Peer Review 15

This peer review was for Olivia Sandhu. I looked at her Editorial Report 15a and decided to make a content suggestion.

1. I suggested that she add more anecdotal evidence to her paragraphs because it felt rather unconvincing without academic examples of procrastination.
2. I think adding this evidence with make the entire essay seem a bit more reflective as she would be truly examining her past writing experiences.
3. I really enjoyed her tone, and I think I could implement a bit more character into my QRG as she did.

Editorial Report 15b

For this blog post, I decided to look as the first section, "Who Was I as a Writer" and re-edit it to flow easier and make more sense.

Raw Content:

This quote was taken from a blog post I wrote at the very beginning of the semester. Even then, I was quite aware of my tendency to put off tasks until the last minute.

The issue of plagiarism has plagued me ever since I was a very small child (I even waited to be born until two weeks after the due date). Every time a large assignment would arise, I would put it off until the very last possible minute.

Science projects, essays, you name it, I could procrastinate on it. It would cause me much stress that I would be tears, but then I would do it all over again for the next project. Talk about the definition of insanity.

Yet, if I look back on all the grades I received for my tears and angst, I would see a high amount of positive comments and high grades. If this is what my procrastination produces, why stop?

Re-edited Content:

This quote was taken from a blog post I wrote at the very beginning of the semester. Even then, I was quite aware of my tendency to put off tasks until the last minute.

The issue of plagiarism has plagued me ever since I was a very small child (I even waited to be born until two weeks after the due date). Every time a large assignment would arise, I would put it off until the very last possible minute. I could never seem to get over the procrastination hump, even thorough high school when the pressure mounted in high school.

Science projects, essays, you name it, I could procrastinate on it. Even for my final senior project, a 10 page paper and presentation on food production in my home town. It would cause me much stress that I would be tears, but then I would do it all over again for the next project. Talk about the definition of insanity.

1. I decided to provide more anecdotal evidence, such as the example of my senior project, because I felt that it would not only fill out the paragraph, but also make my reflection more convincing.
2.  I combined the multiple paragraphs because I felt that the information was more connected than separate.

Editorial Report 15a

For this editorial report, I decided to redo the introduction of my QRG, as someone suggested that I should make it less argumentative and more reflective.

Raw Content:

Procrastination. It might as well be the common cold, because everyone gets it, especially around the end of the semester! There is no student or worker that hasn’t been affected by this terrible disease, myself included. Even now, as I write this paragraph full of metaphors about terrible illnesses, I pause for a few seconds in between to watch a video or check Facebook. Missed deadlines, failed papers, and low grades are all possible symptoms, but there can be an argument made that, like the chicken pox, it is a necessary process to undergo in order to produce quality work later in life. People who procrastinate are not lazy, they’re optimizing their process.

Re-Edited Section:

Procrastination. It might as well be the common cold, because everyone gets it, especially around the end of the semester! Every student at this university is familiar with this issue. Even now, as I write this introductory paragraph full of metaphors about terrible illnesses, I continue to pause for a few seconds in between sentences to watch a video or check Facebook.

As I expand upon later, it would seem that I failed to change my ways. I continued to procrastinate throughout the semester, and couldn't curb my habit. But I don't think that this should be considered a failure. The fact that I continued to procrastinate, but was still able to work around it and in fact accept my tendency to procrastinate, was a success.

1. I decided to change the language in the two paragraphs because an earlier comment had said that the metaphor I had used seemed force. I left the first paragraph essentially the same, but left the metaphor in the second paragraph.
2. The re-edited section is a bit longer than the raw content. I also split the paragraph into two, as I felt that the introduction would flow easier.

Open Post to Peer Reviewers

Here is my QRG. I decided to focus on a specific part of my process, procrastination, because it was the one thing that stayed consistant throughout the course. I also decided to look at the idea of positive procrastination through a larger lense by doing research on different studies on the subject.

1. I would like make sure that my reviewers understand that I am not only reflecting on my writing process and the semester, but also making an argument about the value of procrastination.
2. I think that some of the phrasing may be a bit awkward, especially towards the end, and I am a bit unsure of my inclusion of images. Do you think that it is too much or too little?
3. I think I followed the conventions of QRG very well; I have many different sections and pictures as well as multiple links to various studies and sites.

Peer Review 14

For this week I decided to peer review Marvin Chaires's production schedule. His schedule had a huge amount of detail that I really admire.

1.  I decided to make a resource suggestion and offer advice about where he could complete the editing parts of his production schedule.
2.  I've personally found that only being in one place while editing severely limits the amount of inspiration I get to tell the narrative with sound effects and music.
3.  However, his attention to detail in the schedule is something I feel that I can really emulate in my own schedule.

Production Report 14b

For this production report, I decided to compare the second section, "who am I as a writer" with the page from my QRG.

Raw Content versus Adaptation of Raw Content

1.  For the final project I used the genre of QRG. For this specific section, I used a header, as well as images to help separate out the information I provided in the outline.
2. I was having issues completing this section because I couldn't figure out how to phrase certain things, specifically how my process has changed.

Production Report 14a

Here is the link to the first page of my QRG. I think it turned out rather well, but I think there might be a bit too much sarcasm, but I'm not too sure.

Outline Item versus Adaptation of Outline Item 

1. For this adaptation, I used the form of a QRG to display the content from my outline. For example, I used short paragraphs and lots of spacing to make it easier to read. I also used quotes and images to summarize the goal/ purpose of the QRG.
2. I keep getting distracted while writing the QRG. I also had trouble coming up with a good hook, but I think the one I came up with works very well.

Production Schedule

Here is my schedule. Since the amount of time that we have to complete the project is so limited, and the time I have next week is also limited, I plan to do pretty much all the work this week. Next week will be specifically reserved for editing and revising my final project.

Cooggle

Reflection on Local Revision Process

This week was not as I expected, in the slightest. I expected to be much more stressed out about completing the project on time, but I realized that I pretty much completed my video last week and only needed to worry about editing.

• This week I feel that I really made a informative and well made video. I was able to re-record some audio, as well as take a few video clips and input them into the video. I think overall I was really successful at cleaning up the video.
• I think a few failures this week included procrastinating my blog posts. I waited until today to write them and it took a significant amount of my time. I also failed to follow some of my peer reviewer's advice, which I regret slightly because it is too late to implement it.
• I am nervous for next week because we have two weeks to complete an entire project, which I have done very little to prepare for. I really hope that I will be able to do a significant amount of work next week, but there are certainly no promises.
• I am confident that I put my best work into this project and that it produce the wanted results.

