quite favorably by critics and the general public alike, indicating that he is, in some ways, a standard for modern film. With that said, it also pertains to the larger question of the portrayal of violence in media, and how we as the audience respond to it, a question that, movie goer or not, is a very important one to ask. Thus, I believe that this research should be relevant to both movie buffs and the general public alike as it offers an examination of both Tarantino's directorial style as well as it’s larger connotations on violence in American film.
There should be a wealth of knowledge to research regarding this topic as there are numerous critical reviews and examinations of his films, as well as the actual films themselves. In addition I can do interviews of other peoples’ examinations of the films, in order to gain a sample of the general public’s views regarding his films. There is also a great deal of research regarding violence-culture in the media which I could research as well, to gain a better understanding of what I’m looking at. Ultimately, there are numerous things to examine regarding Tarantino’s use of violence in film, and I plan to research every avenue that I can, in the hopes of getting a clearer insight into what makes him tick as a director. When I’m researching my paper I see two main obstacles that I’d have to overcome. The first is my love for Tarantino's films. While I certainly come into this research with certain preconceptions about his films, I plan to research as objectively as possible, including all angles, whether I personally agree with them or not. The second is that movies, like literature, contain innumerable facets that one could analyze, however, in order to keep my paper fluid and coherent, I must do my best to stick to Tarantino’s depiction of violence in film, rather than going on various other tangents that could distract from the purpose of the paper.
I think this is beyond interesting, in terms of questions I think it would be really interesting to see how different people respond to Tarantino's "ultra-violent" scenes and maybe even to look at how reactions differ when you receive different amounts of context or even if different genders or social groups have different reactions to the violence he uses. You could even look at other movies that have violent scenes and see how people react similarly or differently to those. I think it is definitely researchable, I feel like it can take you in a lot of different directions that will talk about even bigger themes like violence in the media and its effect etc., I think its going to be super interesting to learn more through the lens of Tarantino.
Alex-- I'm really really happy you're researching this... I love Tarantino's films, and I thought it was great that you mentioned that "he is frequently criticized for his use of gratuitous and graphic scenes of violence, often dubbed ultra-violence. This ultra-violence is considered by many to be excessive, and solely for shock value." I think you alluded to it in the beginning of your proposal, but for clarification, who is your targeted audience? If you are unsure of that, it will be necessary, especially considering the different directions your research could take you and various points you could include in your piece, to identify this before you begin your research. I think that this entire proposal was well thought out and thoughtfully crafted. I like the idea a lot and I think it will keep you interested for the whole 9 weeks we'll be working on this research paper!
I'm super stoked about your topic, just so you know. Tarantino is a brilliant film-maker and I think you'd be analyzing such an interesting aspect of his films. I'm excited to see what you find out. I was wondering if it may be hard to isolate the theme of ultra-violence to analyze since it may be part of a broader element many times (think pulp fiction when Vincent shoots Marvin in the face and the tone stays lightweight. This is character development setting up Jules and Vincent as these desensitized killers.) Overall I think it's a great idea and that you should have success doing it, you seem to have a good plan and the technical knowledge to articulate your thoughts about movies. I'm very excited to see what comes of it
Super fun topic! I love movies and am a fan of Tarantino's. I need to rephrase your question though so that it makes a little more sense in terms of purpose: in other words, what do you hope to figure out?
Also, a side note-- my mother hates Tarantino and the fact that I love his movies, because of the violence, so I look forward to showing her your paper once you research what this violence is used to achieve!
Hey Alex! Yay Tarantino! I love that you are doing a topic that interests you! Tarantino films have a lot of violence, so you should be set when looking for examples. I was just wondering what criteria you are using to determine if the ultra-violence was used for commercial, cinematic, symbolic, or for some other purpose? You are obviously passionate about Tarantino moves, so your paper should be an interesting read!
What are the stages of sleep, and why do people dream? As college students, we are notorious for our lack of sleep. On days when we get to sleep in, or go to bed early, it is glorious. For this research paper, I will be studying the relationship between the sleep cycles, stages of sleep, dreams, and sleep disorders that interfere with the other topics. I have been interested in sleeping patterns and the psychology of sleeping for a long time, and this seems like the perfect opportunity to learn more about such an interesting topic. My research will explore what takes place during each stage of sleep, including the depth of sleep, eye movements, and dreaming. It will include the sleep cycles in which these stages occur and how these cycles change through the night. Because age affects the amount of time a person spends in each sleep stage in the cycle, I will be showing variation through different ages from infants to teenagers, college students, and adults. Because no one knows for certain why humans dream while they sleep, it may just be a byproduct of sleep, part of memory consolidation, a mood regulator or a method of conflict resolution, I plan on researching all of those ideas and hopefully coming up with a rational conclusion. I plan on comparing lucid and non-lucid dreams, and finding out what sleep stage they occur in. I am also hoping to discuss sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome. I hope to write about the causes, symptoms, and complications of each sleep disorder, and how they affect the stages of sleep and dreaming. The study of sleep cycles, stages, and dreams represents an opportunity to improve quality of life in individuals. Studying these topics will improve lives because understanding what a good nights sleep does for you body is important and may help people realize that they need to go to sleep. Also, the knowledge of what is happening in your while you sleep, all the repairing and memory consolidation, may convince people that a good night’s sleep is important. I plan on gathering research by reading previous research papers in similar topics, and interviewing sleep specialists. I also hope to interview some psychology professors here at the University of Denver about their thoughts on dreams and other side effects of sleep. There should be a large amount of research on this topic, as it is important towards daily health. I will need to be careful to provide definitions of the medical conditions and of the stages. I need to go into detail and explain why the stages are different, and also explain why no one knows for sure why humans dream. The ultimate goal with this research paper is to spread around the knowledge of what happens while you are sleeping and why sleeping, and the sleeping stages, is important. With the approval of my peers and Dr. KT, I hope to make this my research project.
1. Regarding questions I have about your proposal there is a point at the beginning of your proposal in which you say that you will be studying the relationship between various aspect of sleep and "the other topics." I am left a bit unsure as to what these other topics are, are they motor skills, proficiency in the classroom, or something else? However, aside from that I find your research topic incredibly interesting as I myself am a sleep deprived college student and I'm certainly interested in what effect that has on my mental and physical health. 2. With that said your topic is certainly research-able as I'm sure there are thousands of medical journals regarding sleep, and seeing as its an integral aspect of every human being I'm sure that you'll have no problem finding an interview. 3. Overall I think you're on the right path, and that you're certainly on your way to an excellent research project.
I think its very interesting that your topic relates to so many people! I also find dreams fascinating and I look forward to learning more about them. My question for you is how are you planning on conducting this research? Will you be observing people sleep firsthand? I think this research will be very interesting to learn from, as anyone can benefit from knowledge about where dreams materialize from. Looking forward to hearing more about this!
I think this is really interesting, especially being a college kid who definitely doesn't get enough sleep. I wonder if certain events in peoples lives lend to more dreams about them than others, for instances I wonder if people who have gone through trauma tend to dream about their trauma more than other occurrences in their lives and if they tend to at least remember those dreams more than others? I feel like you can go in a lot of different directions in terms of dreaming, even just what it means to people and if there is a difference between people who remember a significant amount of their dreams and people who don't remember any? I think your question is reseachable, however I think you might want to drop off the stages of sleep part, I feel like there's already a concrete answer for that question and that is something you would talk about in any research about sleep, so maybe instead you could ask why do people dream and... add something more specific you want to know about dreaming or a correlation between sleep and dreaming .
