PA#9 -- Topic and controversy for WA # 5
Due date: Sunday, 10-26 at 5 PM on the bog and a hard copy in class on Monday, 10-27
1. Look at the list of topics on the research-paper assignment sheet, and choose a couple that interest you. Read some general articles on those subjects. Look for controversial aspects that might make for an interesting research paper.
2. Write a paragraph proposing to write about one of those controversial issues. It should include the following.
a. Declare the topic, give a bit of background, and state the point of controversy.
b. Explain the controversy and state the main points of view.
c. State the position you will take on the controversial issue and give the main reason why you are
taking that position
1. Try to avoid describing the writing process. Thus, avoid language like "I am writing about x."
2. Narrow your topic wisely. Remember, you are writing only 1,500 words.
3. Choose wisely. If you are interested in a topic, it is much easier to sustain your interest through the
long stages of the writing process.
4. You are not married to the topic. You can change it later. However, read around enough (at least
look at titles of works) to make sure your research can generate enough material to work with.
Changing topics can be injurious to your mental health later on.
5. As you are reading around, take a few notes. You can use the research-project work sheet for just
that purpose.
Erin Fannin
ReplyDeletePA#9
Genetic engineering has become less of a science fiction over the years and more of a science fact. In regards to humans, genetic engineering has been used to greatly befit people, such as treating certain diseases and allowing infertile mothers to conceive. However one of the main points of controversy on this topic is the possibility of human enhancement that could be gained through genetic engineering at the embryonic stage (before birth). Those for the enhancement of humans argue that diseases could be eradicated and the overall quality of life for people would be greatly improved. There are, however, many against this sort of genetic manipulation. They point out that allowing the genetic manipulation of humans a small group of people could gain an unfair advantage for their children by choosing their physical and metal attributes before that are even born, thus creating a more enhanced class of humans. This topic, though in its early stages, has sparked huge controversy in the scientific and public communities. In regards to this topic of controversy my stance is that while human engineering might have the potential to be beneficial, the genetic manipulation of humans opens too many door ways for this technology being misused or otherwise unfairly exploited to the benefit of a small majority of people.
Some will always remember and never forget the horror that happen when teachers on the space shuttle lost their lives when a dramatic explosion happened. As millions of students watched the shuttle take off with success and was an amazing event and end in failure witched traumatized millions of students. As the students watched the shuttled get demolished in the air what was going through there mind must have been unimaginable. Some students that watched this incident may have never moved forward from what happen right in front of their eyes.
ReplyDeleteDirect manipulation of DNA by humans outside of the breeding process, or more commonly known as genetic engineering, has existed since the 1970s. It has allowed humans to alter many aspects of animal, crop, and human breeding. For example, one of the best known types of genetic engineering is the creation of genetically modified crops. Through genetic engineering, crops are now modified to withstand environmental threats such as pathogens or viruses, and to resist herbicides. Furthermore, genetic engineering in human development has made mass producing vaccines and other medicines possible. In contrast, further development of human genetic engineering can lead to the perfecting of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, which is injecting embryo with special traits that make them immune to certain disease. However, this can also lead to the creation of designer babies, or children that have been produced with traits that have been hand-picked. While there are many benefits of genetic engineering in agriculture and disease prevention, there are many problems that can arise from this as well. Problems such as the health complications that can occur from eating genetically modified crops and taking genetically engineering medicines. In addition, humans also have the potential to miss use this technology.
ReplyDeleteBy the early 1960’s, thousands of infants were born with severe malformities due to the hidden side effects of Thalidomide. The “miracle” drug claimed to cure nausea among other ailments, thus doctors began prescribing Thalidomide to pregnant woman to alleviate morning sickness. The drug was advertised to not cause any adverse effects on either mother or infant, which was baseless and resulted in the devastation of thousands of families. Although at the time science had yet to conclude placental transfer between mother and embryo, governments should have been more closely monitoring what drugs were marketed. The fact is that ignorance can not be used as a defense against such a travesty. The testing should have been done by unbiased parties, governments should have released potentially crucial information to the public, and the company marketing Thalidomide should not have been falsely advertising the safety of the drug.
