D#14, HW#6 -- Course competencies for deadline reflections

HW#6

• Write for specific rhetorical contexts, including circumstance, purpose, topic, audience and writer, as well as the writing's ethical, political, and cultural implications

D#3, HW#12

• Organize writing to support a central idea through unity, coherence and logical development appropriate to a specific writing context

D#2, HW#8

• Use appropriate conventions in writing, including consistent voice, tone, diction, grammar, and mechanics.

• Find, evaluate, select, and synthesize both online and print sources that examine a topic from multiple perspectives

• Find, evaluate, select, and synthesize both online and print sources that examine a topic from multiple perspectives

• Identify, select and use an appropriate documentation style to maintain academic integrity

• Use feedback obtained through peer review, instructor comments, and/or other sources to revise writing

D#5, HW#9

• Assess one's own writing strengths and identify strategies for improvement through instructor conference, portfolio review, written evaluation, and/or other methods.

• Generate, format, and edit writing using appropriate technologies.

D#6, HW#13

D#14, HW#5 -- course competencies on writing project reflections

HW#5

• Write for specific rhetorical contexts, including circumstance, purpose, topic, audience and writer, as well as the writing's ethical, political, and cultural implications

D#14, HW#4

• Organize writing to support a central idea through unity, coherence and logical development appropriate to a specific writing context

D#14, HW#4
D#10, HW#14
D#6, HW#11

• Use appropriate conventions in writing, including consistent voice, tone, diction, grammar, and mechanics.

• Find, evaluate, select, and synthesize both online and print sources that examine a topic from multiple perspectives

• Find, evaluate, select, and synthesize both online and print sources that examine a topic from multiple perspectives

• Identify, select and use an appropriate documentation style to maintain academic integrity

• Use feedback obtained through peer review, instructor comments, and/or other sources to revise writing

• Assess one's own writing strengths and identify strategies for improvement through instructor conference, portfolio review, written evaluation, and/or other methods.

• Generate, format, and edit writing using appropriate technologies.
  

D#14, HW#4 -- WP#3 reflection

HW#4

• Steps I used to complete this project were to sort out all of the data that I had required to see what was important and reliable. My next project I would have better time managment.
  
• I am most proud of the additions that I made to my rough draft because my rough draft was so rough and I had writers block pretty bad about how to pull everything together before. Now I think I did pretty well considering how bad it was before. I needed to address my transitions mostly. One of the assignments from deadline 13 was really helpful for transitions.
• My turnitin shows that the instructor will not allow me to view the originality report for this assignment so I cannot answer this bullet point
• I wanted to improve on bringing all of my data together and presenting it correctly. I feel that I improved on this, but haven't mastered it yet. I would continue to work on this aspect as well as my citations that always need work.
• Organize writing to support a central idea through unity and Write for specific rhetorical contexts, including circumstance, purpose, topic, audience and writer, as well as the writing's ethical, political, and cultural implications are course outcomes that I worked toward during this writing project. I do feel that I achieved the competencies. My paper involved specific rhetorical contexts, including circumstance, purpose, topic, audience and writer, as well as the writing's ethical, political, and cultural implications. On my next project I would like to work on selecting an appropriate documentation style

D#14, HW#2 -- Editing strategies

HW#2

From the powa.org site I chose edit with a partner. I think that this helped a lot because I am so invested in the project that sometimes I knew what I meant, but it was unclear to someone else. I also used the concentration is key method on the daily writing tips site. Usually I like to have a little background noise going on when I study, but I turned everything off and I even made my dog get off of my lap and sleep somewhere else for a little while. I think both of these tips helped to get my paper on track.

D#13, HW#5 -- Grammar assignment #6

HW#5

I focused on the "dangling participle" found on the copy blogger website. I also reviewed dangling modifiers on the purdue owl site. I think these are helpful to me because I often write as if I'm talking and misplace words.