This honestly sounds like a really interesting and fun topic to research about. I notice how your question mentions stages of sleep, and dreaming but you also said you will go into insomnia, narcolepsy, etc. I feel like it would make more sense to change your question or maybe make it a more broad question. I truly think that you will be able to find a LOT of information about this topic. Interviews with psychology teachers will be crucial because they are just about "experts" in what they teach. But overall, I think that you need to make what you're going to specifically research and focus on, sleeping stages and dreaming, sleeping disorders? Or both?
Such an interesting topic! I've had one student research something similar and the results were super insightful. So, you want to focus on one or the other of your questions and not both because either question is big enough to cover the space that you have. So, which one do you want to research more?
I was talking with my friend on the phone a a few days ago, and we were talking about relationships. As we got further into depth, we started discussing how ones previous relationships affect them in the present and future. Numerous people from the world always say "I am like this because of (insert name here)," "I don't think relationships are for me," or "I have commitment issues." Though many of these statements may stand true to them, what many of us don't know is why? They are blaming an apparent significant person in their life for being the way that they are. Obviously people that change a persons view on relationships had some important significance.
It is for these reasons, that I have come up with the following research question: To what extent do people let previous relationships influence the ones they have with others in the future?
I chose this topic, because this is something that I can relate to, which is why I have some passion towards this specific topic. I don’t have the best relationship with my father, even though I know him and live with him. I personally believe that this is a topic that many people could relate to, since everyone has been in some type of relationship, whether it was with their family, their significant others, or just a friendship. In order to complete this research, I want to get out and ask people around the community if they ever had a relationship issue with someone who meant a lot to them. Of course, this takes bravery, as not everyone is comfortable talking about certain topics, with people that they are completely comfortable with.
For now, this is a working research question, but I know that it is something that I am truly interested in researching.
Hey Dimitrius! Just a couple of questions: Is it only bad relationships that influence us, or do the good ones have just as much of an impact? Are people blaming the world or is that just their personality type? This is a very interesting topic, and certainly one that would be wonderful if it was answered. Maybe with your "working research question" you could see how different personality types react to each other, or how The people around us influence us, not just in relationships. You have picked a difficult topic, but your thoughts on it come from your heart. I look foreword to seeing what you do with this!
I would love to know the answers as well! I think with a psychological question like this, it is important that you try to stay as unbiased as possible, leaving any kind of impact another person has had on you out of mind. What other kinds of questions would you ask other people to get firsthand research? Awesome research question!!
What a question! I think we all want to know what you find out. =)
This works well -- and personal insight is something you can draw on for this research, but for interviews, surveys, observations, etc. you'll want to do something past your own experiences. You can connect to them, but don't rely only on them. They offer a great starting point though.
I think it's quite interesting that you plan to research something much more emotional than most of the other research topics that were presented. I'm excited to see what you'll find. I think that the question is super interesting because it'll look into how people operate and lead to a greater understanding of them. I wonder if it will be hard to research because of the fact that it will vary so much from person to person how much they let past relationships determine their future relationships. I think what Shawn had to say about the distinction between familial relationships and romantic relationships would definitely be something to look into while you're doing research.
Whoa! This is actually a really interesting topic that you're researching and planning to conduct research on. Somehow, relationships always tend to be an interesting topic. But because you're going into depth on this particularly interesting topic, it makes it all the more interesting. I do have a few questions, is your topic leaning towards the field of psychology or sociology? Or maybe even both? Could something like this be traced back to how our brains are wired? Or to the way that society functions and always keeps to repeat itself throughout time? Are you going to survey an x number of people or are you going to organize several different variables such as a control group, and two or more additional variables such as number of troubling relationships, background, heritage, gender, age, ethnicity, race, etc, etc? Something that I found to be working really well is how you are planning to dive into this topic with the goal of exploring ALL types of relationships whether it may be family, friends, romantic, and/or etc verses where when most people pose questions such as these they tend to only look at either family alone, or friends alone, or significant others alone. I like how you're extending the scope to include all the relationships under one umbrella of research.
Avalanches are a natural phenomenon west of the Rockies, and they are often deadly. An avalanche can claim lives, territory, and any infrastructure that lies in its destructive path. Already this month, there was a fatal avalanche-related accident that took the life of a skier in Colorado. Avalanches intrigue me because they are a natural disaster that occur under very specific circumstances, and yet winter sports fanatics are still killed every year as a result of avalanches. I would like to research under what conditions are avalanches likely, and I would also like to examine public understanding of avalanches, even with lots of resources for learning how to prevent fatalities. I would like to know more about what exactly caused these deaths: lack of knowledge about avalanches, purposeful ignoring of the signs of an avalanche, or conditions that are not typically associated with avalanches? My research question would be: How, when and why do avalanches occur? To what extent is the public educated about avalanches? What is being done to proactively prevent avalanches and avalanche related deaths from occurring? I would like my research parameters to be west of the Rockies, not limited to but including the Rocky Mountains, the Cascade Range, the Brooks Range, and the Sierra Nevada Range. I plan on examining avalanche causes, consequences, and context for the natural disasters, to ultimately figure out how to better prevent avalanches in the future, and to prevent deaths due to these phenomena. I suspect that developing technologies play a role in keeping skiers and climbers safe, and I would also like to explore Ski Patroller’s responses at resorts that typically experience avalanches. My methods will include collecting information about the optimal conditions for an avalanche to occur, interviewing Ski Patrollers at nearby mountains to learn about their protocol in dealing with avalanches, researching patterns of fatality and survival at the hands of an avalanche, studying technologies marketed towards skiers and climbers that aim towards avalanche safety and coming up with solutions for keeping avalanches at bay as well as protecting yourself from an avalanche to discuss based on the research I conduct Avalanches are deadly, but they don’t have to be. I aim to conclude with specific ways of keeping safe when in contact with an avalanche prone area, along with ways of preventing avalanches in the first place.
Interesting! This is so relevant to where we live. But, you got a lot going on ... too much. So, how can you narrow this to rein it in so that you have a narrow focus that keeps you on task?
Helen, I am interested in your topic, avalanches have always fascinated me as well. One question I have about your topic, and paper as well, is whether you are going to include information and research on artificial avalanches (not sure what you call the ones that are set off in an attempt to prevent future natural ones). I think this will work well for your research paper! I can tell that it is something you are very passionate and curious about, and this is what I think lends to any great research paper.
Dr. KT- To narrow it down I would like to focus on how to prevent avalanches and avalanche related deaths. Do you think this is specific enough to focus on?
Yes -- that should help. And you might want to keep it in focused on a specific mountain range (up to you which one) because each one is going to be a little different.
I have decided that I want to the do my research project on composting and contagious diseases. As we know, composting is one of many methods implemented to try to go green. In composting, nutrient rich matter are decomposed to create fuel for plant growth. It also adds life back into soil that has been depleted of all of its nutrient over time. It is a free and safe method for going green. The human race suffers from many illnesses. Many of them are contagious like the flu and curable, while others are both contagious and terminal. HIVAIDS is one of many contagious terminal illnesses. HIV/AIDS is Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. It is an infection within the human immune system that causes illness after illness in which a particular individual copes with for the rest of his or her life. As you know, when composting, one may add things such as paper towels and napkins, and theoretically tissues into the compost bin. These are all compostable because they were all made from trees which are organic material. We humans, are also organic organisms. Technically, we are compostable. As many would say, if you are in a field of yellow grass and there is a fairly large patch of green beautiful grass, steer clear from it. There may be a possibility that a body was buried there because the grass is thriving from the nitrogen rich soil from the decomposing human body. With the morbidity aside, what if someone were to compost pieces of their body. Technically we do when we compost the napkins we use, that contain cells from our lips and saliva and etc. The real question is, what happens if someone with a contagious terminal disease such as AIDS, disposes and bloody tissue into the compost bin? Contagious diseases such as AIDS, is usually applicable in moist settings where liquids are present. Famous tennis player, Arthur Ashe, contracted AIDS after he received a blood transfusion infected by the virus. When matter decomposes, it is decomposed by bacteria that eats the matter and thrives on it, creating the nutrient rich soil. If the bacteria eats an infected tissue, what happens to the virus? Composting is not possible without the presence of moist so theoretically, the virus is still alive. Does it stay alive after going through the composting bacteria or does it cease to exist as it becomes soil?