Peer Review 13b

For this peer review I looked at Jack Aulsen's standard college essay on the use of security in the US. His argument is that although security is important, the degree to which terrorism is used as an excuse is unacceptable.

1. I decided to make a suggestion about the flow of the essay, specifically about the large amount of paragraphs he used. I felt that there were too many and it was quite overwhelming to read. The flow in my mind was consistently interrupted.
2. I think combining a few of the paragraphs will make it easier for the reader to follow his excellent points. I also think it well help the reader connect adjunct ideas rather than separating them out.
3. I think I could take his amount of detail and add it to my own project; I definitely feel that it is lacking in exposition and could take example from Jack.

Peer Review 13a

For this peer review I looked at Ben Meyer's QRG, which was about the new SAT format. His QRG was sectioned very well and I thought his evidence was really great.

1. I decided to make a copy-editing suggestion for Ben, specifically about the language he used in the QRG. I suggested that he refined the language a bit to make it seem a bit more professional. I also suggested he clarify what he is arguing; is he saying that the new SAT is a bad solution, or is he suggesting an entire new solution.
2. I think changing the language would certainly add to the author's credibility, and make it seem more professionally written. I as think clarifying his argument will make the QRG more interesting and understandable.
3. I think I could take some tips from him about flow; my video essay is definitely lacking in that area. I also think I lack the conviction that he has, as in my video essay is just kind of boring and lacking in opinion. 

Editorial Report 13b

For this editorial report, I decided to compare my original list of images to the new list, which included images that are very important to the story. There are also images that act as more tools than evidence.

Original List versus New List

1) Not only are there new images in the list, but also the citations are more correct/complete. The images add more content to the the end product, the video, as well.

2) The types of images are also less of visual evidence, but more of examples or explanation tools than the original examples. For example, I use the definition of policy and controversy to help enunciate my points.

Editorial Report 13a

For this editorial report, I decided to look at the original audio for my ending and compare it to the re-edited version I recorded a few days ago. I think the final recording is much more indusive to my argument.

Rough Audio versus Final Audio

1) As for the content change, the new audio clip is much longer, and definitely has much more evidence to support my argument. I included more emotional reasons as well, which makes it even stronger.

2) For the form change, I decided to structure it in sections depending on the content. For example, I put pauses in between the talks about the current solution and my proposed solution on policy. I think it is much easier to follow when specific ideas are separated in the audio.

Revised Post to Peer Reviewers

Here is my final cut of the video. I have finished with content creation, and plan to do a few touch ups with editing. Otherwise, I am pretty confident in my project overall.

• I would like all peer reviewers to know that this is pretty much the final cut of the video. I have inputed all the content I plan to use, however, there are still some editing things that need to be done.
• I think that there are still some editing issues. For example, there a lot of awkward pauses, however, I am having issues distinguishing between the necessary pauses and the ones that are too long. I would be great if you guys could help by giving your opinions.
• I think I've included enough evidence that my argument is fully supported. I have multiple quotations as well as a lot of visual evidence. 

Reflection on Global Revision Process

This week went rather well. Although I am still having some trouble with the editing process, I think I have finally finished producing the main story.

• This week I was able to move forward with the main production of the video, specifically finding and editing the images I am going to use in the video.
• Procrastination got the best of me again this week, as I put off all the blog posts until the weekend. I also need to re-record the audio for my conclusion, which is going to take a good chunk of time.
• I have a small amount of catching up to do, but I am not too worried about it, because I am determined to produce a quality video.
• I think this project is definitely the hardest one yet, but I feel that this is because I am producing a 7 minute video instead of writing an essay.

Peer Review for Alexis Morrison

For this peer review I decided to peer review Alexi Morrison's Standard College Essay. Their subject, gender neutral pronouns, is a very important to me, and I thought she produced a respectful and well produced essay on it.

• I decided to make a content suggestion, specifically about their concluding paragraph and how they could increase the length.
• I think that taking a bit of the info they provided in both the introduction and the body paragraphs and maybe finding one more quote that would sum up all of these ideas. This would only make their argument stronger, as it reinforces their earlier claims.
• I incorporated ideas from other academic examples and discussions in class. A better concluding paragraph, as I've learned in my research for the previous project, really can make the difference between a successful and a failing essay.
• Again, I really admired their use of examples and quotes, and their word choice was very academic. It gave off a sense of knowledge and professionalism that most student essays do not.

Peer Review for Joshua Smith

For this peer review I decided to look at Joshua Smith's Rough Cut of his standard college essay. I think that he has a great start on the essay. It was very well written, and it explains the situation very
thoroughly.

• I decided to make a suggestion about the form conventions of a standard college essay, specifically about his decision to use subsections in the essay.
• I suggested that he remove these as they are not typical of a college essay. Instead, I think he should attempt to write some transitional sentences, so that his ideas can still be separate, but still connected. Changing this would just make the essay "more standard" than not.
• I used the other college essay examples we discussed in class, as well as my own experience writing an essay for project 2.
• I admired his use of examples; they were certainly plentiful, and they were very supportive of his argument. I certainly think that I could incorporate more examples and quotes to fill out my video essay.  

Open Post to Peer Reviewers

Here is the Rough Cut of my video. I think, although it is truly "rough", it shows my argument relatively effectively.

1. This is truly a rough cut. I haven't been able to do any editing on the last minutes of the video. I also decided to rewrite the end of my script which I haven't been able to re-record yet, so the video isn't as long as I wanted it to be.
2. I know that the editing and pauses are a bit awkward. I'm still trying to figure out a cadence that makes sense with the video. I would prefer if you focused on the content, like my argument and evidence, rather than that stuff.
3. I think that the exposition of the video, and the explanation of the situation, is really well displayed. I think I made it really easy to understand the issue without losing all the details. I also think I incorporated multiple quotes relatively well. 

Editorial Report 12a

For this editorial report, I decided to focus on the script that I was using for the video. I decided to add a bit more detail to substantiate my argument.

Selection from "Rough-Cut" vs Re-edited Version

1. The language in the script, I think, makes a bit more sense. There is also more evidentiary support for my argument against current public health and economic policies. 
2. The script is certainly more lengthy, but I also separated it into different paragraphs so each thought doesn't just flow right into one another. The pauses make it easier to read and think about.  