Original:
Fetal death is also listed as a risk of having a baby at a later age in life. A study done by Ruth Fretts, MD; and Robert Usher MD state that “Women 35 years of age or older had approximately one in 440 births end in unexplained fetal death, compared to one in 1,000 births for women younger that 35.” What contributes to causes in fetal death are unknown; leaving the prevention unknown as well. Doctors can do advanced screenings and testing, but without any explanation or medical study there is no way to prevent fetal death.

Revised:
Also listed as a risk from having a baby at a later age is fetal death. A study done by Ruth Fretts, MD; and Robert Usher MD state that “Women 35 years of age or older had approximately one in 440 births end in unexplained fetal death, compared to one in 1,000 births for women younger that 35.” Causes in fetal death are unknown; leaving the prevention unknown as well. Doctors can do advanced screenings and testing, but without any explanation or medical study there is no way to prevent fetal death.

D#13, HW#4 -- peer review reflection

HW#4

I did my peer review on hell if I know's rough draft for WP#3. I am really glad that I got a chance to look over her paper because I felt really lost on mine and it helped out a lot. Her paper flows a lot better than mine and I need to work on presenting the subject as a whole and make it less choppy. I don't have any reviews on my own draft yet (I know we are all struggling here at the end a little) but I will be sure to keep checking them for more ways to revise my final draft. I also have not had very much luck with the turnitin website this semester. My labtop is not agreeing with it so I will have to save my rough draft to a thumb drive and get it over to another computer as soon as one is accesable to me.

D#13, HW#3 -- peer review

HW#3

I peer reviewed hell if I know D#12, HW#8. She did an awesome job. I could not do a second peer review because there was not another class mate with one posted.

D#13, HW#2 -- paragraph analysis

HW#2

• What is the point of the paragraph?
P1: To introduce the subject
P2: This introduces the argument and my claim
P3: To introduce all of the risks and explain some of the more unknown terms
P4: This gives a specific risk and gives the statistics attached to it
P5: This gives a specific risk and gives the statistics attached to it
P6: This gives a specific risk and gives the statistics attached to it
P7: This gives a specific risk and gives the statistics attached to it
P8: This gives a specific risk and gives the statistics attached to it

• How does the paragraph function in the argument?
P1: It makes the reader aware of the subject so that they want to continue reading about the argument.
P2: It shows where I stand on the issue and gives my thesis
P3: It helps readers to understand how this argument is important
P4: It makes my statements credible
P5: It makes my statements credible
P6: It makes my statements credible
P7: It makes my statements credible
P8: It makes my statements credible

• How does the paragraph function in the paper as a whole?
P1: It introduces the subject and my claim
P2: It gives my thesis
P3: It helps the reader to understand terms that may be used later
P4: gives all the evidence that is needed to support my claim
P5: gives all the evidence that is needed to support my claim
P6: gives all the evidence that is needed to support my claim
P7: gives all the evidence that is needed to support my claim
P8: gives all the evidence that is needed to support my claim

• How does the paragraph relate to the paragraph above?
P1: There is no paragraph above it
P2: The paragraph above is an overview and this one makes it more specific
P3:specifies the risks that support my thesis
P4: It specifies a risk
P5: It specifies a risk
P6: It specifies a risk
P7: It specifies a risk
P8: It specifies a risk

• How does the paragraph relate to the paragraph below?
P1: It makes an introduction to the paragraph below
P2: It states risks are higher and the paragraph below specifies those risks
P3: this paragraph gives all the terminology needed for the next 5 paragraphs
P4: It specifies a risk
P5: It specifies a risk
P6: It specifies a risk
P7: It specifies a risk
P8: There is no paragraph below this one

• How does the paragraph transition to the paragraph above?
P1: There is no paragraph above this one
P2: There isn't a very good transition here
P3: It mimics the last sentence of the paragraph above
P4: It doesn't transition very well
P5: I need to transition better between all of the supportive paragraphs
P6: I need to transition better between all of the supportive paragraphs
P7: I need to transition better between all of the supportive paragraphs
P8: I need to transition better between all of the supportive paragraphs

• How does the paragraph transition to the paragraph below?
P1: It doesn't transition well at all
P2: It continues speaking of risks
P3: It doesn't transition very well
P4: I need to transition better between all of the supportive paragraphs
P5: I need to transition better between all of the supportive paragraphs
P6:I need to transition better between all of the supportive paragraphs
P7: I need to transition better between all of the supportive paragraphs
P8: There is no paragraph below this

D#12, HW#10 -- Reflect

I feel like none of my goals have been accomplished because I'm behind on my assignments, but I am determined to get back on track. I should be caught back up by this weeks deadline.