ReplyDeletePeter Hamblett
ReplyDeleteThe destruction to the Amazon rain forest is absurd; the Amazon rain forest loses roughly about 150 acres every minute of every day, which totals up to about 78 million acres per year, that’s basically the size of Greece. The deforestation in Brazil is the leading cause in the destruction to the Amazon rain forest they count for 20% of the loss. The Brazilian government has been destroying the forest sense 1940. The Brazilian government is destroying the Amazon rain forest for cattle ranching to help raise their national revenue during a period of high beef prices throughout the world. In the beginning their goal was to eliminate hunger and pay off international debt but now it is done to industrialize their nation. That creates a huge nature controversy, the Brazilian Amazon harbors about one third of the planets biodiversity, discharges one fourth of the world’s fresh water and plays a key role in global carbon cycles and climate. Trying to save the Amazon rain forest is not an easy situation but taking certain measures can help deduce the destruction and ultimately save the Amazon rain forest.
A topic that looks very interesting to write about is the Chernobyl Disaster. This the nuclear event that took place in the Ukraine under the direction of the Soviet Union. In April of 1986 a large fire released large amounts radioactive material into atmosphere. After that for about 15 years (1986-2001) people where evacuated and relocated. This disaster resulted in 31 deaths and left devastating effects on the people who surrounded the area. Mutations occurred in the humans and animals in the surrounding area. In 2005 thyroid cancer was common amongst children and the predictable cause being the Chernobyl Disaster. Overall, this appears to be a very interesting topic.
ReplyDeleteAfter the war two, the world came to a peace age basically and there are no more big wars happened. However, in order the national security, the competition of armies between countries still exists, the most famous example is the cold war between the Russia and US. With the development of technology, the quality and destruction of weapons are evolving all the time, including the biological and chemical weapons. Although those weapons which impacts people in the biological and chemical ways already born in the war two even earlier, it cannot compare with the contemporary biological and chemical weapons, those weapons today have unbelievable result if it be used in the real war. However, some of politicians and people think government should still invest money in biological and chemical weapons. In contrast, others believe that biochemical weapons should be prohibited if they are capable of causing both physiological and genetic harm to human bodies.
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ReplyDeleteJon Griggs PA#9
ReplyDeleteDoping in baseball has become a major black eye for the sport known as America’s past time. The cheating has caused many issues in the sport and has led to a negative view. Players are constantly testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs which shows true disrespect for the game. With the “steroid era” sluggers coming up for consideration for the hall of fame every year, voters must take a hard look at these individuals and consider the impact that the doping had on their career. Overall, doping has caused a negative impact in the sport and continues to hinder the reputation of the game.
Knowledge and availability of technology leaped during the 1900’s – a great example being video games. Video games have brought a whole different sensation into the world of entertainment, but had also dragged along proliferating consequences. Positive and negative consequences of video games are currently studied by scientists. There are over hundreds and thousands of cases of violence caused by video gaming in America and elsewhere. Links between video games and addiction, aggression, violence, and antisocial development have been discussed through a good period of time now. A survey on 1,102 children between 12 and 17 years old showed that fifty percent of boys and fourteen percent of girls had positive attitude towards games rated “M” (mature) and “AO” (adults only) – with ninety seven percent whose parents allowed these games to be purchased. However, other studies argue that video gaming can increase IQ and other quintessential motor skills such as eye-hand coordination. This shows how video gaming is a controversial double-bladed social learning method that can either lead to positive or negative habits.
ReplyDeleteDavid Herbawi
ReplyDeleteThe Chernobyl disaster has inspired a lot of fiction of the dangers of radiation and the horrific mutations it can incur on people and animals. While venturing into Chernobyl won’t result in you gaining superhuman strength or growing tentacles, the environment has certainly been effected severely. I plan to examine the effects that the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown has had on the flora and fauna in the area and beyond since the disaster up to the present day.
Cyber bullying is said to be a major issue on the internet currently. One of the earliest cases of cyber bullying occurred throughout the year of 2006 on one of the earliest known social media sites, myspace. It resulted in the death/suicide of Megan Meier. The controversy behind cyber bullying is that some people would agree that it's the victim's fault for not staying off of the social media site while some would argue that it's the bully's fault for doing the bullying. While the bully shouldn't have been bullying anyone online, I would state that at the same time, the victim chose to be on that site. Nothing forced that person to be online on that site in the first place.
ReplyDeleteConcussions have seemed to be increasing in many sports such as football. Every year, there are about 300,000 concussions that are sports-related. As a result, in the NFL alone, former players are beginning to file lawsuits due to the long term head injuries that they have received while playing the game. Concussions are traumatic brain injuries that have been seen to change the way that the brain and mind function. I believe that authorities should step up and take charge on the issue because if statistics continue to reveal themselves, we will have 3,000,000 sports-related concussions this decade.
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