Editorial Report 12b

For this editorial report, I decided to take the small cut of the video I made last week and compare it to the length that I produced this week. The clip is significantly longer, and the edits/transitions are much cleaner.

Selection from "Rough Cut" vs. Re-edited Selection

1. There is significantly more content in the re-edited section, and I think that more of the story is revealed. It, overall, is a better representation of the current issue in Flint, Michigan.
2. I also removed the audio clicks, which were rather distracting, and the transitions between sections are much, much smoother. These edits make it easier to focus on the content, rather than on the issues with editing. I also added more images and audio.

Reflection on Production Week

This week was focused on further producing my essay, which is approximently half done. I am on track to finish the video next week, and am relatively confident in myself to produce a quality essay.

• I feel that this week I was able to lay down a great foundation, with the production of both audio and the list of sited images, for a good video essay. I also was able to produce at least half of the essay already, which puts me ahead of schedule.
• This week I had a few challenges finding motivation to produce anything and got stuck doing everything on the weekend.
• I think next week will be fine because I was able to catch up this weekend, but i am afraid that if I continue to procrastinate I will not be able to finish in time.
• I feel pretty average about the essay so far, but not as confident as I was at this point during the last project.

Peer Review 11b

For this peer review, I looked at Gaby Marty's Production Report. The way she took her raw content and transformed it into a great paragraph was really impressive.

• For this production report I decided to make a content suggestion, specifically about the inclusion of credible sources. 
• I suggested that she include more credible sources, perhaps from a psychological study analyzing the effects of physical punishment on child development. I think this will corroborate her argument of the negative effects of spanking, and therefore make it more credible.
• For this, I incorporated material from my experience in rhetorical writing, as well as the numerous conversations we've had in class about evidence and credible writing.
• I thoroughly admired the way she took her notes and transformed them into a greatly worded, convincing paragraph. I think I could be more straightforward in my own writing with my argument.

Peer Review 11a

For this peer review, I decided to peer review my classmate Malik Bullik. I looked at his production report, where he took a part of his script and made edits.

• I decided to talk about the form of the video genre in relation to his raw content.
• I suggested that he include more testimony from both the public and from the people who are proposing a solution. Evidence, specifically verbal evidence, is very important in a video essay in order to prove your point. Including this would help improve his argument against the solution proposed by Bernie Sanders.
• I incorporated material from the examples of video essays given at the begining of class, as well as the information given on the different types arguments in A Student's Guide
• I admired his direct tone in his script; rather than dancing around his point, he immediately suggested his opinion. 

Production Report 8b

For this project report, I decided to show the collection of cited images I gathered and the resulting first section of my video.

Here is the list of cited images

Here is the first section of my video

• A large component a video essay is obviously imagery, and the development of the list of images was very important to the production. 
• This portion of the production took a while because I had to look up all the information for each photo. 

Production Report 8a

This week I decided to focus on developing two parts of my video essay; the audio and the visual. This production report is about the script for my essay.

Here is the written script, which was on the coggle I wrote

And here is the recorded audio

• For the raw content I decided to use a coggle because it allowed me to put down my thoughts in relation to each other. Like I could section off each part of the video in written form. 
• I definitely had issues recording the audio this time. I just couldn't find the right cadence and had to re-record multiple times. I also had trouble finding the right words for the tone of the essay.

Reflection on Pre-Production Week

As I write this reflection, I am forced to realized that I did not delegate time very well this week. For future reference I must work more efficiently if I am to get anything done. 

• This week went well because I was able to get through a large amount of content fairly well. I was able to gather a multitude of sources and to take only the most important of content. I also think I was able to communicate that content through my content outline.

• This week, even though it felt like I was dedicating time everyday to working on the project, I seemed to be behind on everything. It felt like I was struggling to do anything. I also lost a significant amount of work through technological errors.

• If I start working immediately, rather than delaying for a few days, I think the ideas and the work will flow much more easily. However, I am still worried that I won't be able to complete all the work required of me.

• I think that the project has a lot of potential, but I need to get more focused if I want to bring that potential to the next level. 

Peer Review 10b

For this peer review, I decided to look at Emily Bond's production schedule. Her attention to detail was very impressive and she clearly cares about sticking to a schedule.

• I decided to do the production schedule activity and make a research suggestion. Although, her post didn't really need much help!
• In my suggestion, I said that it would be best to complete each portion of the project in one sitting. Otherwise, I've found, ideas seem to be rather adjunct and unconnected. It just sounds better all together.
• Again, I decided to incorporate some personal experience as well as previous research on the conventions of QRG.
• For myself, I think I should take Emily's attention to detail and honesty, and add it to my own production schedule. It is already pretty bare, but I think that I could learn from her and make it better. 

Peer Review 10a

For this peer review, I decided to look at Joshua Smith's content outline. For his college essay, he decided to write about the issue with fracking, a technique used to extract natural gas from the earth.

• In my review, I decided to discuss his use of evidence, which was very prevalent in his outline. He also explained the rhetorical strategies used in each article. However, I felt that he did not provide enough detail within the outline. He just put each example in the outline without explaining why it worked.
• I think that adding more information, even if it is just for himself, will help move the production process along. The sparse detail now will only make it harder later to produce viable content. 
• I used my own personal experiences as well as the feedback that Professor Bottai gave me on my own content outline for the last project. As Bottai said last time, the more you can outline and put down now, the less work you will have in the future.
• I think that his use of evidence is very impressive. I feel that I could include more evidence myself as it can only make my argument stronger.

Content Outline

This content outline is essentially my video essay in written form. It has my introduction/ history, the current situation, the aftermath and my own proposal for a solution. 

Coggle 

Production Schedule

Project three has become a large undertaking, not only because I plan on doing a video essay, but also because there is so much content on the Flint Water Crisis to read and understand. However, with this schedule, I think it has become a bit more manageable. As long as I stick to the schedule, I will be able to complete the video essay in time. 

Rhetorical Analysis of Project 3

For project three, I have decided to tackle one of the largest environmental controversies in the past 5 years, the Flint Michigan Water Scandal.

Who is the Author?