Blogs I commented on:
Hell if I know D#12, HW#5&7
Eng 102 D#12, HW#4&7

D#12, HW#8 -- Rough draft.

Summer Bretz
11/14/09
English 102
Section# 24271
Bretz-WP#3 rough draft

Is Pregnancy an Option After 35?

The ability to create life and start a family is not a decision that is taken lightly by most women. There are lots of risks and requirements that pregnant women face. They have to constantly monitor their diet and water intake to make sure that the baby is getting all of the nutrients that are required. There are risks involved with any pregnancy such as high blood pressure, low birth weight, miscarriages, and moms may develop diabetes. Delivery has it’s risks as well; such as, cesarean deliveries are much harder on a woman’s body than natural delivery. Once delivery happens there are many possibilities of birth defects for the baby as well.
The number of women waiting until later in life to have children rises every year. Women are exploring career options or getting a degree before they are settling down. This new trend sounds like the perfect scenario, women can enjoy their 20’s, go to college, have a career, and the n be more stable in life when they start a family. Unfortunately, there are many downsides to this theory as well. Women experience many more complications during pregnancy after the age of 30 than women in their 20’s do. The controversy revolves are if it’s smart to wait to have children or if it’s just selfish. Women over the age of 35 should be aware of the high risks because doctors say that risks increase after the age of 35 and even if a woman is healthy chromosomal diseases in newborns are increased.
Risk factors for older moms are increased chances of diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, heart disease, kidney problems, abruptio placenta, placenta previa, cesarean section, cancer, and maternal death. Hypertension and preeclampsia are both shown by extensive swelling in the mothers that increases rapidly in all parts of the body. The only way to stop the swelling is for the baby to be delivered. Preeclampsia in pregnant women can also be the cause of the cause of increased heart disease in women. Kidney problems can complicate a pregnancy if a person already had kidney problems prior to pregnancy. The kidney problems by themselves can create a lot of other risks; such as, hypertension, high blood pressure, premature labor, and miscarriage. Abruptio placenta is the separation of the placenta (the organ that nourishes the fetus) from the site of uterine implantation before delivery of the fetus. Once this organ is detached from the mother the baby can no longer receive nutrients from it. In a normal pregnancy the placenta does not detach until the baby is being delivered. Placenta previa is a complication of pregnancy in which the placenta (organ that nourishes baby) grows in the lowest part of the womb (uterus) and covers all or part of the opening to the cervix. This causes blood loss and bed rest, but the placenta generally will move for delivery. Cesarean section is delivery through surgery due to complications with vaginal delivery. Most complications are related to age because as time goes on women are likely to have medical problems before becoming pregnant, and each ailment gives way to another.
Cesarean Section can be a way of delivery for any women if there are complications with delivery. There are many reasons why ceserean delivery may be necessary, and the purpose is to get the baby out of any distress. Recovery for mothers after a cesarean delivery takes longer than a traditional vaginal delivery. Losing “baby weight” may also take longer due to exercise and diet restrictions given by the doctor. A study done by Jeffrey Peipert MD and Michael Bracken PhD in 1993 concludes that “Maternal age appears to be an independent risk factor for cesarean delivery. The reasons for this clinical important and statistically significant increased risk are unclear but may be due to physician and patient concern over pregnancy outcome in older women.”
Preterm delivery is a huge concern regarding the babies health. 40 weeks is the standard length of time for pregnancy. Any delivery before 40 weeks is considered preterm delivery. If a baby is born before 36 weeks their lungs haven’t fully developed yet. If a baby is born any time before the 36 week mark comes the baby is at risk for low birth weight. If a baby is not big enough to survive or it’s organs are not developed yet they will suffer and possibly die. Studies show that 6% of mothers ages 26-30 have low birth weight babies and 8% preterm delivery. Women ages 31-35 have a 6.8% chance of having a low birth weight baby and 9.2% chance of preterm delivery. Statistics jump to 7.9% for low birth weight babies in mothers 36-40, and 10.9% chance of preterm delivery. (Delpisheh, Ali PhD; Brabin, Loretta PhD; Attia, Eman MD; Brabin, Bernard FRCP©. P.965)
Chances of having babies with chromosomal abnormalities are increased for older mothers. Down syndrome is the most common type of chromosomal abnormality found in mothers of advanced maternal age. A study found on the MUSC Children’s Hospital website show that a woman’s chances of having a baby with down syndrome ages 25-29 are 1 in 1,100 and 1 in 385 children with any abnormality. Women at age 35 have a 1 in 350 chance of having a baby with down syndrome and a 1 in 178 chance of having a baby with any abnormality. Chances heighten more giving 1 in 100 chance of having a baby with down syndrome and 1 in 63 chance of having a baby with any abnormality for mothers at age 40.
Current textbook descriptions of down syndrome Give statistics stating that women under the age of 30 are 1 in 3,000 and jumps significantly to 1 in 300 in the 35-39 age group and 1 to 9 at age 48. (Tortora, Gerard; Derrickson, Bryan; p. 1169). Down syndrome is characterized with flat profile, broad skull, slanted eyes, large tongue, and a round head as the facial features. Sexual maturity is rarely attained in people with down syndrome. Life expectancy is shorter due to kidney defects, suppressed immune system, and malformations of the heart, ears, hands, and feet. (Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, p. 1169).
Fetal death is also listed as a risk of having a baby at a later age in life. A study done by Ruth Fretts, MD; and Robert Usher MD state that “Women 35 years of age or older had approximately one in 440 births end in unexplained fetal death, compared to one in 1,000 births for women younger that 35.” What contributes to causes in fetal death are unknown; leaving the prevention unknown as well. Doctors can do advanced screenings and testing, but without any explanation or medical study there is no way to prevent fetal death.