As the DU community turns green, we have to face possibilities of whether these things are possible. So the question I ask is, “If the matter of infectious diseases is put through a composting process, will it infect the soil in which we grow our food from?”
Hi Della! You have a unique and interesting research proposal! I think studying the relationship between composting and contagious disease has a lot of promise. A hinderance may be whether or not there has been research done on this in the past, as it would be hard for you to compost an infected body and determine whether or not the disease passes on to someone who used the compost as fertilizer for their food. But it seems like a practical enough question that somebody has probably tested it! Do you plan on testing this yourself somehow? If so, I'd love to hear more about it! :) Good luck with your paper!
This is so outside-the-box and I think it's awesome you came up with this topic all on your own. I would never have thought to put something like composting and disease together. How are you planning on carrying out this research? This seems like a serious undertaking to me, good luck. You have original thinking and a scientific mind, and it seems like you can pull this off. Good luck!
This is a really interesting idea! I have never thought about this at all. Everyone makes it seem as though "going green" is a must and everything will be bad if we don't, but what if there's a total downside as well? How are you going to get firsthand research on this? It would be very interesting if you somehow tested it for yourself but I'm sure also very difficult. I can't wait to see what you find!
This is an interesting idea for a paper Aizhak. I like your idea of comparing three stories from major news sources, but I am a little unclear – do you mean the same story across the three? Because that seems like the most logical thing to do. Also, how do you plan on deciding what "actually" happened? Many stories reported are given life by the journalist, but how will you distinguish the voice of the writer from reality? I would suggest finding a story where you can talk to people who witnessed the event at hand if that's possible. I also agree that your second part will be more difficult to determine. This may be a hard thing to research, so if I were you I would think about how I would go about quantifying the validity of a publication. Good luck with your paper :)
Such a relevant topic! But, I'm afraid you are kinda going in many directions, so before you begin, I need to narrow and focus. You don't to focus on both large corporations and small ones because that's way too big. You also don't need too much of a historical overview -- only enough to provide a context. So -- tell me how you are going to focus this down?
Shawn, We talked a little bit about this last night, and now that I see what all you plan on doing, this is going to be an interesting paper. I really want to know what you find because in my opinion, if it weren't for media, then the world wouldn't be the way that it is now. The question to my last sentence is now whether or not that would be a good thing or bad thing?
I feel that this is a really interesting topic because it relates to the everyday life of superstars. Also, I think that almost every story may have something fishy about it because that is the job of journalists and reporters, to make people interested in their reports. It will be really interesting in how you approach this topic.
I have always loved music of all genres. One of my favorite things to spend time (and money!) on is going to concerts, but even just singing along to songs in my car can change my mood. To find out why this is something many people love, I want to know how music can create a positive or negative effect on a person’s health.
Based off of what I already know or have heard, music can have a positive effect on mental health, but I have not heard anything about it having negative effects, so that is something I would be interested in exploring as part of this research project. I know that a lot of different things can be factors for this question, such as age, type of music, part of the world a person lives in, or other cultural factors. I will not be focusing on any specific factor, but instead look at the “big picture” of music’s effects.
Some of the things I will be looking for include mood improvements or changes, behavioral change, stress levels, even productivity levels. This is not something I would necessarily be able to study firsthand because to do an experiment on individuals would be time consuming as well as difficult to measure. As of right now I am thinking of surveying people to see if they notice some sort of change after listening to music, but that might not be the most accurate way to get information for a research paper.
Music is something I have always loved and I am excited to learn how it can connect to our every day well being.
At first, I thought I would research how to improve safety when mountaineering, but I realized that I would like to take this opportunity to study something more relevant to my life goals. I would like to become a linguist, and as such the field of linguistics is a much more relevant topic for me to study. As I am fairly new to linguistics, I simply perused some college department pages to find what type of research is being done. I saw that there’s work being done with syntax, phonetics, semantics, historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, and plenty more. But I found myself stopping at sociolinguistics, or how language varies from situation to situation, group to group, etc.
The more I read about it, the more i find myself intrigued by the subject. I will have to work on narrowing down exactly what I’ll be researching, but from what I’ve learned so far there is a branch of sociolinguistics known as language attrition which studies “the loss of, or changes to, grammatical and other features of a language as a result of declining use by speakers.” I am currently studying Hindi, and I’ve already read how Hindi is seen as the third stage of degradation from Sanskrit, evolving from “improper” use of the “pure” language (as I understand it anyways). Because I have at least some exposure to this idea, I plan to direct my studies this way. So it follows:
Research Question: How does language attrition affect the way a language develops?
My goal is to study a specific language, and Hindi is the most logical because I’m actually studying it. Therefore, in my paper I’ll go through the process of Hindi deriving from the degradation of Sanskrit, potentially addressing why and how it happened, and other things that come up (I’m pretty new to this so I’m still rather unsure).
If this is not enough or if there isn’t enough information on this, I could pull in another language to study the history of as well. If this happened, I would probably study the degradation of Latin because it has a rich history and would be easy to follow – we know it was a precursor to the romance languages.
So in my research, I think I’ll be finding books on linguistics, maybe figuring out exactly what sociolinguistics is and what types of research are being done with it currently. I’m not going to write too much about what’s going to be in the paper, because I honestly don’t think I’ll know until I know more about my subject. But I can speak towards the intended audience, which will be (tentatively) for people who are interested in linguistics but don’t have a strong foundation yet (like myself). I’d like to become immersed in the conventions and diction of this field, so it may evolve into something more complicated, but for now I’m just shooting for basic understanding.
This is quite a topic! And it'll be a fun one for you -- but, you are going to find there is a lot of stuff out there on sociolinguistics, so you might need to narrow as you go. You definitely won't need to include more than one language! So, this is something we can check in about as you go.
My current question for my proposal, although I believe it probably needs refining, is the following:
ReplyDeleteHow has software design changed over time, more specifically in the last 5 years, and is it a result of keeping up with trends or platform optimization?
This question is of interest to me simply because I like computers and I like design theories. I think I would find it interesting because I like developing applications and I like thinking about the best way to implement all parts of the application. This project will focus on front-end design and not coding, or back-end design. The "front-end" of an application is anything that is related to what the user sees/how the users interacts with the application. Working with this kind of data is obviously more accessible than trying to track down the source code for an app like Snapchat. Also, it's more relevant to analyze since it's what matters primarily in the sense of making a successful consumer application, the algorithms and technical details don't matter as much to a non-programmer, because usually the performance differences aren't staggering. Also, analyzing layouts and visual aspects is easier to do and easier to communicate. It's quite easy to talk about button locations, it's not so easy to relay why the sorting algorithm used in an app is not the most efficient because of the size of the data set.
As for the difference in keeping up with trends or going for platform optimization we'll need to look at many different platforms( Phones, Tablets, Desktop and Laptop PCs) and maybe even subcategories of these platforms. I'll be able to analyze the differences between a successful app like Spotify that exists both for PCs and phones and see what the differences are in them to see how the designers needed to change the app depending on what may not have worked in a previous version or a version on a different platform.