• As an environmental studies major, a person who cares deeply for the environment around her, and a human rights activist, this event has hit home. The scandal has become a household name through media and public discussion for it's political implications. Magazines like Time and National Geographic, as well as well known newspapers like The New York Times and Washington Post, have covered the issue and spread the name far. It's possible to draw from these sources for a discussion of blame and politics, but for an actual explanation of how and why this occurred, it is better to draw from scientific sources, such as journals and researchers with authority.  A very important source that I've used over and over again is my high school mentor, who has taught me more about environmental issues than anything else. I plan to become a person who is dedicated to bettering the environment around her, be it through big environmental groups and projects, or just living more environmentally friendly myself. Learning from events now can help in the future.

• I personally have strong feelings towards subjects like this, and should avoid letting my bias against large company's and their ability to ruin wonderful and beautiful environments. I have always been environmentally conscious and my experiences growing up in a very liberal, progressive, and environmentally engaged town has taught me to hate big business and the disasters they create. Flagstaff, and the residents of, has never cared for fitting in and living in a life of luxury at the expense of others.However, as I mentioned earlier, it is more important to understand how this happened and how to fix it rather than assign blame for why it happened. This project is about solutions and why they are good or bad on a logical level, not on a personal level.

Who is the Audience?

• The audience for this event, so far, has been the entirety of the US. This has been because of the air time it has had on media thus far. The political implications of the event has captured a very large audience, but very little of the technical and environmental implications have been covered. I plan to discuss all three of these ideas for an audience that is looking for more depth in the issue. 

• This audience, after being exposed to the political turmoil that followed the event, might disagree with the causes and the proposed solutions because it goes against the beliefs of certain political parties and of big businesses. 

• I think they may wholly disagree with my proposals because of our opposite political beliefs. Just knowing that I am a liberal alone can cause a disagreement because of the precedence set by political rifts in our own government. In other words, democrats and republicans can't get along at all.

• As I mentioned previously, by avoiding being biased and proposing or rejecting proposals simply because they are for big business or are "too conservative". By providing logical reasons for my disagreement, I think I could manage to captivate the audience better.

• I would like to consider my father as a person who could benefit from being in my audience. He and I are almost total opposites, both politically and in social views. However, he is a big believer in logical arguments, and I think with using certain facts and statistics to substantiate the argument I would be able to convince him of the proper solution for this horrible tragedy.

What is the Message/ Purpose?

• I want to be able to convince my audience of the issues that come with big business and inform them of the solutions that have been denounced by political parties. I want them to understand the implications of these issues and I want them to motivated to do something about them. Finally, I want them to believe in their own power to prevent these things from happening.

• I think many of the people talking about this issue are only concerned about the political aspects of the issue and not the people of Flint, Michigan. I think they need to focus less on the controversy and more on the people who are being affected by the tragedy. There could be more testimony from them rather than the politicians involved. We need to know why they think this is happening, and what they think could be done to fix the overlying issues.  After all, it is their livelihoods and children that are being affected, not the politicians in Washington.

What is the genre?

• For this project I plan on using a video essay to present my argument that the proposed solutions to the Flint water problem.

• The audience for this genre is generally younger, from the millennial generation, because of the prevalence of video essays on Youtube. However, there are more older viewers that would be interested in this topic and they also have access to these websites.

• I have never made a video essay before and am really not familiar with the technology or the conventions of the genre.

• I am very worried that I will fail to produce a quality video and therefore fail to present a vail argument for project three. I need to get focused on how to produce a quality video and do some research.

• The most important conventions of a video essay are relevant pictures/ images, and quality audio. Both conventions help the viewer understand the topic better, and having confusing pictures or audio kinda ruins the whole experience.

When?

• In order to understand the current issue, we need to go back and understand previous disasters, like the Chicago river fire, or the BP oil spill, and how the government handled those situations through things like litigation and compensation. We also need to familiarize ourselves with regulations, like the Clean Water Act, or lack there of, that are in place to prevent these things from happening. Once we understand the precedence set by these things, we can begin to analyze how well, or how poorly, the officials in Flint, Michigan, plan to handle the situation.

• Large news channels, like NBC, CNN, ABC, and Fox, are all covering the issue, discussing things like how this all started, the people who have been affected, and who's to blame. They have even discussed the proposed plans to fix the disaster. Yet, many have yet to propose their own solutions.

• The many of the solutions consist of only immediate relief and do not take long term fixes into consideration, such as is proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder on this CNN Newscast. There is no mention of learning why this happened or how to fix it; only mentioning the issue and the need for immediate relief through bottled water and medical assistance. Another solution, posted on a blog intended to promote capitalism in all it's glory, proposes that the water system in Flint should be privatized because it would encourage more water testing and safety. In my opinion, this will make the situation much worse; private businesses are more likely to cheat on water safety and have no incentives to fix the problem. A final solution proposed is to first, locate the lead pipes that were contaminating the water, and let them grow a protective coating to protect the water in the future, as proposed on this NPR podcast. However, this is not a long term solution. These lead pipes need to be replaced with a metal that will not leech into the water, but that could take months, which is time that the people of Flint do not have.

Research Report

Lead Levels In Flint, Michigan, Water Have Residents Avoiding Tap

•  Holt, Lester. "Lead Levels In Flint, Michigan, Water Have Residents Avoiding Tap - NBC News." NBC News. 08 Oct. 2015. Web. 30 Mar. 2016. 

• This is the first mention of the scandal on the popular nightly news cast, NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Formally presented by Brian Reagan, the news cast is watched by a very large audience and is known for it's presentation of liberal media. Although they have experienced controversy somewhat recently, they are usually very accurate in their sharing of facts and statistics (Example), and the show has been running since 1949. Their logical arguments and their longstanding place in media makes it easier to trust them than other news media.  The target audience for the NBC nightly news cast is mostly families tuning in at night for a discussion of updates about the daily and weekly news. The fact that this source is dependent upon testimonies of families who were effected reflects this, as does the fact that the tone of the source is much lighter than other newscasts. The purpose of this podcast is to simply inform, rather than assign blame. This is substantiated by their use of facts and history, rather than a dependence on political rhetoric. This source is great for the facts rather than for the blame game, and it really establishes the current situation of Flint. 

"How Flint, Michigan's Tap Water Became Toxic"

•  Ganim, Sarah, and Lihn Tran. "How Flint, Michigan's Tap Water Became Toxic." CNN. Cable News Network, 13 Jan. 2016. Web. 30 Mar. 2016. 

