Writing

Active vs Passive Voice

• Active Voice
• The subject of the sentence is doing the action
• Ex: "Tucker loves coffee"
• Preferred way of writing
• Passive Voice
• The subject receives the action
• Ex: "Coffee is loved by Tucker"
• The person/place/thing actually doing something is not the subject
• Key word "by"
• Switching from passive to active
• Look for the word "by" which can help determine it is in passive
• Notice who/what actually performed the action
• Reverse sentence so subject clearly performs action
• Examples
• "A song was written by the talented young actress." -Passive
• "The talented young actress wrote the song." -Active

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NoRedInk

"NoRedInk" is an online grammar resource that we have been using throughout the year, that focuses on each individual's weaknesses regarding grammar. You go through a whole "path" of exercises to reach mastery in various topics. This has been a great tool to work on improving our writing skills as we continue to produce research papers and various essays.

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Environmental Research Paper

Fossil Fuels are Down the Drain

Thomas Richard Holtz of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology claims, “We do have alternative forms of energy: solar, wind, nuclear, tidal, geothermal, and others. By using combinations of these...we would be able to transition into a post-fossil fuel world without much problem so long as we did it at the right rate.” The world desperately needs to shift to renewable forms of energy to survive after the finite supply of fossil fuels is depleted. As mentioned by Holtz, there are already alternate renewable forms of energy in existence, but they currently produce inadequate supplies of energy . This poses a dilemma for the United States, as well as the world, concerning how to proceed in the production of massive amounts of energy. Finite fossil fuels, which are society’s most commonly used energy sources, continue to decline and threaten electricity for future generations; however, water turbines that produce electricity generated from rain power can mitigate energy shortages.

As nations strive for economic prosperity, the limited amounts of fossil fuels are declining to unsustainable levels. Figure 1 displays the immense increases in the United States’ energy consumption from 1776 to 2015.

Fig. 1. Graph illustrating increase in energy consumption from the United States from 1776-2015. Source:  “Energy Consumption in the United States (1776-2015)” by EIA.

Fig. 1 portrays the energy usage in 1776 as almost nonexistent, yet by 2015 the United States used 97.7 quadrillion British thermal units (1.055 x 10^19 Joules) worth of energy (U.S. Energy Facts Explained). Natural gases, coal, and petroleum have climbed dramatically within the past decade, each of these being non-renewable forms of energy. These trends are unsustainable long-term, as these forms of energy are not becoming increasingly abundant as the demand for them grows. Of the substantial amounts of energy the United States uses, the Institute for Energy Research reports that 81% is derived from fossil fuels (U.S. Crude Oil Exports on the Rise). This value illustrates the dependency the United States has succumbed to on energy forms that are subject to limitations. As a growing nation energy usage is inevitable; however, the U.S. can certainly not continue with their current processes without completely depleting their resources. Ultimately, the squandering of fossil fuels has created a predicament for America, and the root of these issues arrived concurrently with some of the nation’s largest technological advancements.

Nonrenewable sources of energy were used in moderation until the 20th century when technological progressions demanded massive amounts of energy. The Environmental Literacy Council explains the reason for petroleum exploitation began in the early 20th century with the development of motor vehicles. Gasoline-powered cars led to tremendous growth in the use of petroleum, and the invention of tanks and airplanes continued this ascension (Petroleum History). These advancements, generated in large quantities, accounted for the considerable margins between petroleum and any other energy type (as shown in Fig. 1). Technological developments constituted a new demand for petroleum and the various fuels that could be derived from it. The EIA (U.S. Energy Information Administration) reports that natural gas, the second most used fossil fuel, ultimately powers different aspects of society including electric power, industrial sectors, residential systems, and commercial equipment (Use of Natural Gas). A range of machines and appliances found ubiquitously in human environments rely on natural gas for their fuel. Electricity is very commonly produced using  natural gas, but smaller tools depend on this fossil fuel as well, including heat and power systems, refrigeration and cooling devices, and particular forms of lighting. Natural gas, like petroleum and other fossil fuels, is being exhausted by performing modernized tasks that continue to evolve. With billions of machines consuming fossil fuels at alarming rates, the amount of remaining reserves are insufficient to meet long-term energy needs.