I think that this question is also super accessible to research since I can do many things with it. I plan on performing surveys and other data collection activities, I can do case studies on certain apps and how they've changed over time to remain popular with consumers, and I can look at the most popular apps of today and other eras to analyze what is shared between them. There are many ways to research this question, so I think I'll have plenty of things to write about or angles to research, which is very important for me as I don't like the feeling of needing to be done with something just because there's nothing more on it.
What I need to be careful about in my research paper is not alienating the reader by using very technical language without definition. I will make sure to stay away from that. I also don't want to make connections that aren't significant, or in other words I'll need to make sure to give explanation as to why a shift in design matters, and not just what it is.
Hey, Tresdon:
DeleteYes, this topic works but you do want to make sure you keep it narrow. Looking at the last five years is definitely a place to start although I'm not sure how much information will be out there -- maybe enough. As well, you might want to pick a technology -- cells, tablets, laptops, etc. all are very different and offer different trends. You don't want it to get too big. So, narrowing in terms of year and in terms of technology will help. You'll also want to define what "trends" means because it means something different here than it does in other avenues. So, keep it narrow but large enough that you'll have stuff to find.
Dr. Kt
I think this is super cool, I think you could also talk about trends in other visuals through different time periods and how the designs of computers etc. have changed with or against those trends. I think it would also be interesting to look at technologies appearances in different countries and how they are changing there too. I think it would also be interesting to look at the studies of what people find most appealing to the eye and see if they fall in line with those studies. It would be cool to survey people on what phone they think is more attractive and why. Overall I think this is super cool and definitely researchable.
Delete1. My main concern is in regards to what Dr. T said about whether or not your going to narrow your research down to specific types of software innovations in the last five years? I only ask this because today nearly every aspect of our lives from phones to drones, runs on some form of software and to incorporate every software innovation in the past five years may be too broad a topic. However, with that said you have a very interesting paper in mind, as software is something so integral to out daily lives that is oftentimes taken for granted, and I'm sure that your research will shed light on such things.
Delete2. There's no doubt that this is a research-able question seeing as there are numerous studies out there on technology innovation, particularly in the realm of software and modern operating systems.
3. Overall, this is an excellent research idea, and I am really interested in your research ideas, particularly your proposed case studies regarding the popularity of apps. Although throwing another question out there I'd like to know whether you're focusing more on the social or technological sides of software innovations.
This is an interesting topic because technology is growing rapidly now days. Apps and technology will change a lot and this perfectly relates to it. However, I feel like there are only so many apps and reasons that you can find because for the most part software engineers design in similar ways. That's just me but I'm sure you will be able to find many theories and changes about software design.
DeleteFor this research paper, I will be researching sustainability. How can we, as a society, better our world through various acts of sustainable living, and how will this affect every day life? While I am aware that this question, and those that fall into it through my research after my topic has been divided into more specific subtopics, may not be particularly interesting to the general public, I am looking for this paper to appeal to a variety of people, so as to spread a heightened awareness concerning sustainability and the actions to be taken in order to create a better environment for both now and the future. I believe that the main issue within sustainability, within both land and marine life sustainability, is that most of the general public is not aware of what is happening, whether it is a drastically swift change, or, more commonly to be ignored, a slow change, that affects the entire earth on a large scale. Rather than research sustainability in general— and extraordinarily broad topic, that encompasses a vast majority of social and political issues, I plan to focus on marine life sustainability, and bringing light to the multifaceted problems that arise from 71% of the entire area of our earth— our oceans.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, climate change is something that greatly affects the oceans on a worldwide scale. In order to find ways to change this, and spread the word through written work and effective use of rhetoric, I look forward to researching within various organizations and committees, as well as informative books and videos.
I need to be mindful of my audience and tone within this paper, as I could become enraged with the situation that our less than pristine earth is in, and blame the general audience rather than ways for change, in order to catalyze positive differences compared to how we are treating sustainability right now. In order to gain some perspective on how the general public has previously been handling issues of sustainability, I hope to interview members of SUSCOM, University of Denver’s Sustainability Committee, so I can better understand the perspective of those who have been committed to sustainability for a length of time, and have experience with attempts to fix some of the issues. Although I am unsure of how effective my paper will be, I plan on raising awareness about the topic through interviews with not only SUSCOM, but the general public as well, so as to get a better understanding of how much people know currently, and in order to inform them on how they can help, and learn more about sustainability in marine life so I am able to share this information.
This may be appropriate for a general publication, or as an article posted online on a page for sustainability, and, more specifically, a marine life organization. I would also like to take my research on this project for the next 8 weeks further, and have the chance to research marine life and its livelihood considering the currently poor conditions of our treatment of the oceans and those aspects that easily affect it with little to no thought.
DeleteI think it's interesting how you're willing to research sustainability issues that affect not only the global population but also our student body here at DU.
DeleteMy question is what other kinds of sustainability will you focus on?
I think this is a good research topic because it is relevant to a large audience of people, and relatable to the students here.
I look forward to reading this essay.
Hey, Katie:
DeleteGreat topic! Way to big -- I don't want a book. ;-) So, I say you either focus on Denver or DU. Either one would work. There's also a writing professor who researches this so she could be a great resource for you (Megan Kelley).
Dr. Kt
Dr. KT,
DeleteThank you for the suggestion with Ms. Kelley, I'll be sure to look into that! I think I will focus on DU, as Denver in general doesn't have any marine life to base any research off of.
For this research report, my question is “How does daily computer use affect our eyes, vision, and long-term health?”
ReplyDeleteEven though this may sound like a cheesy question, I truly am interested in this topic because I am majoring in computer science and I love computers. Also because my vision is really bad and I use the computer a lot so seeing if these are related would be interesting. Although some people might not care about computers, this topic is about the effects that computers have on someone, not just about computers. Having knowledge about this topic can pretty much benefit anyone since computer technology is on the rise and more people will end up using computers.
My research will focus on the specific effects that computers have on people’s vision and eyes. To be more specific, it will not cover physical or mental health because the term health overall is such a broad topic. For example, many people wear contacts or glasses. Did genetics cause that? Or did computers play a role too? I will definitely need to research and learn about the different parts of the eye and the functions of them in order to understand how eyes work in the first place. After finding the effects, I can then research about the prevention and treatments for this problem. This is important because people will not only be aware of the effects but also will know what they can do about it to minimize the effects.
I feel that this question can even play a role in the optometry industry because insurances and people are paying so much money for eye appointments, checkups, glasses, contacts, etc. Of course computers aren't the main cause to this, but even if they are the tiniest cause, that cause still has “something” to do with it. If people are aware of the effects that computers have on their eyes, then maybe in the long run it will help out in preventing themselves from needing to buy glasses or contacts or even needing to go in for an eye appointment. These all cost money so maybe people might even be able to save money? This can be all part of the research.
Researching this topic can also lead me to conduct surveys relating computer use with peoples’ vision status. I might be able to find a trend in this data or I might not find anything at all. No matter what the outcome is, this survey can help me gain more data about this topic.
I need to be really clear and go into detail when I talk about the terms of the eye and how they all work. If people don’t understand this clearly, then they might have a harder time understanding how certain things can affect the functions of certain parts of the eye. Also, this topic is more appropriate for people who use computers for at least a couple hours a day, but can actually relate to anyone who barely uses or cares about computers.
