2 of 5 Independence Process Blog for Project 4

Today we were told to go research for our paper instead of attending class in the actual classroom.  After researching and thinking about my topic a bit more, I decided I wanted to incorporate the fact that President Obama placed a 10% tax rate on indoor tanning.  I also want to reiterate in my paper that the tax rate should not have been placed on tanning and it should be reconsidered because tanning is the choice of the individual.  If one decides they want to tan indoors, I’m sure they are well aware of the risks and want to keep doing so anyway.  The tax is unfair to the business owners in the tanning industry because they are losing money and customers.  However, I’ll be writing a lot more about this in my paper.  After researching today, I feel confident that I can write a well-written paper on the topic I have chosen and it is also something I am interested in.

LH pg. 111 10a #3 revise your thesis statement

THESIS:

Although there are many dangers and risks to indoor tanning, the 10% tax rate should be reconsidered because the choice of taking the peril should be in the hands of the individual.

sources for project 4

http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/24/news/economy/tanning_tax/

http://0-www.nejm.org.helin.uri.edu/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1005999

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/30/eveningnews/main6635131.shtml

http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2004/07/28/tanning

http://www.salon.com/life/broadsheet/2009/07/29/toxic_tanning

http://www.salon.com/life/broadsheet/2006/05/18/tanning

http://www.skincancer.org/the-dangers-of-tanning.html

1 of 5 Independence Process Blog for Project 4

                Today in class the professor went more into depth about project four because he wanted us to write about something we were more interested in rather than simply writing a paper just to get the grade.  When he told us this, it actually made me happy because it is easier for me to write about something I am actually interested in.  In class we also did a “free write”, which is writing freely for five minutes about anything, without stopping.  After class, I felt so much better about project four and I was excited to go research what I would write my paper on.  After researching for a good amount of time, I finally figured out I wanted to write about tanning beds.  I decided I would discuss how tanning beds are dangerous and can lead to cancer and other hazardous effects. I, myself am a victim of indoor tanning and I am interested in researching more in the subject to find out more about it for my own good.  I am very excited for this project.

LH pg. 111 10a #2 Create a thesis statement

I decided to change my subject of project 4 to the dangers of tanning beds.

Although tanning beds may lead people to believe they appear to look and feel better, the danger of them outweighs the positive stigma.  

5 of 5 Independence Process Blog for Project 3

                Last night, my group and I met for the last time before we would hand in our final paper.  There was not much we needed to add to our paper because since the time of the writing workshop each of us had been adding our input to the paper.  All we needed to do was add in the works cited page and fix some of the citations in our paper to make sure they were in the correct MLA format.  Lastly, we went through a complete run through of our paper to make sure nothing was missing and there were no minor errors that needed to be fixed.  Overall, I think my group and I are very content and happy with the outcome of our final paper.  I am happy we picked the topic that we did because I think it made our paper a bit more interesting for the reader. 

Project 3 Postwrite

To: M MacKnight
From: Danielle Silva
Re: Project 3 Postwrite

                For project three I was to be put into a group to write an informative report. My group consisted of me and three other members and we were to write the paper together. Our paper was written on the legalization of marijuana. Since it was an informative report, we were to simply give information on the subject, not give opinions or try to persuade. Throughout the process of this project, I learned many new ideas and writing techniques that will help me in my future. In this paper, we were to cite where we got the information from. Therefore, I had to learn how to do in text citation for my paper. I also learned what the difference between an informative paper and a persuasive opinion paper. Without knowing this, my group and I would be unsuccessful with our paper. Lastly, I learned how to work more efficiently in a group project. I was nervous working in a group project when I first found out that is what we would be doing. However, I soon learned with cooperation and courtesy, group projects aren’t always terrible.

                The product of our paper on the legalization of marijuana made me very happy because in the end it all came together and sounded how I had hoped. The strengths of our paper were that we picked a good topic because there was a lot of good information on the topic that we were able to use. Also, when we got together as a group we made sure each section of the paper flowed together to make the paper flow as a whole. The weakness of our paper was that it was hard to write a solid introduction and closing because we needed to add in each section of the paper. The closing was harder to write because we didn’t want it to sound exactly like the introduction. However, with a few tweaks and adjustments, I believe it will turn out sounding very well.

                As an individual, I made equal contributions as the rest of the group did. Our group worked very well together, each doing the part we were assigned to do. I wrote my section of the paper on how the legalization of marijuana would help the country. I also wrote the introductory paragraph and my group members helped to make it a little bit better. Also, when everyone put their parts together and after the writing workshop in class, I went over the paper and put in anything that I thought needed to be added to the paper or taken out. Overall, I believe each group member had positive and equal contributions to the result of our paper.

                To help with the response to my work and the groups work, I would say to help with the citation because at some points we were unsure how to cite certain things. Also, I feel as though we needed to build our introductory and closing paragraph a bit more. Therefore, if you had any suggestions for those two paragraphs that will help a lot.