Sal's Blog

Revising Plan

2007-11-30T11:55:00.001-08:00

Ii need to incorporate more data from my sources and include more quotations and develop why exactly video games are different from other addictions and further revise the thesis of my essay.

Feedback from the Peer Review of Annotations

2007-11-14T11:46:00.000-08:00

Overall, the feedback I suggest is to, UPLOAD 3 MORE OF YOUR SOURCES, haha. I can do very well in that department when I show that my other sources substantially affect the paper as a whole. I have some structure errors, and I dont have a they say article. I think this was a very valuable claim in that it would give me a naysayer and add to my papers orientation. Otherwise, my classifcation and orginization of my ideas is very well done, according to my peers.

A intro for the annotated biblio

2007-11-09T11:50:00.001-08:00

-This is a work in progress, could have some possible changes later, as it will most likely as I come into contact with new sources.

This paper is oriented towards the defining issue of: Do video games constitute a source of addiction? I am aiming to draft this paper for college/university students and professors within those colleges or universities. Surprisingly, the sources that I have compiled strongly suggest that video games admit addicting elements no matter what the genre of game is. The “they say” of this topic is that video games affect only weak or meek individuals, yet the trends in monitored activity suggest else wise. Video games engage the brain in a way that is characteristic of serious addiction problems.

Similarly, video games should deserve the same attention and care to detail as serious addiction problems. The sources not only condemn the extended use of video games, but also display the diverse side effects. The greater half of the paper will mainly focus on how video games extend farther into one’s life than just the screen, and will provide facts and analysis proving these trends. The remaining portion of the paper will show how these debilitating addictions can be treated, prevented, and even to realize if the user suffers from these ailments. This will be accomplished by showing and convincing the audience that video games do indeed consist of debilitating effects comparable to modern day addiction problems.

So far...

2007-11-09T11:05:00.000-08:00

My work has revealed that video games, unlike what I initially thought, encompass many diverse pyschological, behavioral, and physical effects resulting from game use. One does not necessarily have to play video games 24/7 to feel the effects of video game, sometimes short term exposure has equal effects on a person. I have noticed a trend in the results though, decreased academic performance and social life, physical ailments such as sleep depervation and loss/gain of weight, and also behavioral changes such as increased aggression or irratability. Together, these effects can constructively form a strong argument to how exactly video games not only affect the virtual world, but affect the real world as well. I don't think people understand that video games do not only encompass violence, which is one part, but are constituted by many diverse side effects, and that is where I plan to launch my attack on this paper.

Workshop for Wednesday

2007-11-07T11:33:00.000-08:00

English 106: Citation Practice Exercise

Professor O'Rourke

Name(s): Salvatore Ranzulla

Working on your own or with a partner, please complete the following exercises on plagiarism and citing sources:

Plagiarism

View the online tutorial at http://library.acadiau.ca/tutorials/plagiarism/. Then answer the following questions:

What is plagiarism?

Plagiarism is when you copy another’s thoughts or words and fail to give them credit for it. It is not original work and can be avoided by citing correctly.

How do you avoid plagiarism?

Citing your sources all of the time, even when you paraphrase. Do not copy others thoughts or comments without citing them, and don’t copy/buy/steal another paper. Follow the instructions on how to cite and you will not commit plagiarism.

Citation Format

Review one of the following style guides from the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL):

APA Formatting and Style Guide

MLA Formatting and Style Guide

(Choose the citation format best suited to your topic and related discipline.)

First, list two reasons why it is important to cite your sources:

To give people the credit for their own thoughts or reasons and to avoid getting penalized due to plagiarism.

Then, use the information about the following sources to create properly formatted bibliographic references (in MLA or APA style).

Book

Authors: Wenfang Tang and William L. Parish

Title: Chinese Urban Life Under Reform: The Changing Social Contract

City of Publication: New York

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Date: 2000

1. Tang, Wenfang, and William L. Parish. Chinese Urban Life Under Reform: the Changing Social Contract. New York: Cambridge UP, 2000.

Journal Article from an Electronic Database

Author: Sidney W.A. Dekker

Article Title: Criminalization of Medical Error: Who Draws the Line?

Journal Title: ANZ Journal of Surgery

Date Published: October 2007

Volume:77

Number: 10

Pages: 831-837

Date retrieved: November 6, 2007

Library: A.C. Buehler Library, Elmhurst, IL

Database: Academic Search Complete

Service: EBSCO Host

2. Dekker, Sidney. "Criminalization of Medical Error: Who Draws the Line?" ANZ Journal of Surgery 10 (2007): 831-837. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO Host. A.C. Buehler Library, Elmhurst, IL, Elmhurst.