Jason-- I found your question to be very interesting. I feel like this will be a fairly easy topic to research, as it concerns the vast majority of people in today's society. I think it is a good idea to be very clear and detailed in your paper, as I am assuming this topic has been researched at length. I am wondering what unique aspects of your research you will include, and how you will relate this to the viewers, as it seems that your audience is the general public. I think that this proposal is a really sound start to your research, and I think you will be able to create a well crafted paper out of it, good job!
DeleteThis is interesting because now I am thinking about looking at my screen, reading your proposal, is affecting my eyes/vision, and overall health. I think that this is a very good idea because vision (i believe) is through genetics (since everyone in my family wears glasses), but I also believe that your eyes become even more damaged depending on how long you are looking at a computer throughout the day. I agree with you when you say it is crucial to go into detail when you are talking about the eye, or else many "non-science" people will be lost; however, I think that it is important for you to not go too far into detail, to the point where you lose the reader. I think that another interesting aspect that you could bring to this is if computers really do worsen a persons eyes, then why don't they make screens that are more friendly to the eye--is it a consumer reason, or is it just impossible to do?
DeleteI like this question a lot because as I got older I had to start wearing reading glasses because of my vision and it would make a lot of sense to me that it's because of computer use. I think in your research you could also include what is in the computer screen that affects our eyes, because constantly reading from a computer screen is probably more harmful than constantly reading something off of paper. Are you going to focus on people of one specific age group or all ages?
DeleteHey, Jason:
DeleteThis topic works -- you want to probably keep it on health in general though (vision and eyes are the same thing...). And, you'll want to focus on figuring out specific amounts of time -- so what is a long time to be sitting in front of a computer? How is 5 hours different from 15 hours, etc.
Dr. Kt
This is quite an interesting and relevant topic. Since I use a computer for so many hours of the day, I'm quite curious as to what you find from this research. I wonder if it might be too easy to directly answer though. I don't know if it lends itself to being researched very far, as the answer may be quite direct. I think that you have a great plan though, focusing on the eye and learning how that works then moving to the computer seems like the best way to go. I'm super excited to see what you find.
DeleteThis topic that you've come up with is quite interesting. I suppose that in this day and time, computers play a huge component in everyday of human lives. It's interesting how you'll be researching the possible correlations between use of computer screens and the downhill effects of eyesight. How will you be conducting your surveys? Will you be surveying an x number of people or will you be gathering people and surveying them based on variable such as age, number of hours on the computers, lasiks history, etc, etc? Something that I found to be working really well is how you plan to not only find the correlation but also research the possible sources such as genetics as well as consequences of the possible correlation you find during your research.
DeleteDr. Kt,
DeleteThinking about it now, talking about health in general would probably be a better idea because it will allow me to research more information which will make the paper more interesting. I just didn't want information to be scattered everywhere but I can find a way to organize the information so readers will not get confused. Also, I agree that going into detail on specific amounts of time would be a good idea because there are the people who play computer games all day and night, and the people who use the computer for couple hours here and there.
By health in general do you mean, physical and mental effects? For example obesity, lack of exercise, carpal tunnel, etc. I feel like the list can go on and on but I don't really know if that's a good thing or bad thing.
What effect do female celebrities have on Western cultures view of women?
ReplyDeleteFor this research project I plan on looking into the way popular, mainstream female celebrities have an effect of the everyday view of women. I plan to look at this in terms of how women see themselves as well as how others view women, in regards to sexuality, feminity, their roles, and how they present themselves to those around them. I would like to look at this idea not only in our modern society but also in the past, to see if celebrities and their media has influenced generations of the past and how our ideas of women have evolved in both daily life as well as in the media. I also plan on looking at this situation in different ways, for instances how men view female celebrities as well as everyday women, along with how different age groups view these areas and dissecting the differences and similarities between different groups.
I believe that female celebrities do shape he way we view women, whether we know it or not, but I don’t know how they have in the past and to what extents they do now. This issue could and does deal with media as a whole but I would like to stay focused on the female celebrity because I feel like it is something we are already talking about constantly as a nation. I think the view points across age and gender will differ and it will be interesting to discover in what ways and why. I also think looking as how the female celebrity has evolved over time and how people feel not only about the female celebrities we see every day as well as the female celebrities of the past will be interesting. I think this issue also goes beyond just interesting but may also be able to show us how much we do or don’t rely on media queues to form opinions around certain groups.
I think your research question is super interesting! It seems like it will be hard to write this without being biased, especially because you live in Western society and therefore are looking at it from the inside rather than from the outside. However, I think you can still find a way to write a paper on this that reflects truth over opinion. One question I have is how you plan on doing that. Also, I think this has the potential to address opinions that are disparate across cultures, so maybe think about addressing that too :) Otherwise, it seems like this will be a good topic to research and that you'll be able to write a solid paper with your question. Nice job!
DeleteEmma, I really like your topic because it makes me think of our FSEM, and how we were constantly talking about the way that media influences individuals. Because this is an issue that does exist all over the world, I think that you will be fine when writing this paper. To make the paper even more interesting, however, I think that you should also discuss how these views change for one as the become more mature.
DeleteEmma:
DeleteFun! I love reading about this type of topic, and there's so much for you to explore. I look forward to seeing what you find!
Dr. Kt
Hey Emma!
DeleteYour topic is really relevant to modern day media, and everyday life. I have a quick question on how you are going to take a subject that is incredibly biased and find facts? Even though you were right when you were talking about what you believe "that female celebrities do shape the way we view women" because they do! Looking at the view points across age and gender is a really good idea. It seems like this will be a very interesting research paper!
Dr. Kt, I love this topic too, I'm only worried about finding a large amount of academic articles over magazine/newspaper pieces on the topic.
Delete1. I certainly think that this should be an interesting topic for research as the role of gender in film is a constantly evolving and hot-button issue. I'm just curious how you plan too fit so much information into one paper, seeing as you noted several different points that you will be examining. However, with that said I'm sure you can achieve this and create an excellent paper.
Delete2. You should have no problem researching this as I'm sure that there are innumerable studies on gender roles, and the evolution of gender portrayal in media.
3. Excellent topic, and I think you're on the right track, should be an awesome paper!
How is the use of ultra-violence in Quentin Tarantino’s films portrayed and what is it used to achieve?
ReplyDeleteI’ve been a movie buff for as long as I’ve lived, and Quentin Tarantino has always been my favorite director. Whether it’s Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, or Kill Bill, Tarantino creates a unique blend of comedy, action, gorgeous cinematography, and meaningful storytelling that is unparalleled in film. Viewing and analyzing movies has always been a passion of mine and what better to examine than the works of Tarantino. Cinema is a topic that nearly anyone can relate too, from the hardcore cinephile to the casual cinema-goer. For this same reason many people know of Tarantino, whose films have brought him widespread commercial and critical success.
However, Tarantino’s films are not without controversy as he is frequently criticized for his use of gratuitous and graphic scenes of violence, often dubbed ultra-violence. This ultra-violence is considered by many to be excessive, and solely for shock value. In my research I plan to identify the reasons behind Tarantino’s use of ultra-violence, and the means he hopes to achieve through it. More specifically, I’d like to identify specific instances in Tarantino’s films. of which there are many, and determine if these were used for commercial, cinematic, symbolic, or for some other purpose. From this I’d ultimately like to form a general conclusion about the use of ultra-violence in Tarantino’s films, providing an answer as to why it is used and why it has worked so well in his films.
