Please write informally (i.e., in first-person) and know that this response may even be used as your initial paragraph for the discovery essay. (I'm actually encouraging this.)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Fall 2009 Discovery Topics
Here is your chance to post your discovery topic and get some feedback as a result. First, why does this topic interest you? Does your topic concern the nation as a whole, or is it more of a local issue? Briefly explain why you're exploring this issue or what you hope to gain an understanding of. Lastly, what might be your first discovery or research question?
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I am thinking about writing about whether or not assisted suicide (euthanasia) should be legal and, if so, to what extent (if any). I am thinking of exploring this issue because I want to take a look at both sides of the argument. This topic interests me because I have talked about it before with other people and it always causes controversy. My topic concerns the nation as a whole. I hope to gain more perspective on this topic and decide on a definite stance in regards to this topic. I think that my first discovery or research question (if I decided to write about euthanasia) would be: Is euthanasia ethical?
ReplyDeleteThe topic I want to discover is universal healthcare. I recently saw a video that sparked this interest because I, myself, dont have a firm grip on an answer to this topic. Our nation is having a very hard time with this conflict. I believe everyone should be able to go to the doctor and be taken care of, but I want to see the opposing points supporting the other views and standpoints. Overall, I think further reasearch over this topic would help open my eyes and hopefully others to many other aspects and pieces to gain a stronger standing. Is Obama's plan going to make us or break us? What exactly is his plan? What are our standings as a nation in lifespan and healthcare costs compared to others? I guess this essay and much research will help us find out these answers and many more.
ReplyDeletestill thinking but ill post something up soon.
ReplyDeleteNicky, I don't know if euthanasia is in fact a problem. That is my first concern. If it is indeed a problem, whom is it a problem for? Perhaps this is an issue you're confronting; if it is, then I think you have a valid discovery topic.
ReplyDeletePerhaps a more specific problem to explore--again, if euthanasia is not immediately relevant to you or your family--would be the ever-increasing costs in America of keeping sick folks alive. By that, I mean the costs associated with caring for the elderly or those who are extremely, extremely ill (e.g., those in hospice care or those suffering in the last stage of cancer). Would it be unethical to allow these types of people to simply die?
When we talk about ethics and fairness, it's just so very hard to find answers. Fairness is a relative issue. So perhaps, Nicky, you can rethink your issue and locate a more definitive problem that is related to euthanasia.
--Lisenbee
Maya, you have a broad topic to be sure, but many discovery topics start off broadly. That is fine. I like your specific questions, and I'm looking forward to the answers you find. It's always interesting to see how a person develops her/his opinion.
ReplyDeleteHealthcare is obviously a problematic issue with many perspectives to discover.
The topic I want to discover in my essay is Alzheimer disease, commonly found in today’s society and unfortunately in my family as well. My grandparent and his sister have been diagnosed with this disease, making it a relevant and interesting topic for me. In my life it is a local issue, but certainly it is a topic that concerns the nation as a whole. I want to explore this disease from different angles, I want to know what causes it, the effects it has in the human body, whether it has a cure or not, among many. My first question might be: What is alzheimer disease?
ReplyDeleteLina Garces
A topic that is of interest to me and that I would like to discover in great detail is the issue of genetic engineering. This topic interests me because most of what we consume is genetically engineered, even though sometimes we may not realize it. For example, fruits, vegetables, and eggs are genetically engineered to preserve them and to make them grow larger. This topic is a national issue that affects everyone who shops at grocery stores. I have been thinking about this topic for a while and I've been hoping to get a chance to research it deeper. Much of us are nieve about what science has done to the foods we consume daily and how they affect us. I hope to find out through this discovery what genetic engineering is, the pros and cons, its affects on humans (positive or negative), short-term and long-term effects, etc. I think that this is a topic that should grab the attention of many because it relates to everyone in this country directly. I hope that I will be able to apply the information I gain in this discovery to my life by eating healthier and smarter. My first question might be: What is genetic engineering?
ReplyDelete--Sheryl Stanley
The topic that i want to discover is the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. I dont know much about it but i do know that it is the largest and most powerful particle accelerator ever built, and it has been creating much controversy due to the dangers of its prowess. This topic interests me because it is the highlight of modern science and id like to know why there is so much controversy, it is as if the human grasp for knowledge is being toned down a bit due to how our need for knowledge can have implications.