Article in an Online Journal

Author: Linda Mizell

Article Title: Reflections of a “Deseg Baby”

Journal Title: Rethinking Schools Online

Volume: 18

Number: 3

Year: 2004

No. of Paragraphs: 14

Date of Access: November 6, 2007

URL: http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/18_03/refl183.shtml

3. Mizell, Linda. "Reflections of a “Deseg Baby”." Rethinking Schools Online 10 (2004). 06 Nov. 2007 .

Finally, add at least one additional two more sources from your own research.

4. Smyth, Joshua M. "Beyond Self-Selection in Video Game Play: An." CYBERPSYCHOLOGY & BEHAVIOR 10 (2007). Academic Search Complete. EBSCHO Host. .C. Buehler Library, Elmhurst, IL, Elmhurst., Elmhurst. 07 Nov. 2007.

Annotation

2007-11-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/cpb.2007.9963

This article displays the cumlative effects of MMOPRG's (a type of video game) on a given persons life.

-To be continued, in work...

Sources from the Library

2007-10-31T11:49:00.000-07:00

First one:

http://proxy.elmhurst.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=26271120&site=ehost-live

Second one:

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=9&hid=105&sid=317d8c6c-cd6a-4df4-b05a-724131b9addd%40sessionmgr109

What I know and what I need to know

2007-10-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

What I know:

I am finding articles heavy on video game violence and the aggression effect on real life. I can find hundreds of articles that are related to this, just the keyword violence has to be used. The general pattern is that video games do affect violence in real life, but it depends on frequency played, content, and what environment the user is in. Some video game patterns have no effect on real life aggression. However, I am finding it hard to get statistics on facts other than violence in relation to video games. I might consider changing it towards just violecne in video games as aw whole, or look at something else from video games.

What I need to know:

I need to fine more sources with a .gov, .edu, etc., MORE credible sources. Yes I am finding a number of sties that include some university studes and experiments. I would consider asking students or adults who play video games if it really has an effect on real life patterns to fully accentuate my point.

What I should accomplish in the library:

Get more credible sources, find other articles or focus on violent video game articles as a whole. Also I want to know what other side effects video games seem to have on the human brain, and as a result what effects it has on real life.

3 Research Essay Sources

2007-10-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

1. http://discovermagazine.com/2005/jul/brain-on-video-games

This states that video games may indeed stimulate different part of the brains and force your brain to problem solve complex problems. Although, it does have a lot of advertising and questions the Objectivity of this source.

2. http://www.apa.org/journals/features/psp784772.pdf

The token video game violence, and its negative effect website. Excellent source on how violent video games affect real life aggression and hostile attitudes after gameplay. Comprised of many statistics and experiments. However, it hasn't been updated since 2000, but video games are fairly new, especially heavily violent video games.

3. http://www.scientificblogging.com/news_account/video_game_boosts_real_life_confidence_and_reduces_stress

This site I just wanted to include is 1 of 15 sites that attributes video games to successfully boosting something in real life. I find this a very hard topic to prove that it affects real life in a positive way sometimes.

Summary:

I am finding articles heavy on video game violence and the aggression effect on real life. I can find hundreds of articles that are related to this, just the keyword violence has to be used. The general pattern is that video games do affect violence in real life, but it depends on frequency played, content, and what environment the user is in. Some video game patterns have no effect on real life aggression. However, I am finding it hard to get statistics on facts other than violence in relation to video games. I might consider changing it towards just violecne in video games as aw whole, or look at something else from video games.

Target Audience for Research Topic

2007-10-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

Research Topic: Video Games and the effect on real life

Purpose: To display, if any, what effects video games have on a persons real life.

The target audience I am orienting the essay towards to is:

(Parents/Education/Law Enforcement) In terms of the behavioral effects of video games.

(Video Game Manufacturers) In terms of showing how their products affect people, since they want to deny any effects for business.

(Scholars) In terms of showing any harms in social/personal/job/educational effects and analyzing why.

Questions on How Video Games affect Real Life

2007-10-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

Question #1. Do the views suggested in video games affect different audiences moral views? (Sociology, parents and teachers would ask this)

Question #2. How do behavioral habits change when one is exposed to video games for a certain amount of time? ( Parents, business employers, teachers, sociology, psychology)

Question #3. Should the requirements and ratings on video games be changed in accordance to their severity? ( Sociology)

Question #4. Are there any nation-wide incidents partially due to video games influence?
(History)

Question #5. How do video games affect social, personal, and job related life?
(Psychology, Sociology)

Exploring Your Research Topic Answers

2007-10-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

Exploring Your Research Topic

Part I: Exploration
1. Identify the issue or problem that you plan to focus on in your research project.

Does the violence portrayed in the media promote real life violence?