Whether you love him or hate him, there’s no denying that Quentin Tarantino is a legend in the film industry, and it is of great interest to any movie lover, to examine what makes his films so powerful, much in the same way that we examine literature from the canon. Additionally, Tarantino’s films are reviewed quite favorably by critics and the general public alike, indicating that he is, in some ways, a standard for modern film. With that said, it also pertains to the larger question of the portrayal of violence in media, and how we as the audience respond to it, a question that, movie goer or not, is a very important one to ask. Thus, I believe that this research should be relevant to both movie buffs and the general public alike as it offers an examination of both Tarantino's directorial style as well as it’s larger connotations on violence in American film.
There should be a wealth of knowledge to research regarding this topic as there are numerous critical reviews and examinations of his films, as well as the actual films themselves. In addition I can do interviews of other peoples’ examinations of the films, in order to gain a sample of the general public’s views regarding his films. There is also a great deal of research regarding violence-culture in the media which I could research as well, to gain a better understanding of what I’m looking at. Ultimately, there are numerous things to examine regarding Tarantino’s use of violence in film, and I plan to research every avenue that I can, in the hopes of getting a clearer insight into what makes him tick as a director.
When I’m researching my paper I see two main obstacles that I’d have to overcome. The first is my love for Tarantino's films. While I certainly come into this research with certain preconceptions about his films, I plan to research as objectively as possible, including all angles, whether I personally agree with them or not. The second is that movies, like literature, contain innumerable facets that one could analyze, however, in order to keep my paper fluid and coherent, I must do my best to stick to Tarantino’s depiction of violence in film, rather than going on various other tangents that could distract from the purpose of the paper.
I think this is beyond interesting, in terms of questions I think it would be really interesting to see how different people respond to Tarantino's "ultra-violent" scenes and maybe even to look at how reactions differ when you receive different amounts of context or even if different genders or social groups have different reactions to the violence he uses. You could even look at other movies that have violent scenes and see how people react similarly or differently to those. I think it is definitely researchable, I feel like it can take you in a lot of different directions that will talk about even bigger themes like violence in the media and its effect etc., I think its going to be super interesting to learn more through the lens of Tarantino.
DeleteAlex-- I'm really really happy you're researching this... I love Tarantino's films, and I thought it was great that you mentioned that "he is frequently criticized for his use of gratuitous and graphic scenes of violence, often dubbed ultra-violence. This ultra-violence is considered by many to be excessive, and solely for shock value." I think you alluded to it in the beginning of your proposal, but for clarification, who is your targeted audience? If you are unsure of that, it will be necessary, especially considering the different directions your research could take you and various points you could include in your piece, to identify this before you begin your research. I think that this entire proposal was well thought out and thoughtfully crafted. I like the idea a lot and I think it will keep you interested for the whole 9 weeks we'll be working on this research paper!
DeleteHey Alex,
DeleteI'm super stoked about your topic, just so you know. Tarantino is a brilliant film-maker and I think you'd be analyzing such an interesting aspect of his films. I'm excited to see what you find out. I was wondering if it may be hard to isolate the theme of ultra-violence to analyze since it may be part of a broader element many times (think pulp fiction when Vincent shoots Marvin in the face and the tone stays lightweight. This is character development setting up Jules and Vincent as these desensitized killers.) Overall I think it's a great idea and that you should have success doing it, you seem to have a good plan and the technical knowledge to articulate your thoughts about movies. I'm very excited to see what comes of it
Hey, Alex:
DeleteSuper fun topic! I love movies and am a fan of Tarantino's. I need to rephrase your question though so that it makes a little more sense in terms of purpose: in other words, what do you hope to figure out?
Dr. Kt
Also, a side note-- my mother hates Tarantino and the fact that I love his movies, because of the violence, so I look forward to showing her your paper once you research what this violence is used to achieve!
DeleteHey Alex!
DeleteYay Tarantino! I love that you are doing a topic that interests you! Tarantino films have a lot of violence, so you should be set when looking for examples. I was just wondering what criteria you are using to determine if the ultra-violence was used for commercial, cinematic, symbolic, or for some other purpose? You are obviously passionate about Tarantino moves, so your paper should be an interesting read!
What are the stages of sleep, and why do people dream?
ReplyDeleteAs college students, we are notorious for our lack of sleep. On days when we get to sleep in, or go to bed early, it is glorious. For this research paper, I will be studying the relationship between the sleep cycles, stages of sleep, dreams, and sleep disorders that interfere with the other topics. I have been interested in sleeping patterns and the psychology of sleeping for a long time, and this seems like the perfect opportunity to learn more about such an interesting topic. My research will explore what takes place during each stage of sleep, including the depth of sleep, eye movements, and dreaming. It will include the sleep cycles in which these stages occur and how these cycles change through the night. Because age affects the amount of time a person spends in each sleep stage in the cycle, I will be showing variation through different ages from infants to teenagers, college students, and adults. Because no one knows for certain why humans dream while they sleep, it may just be a byproduct of sleep, part of memory consolidation, a mood regulator or a method of conflict resolution, I plan on researching all of those ideas and hopefully coming up with a rational conclusion. I plan on comparing lucid and non-lucid dreams, and finding out what sleep stage they occur in. I am also hoping to discuss sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome. I hope to write about the causes, symptoms, and complications of each sleep disorder, and how they affect the stages of sleep and dreaming.
The study of sleep cycles, stages, and dreams represents an opportunity to improve quality of life in individuals. Studying these topics will improve lives because understanding what a good nights sleep does for you body is important and may help people realize that they need to go to sleep. Also, the knowledge of what is happening in your while you sleep, all the repairing and memory consolidation, may convince people that a good night’s sleep is important.
I plan on gathering research by reading previous research papers in similar topics, and interviewing sleep specialists. I also hope to interview some psychology professors here at the University of Denver about their thoughts on dreams and other side effects of sleep. There should be a large amount of research on this topic, as it is important towards daily health. I will need to be careful to provide definitions of the medical conditions and of the stages. I need to go into detail and explain why the stages are different, and also explain why no one knows for sure why humans dream. The ultimate goal with this research paper is to spread around the knowledge of what happens while you are sleeping and why sleeping, and the sleeping stages, is important. With the approval of my peers and Dr. KT, I hope to make this my research project.
1. Regarding questions I have about your proposal there is a point at the beginning of your proposal in which you say that you will be studying the relationship between various aspect of sleep and "the other topics." I am left a bit unsure as to what these other topics are, are they motor skills, proficiency in the classroom, or something else? However, aside from that I find your research topic incredibly interesting as I myself am a sleep deprived college student and I'm certainly interested in what effect that has on my mental and physical health.
Delete2. With that said your topic is certainly research-able as I'm sure there are thousands of medical journals regarding sleep, and seeing as its an integral aspect of every human being I'm sure that you'll have no problem finding an interview.
3. Overall I think you're on the right path, and that you're certainly on your way to an excellent research project.
I think its very interesting that your topic relates to so many people! I also find dreams fascinating and I look forward to learning more about them.
DeleteMy question for you is how are you planning on conducting this research? Will you be observing people sleep firsthand?
I think this research will be very interesting to learn from, as anyone can benefit from knowledge about where dreams materialize from.
Looking forward to hearing more about this!
I think this is really interesting, especially being a college kid who definitely doesn't get enough sleep. I wonder if certain events in peoples lives lend to more dreams about them than others, for instances I wonder if people who have gone through trauma tend to dream about their trauma more than other occurrences in their lives and if they tend to at least remember those dreams more than others? I feel like you can go in a lot of different directions in terms of dreaming, even just what it means to people and if there is a difference between people who remember a significant amount of their dreams and people who don't remember any? I think your question is reseachable, however I think you might want to drop off the stages of sleep part, I feel like there's already a concrete answer for that question and that is something you would talk about in any research about sleep, so maybe instead you could ask why do people dream and... add something more specific you want to know about dreaming or a correlation between sleep and dreaming .