ReplyDeleteThis is a World issue, given that it involves many nations of different continents and the dangers are of global concern. Id like to find out Why is there controversy over the Large Hadron Collider at Cern?
Pablo Kropilnicki
A topic that is of interest to me is the matter of whether or not to include video game addiction in the list of registered psychological diseases. In order for this to happen the APA would have to include the potential disease into their documents. This matter is of interest to me becuase I have great interest in psychology as well as current events. This subject matter involves both and will provide insight into what exactly it takes to be a disease to a psychologist. This matter has been sweeping America, especially with all the video game consoles pouring into American Households
ReplyDeletethe topic I want to explore would be Teen pregnancy, because it is an issue that concerns all of us, it is happening everywhere and it has a very big impact on our society. I could talk about abstinence, the use and misuse of contraception, sex education, parental intervenience, etc.
ReplyDeletemy first question would be what is the best way to stop, decrease Teen pregnancy?
Elisa Jimenez
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe topic I would like to discover is violence on television and the effects it has on children. This topic interest me because there was a recent incident on the news about a stabbing in a nearby school and it shocked me because I have four younger brothers and I would be devastated if they become victims of this epidemic. I want to know if television has anything to do with increase in school violence. This topic does concern the nation as a whole because it is an issue that we have to face and is important to the safety of ourselves, our children, and our future generations. I hope to understand how television effects children and maybe even how it affects everybody. My first question might be: What are the effects television has on young children?
ReplyDelete-Skarlet Raudal
The topic that I want to discover is the unstoppable rate of obesity in the United States. What is our country doing different from other countries that make the United States have the higher rates of obesity worldwide. This topic truly interests me because I reached obesity at the age of ten and battled my condition fiercely by loosing over 50 pounds. Interestingly, I gained weight after moving from Costa Rica to the United States. This topic is in fact very personal to me because I experienced obesity and dont know how and why I got to such condition. I wish to research American diet, ingredients, statistical facts in order to discover why so many individuals suffer from obesity in the United States.
ReplyDelete--Lorena Hernandez
Sheryl, when you spoke to me after class about "genetically-modified foods," I hadn't read your blog yet. I didn't know that so many foods are genetically modified (to produce more of them), and I didn't know of your personal concern about diet and nutrition. Your topic is definitely interesting, and I'd proceed if I were you, especially since it has or will have an application in your way of life.
ReplyDeleteSkarlet, I see many applications to your research, and the recent stabbing death of the Coral Gables High School student is just one of them. Perhaps a better question (initially anyways) might be to ask, How does T.V. and the internet influence the behavior of young children?
ReplyDeleteBehavioral sciences is probably a significant aid, so you might begin exploring psychology or human growth & development databases/journals.
For my essay I want to discover more about what some refer to as the world water crisis. In my ecology lab class I saw a film called Flow that was a documentary dealing with political and environmental issues about our freshwater supply that shocked me and really opened my eyes to the issue. Before all I knew was that pollution was affecting our water but the film talked about other issues such as the privatization of water by major companies, how rapidly our supply is dwindling and how huge numbers of people already don’t have access to clean water. Now I know there are numerous issues but I want to learn more in-depth details about the issues what is going on currently with our fresh water. Questions I have considered asking are: What is causing our water problem? Does anyone have right to privatize the freshwater supply? What will be the effect if something is not done about this water crisis? This topic is important to me because like the rest of the human population I depend on water to live.
ReplyDeleteI want to discover Cystic Fibrosis. I recently joined a sorority and our main philanthropy is The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. When I first joined I knew nothing about CF. Since we do many events to raise money for this I would like to learn more about it. Also, through my sorority, I have met people who suffer from it. When I first heard that CF was Delta Phi Epsilon's main philanthropy, I immediately looked it up on google. I did not do much research, I was just interesting in finding out what it was so I knew what I'd be raising money for. Now I have a basic understanding of what CF is but I would like to know more than a simple definition. I hope to learn how people get Cystic Fibrosis, how it can be prevented, who is most likely to get the disease etc. My first question might be, "what is Cystic Fibrosis" just to have a solid foundation on which to build my research. My first discovery might be a more detailed description of the disease.