• This source, "How Flint, Michigan's Tap Water Became Toxic", is a segment from a CNN newscast about the origin of the toxicity of the water. CNN is another well known Newscast on the cable network CNN. CNN, as a cable news network, is host to many different types of events, such as the presidential debates. This fact gives it a well rounded feel to the viewers. It also has access to resources that smaller news productions don't, such as world travel. Unlike NBC, however, it is less targeted toward a "family" audience. This newscast depends on facts and statistics, like the specific data for the rise in lead levels, and uses less emotional rhetoric than would be used on a family oriented newscast. The goal for the segment was to inform the audience of the seriousness of the situation. The fact that they use actual footage in a resident's home substantiates this claim. They also use a doctor's interview on the subject, adding crediblity to their claim. Overall, this news segment is good for understanding how the water is affecting the residents and how professionals are understanding it themselves.

"Flint Mother Gives Emotionional Testimony of How Water Crisis Affected Her Children's Health"

•  Jacobo, Julia. "Flint Mother Gives Emotional Testimony of How Water Crisis Affected Her Children's Health." ABC News. ABC News Network, 29 Mar. 2016. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.

•  This source is a segment from an ABC newscast on the effects of the water on Flint families. ABC, unlike CNN, is a privately owned news corporation, and is usually directed towards families as their audience. The author of this segment is Julia Jacobo, a well known ABC writer that has had her focus on controversies and political scandals like Flint for awhile. Her twitter feed states that she has not only been hosted on ABC, but also Elite Daily Magazine and Haute Living Magazine. The targeted audience is obviously families, families with kids, who are going to be able to make a difference. This is substantiated by the fact that this video focuses solely on a mother's testimony. The audience is better able to relate to her rather than a strange newscaster. She also uses very emotional language in regards to her children, at one point even stating, "...it keeps me up at night". The audience would feel personally affected because of their own connection to her their children. The purpose of this source is to show how the residents have been affected rather than focusing on who is to blame for the issue. The testimony shows this, as does the transcription bellow that us describing the whole ordeal she had to go through. This source is different from the previous two because it depends on emotional rhetoric rather than just facts. It is a different perspective, which is important for context when deciding the right solution.

"Blame game erupts over Flint's toxic water, Dems target GOP gov"

•  Pergram, Chad, and The Associated Press. "Blame Game Erupts over Flint's Toxic Water, Dems Target GOP Gov | Fox News." Fox News. FOX News Network, 19 Jan. 2016. Web. 02 Apr. 2016. 

• This source comes from Fox News Network, which is another cable news provider. The author of this particular source is Chad Pergram, as well as any Associated Press at Fox. Chad is very well known for his congressional coverage at Fox, but he has previously worked for PRI, NPR, and the C-SPAN network. He is clearly a well rounded journalists; each of those companies are known for different types of coverage. His twitter feed is covered in congressional stories; clearly he brings his work into his personal life. The audience for a fox news cast is usually more conservative businessmen, and this source is no different. It is composed of political rhetoric that could only be understood if one is keeping up with this presidential election. For example, it discusses the actions of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders at the debate on Sunday, January 17th. The source also consists of it's own debate between a republican and democratic analyst. Really, this source is not about the dangerous situation itself, but about who is to blame for it. There is no mention of the residents or their issues, and the transcription below seems to only consist of key politicians and government agencies. Despite this, I really think this source is good for discovering what the two political parties think the correct solution is.

"Flint Begins The Long Process of Fixing It's Water Problem"

•  Shapiro, Ari. "Flint Begins The Long Process Of Fixing Its Water Problem." NPR. NPR, 1 Feb. 2016. Web. 02 Apr. 2016. 

• This NPR source is different from any of the previous entries because it is not a video. The podcast was written by Ari Shapiro, who is the host of All Things Considered, a popular segment of the show. He has a very worldly resume, from covering wars in Ukraine and Iraq to presenting stories on 5 continent. He also has a presence on Tumblr, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook which implies that he has multiple connections with different audiences. The audience for this particular podcast, based on the casual language used and the references to the volunteer efforts, is obviously more philanthropic and humanities based. The purpose of this podcast is to not only inform of current efforts, such as supplying bottled water and food, but also to question what the further efforts will be. This is demonstrated by the interview with Kaufman, a professor at the university of Michigan. This source is good to understand potential solutions that are being proposed. It is also beneficial for understanding why this happened.

"Why It Won't Be Easy or Cheap to Fix Flint's Water Crisis"

•  Bosman, Julie. "Why It Won’t Be Easy or Cheap to Fix Flint’s Water Crisis." The New York Times. The New York Times, 11 Feb. 2016. Web. 03 Apr. 2016. 

• This source, unlike the sources I have discussed previously, is a text only source. It is an article from the New York Times about potential solutions for the Flint Water Crisis. The author is Julie Bosman, who normally covers political controversies for the paper. She has had a long run at the paper, since 2002, and worked at The New Republic. Her twitter feed is full of articles about politics, and she even has a quote from Rob Snyder, a key player in the Flint issue, on her front page. She is clearly dedicated to her work. The audience for the NY Times are usually businessmen, and such is the case for this article. The article depends on the audience's knowledge of not only politics but also basic economic knowledge, something a businessman is bound to have. The article is also structured in a Q&A style, which would make it easier to read for someone who is short on time. The purpose of the article, as discussed before, is to propose a counter-argument to a proposed solution. In fact the third and fourth "questions" are dedicated to the solution already enacted and why it doesn't work. The author also uses rather negative language when talking about the efforts done so far. I think that this is a great example of what I am trying to accomplish in my video essay because of it's specificity of detail about the current situation and amount of evidence against the solutions proposed.

"Here's How to Fix Flint's Water Problem: Privatize It"

•  Moore, Adrian. "Here's How to Fix Flint's Water System: Privatize It." Reason.com. 01 Feb. 2016. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.

•  This source is different from every single other source because it comes from a private blog, rather from a newspaper or newscast. The blog is called reason.com and is dedicated to discussing the free market and capitalism. The author of this particular post is Adrian Moore. Moore holds a PhD in Economics and holds a spot in a think tank dedicated to "advancing free minds and free market." He has also co-authored multiple books on economics, including Mobility First: A New Vision for Transportation in a Globally Competitive 21st Century. The audience for this post is most likely economic enthusiasts; the language is tailored to those with previous exposure to economics. The issue is also analyzed through an economic lens, rather than a political or environmental lens. The purpose of this blog post is to suggest a counter-solution to the ones already suggested by both politicians and scientists. This is evidenced by not only the title, which suggests that the solution is the privitization of Flint water system, but also by it's use of examples of previous situations in which free market economics was applied as a solution. This source is good to discover a variety of different solutions, specifically from an economic standpoint. It is also a great way to get the opinions of someone who has not been influenced by politics or anything of the sort. 

