Research paper topics

For this weeks blog assignment we are supposed to pick three research topics and use a screening process with four questions to try and help us decide which is the best choice. 

My first topic will be whether to get a playoff system in NCAA football. 

1. Am I interested in the topic? 

I have definitely become more of a college football fan since coming to Clemson. It's hard not to when such a large population of this town is so into football, and since I live a quarter of a mile from the stadium. While I am not crazy passionate about NCAA football, I feel that I am interested enough to be able to do well with this assignment. 

2. Can I argue a position on this topic?

I think that I can. From where I see it right now, I feel that there should be a playoff system implemented. There was one time a few years back that three teams were tied with each other and there was a very controversial decision made as to who would be the top out of those three. With a playoff system there would be no controversy. The top 32 teams would be in a bracket and end up with the winner.

3. Will I be able to find enough research material on this topic?

I think that this is where I might find some trouble. This is still a relatively small topic, so there might not be too many articles on it.

4. Does this sort of research appeal to me?

I am not the biggest sports fan out there, but I feel that I enjoy it enough to be able to stay interested.

My second topic is whether NASA should have had to close the manned shuttle missions. 

1. Am I interested in the topic? 

I am very interested in the topic. I have always been fascinated with space travel and everything surrounding it. I don't know a whole lot about it, but I am very interested in learning more.

2. Can I argue a position on this topic?

I think that I can. Right now I feel that the manned shuttle missions should not have been botched. Yes, it costs billions, but I feel like overall, every time there is a mission to space, something new was found. Maybe it would have been better just to have cut back on the number of missions. 

3. Will I be able to find enough material on this topic?

I feel that there will be plenty of material on this topic. The space agency getting cutbacks is very much related to the recession in our country. Since it was such a large program, there are many people on both sides of the topic that could provide credible information.

4. Does this sort of research appeal to me?

Yes, I am definitely interested in this sort of research.

My third topic is whether texting while driving should be illegal.

1. Am I interested in the topic?

I am somewhat interested in the topic. I am a teenager, which is definitely the focus group when talking about this topic, so it very much involves me.

2, Can I argue a position on this topic?

I believe that I can. At the moment, I am for texting while driving to be illegal. Studies have shown that it is as bad a drunk driving. It requires the driver to not only take his eyes off the road, but to also use at least one hand to use the phone.

3. Will I be able to find enough material on this topic?

I think that I will, since it is a pretty talked about topic. Teenagers are outraged, adults are outraged, and both on different sides of the fence.

4. Does this sort of research appeal to me?

Since I am in the age group that is most involved I am naturally interested. Also, many of my friends are at risk because of their texting while driving, so that is an appeal as well.

Batman vs. Spiderman

In our debate groups, we were asked whether Spiderman or Batman is a better superhero. Since my favorite superhero is Batman, I was hoping we would get to defend him. Unofrtunately our group had to defend Spiderman. We failed miserably. That is because in no way is Spiderman a better superhero besides the fact that he has real superpowers. It takes much more than just super powers to be a hero.

Batman had a dramatic childhood, just like most other superheros. He witnessed his parents' death and swore to avenge them by taking care of the quickly rising crime in a struggling Gothom City. He went around the world finding people to teach him different forms of fighting and so that he could better learn about the world he lived in. Being a billionaire and the heir to one of the most profitable corporations in the fictional DC Comics world, Wayne Enterprises, he had virtually unlimited access to whatever he wanted. This made it easy for him to have all of the latest and move technologically advanced equipment to date. Intelligence, strength, and unlimited access can get you so much further than any super powers if you know how to use them. 

One big thing that separates Batman and Spiderman in my book is that Batman has a sidekick, Robin. Though there have been 4 different Robin characters in all of Batman's series, the saying "two heads are better than one" definitely goes into effect here. The last reason I like Batman more than Spiderman is because of the Villains. The Joker is arguably the most known villain of all time. Other notable villains in Batman's life are Catwoman, Bane, The Riddler, and Two-Face.

All of these facts come together to continually make me think that Batman is definitely a better superhero than Superman.

Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity is important at Clemson as much as at any institution. It is vital to uphold the pillars that Clemson was founded on, truthfulness, honor, and responsibility, in order to keep the respect of the school as seen by others, as well as the respect of yourself as seen by others. Academic Integrity is about being true to yourself as well as being true to others. This obviously means that cheating is bad, but also that you need to be responsible enough not to let anybody cheat off of your own things.  As well as cheating, it is also important to refrain from stealing from other people and/or sources, or plagiarizing. Plagiarism does nothing but hurt you when you think about it. You stop yourself from having original ideas, so you stop yourself from the thinking you deserve. Lastly, lying is something you should refrain from doing. Lying not only hurts you, but it hurts the people you lie to. It is much better to be truthful to yourself and do worse than to lie and do better. If any of these things happen, it is really easy for someone to lose trust and respect in you. If those things are lost, it will be very hard to succeed in life and get a job, let alone a college degree. Be honest with yourself so that you will be trusted and respected in life by others as well as yourself.

Week 2 blog--my pictures

I have to admit, I had a great time going back through memory lane trying to find two pictures for this blog. I was very fortunate to have a very tight group of friends throughout my high school experience, so it wasn't exactly hard to find pictures of me with my friends, that is until about a year ago. It was about last summer that I started getting into photography and was seen less and less in front of the camera, and more behind it. But I digress. The two photographs I chose are from the first half of 2010.

The first photograph was taken at my house during my 17th birthday party. All of us were wearing pretty casual clothes, it wasn't a classy affair. We were definitely "cheesing" (smiling) for the camera because this is the one group picture my mother insisted on taking with all of us together. Though we are all smiling for the camera, it was still a very happy event, so smiles weren't missing during the evening celebration. 

This second photograph was taken three months later in Orlando, FL during spring break. My friend's parents decided they would take us to Disney World. Two adults wanted to take NINE teenagers to Disney World for a week. I consider that pretty dangerous. But alas, we had an amazing time, although we don't exactly have excited expressions on our face. That is because we are utterly exhausted! After a long day in the almost summer heat of Florida, we are riding back to our hotel on a Disney bus. Unlike the previous photograph, this one is candid and no one really cares that there is a picture being taken. We're all too tired to care, but I feel that it is the perfect picture. It captures our emotions and is completely real.

I definitely would not choose either of these pictures to put alongside a newspaper article telling of me winning a scholarship. That calls for something like a class picture, something more formal than these. I also wouldn't submit these pictures in to a dorm newsletter. Since I am the only one in these pictures that goes to Clemson, it wouldn't seem right. I would consider these for a facebook profile picture. These pictures are of my friends and me during important experiences in our lives. Since facebook is a social network, these would be completely appropriate.