ReplyDeletei want to discover how if the U.S is ready for obama;s universal healthcare plan. I want to see how it will benefit us. The pros and cons. The consequences is this bill does pass. And are some people so against it? I want to go more into detail what is going on with america and how the houses are responding to it and what experts are saying about it.
ReplyDeleteThe topic I want to discover is the crisis in Darfur, Sudan. I come from a Salesian high school and humanitarian issues have always been a part of our education. The genocide in Darfur, however, was never really covered. I have heard of several campaigns and organizations that raise funds to help the situation but I would really want to get to the root of the problem or at least learn about it. I would probably begin this discovery by asking, "What is truly going on in Darfur? or Where does the Darfur crisis begin?"
ReplyDelete-Yaray Agosto.
well, i wasnt too sure about what topic to pick yet, i dont think i get the discovery essay fully but here is what i have in mind (please correct me if im wrong). was thinking about discovering about how deaf people in general get used to and have to adapt to a world that in a big way is so different from theirs.(not in a bad way of course). this topic interests me because i have a deaf cousin and well first of all his mom and dad had to learn sign language to be able to communicate with him. also, he goes to high school and he's in special classes with teachers that translate the class being taught for him. another thing was that he's had difficulty getting a job, and he even asked me to help him out but i havent been able to unfortunately. i just think and get in his shoes and wonder how hard it must be for him to live in a world thats full of people that communicate by speech and not always make an effort to help him understand whats going on. i would say its a worldwide issue since there are deaf people all around the world. i would really appreciate if you helped me organize this idea since i dont really know if it works, or if its just not in the right form. thanks
ReplyDeletemateo
I wanted to look into the topic of homeless people in America. This is a subject relevant to me because I had an uncle who was homeless. My family would offer him a place to stay but he refused to accept any help. This is a topic that affects the nation as a whole. Every once in a while we might get approached by a homeless person begging for money at the stop light. In my discovery essay I would like to explore the rates of the homeless in America as compared to those in other countries. I hope to understand the cause that leads people to this position. I also want to know what is being done to help these people. My first question might be “Why are there homeless people?”
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the cover for Günter Grass’s The Tin Drum, I was instantly drawn to it. An unusually thick book, it also won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1999. The main character’s born with an adult's capacity for thought and perception but chooses to remain a child forever. After doing some research on the book, many comparisons and suggestions of autism in the main character, Oskar, fascinated me and ignited an interest in Autism and its effects/misconceptions. I believe my first discovery will be what exactly autism is and what are the potential causes. Hopefully by the end I’ll be able to better understand exactly what Autism is and how society perceives it, or at least a general awareness.
ReplyDeleteI want to look into Alcoholism. I am not completely sure exactly what, but I know that this option catches my attention because I only know the basics and since I have witnessed the effects of alcohol within my family. I would like to look more into it, how it affects people, their behavior, the misconception of it being a stimulant when its really a depressant, the statistics of alcoholics around, and stuff that I don't know about other than the legal age and what's written on alcohol bottles. In my essay I would like to explore those areas and start off with questioning "what is the most common way that the taste alcohol first become introduced to someone?"
ReplyDelete--Marilyn E. Robleto
The topic i want to write about in my discovery essay is Anorexia Nervosa Disorder. One of the main reasons behind this decision was the fact that i recently joined a sorority in which the philanthropy supported by our sorority was The Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders association. This lead me to question why or how this disease came to be in women so young. I didn't fully understand the complete definition of anorexia and with this essay i can hopefully get a better understanding. The main question i am asking is what are the reasons behind the anorexic disorder and how can it be controlled (if it can be controlled). By doing this essay i am hoping to get a better understanding of what this disease entails so that i know what i am raising money for and how i can maybe help those who are going through that problem.
ReplyDeleteThe topic i would like to explore are illegal immigrants. In my sls class, we touched upon this subject but most people had a negative connotation towards it. I want to open people's eyes and make them see the world without illegal immigrants. Who would do all the low paying jobs? Who would work for whatever price just to further their family? Its not a set in stone topic so im still debating about it. It is in fact a topic that interests me though . Since i dont know much about it, i would like to do some research about it.
ReplyDelete-Stephanie Hurtado.
Lina, I see how this topic interests you; your topic is very practical. I think, however, a better question initially might be, What causes Alzheimer's? Or how rapidly does it progress?