"How the Water Crisis in Flint, Mich., Became a Federal Emergency" 

•  Durando, Jessica. "How Water Crisis in Flint, Mich., Became Federal State of Emergency." USA Today. Gannett, 20 Feb. 2016. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.

•  USA Today is a newspaper that is fairly widespread across the states. They tend to publish stories about national events. The author of this particular story is Jessica Durando

Reflection on Project Two

I am much more confident in this project than I was for project one. I feel that my essay is very detailed and professional, and definitely more quality work than essays I have written in the past. I truly think I was able to grasp and persecute the goal of this project very well.

• What were some of the successes (or, things that went right) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.
• This week was very successful time management-wise. The fact that I am ready to turn in the paper in a day early, and confident enough to do so, tells me that I truly managed my effort well. I also think my flow of ideas this week also allowed me to edit and insert a few ideas that make the piece even better.

• What were some of the challenges (or, things that went wrong) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.
• I am concerned that I did not provide enough content this week for my paper. It is only 6 pages, and many of my peers have written papers that are 7 pages or more. However, I realized that it is quality over quantity in most cases, and I think that the content I have provided is qualifies as a well-written, professional paper.

• How do you think next week will go, based on your experiences this week?
• I think I am ready to start the next project, however, I might take a few days off to recuperate. Then I am willing to jump right in.

• How are you feeling about the project overall at this point?
• After working on this project for a few good weeks, I really feel that there is no more I can add to my paper to effect it's quality or resulting grade. I am truly confident that I put all of my skills towards writing an affective and great paper.

Editorial Report 9b

For this part I decided to compare the first draft of my third paragraph and the final draft of my third paragraph. That way I would have analyzed the first and last drafts of all of my paragraphs, including the introduction and the conclusion.

Rough Draft versus Final Draft

Audience Questions

• How did the content change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the content is being communicated more effectively in the re-edited version?
• As was with my other paragraph, there was definitely more content in the final draft of the paragraph. I think the most significant difference was that I included quotes from the blog which I was referencing, as well as decided to paraphrase from my interview with Sophia Borgias.

• How did the form change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the form is presenting the content more effectively in the re-edited version?
• The form did not change much from the rough cut of the paragraph, however, I did chose to move around a few sentences and ideas so the piece would flow much easier. I think that this gives off a more professional feel than jumping from idea to idea.

Editorial Report 9a

For Editorial Report 9a, I chose to compare and contrast between the rough draft and the final draft of my first body paragraph. I thought this was most appropriate because I did the same last week between my introductory and concluding paragraphs.

Rough Cut Versus Final Draft

Audience Questions

• How did the content change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the content is being communicated more effectively in the re-edited version?
• There is not only more content in the final draft, but it provides much more support for my argument. Since I added specific quotes from my interviewee and from the journals I was using as examples, the paragraph seems all the more convincing. I also edited grammar and language so that the piece flows much easier.

• How did the form change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the form is presenting the content more effectively in the re-edited version?
• Although the piece still only has four paragraphs, it sounds much more like an academic essay. This is because I put in topic and transitional sentences, and overall made edits to any run on sentences.

Peer Review 9b

For this portion of the peer review, I elected to review David Klebosky's QRG. I really enjoyed his project, his sarcastic tone was a great attention grabber, and he still was able to communicate the information thoroughly.

• For his QRG I decided to focus on genre conventions (activity two) because of his significant lack of some.

•  Although David's language and tone were absolutely great, the piece was lacking any visual aids, which is a core convention of a QRG. I suggested, obviously, that he should add some, but also from the specific project which he was discussing. I think that a few images would really help the reader grasp some of the concepts which he is talking about.

• I drew from our discussion earlier in the semester about genre conventions and the key differences between an essay and a QRG (images).

• I really did admire his ability to make the QRG entertaining with his tone, but also was able to share the information professionally. Although the tone of my academic essay must be a bit less sarcastic, I think that I could make it a bit lighter than it is right now.

Peer Review 9a

For this post I peer reviewed another academic essay, which was really beneficial for discovering the thought processes of my peers and for learning how to improve my own essay.

• I peer reviewed Jackson Starmer's blog and his essay on publishing with in the mathematics field.

• Although I misunderstood the directions and performed all four of the activities, I would like to focus on the genre convention of organization. 

• I suggested that he use fewer paragraphs because the current amount was rather overwhelming. Combining a few of his ideas would make the essay flow much easier, and significantly shorter. Both of these things would just put his essay on the next level.

• I drew from the genre conventions that we discussed at the beginning of the semester, as well as the examples that were provided. I also drew from our conversation about rhetorical strategies from the beginning of project two.

• The thing I took the most from his essay was the amount of specific detail and quotations he included. It was very impressive the amount of details he analyzed from a multitude of sources, and I plan to mirror that in my edits to my own essay.

Open Post to Peer Reviewers

This production week, I posted my introductory and closing paragraphs in my blog posts. I think they are a great start to a professional and convincing paper. However, I also think that they could be developed even more as my ideas develop in my body paragraphs. Here is the working link to my rough draft.

• I think that it is important for my reviewers to know that there are many possible genres to post in within the environmental field, but journal articles and blog posts are the genres that were the primary focuses of my interviews. I chose to focus only on two because there is so much information for both of them, and in order to cover all of it I felt it was best to only focus them.

• I think that there are points in my paragraphs, especially in the closing paragraph, where the direction and drive seems to get lost. My thoughts seem to wander and become on focused from the previous one. I need to really sit down and focus on each idea and see if it makes sense.

• I think the language I used is appropriate for an academic essay, but is still accessible to people who may not be familiar with the genres and their conventions. This is important for a good argument essay, and I think I really nailed this convention.

Reflection on Production Report

This week was really helpful for motivating me to begin working on my essay. Now that I have both my introductory and closing paragraphs, I can begin working on the more detailed and intricate body paragraphs.

• What were some of the successes (or, things that went right) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.
• My introductory and closing paragraphs are now not only fuller, with more information and length, but also are more appropriate for an academic essay. I think that this will give me much more time to focus on my body paragraphs, which will have to cover much more information in much more detail.