With the supply of fossil fuels are quickly draining, future generations will endure a scarcity of electric power as well as the pollution that comes from fossil fuels if no alternative is implemented. Ecotricity, an energy cooperation in Britain, displays the short amount of time fossil fuels will last globally in Figure 2 [below]

Fig. 2. Chart illustrates decline in fossil fuel reserves up until 2088. Source: Energy Reserves Through 2088 by Electrocity.

The area of each region accounts for the amount of each particular energy form that is estimated to be consumed each year. Hundreds of billions of tonnes (1 tonne = 1.10231 ton) of coal, gas and coil are currently being used, but this is predicted to decrease to zero within a few decades. Oil and gas reserves should be depleted in less than 50 years, and coal should last only a few decades longer (Electrocity). The significant concept behind this graph is that while the reserves decrease, particularly in the coal region, the area and consumption remains relatively consistent. This means that although the world is running out of coal, it is being used up just as fast without attempts to sustain it. In result, the fuels diminish at fast rates, causing the exhaustion of fossil fuels at the end of the century. Additionally, when fossil fuels are burned nitrogen compounds such as ammonia and nitrogen oxides are polluted into the atmosphere. These emissions can lead to the formation of smog and acid rain, that increase with direct correlation to the fossil fuel usage (The Sources and Solutions: Fossil Fuels). Aside from depriving the Earth of natural resources, extensive expenditure of fossil fuels has a negative effect of the environment. Air pollution is becoming a major concern for the Earth, and the predominate reason for that involves the use of fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels causes excessive carbon dioxide emissions, polluting the air breathed by all organisms. The atmosphere is pivotal to survival, and the continuous damage done to it by fossil fuels threatens all  life. Reducing the amounts of fossil fuels emitted would not only prove invaluable for future generations, but would help amend the contamination within the atmosphere.

Underground rainwater turbines in urban areas that experience excessive rainfall could potentially generate electricity, allowing fossil fuels to be conserved. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs addresses that 1 MW wind turbine can power between 225 and 400 households (Wind Energy: Facts). This is a considerable substitution of nonrenewable energy forms for renewable types. Inventions such as these have the ability to relieve fossil fuels of their reduction, given that the machines are mass-produced globally. One particular issue related to wind-turbines, and to water turbines as well, is their inflexibility in placement. Water turbines rely on large water reservoirs, and wind turbines tend to only be effective in inconvenient, rural areas where the energy becomes inaccessible. The idea of converting  kinetic energy into electricity is still a valuable idea to work off of, nonetheless. The question to consider then involves what other environmental source creates an infinity of kinetic energy, and the answer appears in the form of raindrops. Water accelerates from the sky at a high velocity, colliding with various surfaces before continuing throughout the water cycle. If a Savonius vertical axis wind turbine (SAWT) was converted to lay horizontally with the dimensions altered, then raindrops would have the ability to power a turbine and thus create energy. The turbines would be located beneath sewer gates, in an urban region where ecosystems remain unaffected and the water would be allowed to continue in its path after serving its purpose. SAWTs are made up of a concave up and a concave down blade, which is how they are capable of turning in a single direction. The weight of the rain would provide the necessary torque to spin the blades which would be connected to a generator. Even though raindrops do not provide a very powerful force, a whole system of small turbines could  be arranged in such a manner that small amounts of rain could spin the turbine. Considering that every bit of renewable energy saves a bit of fossil fuels, the rainwater turbine is a promising step towards saving the world’s finite fossil fuels.