ReplyDeleteThere are a million things to find out, though, so I'll be looking forward to your discovery process.
--Lisenbee
Marcela, your topic and your initial questions look very promising. I myself have often wondered why the water in the U.S. is so clean while the drinking water in foreign countries is often so problematic. I think we've all heard of Montezuma's revenge.
ReplyDelete--Lisenbee
Liannette, Jessica, and Yaray, I like where you're all going with your respective topics. I think because the topics are applicable, it will make for an interesting discovery (essay).
ReplyDelete--Lisenbee
Mateo, if your discovery concerns a topic that is so relevant to your own life then you will have many, many things to learn. You say that you want to learn "about how deaf people in general get used to and have to adapt to a world that in a big way is so different from theirs."
ReplyDeleteThis is a promising issue! Perhaps you and I can start your exploration process together, and from there I'm certain you'll branch off into a number of other related areas, for example, how public education assists or fails to assist deaf students.
--Lisenbee
Katherine, your topic looks promising as well. I think you'll have to differentiate initially between those who are truly homeless and those who are without a steady residence for a period of time. Many people can't pay their bills/mortgage and are left to ask for public assistance. We've all seen "true" homeless people, though. I'll be interested to learn what you learn, Katherine.
ReplyDeleteI have many topics in mind for this essay but there's one that stands out the most for me and it's homelesness.
ReplyDeleteIt interets me because it's something most of us, including myself, don't know much about because we don't live it or know exactly why it happens.
It's a nationwide problem, and I would love to discover why it starts and how it can be prevented. I personally believe the current homelesness issue can't be fixed, but it certainly can be prevented so it would eventually stop. I want to discover the reasons behind why people end up homeless and find a way to stop that reson from getting bigger.
Hello, Mr. Lisenbee. I was thinking about possible topics for my discovery essay and I wanted to know if the following were okay:
ReplyDeleteWhat is wrong with pornography?
What is wrong with espionage? (CIA related)
What is wrong with mercenaries from the U.S.?
I have always been fascinated with wildlife. i love the outdoors and the ocean and all the living organisms within these ecosystems. My fascination started when my mother first subscribed me to "Ranger Rick", an environmental magazine for kids. This is where my love for nature started. over the years i have learned more and more and i have acquired a fond knowledge on animals and natuere. yet,i don't know everything and i find myself in the dark on a topic in particular.
ReplyDelete-the issue that i would like to discover is one we touched upon in class. although we were only conversing about ducks and iguanas it motivated me to look into the situation with more detail. i want to explore further on the topic of invasive species. this is definitely a global issue but it has become a real local issue in Florida. i have many questions on this topic that i would like to have answered. are invasive species a real treat to the local ecosystem? can some species cohabitate in symbiosis with one another? how sever is the problem in south Florida? which species are the biggest threat to our native species? what steps can we take to solve the problem? can certain species be introduced to balance out a unbalanced ecosystem? I have plenty of possible questions.
Krista, you have a very relevant and interesting topic. I look forward to your discovery process, and perhaps I'll learn a number of things through your research.
ReplyDelete--Lisenbee
Marilyn, alcohol and alcohol abuse is a very relevant topic, and though I'm sure most of our class knows quite a bit about the topic, there is much to be learned I'm sure. Perhaps you can heighten your own awareness about alcohol's damaging effects on the human body. Perhaps you can learn about how alcoholism hurts families and local communities. There are a number of things to discover; just be sure to ask good, solid research questions.
ReplyDelete--Lisenbee
Mariela, I think you may discover or learn quite a bit with your topic. I like where you're going. I recall a girl from my high school who battled something similar, bulimia. She was, in fact, a cheerleader in high school and even later appeared in Playboy magazine. (I didn't see her "spread," by the way.) I often wondered why she would resort to bulimia, but I realized shortly after that there must be a lot of pressure on her (whether self-created or placed upon her by her peers/loved ones) to maintain a certain image.
ReplyDelete--Lisenbee
Stephanie, I applaud you for having an interest in such a controversial topic. Begin by locating the specific problem, though. Certainly our society is benefited in some ways by the presence of illegal immigrants; our society is also hurt, however, by their presence. Perhaps the specific problem can be the cost of treating illegal immigrants in our healthcare system. Perhaps you can locate your problem as the unfair attitude many Americans have against illegal immigrants. Just know that a good research question will spring from your specific problem.