D#12, HW#7 -- Decide which presentation mode is appropriate

HW#7

Purpose
*Are there requirements you must consider regarding the presentation of your research? If so, what are they?*
-I think the only requirements that regard presentation would be keeping order and clear organization to the paper.

*What will your presentation need to do in order to fulfill the original pupose of your research? Is there a presentation mode that will best meet those needs?*
-My original purpose is to inform my audience on risks of pregnancy after the age of 30. I think that organizing my topics from least important to most important will help give a clear outline but also leave the reader with important facts that they need to know.

Audience
*What expectations does your audience have for the presentation of your research?*
- My audience expects my presentation to be well researched, knowledgable, and organized.

*What media will your audience have access to?*
-Everything as far as I know

*What presentation form will reach your audience? What will they be most receptive to, and where would they be looking for your argument?*
-I think all of them would reach my audience but I think that organizing from least important to most important is best for my topic. I think they will be looking for my argument at the very beginning so that it is clear what the rest of the paper is about.

*When would your audience be interested in and/or open to hearing about your research? How would you reach your audience at that time?*
-I think that the research should be in the middle of the paper after you've gotten a chance to intoduce the subject. I think if the intoduction to the topic is creative enough it will capture the readers attention and then they will want to pay attention to the details.

*Who might be interested in your research that might not yet know about it? How would you reach that potential audience?*
-I think that a younger audience would be interested in this topic as something to keep in mind for the future, but they might not understand it's importance right now. I think the only way to reach that audience is to stress the importance of the health issues.