2. What is your personal connection to and interest in this topic?

I am connected in that I feel sometimes the ideas spread in the media do affect people at some point, even myself. I think that when you are growing up that can be a key factor in aggresion, but older crowds do not take as much from violent displays. I play a lot of violent video games and watch violent shows on the tv and internet, but it does not affect my aggresion or attitude towards people in real life. Sometimes, the media is a cheap way of entertainment, rather than spending money and going out, and it is filled with sex, scandals, murder and everything that shouldnt be associated with a childhood. Children need to be exposed to this, but not at extremely younger ages. I did watch violent shows on tv because it was the only thing to do some days due to boredom of other things.

3. What opinions do you already hold about this topic?

I feel sometimes that it may encourage violence myself, but not to a point where it provokes or promotes deadly real life violence. I think that the media does somewhat promote violence and innapropriate content on most channels. Granted there is news about murders, crimes, the war that are naturally violent, but at a certain point shows and video games displaying violence can have a negative influence on youger crowds since they are so impressionable.

4. What knowledge do you already have about this topic?

I have done a paper on video games and violence, and they did promote violence at times, and sometimes the character of the person came into play. Video games are very similar to the general media and display the same issues.

5. What are your main questions about this topic? What are you most curious about?

I want to find out if what the media is displaying , in every category, is really affecting people and their aggression and attitude, or does it have numerous variables to influence people. I also want to illustrate what exactly is being portrayed in the media. I am most curios in finding what is the extreme of the media and the side effects on the brain and attitude. I want to find out if the themes associated in the media come out on a subconcious or concious level, and what affects it has on the mannerism of people.

6. Within what scholarly discipline (such as history, biology, psychology) do you expect to do most of your research? How does this discipline approach or study this topic?

Probably social sciences or history. It is common throughout decades of media since the beginning of the 20th century. The discipline can contribute statistics, effects on the human mind, and all sorts of little facts that displays if the media is promoting violence.

7. How could you research this topic outside the library (for example, through interviews
and/or observations)?

There has been many interviews with different companies for the violence they have in their video game, network, movie, etc. I can use those to portray if the media promotes violence.

Part II: Focusing
Write an initial claim, or an open-ended question, to guide your research on this topic. Make it specific but exploratory. Remember that a good claim opens up an area of inquiry about a topic; a claim should invite evidence, support, and debate.

Do the media promote violence in their information and entertainment affect the human body at a conscious or subconscious level?

Or a more refined version….

Is aggression and hostility in real life at all determined by what is displayed in the media?

Synthesis Criteria

2007-09-24T11:19:00.000-07:00

Synthesis Criteria

- The writer should include quotes from both of the articles he is synthesizing, otherwise it isn't apparent to the reader what he/she is talking about.

- Should include some of the authors viewpoints.

- Need to state opinion on technology in education early or it appears that the writer is comparing and contrasting computers and video games, or whatever combination of articles you chose.

- Stating your opinion helps the reader realize what you are trying to say right away, rather than them trying to figure out what the whole essay is about. It makes the essay more concise and easier to follow.

- I would say focus more of a synchronization between the two articles than comparing what the two have to say. Also, include more of a your say to the article, try making it indirect.

Sythesis Statement Plan

2007-09-21T11:49:00.000-07:00

Synthesis Statement Topics- Computers and role in education-Video games and development of knowledge

Thesis Brainstorming
-Video games provide interactive skills to obtain a cumulative development of common and situational knowledge.
-Computers as a role in education are a useful tool in education is not debated, whether or not they should be mandatory and as widely used is another issue.
-Both are forms of technology, both were developed outside of educational systems, maybe that is where they belong, just a tool to facilitate students with help or additional practice.
-Both are valuable forms of education and can teach students education in ways otherwise impossible to achieve

Final Thesis-The incorporation of technological advances into the mainstream of today's educational system is necessary to the development of common and situational knowledge.

Plan-Compare and contrast the traditional methods of education to the new methods incorporating technology. Lean towards agreeing that technology is an invaluable tool to student's overall success.

Should Students use Welfare

2007-09-06T11:56:00.001-07:00

Link for topic of Discussion: http://www.frugallawstudent.com/2007/08/28/should-professional-students-use-welfare/

Should students use welfare?

In the article linked, the writer composes a argument against the standard rule of welfare only applying for the poor. Common belief, or the "They Say", regarding welfare is that it is only necessary for the extremely poor or persons having financial difficulty due to extreme circumstances. The question here though is, is that really true? It is obvious that welfare was designed to accustom the poor and that, the poor, was it's intended target crowd, but welfare can apply to more people than one once thought. Brett McKay, the author, makes a point to include welfare in thoughts of having a child. He discusses the aid of the government for not only himself, but his wife's education. In the long run, the future child will pay back taxes equal too or greater than the welfare used to support him. What difference is it if the government expands their aid to professional student's (working on a higher degree) future children? The government taxes a significant amount more on men and women with higher degrees. Higher degrees normally lead to an increase in pay, which means an increase in taxes collected by the government. In the end, he feels that his family is entitled to welfare in efforts to raise his child.