The United States needs an effective, renewable source of energy to compensate for fossil fuels. Such a populated, technologically advanced nation relies on hefty amounts of petroleum, natural gas, and coal and within a short amount of time these reserves will be depleted. At the stage this country is at in terms of renewable sources of energy, loss of fossil fuels would mean loss of most machines and vehicles. Thus, it is now necessary to turn towards new inventions and providers of energy such as the rainwater turbine.

Works Cited:

Energy Consumption in the United States (1776-2015). 2016. EIA. Web. 7 Mar. 2017.

Energy Reserves Through 2088. Digital image. Electrocity. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2017.

Holtz, Thomas R. “Re: Fossil Fuels.” Message to Sam Moberly, Barbara Shaw, Gerald Smith, and Jerry Bevers. 9 Mar. 2017. E-mail.

"Petroleum History." The Environmental Literacy Council. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2017.

"The Sources and Solutions: Fossil Fuels." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 19 Jan. 2017. Web. 02 Mar. 2017.

"U.S. Crude Oil Exports on the Rise." Institute for Energy Research. N.p., 17 Aug. 2016. Web. 02 Mar. 2017.

"U.S. Energy Facts Explained." EIA: U.S. Energy Information Administration. U.S. Department of Energy, 3 June 2016. Web. 07 Mar. 2017.

"Use of Natural Gas." EIA: U.S. Energy Information Administration. U.S. Department of Energy, 18 Oct. 2016. Web. 09 Mar. 2017.

"Wind Energy: Facts." The Official Website of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2017. Web. 14 Mar. 2017.

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3/6/17

Environmental Research Paper (1st Body Paragraph)

• Topic Sentence (of first body paragraph)
• Topic sentences exists at the beginning of the paragraph
• Should clearly state the problem you are focusing on for the paper
• "The rapid decline of the bee population in the United States poses a serious threat to the global agriculture."
• Reminders
• Third person
• Get to the point - do not dance around it!
• Use powerful and specific vocabulary
• Make sure you answer the "why?"
• Concrete Detail #1
• Direct quote
• Summary
• Paraphrase
• Introduce quote and highlight the credibility of your source
• Include an MLA in-text citation (Author's last name - if none, then the title of the webpage)
• Commentary
• Minimum of 2-3 sentences
• Pull the research apart to show how the research supports the topic sentence
• Conclusion sentence
• Wrap up paragraph by restating the main points and transition to your next paragraph about the causes

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1/27/17

PTSD StudySync Response

Prompt: There are many disturbing and graphic details in this excerpt from All Quiet on the Western Front, including many sensory details that describe the men’s physical and emotional reactions to the bloodshed around them. Write an argumentative paragraph (claim, data, warrant, counterclaim and rebuttal) that makes a clear claim about the impact of the war on the men's mental health and support that claim with strong textual evidence and analysis. My Response: Erich Maria Remarque used the novel All Quiet on the Western Front to illustrate the loss of morality in soldiers during battle. He describes the paralyzing emotions, stating, "The blast of the hand-grenades impinges powerfully on our arms and legs; crouching like cats we run on, overwhelmed by this wave that beam us along, that fills us with ferocity, turns us into thugs, into murderers, into God only knows what devils" (Paragraph 9). The adrenaline and fear of potential death push the soldiers to run, to fight, to kill, and to essentially change their perspectives on everything they know. Their minds are overpowered and they are turned into mindless murderers that are nothing like the people they are. Some may refute this idea of mindlessness, given that Remarque did hesitate and show signs of humanity when he looked into one soldier's "strange eyes". Nonetheless, Remarque ultimately kills this man and goes even further to say, “If your own father came over with them you would not hesitate to fling a bomb at him” (Paragraph 9). Perhaps there was a second of mercy shown by the soldier, but it disintegrated as quickly as it came. Furthermore, this incident occurred early into the battle, and Remarque describes how they gradually lose their sense and humanness as the battle progresses. This could not be proven any more clearly than in the confirmation that he could easily kill his father in such a state. Remarque experiences the full overpowering of his mental state during the war, and he reveals this common development for soldiers in battle.