Topic
*What presentation format is most appropriate for your topic?*
- Least important to most important

*What presentation format is most appropriate for the argument you are making about your topic?*
-Least important to most important

*Are there aspects of your research that might be difficult to understand in an exclusively text-based presentation? How might you explain those parts of your research in a different way?*
-Some of the graphs are more helpful as graphs, but I don't think it will be a problem to explain them in text.

Author
*What media are you most familiar with? Is there a presentation format that you are unfamiliar with that you would like to learn more about?*
-I'm familiar with most types of media and also most forms of presentation format from other english classes.

*Would a combination of media present your research most effectively? Do you already know how to use them or could you enlist someone to help you use them?
-I think I would enlist classmates to help if I were to use a combination of media.

D#12, HW#6 -- Identify possible frames

HW#6

This project is based off of the conclusion assignment that was before this, that does not apply to my paper. I do understand that I need to write a conclusion and that it needs to sum up the whole paper, and it needs to be inspiring because it is the last piece that is left in the readers mind. This assignment was still helpful in though. I will remember to repeat a reference from my intro to tie everything together.

D#12, HW#5 -- develop closure

HW#5



*What issues raised in your argument need to be repeated for you audience? Is there any support offered in your argument that bears repeating?*

-Some of the risks may be repeated as they compare with other things.

*What will happen if the current situation continues as it is? What effects might impact your audience, and what effects might impact others that your audience will be concerned about? How could you demonstrate the importance of these effects?*

-The current situation can stay the way that it is. The purpose of my paper is to inform not to convince my readers to take action.

*How could you demonstrate that the current problem violates the shared values of a community?*

-In a way the dangers posed to babies could violate shared values, but I don't think anyone would ever discourage a woman from starting a family.

*Is this present issue parallel in any way to a previous situation? Are there circumstances or effects from a previous parallel situation that might spur your audience to action (perhaps because they want to avoid those effects or because a previous situation was resolved well and you'd like to see a similar resolution)?*

-I'm not trying to "spur my audience to action" so I can't really answer this one

*To which person, or group of people, should your readers address their concerns? How might you encourage them to share those concerns?*

-I would encourage them to talk to their doctors regarding their own health and family planning.

*Will this situation continue if nothing is done? If so, how will the audience be impacted?*

-Nothing needs to be done people just need to be aware of thier health as their childs and make their decisions

Free Writing

Im not sure how to freewrite for this particular assignment because I don't think it has anything to do with my paper because the purpose of my paper is to inform readers not to cause action.

D#12, HW#4 -- draft an effective introduction

HW#4

*Why is this topic important? How does it affect the audience? the community? the world?*
-This topic is important because it involves life and death and bringing children into the world. The affect on the class audience is minimal because it is a younger audience; however, this argument would be very beneficial to older women thinking of starting a family.

*What is the audience's stand on the issue? How does it differ from yours? If their perspective is different from yours, how might you show respect for their perspective so that they might read yours?*
- I think the general opinion of the audience is that age is not relevant to pregnancy risk because that was my opinion before I did the research.

*What is your authority on this topic? Who are othe major "players" that write or talk about this topic? What are their strengths and points of authority? their weaknesses?*
- My authority is that I am a mother. The major authoritative figures regarding the topic are mostly doctors and sientists. Their strengths are that they specialize in womens health and prgnancy and delivery, but their weakness may be that they are too impersonal regarding such a personal topic.

*Does your audience know the topic, or its history, well? What do they already know? What do the need to know to understand your perspective?*
-I think that my audience knows the topic of pregnancy but need more info on the history and risk factors to understand the topic of advanced maternal age.

*How long will your paper be? How complex will your argument be? Do you need to give the audience a road map to prepare them for your argument?*
-My paper will be 6 to 10 pages. My argument is pretty straight forward, I am using a lot of statstics to give a reliable opinion. I do think the audience will require a road map to fully understand the topic.

Free Writing
- This topic is important because it involves life and death and bringing children into the world. Once a person has decided to bring a child into the world or to concieve a child, then protecting it becomes the most important thing in the whole world. Even in the womb the babies' health and safety are taken into consideration before any of the mothers needs. This is why this topic is so important because it concerns the babies health, as well as the mothers. The more research done and the more aware that mothers are to all risks of pregnancy at any age; the more capable we will be to protect our unborn children.