• What were some of the challenges (or, things that went wrong) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.
• Unfortunately procrastination got the best of me for this deadline and I didn't start on the work until the day it was due. This may have lead to less precision in answering the audience questions in the production posts this week. But, I also feel that I did not have enough ideas in the last few days to create enough content for a blog post.

• How do you think next week will go, based on your experiences this week?
• I think next week will be very successful based on my progress this week. As I have ,mentioned before, my body paragraphs will required the most dedication to detail, as they are in place to prove my argument.

• How are you feeling about the project overall at this point?
• I am still feeling very hopeful for the success of this paper. The progress I made this week and last week has created a great basis for a wonderful academic paper.

Production Report 8b

For 8b, on the other hand, I chose to develop my closing paragraph of my essay. Literally at the opposite end of the essay, the closing paragraph is the finishing touch on an already great essay. The presentation of  the closing thoughts that are included in the final paragraph can either leave a sweet or an awful taste in the reader's mouth.

Outline Item 8b

"Both genres clearly have their benefits. It truly depends on whom the audiences and who is writing the piece when deciding which genre is the way to publish research. Of course there are other genres, like documentaries and research papers, but these two are the most prime examples of rhetoric in the environmental community. Each genre also gives access to different types of audiences, especially the blog posting, which in turn will make us more aware of our environmental impact."

Adaptation of Outline Item 8b

"Both genres clearly have their benefits. It truly depends on whom the audiences and who is writing the piece when deciding which genre is the way to publish research. Of course there are other genres, like documentaries and research papers, but these two are the most prime examples of rhetoric in the environmental community. Also in a sense, documentaries and genres like that are just different iterations of journal articles and blog posts. Journal articles and blog posts give access to different types of audiences, especially the blog posting, which in turn will make us more aware of our environmental impact as a society."

Audience Questions for 8b

1. A closing paragraph is rather difficult to write in an academic essay without sounding like a broken record. It is important to reiterate what was stated in the previous paragraphs without saying exactly was was said before. Therefore, I decided to cover it in this post I felt that my closing thoughts could use some extra revision.
2. As I said in the previous number, it was difficult to reiterate my thoughts without repeating myself. I sat for a good while trying to rework my previous ideas into new and different sentences. I finally was able, pretty successfully, to write an interesting closing paragraph.

Production Report 8a

For 8a I decided to develop my introductory paragraph, which can be the most important part of an essay. It can make the difference between an interactive, attention grabbing essay, and a dull essay that the reader puts down immediately.

Outline Item 8a

"In the environmental and geographical fields, journals are where it is at. There are many highly regarded journals in the profession, like Applied Geography, which I covered in a previous post. To be published in a journal such as that would mean recognition and accomplishment, and more importantly leads to greater credibility of the author. In these journal articles, information and facts, things that appeal to the audience's sense of logos, are relayed in the vernacular of scientists and environmentalists alike. However, a new, more well known genre is coming into play: blog posts. These posts are quite a bit more accessible to a general audience, and would depend more heavily on appealing to the audience's sense of pathos. This genre brings the information to the people, but also plays on their emotions with triggering words."

Adaptation of Outline Item 8a

"In the environmental and geographical fields, journals are where it is at. There are many highly regarded journals in the profession, like Applied Geography, which I discovered in my interview with Ms. Borgias. To be published in a journal such as that would mean recognition and accomplishment, and more importantly leads to greater credibility of the author. In these journal articles, information and facts, things that appeal to the audience's sense of logos, are relayed in the vernacular of scientists and environmentalists alike.  In general, journals are pathways for environmental rhetoric to get to a very specific audience. However, a new, more well known genre is coming into play: blog posts. These posts are quite a bit more accessible to a general audience, and would depend more heavily on appealing to the audience's sense of pathos. This genre brings the information to the people, but also plays on their emotions with "bang" words, such as "disaster" or "terrible". Both genres provide information, but the blog post is great for connecting with a bigger audience."

Audience Questions for 8a

1. An academic essay, the most normal of genres, can be incredibly boring to read. Not to mention that it is some what hard to find an engaging, well written one. That is why I decided to ensure, for this post, that my introductory paragraph had engaging language and important information pertaining to the body. However, the language still needed to be professional, in order to follow the conventions for an academic essay, so I refrained from imputing my opinion in an a more obvious way. I did not use any personal pronouns or anything of that sort.
2. I found that producing this raw material was rather easy. When I wrote it I was definitely feeling pretty inspired, and the ideas were very easily flowing. However, I was having issues finding the exact words that were able to translate my thoughts. 

Reflection on publishing in the Environmental Field

This week was focused on writing down our ideas and getting organized. It really was the start of project two, and it was really important to the sublimation of content. I unfortunately had a late start due to illness, but I have finally caught up.

• What were some of the successes (or, things that went right) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.
• I felt that I was really successful this week with creating my content outline. It has all of my information and ideas on it, and will be incredibly helpful when it comes to writing my actual essay. The coggle that I created was very detailed and impressive, if I do say so myself.

• What were some of the challenges (or, things that went wrong) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.
• Due to illness, I was set back a bit. and had to play catch up. I think this may have affected the through-ness of my outline. Although my evidence is clearly shown, the importance isn't the most obvious. I also still feel slightly confused about what we are proving, other than what genres are typically published in our field.

• How do you think next week will go, based on your experiences this week?
• Since I have much more time next week, and am now caught up, I think that it will go rather smoothly. I am excited to start producing content, and I think it will come together rather quickly.

• How are you feeling about the project overall at this point?
• I am confident in the content that I have produced so far, but I am slightly concerned about how to move further. I am slightly confused still about the goal for this project overall. I think, however, with a read through of the guidlines and rubric, I'll have a greater grasp on it.

Production Schedule

Up until this point it had never occurred to me that I should develop a detailed schedule to assist me in developing this project. I plan to write a traditional essay in order to explain what it is like to publish in the environmental field. The timeline, in my opinion, should be rather short. An academic essay does not require as much production as a video essay or podcast.

Content Outline

Opening section:
In the environmental and geographical fields, journals are where it is at. There are many highly regarded journals in the profession, like Applied Geography, which I covered in a previous post. To be published in a journal such as that would mean recognition and accomplishment, and more importantly leads to greater credibility of the author. In these journal articles, information and facts, things that appeal to the audience's sense of logos, are relayed in the vernacular of scientists and environmentalists alike. However, a new, more well known genre is coming into play: blog posts. These posts are quite a bit more accessible to a general audience, and would depend more heavily on appealing to the audience's sense of pathos. This genre brings the information to the people, but also plays on their emotions with triggering words.