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1/19/17

Sonnet 29 StudySync Response

Prompt:

What problem is presented in this sonnet? How is figurative language used to develop this problem in the body of the sonnet? What is the resolution of the sonnet? does Sonnet 29 say about love? Write a thoughtful response using evidence (quotes) from the sonnet to support your answers. 

My Response:
Sonnet 29 presents the problem of feeling worthless and depressed, saying "And look upon myself, and curse my fate" (Line 4). The first quatrain addresses this feeling that William Shakespeare is suffering from, making claims that his life is cursed and that heaven has shunned him. He feels like an outcast and is completely hopeless to finding a resolution. These feelings are elaborated further in the second quatrain when Shakespeare addresses the root of his problem. He feels that he lacks certain qualities, making him inferior to those around him and all around an outcast. Here he uses figurative language, in the statement, "Desiring this man's art and that man's scope" (Line 7). The "art" and "scope" that he is envious of is actually the unique talents of different people, which he considers himself to lack. Shakespeare uses this figurative language to make the sonnet into more of a story and to create depth of emotions. At this point readers can feel the deep suffering Shakespeare is portraying, which shifts in the next quatrain. Here the concept of love is woven in, and he explains how despite the issues he faces with himself, love overcomes it all. The feelings Shakespeare has for himself are dimmed to what he feels for the recipient of the poem, and he uses this to support the theme that love is more powerful then any situation one is facing. Regardless of his "outcast state" (Line 2) and cursed fate, Shakespeare has love which makes it all worth it. 

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1/17/17

Sonnet 18 StudySync Response

Prompt:
In the last couplet, the speaker states “So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.” What does the speaker mean by “this”? What does this last couplet reveal about the purpose of the sonnet? How do these final lines relate to the themes presented in the sonnet? In your analysis, cite evidence from the text.

My Response:
Weaved with the concept of summer's beauty and finite amount of time, William Shakespeare ties in the central idea of everlasting love into Sonnet 18. He uses the idea of summer being so beautiful, yet so short, to express an idea of something much more infinite: love. The key comparison is made in the statement, "But thy eternal summer shall not fade" (Line 9). While summer is not eternal, Shakespeare writes that love is really so much more powerful and lasting. The "eternal summer" in this instance refers to the love and connection between Shakespeare and the one he is addressing, just as "this" means in the final statement. Building on the theme of love lasting forever, the final couplet is essentially stating that "So long as men can breathe or eyes can see" (Line 3), their love will live forever.

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11/14/16

Poetic and Literary Devices:

1.Irony

Something that is opposite to what it seems to be.

2.Paradox A statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory, but in reality expresses a possible truth.

3.Symbolism When an inanimate object represents a larger idea.

4.Motifs A repeating idea throughout a text.

5.Allusion A brief reference to a character, place, idea, etc. of significance.

6.Tragedy A literary work involving the theme of sorrow and suffering.

7.Simile A sentence that compares two things using words such as ‘like’ and ‘as’.

8.Metaphor A figure of speech for a comparison between two unrelated things made to sound to have common characteristics.

9.Hyperbole An exaggerated description used for emphasis.

10.Alliteration A repetition of the same sound at the beginning of multiple words in a sequence.

11.Allegory An entire piece of literature that has a deeper meaning that often involves real life issues. It is similar to symbolism.

12.Anaphora Using a phrase or word multiple times in a sentence to convey emphasis.

13.Couplet Two lines of a verse joined by a rhyme to form a piece of literature.

14.Imagery Visually descriptive language to portray a feeling or action.

15.Onomatopoeia A grouping of words used to express sounds.

16.Personification The representation of an abstract quality in human form.

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Writing Introductions:

We learned about the different ways of writing introductions through a panel presentations, where
Tucker and Neto debated about the differences in science and English introductions.