D#12, HW#3 -- develop an outline

HW#3

My claim is that age does have an effect on risk factors during pregnancy. I am doing a scratch outline; listing my topics from least important to most important. I think this is the best format because I want the most important details at the end of my paper so they are more likely to stick with my audience.

discuss pregnancy in general
discuss why topic is controversial
state my claim
discuss risk factors
Cesarean Deliver for mothers
Low birth weight or pre term delivery for babies
Chromosomal abnormalities
text book definition for advanced maternal age
Causes of fetal death
discuss differenct view points on the subject
conclusion

D#11, HW#8 -- reflection

HW#8

The reading this week was kinda boring (sorry) I felt like it was a lot of busy work and I'm still not 100% clear on our goals for WP#3. Next week will be better! My course competencies are struggling a little bit, but my personal goals are still on track.

Blogs I commented to:
Hell if I know D#11, HW#3 & 4
Eng102 D#11, HW# 3 & 4

D#11, HW#7 -- grammar assignment #5

HW#7

I studied how to avoid plagarism on the purdue owl site. I'm hoping that it will help with my content and my citations. It gave lots of helpful tips regarding what not to do. I couldn't find this topic on the other sites, but I did find something that lined to it on the quick and dirty tips site. There was a grammar girl article on why citation is important even if it doesn't apply to plagarism. It talked about how citations don't just give other people credit it also helps the reader to learn more about what you are writing about.

D#11, HW#6 -- find additional resources

HW#6


1. List specific types of information, resources, and pieces of evidence that you would like to find to support your areas of concern.

-I think that I need more info concerning chromosomal disorders because it's a huge part of why I came to the conclustion that I have, concerning the subject. I also think I should have more general info on pregnancy in general.



2. Share your cluster map or an outline with a classmate. Ask them to identify your two weakest spots.

-Already did share on HW#5. Please feel free to give me as much feedback as you have.



3. Share your cluster map or an outline of your argument with a differnt classmate.

-Again suggestions are more than welcome from HW#5

D#11, HW#5 -- Draw a cluster map

HW#5

D#11, HW#4 -- Evaluate types of resources

HW#4

My source is Pregancy Late in Life: A Hospital-Based Study of Birth Outcomes. I would catagorize it as static and peer reviewed. I think my audience will react well to this source because it's reliable. It is peer reviewed and comes from a woman's health journal. My audience would need to know that this was written by several doctors, yes this information is included in citation. I will also need to give the site I found this on, so that they could find it if they needed. I think any proven medical study is critical because it is documented proof to my subject.

D#11, HW#3 -- Develop Evaluate Criteria

HW#3


1. Who is/are the audience/s for this research project? What do they want to know? What do they need to know?

-The class and the teacher. The want to know what my research question is and how it applies to the assignment and what I found out through the research.



2. What is the purpose of this research project? What must be conveyed for that purpose to be achieved?

-The purpose is to give conclusions to my research question. Evidence to support claim is most important.

3. How timely is this research project? What types of contemporary information must you address? What types of historical information must you address? How recent must information be to be relevant and persuasive?

- I have some older test results as part of my data, but for the most part all of my research is very up-to-date. Since testing for anything medical is continuous, it constantly changes and it is important to be recent.

4. How did you continue to narrow and focus your research question? What type of information must you find to fit within that scope? What information may be only tangentially relevant?

-I took the general topic of pregnancy and specified it to pregnancy relating to age. then, narrowed it to is age the determining factor for complications. Lots of medical research is needed. Mother's opinions may only be tangentially relevant.

5. What other elements or issues about your topic must be covered?

-Terminology and back ground information on the topic

6. What elements or issues about your topic might be interesting but not useful since they do not fit the purpose or scope of your project.

- How a younger age affects pregnancy would also be interesting, but I think it's a little off topic.