Ideas for interest grabbers:
Discussion of recent environmental issue covered in both blogs and journals (Eye grabbing words like "Flint Water Scandal")
Inclusion of images from various blogs and environmental issues

Coggle for body sections

Closing Section:
Both genres clearly have their benefits. It truly depends on whom the audiences and who is writing the piece when deciding which genre is the way to publish research. Of course there are other genres, like documentaries and research papers, but these two are the most prime examples of rhetoric in the environmental community. Each genre also gives access to different types of audiences, especially the blog posting, which in turn will make us more aware of our environmental impact.

My Interviewees as Professional Writers

Douglas Fernandes, "Mapo do Chile- mapa de Chile- map of Chile" via flickr.com, 01/19/2008
Attribution 2.0 Generic

My interviewees are on both ends of the publication spectrum. One of them, Professor Doshi, is very experienced in not only the field but also in publishing in various types of genres. My other interview subject is a graduate student who has just begun to navigate the world of publishing in the environmental field.

Dr. Sapana Doshi

• Professor Doshi is a very experienced writer, evidenced by her large amount of publications, ranging from journal articles to websites to entire book chapters. Most of her work is focused on issues, both social and environmental, in the Indian continent. 

• In 2013, Doshi co authored a journal article about geopolitics in relation to feminism, 
  "Domesticated Dispossessions: Towards a Transnational Feminist Geopolitics of Development". This article is a discussion on the gender/social movements in both rural Guatamala and Urban India, with a specific emphasis on dispossesion by the female gender. A book chapter that she wrote, titled “Rethinking Gentrification in India: Displacement, Dispossession and the Specter of Development", is focused on the displacement of the Indian poor within the urban communities.

• There have been issues with gender inequality in this area, dating very far back into history, leading to a general lower societal status for anyone of the female gender. Arranged marriages and female circumcsion are only two of the current issues in India and South Eastern Asia. Environmental issues also have a large affect on the current policies in the country, especially with industrial waste and drought. 

• The issues in this and other countries are not going to simply go away, and geopolitcal issues and social movements are not mutually exclusive. This is only expounded upon in her book chapter, from the coauthored novel, Gentrification, Globalization and the Post-colonial Challenge;"Over the last decade, a surge in scholarship on the displacement of the urban poor in Indian cities has highlighted the need for post-colonial engagement." 
• Professor Doshi's work is to emphasis the issues in these areas that have been ignored for too long. The article and the book chapter depend on her personal research as well as other previous projects performed by fellow professors and researchers.

Sofia Borgias

• Borgias is new to the field, with a undergraduate degree in International Studies, received in 2013 from the University of Oregon. For her degree she had to publish her undergraduate thesis paper, which is now under the process of peer review to be published in a highly regarded academic journal.

• Her undergraduate thesis paper, Patagonia Without Dams: Framing, Democracy and Social Transformation in Chile, was published in 2013 by the Clarks Honors College at the University of Oregon. This paper, much like her two other papers which are currently undergoing the process of publishing. However, she did collaborate with a few colleagues here at the UofA to publish in a journal, which required them to write under a specific theme. The research paper requires the author to explain and provide data on a specific issue, a journal simply requires it to follow a certain theme.

• Like Dr. Bauer's paper's, Sophia chose to write about the water policy situation in Chile. However, unlike his research, she chose to focus on the current situation of daming in the Maipo River basin and the effect it has on the native population in the area. The current water policy, which has been in place since 1981, has allowed for unequal distribution if water, and this dam would prevent the native peoples from getting even the little amount the receive.

• In the paper, Borgias use data and narrative in order to explain the current situation in the South American country. She feels, like Bauer, that the policy needs to be changed in order to create more water equity. She often references her own experiences during her stay in the country, and also when she studied the Patagonia Sin Represa group. The group is dedicated to preventing the dam from being built, which Borgias agrees with. 

• The purpose of the paper is to not only inform, but also to change minds, especially about water policy. This is evident by her specific points and strong voice, especially during her narrative sections. 

Report on My Interviews

Christian Schnettelker, "BLOG" via flickr.com, 04/28/2015
Attribution 2.0 Generic License

My interview with Sophia Borgias was very interesting. I think it was great to get the perspective of someone who is not only new to publishing her research, but who was also currently going through the publishing process during the interview. Her answers were very informative and very conducive to my project. Unfortunately, I have not interviewed my other candidate yet but will soon.

• In the interview we primarily discussed papers and journals, which are the most common type of genres that are found in our field. However, there was a brief discussion of genres that would connect to the mass media, rather than a selective audience, such as blog posts like this.

•  As I briefly mentioned in the previous bullet, journals, and even more so research papers, are directed toward a very specific audience of fellow researchers and members of academia. The content can use more specific language and techniques that they are more likely to have seen before and can understand. They can also include more detailed information due to their increased length. Research papers are even more specific in that those who are reading it are reading it for a specific purpose. Blog posts, although they are shorter and must include more succinct information, allows for a broader audience. For one thing, they are much more accessible and searchable; a journal requires a much more specific search. The language used would be much easier to understand without prior knowledge and it is more to the point because of the length.

• Sophia feels that the most difficult to write in genre is the blog posts, the things that reach a more diverse audience, because you must then decide what are the most important points about what you are writing about. Then you must decide how to write it so that it is understandable, but doesn't lose too much depth in translation. However, length is not always beneficial; a long paper is difficult as well because you must always relate back to your main topic no matter what you write. Tangents are not really smiled upon in academia. Journals are even more difficult because you must write on the topic that is the theme of the current issue of the journal.

• However, writing in a blog post is exciting because you are able to share information with people who do not normally have access to it. This means that environmental issues that were unbeknownst to the general public before can now be center stage. Papers allow for the author to not only include all the information, but it also allows for their own voice and opinion to shine through. Journals allow create opportunities to get recognition and to begin building a name for yourself. 

• Blogs are great because they can be found with a simple google search or a key word. Journals are a bit more difficult because you have to know what journal you are searching for, and where to get a copy. Going through a university library is good, but if you do not have access to that resource it becomes more difficult. Research papers are the hardest to find because you almost have to know the author in order to find a viable copy. Some papers are published through a university and are in their database, while others are published through a company and are easier to find.