DeleteThis honestly sounds like a really interesting and fun topic to research about. I notice how your question mentions stages of sleep, and dreaming but you also said you will go into insomnia, narcolepsy, etc. I feel like it would make more sense to change your question or maybe make it a more broad question. I truly think that you will be able to find a LOT of information about this topic. Interviews with psychology teachers will be crucial because they are just about "experts" in what they teach. But overall, I think that you need to make what you're going to specifically research and focus on, sleeping stages and dreaming, sleeping disorders? Or both?
DeleteHey, Jenna:
DeleteSuch an interesting topic! I've had one student research something similar and the results were super insightful. So, you want to focus on one or the other of your questions and not both because either question is big enough to cover the space that you have. So, which one do you want to research more?
Dr. Kt
I think I want to study what happens when you sleep, when you dream, and how outside things can effect dreams and sleep.
DeleteHey, Jenna:
DeleteThat works -- keep it centered on dreams!
Dr. Kt
I was talking with my friend on the phone a a few days ago, and we were talking about relationships. As we got further into depth, we started discussing how ones previous relationships affect them in the present and future. Numerous people from the world always say "I am like this because of (insert name here)," "I don't think relationships are for me," or "I have commitment issues." Though many of these statements may stand true to them, what many of us don't know is why? They are blaming an apparent significant person in their life for being the way that they are. Obviously people that change a persons view on relationships had some important significance.
ReplyDeleteIt is for these reasons, that I have come up with the following research question: To what extent do people let previous relationships influence the ones they have with others in the future?
I chose this topic, because this is something that I can relate to, which is why I have some passion towards this specific topic. I don’t have the best relationship with my father, even though I know him and live with him. I personally believe that this is a topic that many people could relate to, since everyone has been in some type of relationship, whether it was with their family, their significant others, or just a friendship. In order to complete this research, I want to get out and ask people around the community if they ever had a relationship issue with someone who meant a lot to them. Of course, this takes bravery, as not everyone is comfortable talking about certain topics, with people that they are completely comfortable with.
For now, this is a working research question, but I know that it is something that I am truly interested in researching.
Hey Dimitrius!
DeleteJust a couple of questions: Is it only bad relationships that influence us, or do the good ones have just as much of an impact? Are people blaming the world or is that just their personality type? This is a very interesting topic, and certainly one that would be wonderful if it was answered. Maybe with your "working research question" you could see how different personality types react to each other, or how The people around us influence us, not just in relationships. You have picked a difficult topic, but your thoughts on it come from your heart. I look foreword to seeing what you do with this!
I would love to know the answers as well! I think with a psychological question like this, it is important that you try to stay as unbiased as possible, leaving any kind of impact another person has had on you out of mind. What other kinds of questions would you ask other people to get firsthand research? Awesome research question!!
DeleteHey, Dimitrius:
DeleteWhat a question! I think we all want to know what you find out. =)
This works well -- and personal insight is something you can draw on for this research, but for interviews, surveys, observations, etc. you'll want to do something past your own experiences. You can connect to them, but don't rely only on them. They offer a great starting point though.
Dr. Kt
I think it's quite interesting that you plan to research something much more emotional than most of the other research topics that were presented. I'm excited to see what you'll find. I think that the question is super interesting because it'll look into how people operate and lead to a greater understanding of them. I wonder if it will be hard to research because of the fact that it will vary so much from person to person how much they let past relationships determine their future relationships. I think what Shawn had to say about the distinction between familial relationships and romantic relationships would definitely be something to look into while you're doing research.
DeleteWhoa! This is actually a really interesting topic that you're researching and planning to conduct research on. Somehow, relationships always tend to be an interesting topic. But because you're going into depth on this particularly interesting topic, it makes it all the more interesting. I do have a few questions, is your topic leaning towards the field of psychology or sociology? Or maybe even both? Could something like this be traced back to how our brains are wired? Or to the way that society functions and always keeps to repeat itself throughout time? Are you going to survey an x number of people or are you going to organize several different variables such as a control group, and two or more additional variables such as number of troubling relationships, background, heritage, gender, age, ethnicity, race, etc, etc? Something that I found to be working really well is how you are planning to dive into this topic with the goal of exploring ALL types of relationships whether it may be family, friends, romantic, and/or etc verses where when most people pose questions such as these they tend to only look at either family alone, or friends alone, or significant others alone. I like how you're extending the scope to include all the relationships under one umbrella of research.
DeleteAvalanches are a natural phenomenon west of the Rockies, and they are often deadly. An avalanche can claim lives, territory, and any infrastructure that lies in its destructive path. Already this month, there was a fatal avalanche-related accident that took the life of a skier in Colorado. Avalanches intrigue me because they are a natural disaster that occur under very specific circumstances, and yet winter sports fanatics are still killed every year as a result of avalanches.
ReplyDeleteI would like to research under what conditions are avalanches likely, and I would also like to examine public understanding of avalanches, even with lots of resources for learning how to prevent fatalities. I would like to know more about what exactly caused these deaths: lack of knowledge about avalanches, purposeful ignoring of the signs of an avalanche, or conditions that are not typically associated with avalanches? My research question would be: How, when and why do avalanches occur? To what extent is the public educated about avalanches? What is being done to proactively prevent avalanches and avalanche related deaths from occurring?
I would like my research parameters to be west of the Rockies, not limited to but including the Rocky Mountains, the Cascade Range, the Brooks Range, and the Sierra Nevada Range. I plan on examining avalanche causes, consequences, and context for the natural disasters, to ultimately figure out how to better prevent avalanches in the future, and to prevent deaths due to these phenomena. I suspect that developing technologies play a role in keeping skiers and climbers safe, and I would also like to explore Ski Patroller’s responses at resorts that typically experience avalanches.
My methods will include collecting information about the optimal conditions for an avalanche to occur, interviewing Ski Patrollers at nearby mountains to learn about their protocol in dealing with avalanches, researching patterns of fatality and survival at the hands of an avalanche, studying technologies marketed towards skiers and climbers that aim towards avalanche safety and coming up with solutions for keeping avalanches at bay as well as protecting yourself from an avalanche to discuss based on the research I conduct
Avalanches are deadly, but they don’t have to be. I aim to conclude with specific ways of keeping safe when in contact with an avalanche prone area, along with ways of preventing avalanches in the first place.
Hey, Helen:
DeleteInteresting! This is so relevant to where we live. But, you got a lot going on ... too much. So, how can you narrow this to rein it in so that you have a narrow focus that keeps you on task?
Dr. Kt
Helen,
DeleteI am interested in your topic, avalanches have always fascinated me as well. One question I have about your topic, and paper as well, is whether you are going to include information and research on artificial avalanches (not sure what you call the ones that are set off in an attempt to prevent future natural ones). I think this will work well for your research paper! I can tell that it is something you are very passionate and curious about, and this is what I think lends to any great research paper.
Dr. KT-
DeleteTo narrow it down I would like to focus on how to prevent avalanches and avalanche related deaths. Do you think this is specific enough to focus on?
Hey, Helen:
DeleteYes -- that should help. And you might want to keep it in focused on a specific mountain range (up to you which one) because each one is going to be a little different.
Dr. Kt
I have decided that I want to the do my research project on composting and contagious diseases. As we know, composting is one of many methods implemented to try to go green. In composting, nutrient rich matter are decomposed to create fuel for plant growth. It also adds life back into soil that has been depleted of all of its nutrient over time. It is a free and safe method for going green.
