Ideas following the First Draft

It has been a lot of work finishing the first draft of the scientific research paper, and now I feel like a weight has been taken off of my shoulders. After completing the first draft, I can see that there are some possibilities to expand on the facts and statistics to back up my thesis statement. I think that the topic is interesting, and hopefully the paper is educational to readers who do not know much about the mental illness that I have written about.

If possible, classmates, take a few moments to read my draft. I look forward to peer review in order to improve on the writing process. The ideas that I am thinking about expanding on are the main points of each paragraph, with more facts and statistics.

Within the last six weeks, I have been hard at work on my studies... it is a little bit stressful, and a good bit educational. I enjoy the things that I am learning, and can appreciate the hard work that healthcare professionals have to accomplish in order to succeed within the medical field.

The ideas that I have presented in the first draft have allowed me to realize that backing up a hypothesis requires time and lots of research. This class is very useful in learning how to write a technical paper, and I hope to use the information in further studies by incorporating the knowledge that the effort put into research pays off.

Personal Writing Process and Academic Challenges

Hello class... the writing process is an important aspect of the university experience. My personal style is somewhat dry, I think. When I read what I have written, sometimes I feel like the words are repetitive, and I tend to use long sentences when composing just about anything. I do not know if this is a good quality to have. I just want to make sure that I answer all of the necessary questions to complete an assignment. Suggestions for improvement would be very helpful, and I take constructive criticism very well.

The academic challenges that I face are time constraints. From the previous course (Academic Strategies) which I took last term, emphasis was placed on not procrastinating when working on class assignments. I find that I am improving on this as I go along. Being able to finish what I start in one session is very helpful, and it takes the weight off of my shoulders when I realize that a task is complete. Also, a positive outlook is valuable. The knowledge that I am working toward the main goal of achieving a degree keeps me motivated and focused.

Up to this point, school has been a high priority. It will continue to top my list of important things to accomplish on any given day. As this term progresses, there is a good bit to learn about improving my writing style. The main thing that helps me along is a solid support system, because I can share my experiences to my family, and I can vent when I need to. Motivation is a key factor which keeps me on track to not only achieve a good grade for each class, but to actually learn from my mistakes. I think that Kaplan University is an excellent institution, and with all of the resources available through the system, I feel a sense of confidence in being able to realize my goal of moving forward in order to acquire the necessary skills to perform in the professional work setting.

Consequences of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a form of stealing. Not giving credit to others is unprofessional, and it carries some consequences which are serious in the university setting as well as the workplace. I know that Kaplan University is very clear on emphasizing the need to cite sources and give credit to authors of researched material.

I would feel cheated if someone took my ideas and used them as their own... it takes a good bit of effort and concentration to come up with original thoughts. Plagiarism could be intentional or unintentional. In the classroom, it does not matter which of the forms that plagiarizing takes. So, all of that being said, I plan on being very careful to give credit to others' ideas which can add to my own ideas. A good research paper is my goal, and citing sources is a necessary part of the process.

Finally figured out how to comment to classmates!

Hello classmates... I have been having trouble trying to comment to everyone's blogs, but I got some advice and I hope to be able to interact with everyone from now on. So far, the course has been enjoyable. I like the idea of presenting a scientific topic for review, so that I'll be able to recognize weaknesses in my writing style. That's about it for now.

Welcome to my Journey as a student at Kaplan University

On this blog I will be writing about the experiences I have as an online student. So far, it has been good learning about new things... I look forward to sharing my thoughts with fellow classmates.

Below you will see the first style of boxes that I began making a while back... it has been a learning experience and an enjoyable hobby so far.

First entry

I am beginning my blog as a student at Kaplan University. On this site you will be able to find pictures of wood boxes that I make. Enjoy!