ReplyDelete--Lisenbee
Emily:
ReplyDeleteI want to understand the immigration laws in America because today a close friend of mine had to leave the country because his father died a month ago and the immigration case was closed due to this (his father was the petitioner and if the petitioner dies the petition dies as well.)
This has affected the family in several ways because not only the father died, but also they were kicked out of the country they loved.
I know several cases where people have come to America only to get kicked out a few years after, and I find this extremely unfair. This concerns the nation as a whole, and even other nations that are living an exodus of their own people towards America. Personally, I just wish to gain a better understanding of the immigration laws.
The first question I want to address is "why does everyone seem to want to live in America and what laws regulate this?"
Elisa, teen pregnancy is definitely a relevant topic to our everyday lives. Your question, however, doesn't seem to be a true research question. I say this because I think we all know the best way to prevent teen pregnancy, and that is abstinence. Of course, abstinence isn't a practical answer for many teens (perhaps even most teens), but the sure-fire way to prevent pregnancy is to not have sex.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you can explore initially the economic impact teen pregnancy has on our society. Perhaps you can explore teen pregnancy and socio-economic classes. There are many different things/perspectives to learn, to be sure. Just don't already know where you're going, like your blog response indicates. Just ask a good question, do some research to explore possible answers, and then report in your essay what you find.
--Lisenbee
Emily, this is certainly an interesting issue with many angles. In fact, there is an article today in the Miami Herald. You can go to miamiherald.com and read it online. It may give you a valuable perspective.
ReplyDelete--Lisenbee
Nicky, all three questions are valid. And all three questions potentially open up dozens of perspectives to explore.
ReplyDeleteOur changing morals (as a nation) is something to explore in conjunction with pornography.
And as we discussed in class, Blackwater and the use of mercenaries by our federal government opens up various perspectives to discover as well.
So which topic you choose is entirely up to you, but either way, you won't be at a loss for sources to research.
--Lisenbee
Billy, I'm writing to you through blogspot because I'm at work and can not email you. I guess the corporate office hasn't discovered Blogspot. I will be missing class today . one of my co-workers called out last minute(car accident)and they need me to stay. i have my hard copy with me and i can email it to you as soon as i get home or to school. Once again I'm sorry for not making it to class, especially when something is due.<-- that makes it worse...like when your speeding, but in a school zone.
ReplyDelete-
My Personal Discovery
ReplyDeleteThere are many things that concern me, but for this assignment, I suppose I want to learn about something that affects or effects me on a—seemingly—daily basis. I have an irregular heartbeat, and I don’t know much about it. I can remember the first time this irregular heartbeat occurred. I was in my pre-teen years. When it first occurred then, I just noted it and kept on playing touch football. Years later though (perhaps 15 years later), I was told by a physician’s assistant that my symptoms are very similar to her husband’s. My heart will “skip” a beat, and in order make up for the skipped beat, my heart will beat harder the next time. Maybe this irregularity occurs more often than I’m aware of, but it is most noticeable when I’m at a resting heart rate, for instance, when I’m trying to go to sleep. Nevertheless, according to the aforementioned physician’s assistant, this “skip” is due to a pre-ventricular contraction (PVC). I was initially told that PVC’s are quite normal in people but that it would be useful to stay away from caffeine and sugar. At the time, I had just become a coffee drinker, so I thought it was ludicrous or, at the very least, impractical to stay away from Cuban coffee or, worse yet, ice cream and other sugary junk foods. Was I supposed to just eat complex carbs and drink only water? At any rate, this irregular heartbeat has been occurring more and more in the past year or so, and I’m presently perplexed. To be honest, it’s scary at times, but I suppose I’ve learned to ignore it. I definitely want to get some advice or an official check-up, but I figure I’ll do my own investigation before I spend money on a doctor’s visit. (I suspect a doctor will just tell me basic information anyhow.) I know a little about heart ventricles and how they function, but I’d like to know if PVCs are directly caused by a food or ingredient I digest.
once again im stuck at work so i didn't get to class, i know the paper is due today and although im not there to physically had it in im going to email it to you first chance i get. and ill give you my manila folder when i see you, looks like im going to have to do the revision on this one due to all the deductions im going to get for tardiness.
ReplyDelete