ReplyDeleteThe human race suffers from many illnesses. Many of them are contagious like the flu and curable, while others are both contagious and terminal. HIVAIDS is one of many contagious terminal illnesses. HIV/AIDS is Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. It is an infection within the human immune system that causes illness after illness in which a particular individual copes with for the rest of his or her life.
As you know, when composting, one may add things such as paper towels and napkins, and theoretically tissues into the compost bin. These are all compostable because they were all made from trees which are organic material. We humans, are also organic organisms. Technically, we are compostable. As many would say, if you are in a field of yellow grass and there is a fairly large patch of green beautiful grass, steer clear from it. There may be a possibility that a body was buried there because the grass is thriving from the nitrogen rich soil from the decomposing human body. With the morbidity aside, what if someone were to compost pieces of their body. Technically we do when we compost the napkins we use, that contain cells from our lips and saliva and etc. The real question is, what happens if someone with a contagious terminal disease such as AIDS, disposes and bloody tissue into the compost bin?
Contagious diseases such as AIDS, is usually applicable in moist settings where liquids are present. Famous tennis player, Arthur Ashe, contracted AIDS after he received a blood transfusion infected by the virus. When matter decomposes, it is decomposed by bacteria that eats the matter and thrives on it, creating the nutrient rich soil. If the bacteria eats an infected tissue, what happens to the virus? Composting is not possible without the presence of moist so theoretically, the virus is still alive. Does it stay alive after going through the composting bacteria or does it cease to exist as it becomes soil?
As the DU community turns green, we have to face possibilities of whether these things are possible. So the question I ask is, “If the matter of infectious diseases is put through a composting process, will it infect the soil in which we grow our food from?”
Hi Della! You have a unique and interesting research proposal! I think studying the relationship between composting and contagious disease has a lot of promise. A hinderance may be whether or not there has been research done on this in the past, as it would be hard for you to compost an infected body and determine whether or not the disease passes on to someone who used the compost as fertilizer for their food. But it seems like a practical enough question that somebody has probably tested it! Do you plan on testing this yourself somehow? If so, I'd love to hear more about it! :) Good luck with your paper!
DeleteThis is so outside-the-box and I think it's awesome you came up with this topic all on your own. I would never have thought to put something like composting and disease together.
DeleteHow are you planning on carrying out this research? This seems like a serious undertaking to me, good luck.
You have original thinking and a scientific mind, and it seems like you can pull this off. Good luck!
This is a really interesting idea! I have never thought about this at all. Everyone makes it seem as though "going green" is a must and everything will be bad if we don't, but what if there's a total downside as well? How are you going to get firsthand research on this? It would be very interesting if you somehow tested it for yourself but I'm sure also very difficult. I can't wait to see what you find!
DeleteDella:
DeleteVery interesting! This topic sounds great (in that it's a good one to research!).
Good work.
Dr. Kt
This is an interesting idea for a paper Aizhak. I like your idea of comparing three stories from major news sources, but I am a little unclear – do you mean the same story across the three? Because that seems like the most logical thing to do. Also, how do you plan on deciding what "actually" happened? Many stories reported are given life by the journalist, but how will you distinguish the voice of the writer from reality? I would suggest finding a story where you can talk to people who witnessed the event at hand if that's possible.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that your second part will be more difficult to determine. This may be a hard thing to research, so if I were you I would think about how I would go about quantifying the validity of a publication. Good luck with your paper :)
Hey, Sean:
ReplyDeleteSuch a relevant topic! But, I'm afraid you are kinda going in many directions, so before you begin, I need to narrow and focus. You don't to focus on both large corporations and small ones because that's way too big. You also don't need too much of a historical overview -- only enough to provide a context. So -- tell me how you are going to focus this down?
Dr. Kt
Shawn,
ReplyDeleteWe talked a little bit about this last night, and now that I see what all you plan on doing, this is going to be an interesting paper. I really want to know what you find because in my opinion, if it weren't for media, then the world wouldn't be the way that it is now. The question to my last sentence is now whether or not that would be a good thing or bad thing?
I feel that this is a really interesting topic because it relates to the everyday life of superstars. Also, I think that almost every story may have something fishy about it because that is the job of journalists and reporters, to make people interested in their reports. It will be really interesting in how you approach this topic.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved music of all genres. One of my favorite things to spend time (and money!) on is going to concerts, but even just singing along to songs in my car can change my mood. To find out why this is something many people love, I want to know how music can create a positive or negative effect on a person’s health.
ReplyDeleteBased off of what I already know or have heard, music can have a positive effect on mental health, but I have not heard anything about it having negative effects, so that is something I would be interested in exploring as part of this research project. I know that a lot of different things can be factors for this question, such as age, type of music, part of the world a person lives in, or other cultural factors. I will not be focusing on any specific factor, but instead look at the “big picture” of music’s effects.
Some of the things I will be looking for include mood improvements or changes, behavioral change, stress levels, even productivity levels. This is not something I would necessarily be able to study firsthand because to do an experiment on individuals would be time consuming as well as difficult to measure. As of right now I am thinking of surveying people to see if they notice some sort of change after listening to music, but that might not be the most accurate way to get information for a research paper.
Music is something I have always loved and I am excited to learn how it can connect to our every day well being.
Hey, Sara:
DeleteThis will be a fun topic! And there will be lots of stuff to find it on. So, what will be your central question though?
Let me know!
Dr. Kt
At first, I thought I would research how to improve safety when mountaineering, but I realized that I would like to take this opportunity to study something more relevant to my life goals. I would like to become a linguist, and as such the field of linguistics is a much more relevant topic for me to study. As I am fairly new to linguistics, I simply perused some college department pages to find what type of research is being done. I saw that there’s work being done with syntax, phonetics, semantics, historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, and plenty more. But I found myself stopping at sociolinguistics, or how language varies from situation to situation, group to group, etc.
ReplyDeleteThe more I read about it, the more i find myself intrigued by the subject. I will have to work on narrowing down exactly what I’ll be researching, but from what I’ve learned so far there is a branch of sociolinguistics known as language attrition which studies “the loss of, or changes to, grammatical and other features of a language as a result of declining use by speakers.” I am currently studying Hindi, and I’ve already read how Hindi is seen as the third stage of degradation from Sanskrit, evolving from “improper” use of the “pure” language (as I understand it anyways). Because I have at least some exposure to this idea, I plan to direct my studies this way. So it follows:
Research Question: How does language attrition affect the way a language develops?
My goal is to study a specific language, and Hindi is the most logical because I’m actually studying it. Therefore, in my paper I’ll go through the process of Hindi deriving from the degradation of Sanskrit, potentially addressing why and how it happened, and other things that come up (I’m pretty new to this so I’m still rather unsure).
If this is not enough or if there isn’t enough information on this, I could pull in another language to study the history of as well. If this happened, I would probably study the degradation of Latin because it has a rich history and would be easy to follow – we know it was a precursor to the romance languages.
So in my research, I think I’ll be finding books on linguistics, maybe figuring out exactly what sociolinguistics is and what types of research are being done with it currently. I’m not going to write too much about what’s going to be in the paper, because I honestly don’t think I’ll know until I know more about my subject. But I can speak towards the intended audience, which will be (tentatively) for people who are interested in linguistics but don’t have a strong foundation yet (like myself). I’d like to become immersed in the conventions and diction of this field, so it may evolve into something more complicated, but for now I’m just shooting for basic understanding.
Hey, Jules:
DeleteThis is quite a topic! And it'll be a fun one for you -- but, you are going to find there is a lot of stuff out there on sociolinguistics, so you might need to narrow as you go. You definitely won't need to include more than one language! So, this is something we can check in about as you go.
Dr. Kt