Category Archives: Post 3.5

3.5 Reflection On Assignment 3

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  • How has your research question/topic shifted over the past few weeks? What made it shift?

I changed my question at least four times. First time it was too general and I had to narrow my research. Second time I completely changed my topic, because while doing my research I found something else which I thought would be more creative to do. During writing everything down I had to tinker around the question to keep it as a question. The last time after I put annotations down it looked like the question wasn’t right anymore, so I had to switch the end with the front.

  • What’s the most useful source you’ve found? Why is it so useful?

My useful source I found was my object. I think it helped me to focus more on something specific and helped me to narrow down my research. I hope that the choice of the topic and the lenses applied to it would make the essay interesting to read and will raise some questions for the reader.

  • What work do you have left? What more research do you want to engage in? What do you need to tackle in your research process in order to address your question?

I have to work more on my annotations, because they were incomplete. I also need to go and properly learn about MLA format. Some of my bibliography entrances are seriously wrong. I ran out of time and wasn’t able to check all of my findings within my search, so I’ll have to do that as well. Overall reflection: I could’ve done a better job.

3.5 Annotated Bibliography; Draft

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My topic didn’t change much, however, I did target the entirety of New York State rather than just New York City. It was clear that Long Island has the worst water in the state compared to the city, which – thank God – is nearly contaminant free. But Long Island water is borderline hazardous yet the New York Water Canal Systems don’t seem to acknowledge how serious the problems are to those that don’t own water purifying filters. My best piece of evidence was actually a letter from US Representative Kathleen Rice sent to the EPA, voicing her concerns of Long Island’s water supply. She also took a stab at the EPA who have taken several years to fix water concerns (see Flint, Michigan). So, I can only hope Long Island’s water supply is fixed sooner rather than later. I think what I have left is adding quotes from the sources I have, or not? I’m actually not sure if an Annotated Bibliography needs quotations from the articles or not. The examples I came across online lacked direct quotations, so maybe I’ll just write a little more in my descriptions. However, I do think my answer has been completely answered because New York’s water is very questionable and I definitely recommend a filtration device in every home if affordable.

Draft Reflection

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My research question became more to the point. It is a question that established a ground for an argument and my research material made more sense in favor of my argument. It shifted with better understanding of how to come up with a research question when confused. The most useful source I’ve found is the internet and many reliable articles and publishings that provide details. I just have to review my work and take in any advice to see if my sources match the requirements for the assignment.

3.5: Draft Progress

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My research question started off by focusing on the lack of education on the topic climate change, and then briefly, it shifted towards the lack of education causing politicians to not focus on the important subjects. Finally it ended with How can our education system be reformed in order to lessen the effects of the rising sea level in Long Island?

The most useful source I have found was Christina Kuwuak’s article on the failure to properly educate our youth on the topic of climate change, because I feel like this article is the one that helped me perfect my thesis and research question the most.

Unfortunately due to working a lot of overtime at work I only have six entries in my annotated bibliography so far I would like to add the remaining two if time allows. For my last two entries I want to bring in an obscure idea that at a topical glance does not seem to relate to my research but as I dive deeper its meaning will be more clear.

Post 3.5:

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The process of creation of the draft was well spent in delving deeper into my selected sources
and gathering more information on air pollution mitigation

 How has your research question/topic shifted over the past few weeks? What made it
shift?

Initially, my research question was in two parts, looking at the initiatives that can be taken to deal with the issue of air pollution in Queens and also the challenges that may be faced. However, it shifted to focusing on the initiatives and leaving out the part about potential challenges to be faced while implementing these initiatives. Whereas I could easily find sources addressing initiatives that could be taken to deal with air pollution, I was unable to find any useful sources addressing potential challenges to be faced while implementing these initiatives.

 What’s the most useful source you’ve found? Why is it so useful?

The most useful source I found was “Costs of Selected Policies to Address Air Pollution in
China” by Crane, Keith, and Zhimin Mao. This is because it has various solutions that could help
mitigate the problem of air pollution. The solutions are: using natural gas instead of coal, using
cleaner, renewable energy sources instead of coal, and ending the use of old cars or adding new equipment to limit their pollution. These initiatives can as well be implemented in Queens to deal with the problem of air pollution.

 What work do you have left? What more research do you want to engage in? What do
you need to tackle in your research process in order to address your question?

I still have to get more sources for my final draft. I need to do more research on other
solutions that have worked in other areas of the world and see if the same could be applied in
Queens to deal with air pollution. Moreover, the feedback from the instructor will be very
useful in completing the final draft.