Week 10 - My final thoughts...

First, I just want to say that I have really enjoyed this class, our professor, and my wonderful classmates whom I have had the pleasure of learning with! I have learned a lot of new things, and I definitely value what I have learned and will most likely use it in the future. I feel that my overall writing has strengthened, or been refreshed rather, because I have always gotten good grades in English classes and told by teachers that my writing was good. I think that I have also strengthened in the area of citation. I would still need to refer back to examples occasionally, but I think I have a pretty good understanding of the format. The advice that I would give to someone writing their first scientific research paper would be to develop a clear thesis statement as their first step. Also, to give themselves ample time to research their chosen topic, as well as ample time to write their paper. I would also make them aware of the importance of the prewriting techniques, as well as the rough draft, because it gives you the opportunity to get ideas of where you want your paper to go, and the rough draft puts them altogether before the finished product. Writing my first scientific research paper was an experience, and I am grateful for what I have learned in this class. Thanks Professor Sands and Classmates!! :)

Week 9 -

With putting the finishing touches on my paper, I am mostly nervous about how I am going to do. It's not that I don't have confidence in myself and my work, but mostly that I haven't been able to devote as much time as I had planned to. I said that I was going to have this paper turned in early or on time, but here I am taking the extra couple of days that we were so kindly given if needed. I am very anxious at the same time, because I cannot wait to be finished with this paper and have such a big weight lifted off of my shoulders.

Week 8 - Blog Post

This week I am not going to choose from one of the topics, I am just going to write about some things that are going on with me. First of all, I recently found out that I am expecting my 3rd child at the end of this year. I have mixed emotions because we wanted to wait a couple more years before having anymore children first off, and second I wanted to be finished with school and secure in my position of employment. Thankfully, I will be close to being finished with school, but I know it is going to be challenging taking on another child with solely my husband's income. For this reason, I have been looking for a job, but the job market in Washington is tough. I know it will probably be difficult working a late shift, which I will have to do to accommodate my husband's schedule, but I know people do it all the time and I know it can be done!!

I am thankful that this term is coming to an end, even though it has been enjoyable :) because I am really kind of burnt out and could use that one week break between terms! The terms do seem to go pretty fast, which is a plus, because it puts me that much closer to earning my degree which is so exciting!!!!

How do you feel about peer reviews? What have your experiences with them been like?

I actually like peer reviews. I was kind of nervous about giving and receiving feedback when the week first began, but I was happy with the feedback given by my classmates to me. I liked reading what other classmates thought of my paper and I felt better about my work after reading their comments. I was nervous about anyone other than my teacher reading my work because I am kind of rusty on my paper writing. I also read most of the other feedback that was given to other classmates, and even when there were some changes that were suggested, they were suggested positively. There was no judgement or criticism given and I just thought the whole experience was great. I also felt comfortable giving my opinion to my classmates, which I thought would be very difficult. Past experiences with peer reviews were not so positive. I received feedback from classmates that I was sure was not the best for me to follow. I ended up not making the changes that they suggested and ended up getting an excellent grade on all of my papers for that class. This experience has definitely changed my mind about peer reviews!

My life for the past 6 weeks...

This has actually been a difficult term for me..I think I am getting anxious to finish school and really kind of burnt out on it. I think I may need a break, but I don't want to stop because I need to finish as soon as possible! It seems like I have more work in both this class and Diseases of the Human Body, and it's kind of overwhelming to me. It seems like the week goes by so fast, and I end up turning my work in right in the nick of time or late, which is not good because it is so stressful trying to cram a bunch of work into a couple of days. I feel, though, that if I spend the majority of my time on homework, that I would be neglecting my home and my family..it's very stressful and difficult. I feel like I don't have enough hours in the days and not enough days in the week. I enjoy learning new things in both of my classes..it's just so much! I don't have any "me" time, I am either doing homework, tending to my family, or cooking and cleaning. Sometimes I don't get out of the house, even to go to the store, for a week or more at a time. Not to sound like a complainer :) Because I am grateful to have the opportunity to get an education and be so close to obtaining my degree, I just wish I could get there a little sooner. I am eager to graduate, begin working, and be able to have more time on my hands that I can spend with my family!! :)

How is school influencing your life at or up to this point?

School is a lot of work at this point in my life between taking care of my family and everything else in my life. I am just staying positive about it though, because I know that it will all be worth it in the end to make mine and my family's life better. I am a bit disappointed at one thing though. I thought that I would be able to graduate in the next 2 quarters by taking 4 classes next quarter, and 3 classes the following quarter, but I was told by my advisor that the University policy does not allow more than 3 classes to be taken in a quarter. So that is a real bummer. I am looking forward to the rest of my time here at Kaplan, just staying positive, and trying to enjoy this whole learning experience. I am also looking forward to not having homework anymore so I will be able to spend all of my free time with my children. Sometimes I feel like when I am doing homework, I should be playing with them or reading with them or even watching tv or a movie with them. So I kind of have mixed emotions about the time that school is taking up, but I know that I am doing the right thing for myself by continuing my education, and doing the right thing for my family because I am going to be able to make our life better by having a career and adding a second income ;)

The Importance of Citing

After completing this weeks' reading, what I know about plagiarism and the importance of citing references has been reinforced. When writing a paper or in the work environment, it is important to give credit where credit is due for any ideas that aren't yours. When writing a paper, whether summarizing the key points, paraphrasing, or simply using a direct quote, it is important to reference the author, the source, and the year on the reference page in the appropriate format. Additionally, when using direct quotes, the author must be properly cited after the quote as well. Plagiarism is taken very seriously, and if this occurs, there are serious consequences, from not receiving credit for the assignment, up to dismissal from your school or University. It is also important so your reader(s) will know where to find the information. When in the work environment, if an idea on how to do something, such as for improving a team project, or even a simple as how to fix something around the office, it is important to give the other person credit for their idea. If someone tells you their idea and you try to pass it off as your own, that is a form of plagiarism and there are serious consequences involved, up to losing your job. Also, giving credit to the author of their work is just the right thing to do. It isn't right to try to pass off work or ideas as your own when you didn't put the time, effort, and research into it.