General Notes:

• Know your tone: choose a hook appropriate for your audience.
• Hook is key: the hook is the first impression that pulls the reader in.
• Thesis: main assertion - what you will be writing your whole essay about.
• Make connections between your hook and your thesis in the middle of your introduction.
• How is your hook relevant to your thesis statement? Discuss in introduction.
• The introduction can be the last thing you write.
• Introductions should only be 4-6 sentences.
• Restrict yourself to only one piece of data or interesting fact in the introduction.
• Need to know how to make the transition from first person to third person once through the hook.
• Strategies can be used for presentations and speeches as well.

Hook Strategies - Science:

• Statistics and data are great for lab introductions, or for science based research papers.
• Do not include data that will be restated later.

• What is the purpose of the experiment? Real world implications?
• Do not ask questions or tie in personal experiments in science papers.
• In science papers, perspective tones are better, and appear more sophisticated.

Hook Strategies - English:

• Personal stories can be a really advanced if they are done well.
• Ensure you do not get carried away and make a story too long.
• This is the only place you can talk in first person, so ensure you make that transition.
• Three questions is a "stepping stone" hook, and should be steered away from after a while.
• More appropriate for informal audiences.
• When it is done well, it can work formally.

Format of introductions

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10/24

StudySync Assignment:

- Prompt: What was the purpose of the reading, and how does the author portray this?

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9/23/16

Argumentative Essay

Did You Say We Wanted More Taxes?

Foods with high levels of sugar and fat should be taxed at a higher rate because Americans would then be more likely to purchase healthy foods.  A report from Inspira Health Network explains, “Because many are poorly educated and poor from an economic perspective, it's cheap to eat bad food. But it's expensive to buy quality good foods that are better for your health” (Community Health Needs Assessment). Raising taxes on unhealthy foods would make healthy food prices more affordable in comparison, thus making the healthier foods the less expensive option. In turn, shoppers looking to stretch their funds would seek the healthier options because they would want to refrain from expensive, unhealthy foods. The less financially fortunate may advocate against this, considering many rely on the inexpensive, unhealthy foods. However, allowing Americans to continue this commonly adapted diet creates a high cost in lives, which outways the financial cost. According to the World Health Organization, “19% of deaths worldwide are attributable to diet-related factors including high cholesterol, high blood glucose, obesity and overweightness, and high blood pressure” ( ). Quite often Americans disregard the powerful effects their diets can have on them, and the reality is that food can kill just like any drug overused. Governments prohibit drugs for the health of individuals, and because many Americans are growing addicted to junk food, these too should be made less accessible. Reliance on these poisons is unhealthy, and certainly should not be the factor holding the country back from growing in overall well-being. With America everything is about money, and with less affordable junk food, healthy choices will be made the only choice.

Works Cited:

Inspira Health Network. Community Health Needs Assessment. Gloucester County: Holleran

Community Engagement Research and Counseling, 2016. PDF.

Lackner, Timothy Joseph, "The Effects of Short-Term Consumption of a Western-Style

Junk-Food Diet in Rats" (2016). All Regis University Theses. Paper 710.

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9/9/16

Argumentative Paragraph Notes

1. Claim
1. Your position and argument that you will try to prove throughout the paragraph
2. Data
1. Quote experts, studies, specific info
2. Include a quote introduction and in text citation
3. Warrant
1. Explanation and analysis of how your data supports your claim
2. Unpack the data/deconstruct
3. At least 2 sentence, preferably more
4. Remain in objective third person
4. Counterclaim
1. Presents and opinion that is different from your own
5. Rebuttal
1. Present additional expert quotes, factual info or data to prove the counterclaim is not a strong as your initial claim
2. Need additional data, explanation, and analysis   
6. Conclusion
1. Wrap up paragraph, relating back to claim
2. Include dynamic wording, differing from the phrasing you have used previously