ENG 106R

Assignment Two: Analytical argument essay on evolution

2004-09-21T10:57:00.000-07:00

For my analytical argument essay I am choosing to argue the every controversial topic of whether or not evolution should be taught in schools as opposed to creationalism. The teaching of evolution in public and private schools has recently been in hot water. People have been arguing that evolution has never occurred and that everything has happened because of a "greater being."
In my paper I will be arguing that evolution has happened, is happening now, and will forever happen until the end of time. My side will agree with the teaching of evolution in both public and private schools. The private(religious) schools may teach creationalism, but they too much teach evolution. I know there will be an argument about then public schools must teach creationalism, but they have no reason to.
First of all, creationalism is not science. There is no evidenciary support, evolution has experiments, theories, research, and logical reasons to believe. Being a biology major, evolution is the backbone to everything that we learn, evolution is "descent with modification." As time changes, so does the earth and everything on it either for better or for worse. Evolution does not mean that monkeys came from man, and that is what frightens people. They do not want to hear that they came from a monkey. These are ignorant people who just do not know or understand evolution. By allowing teachers to teach evolution opens the eyes to the students of how and why things act, look, live, eat, and reproduce they way they do.
My paper will provide arguments from people who do and do not want evolution being taught to children and their positions, and I will point out their wrong or right thoughts. I will bring in Charles Darwin's findings and research. Then, I will add my own view on evolution.

Chemistry Blogger #3

2004-09-09T14:33:00.001-07:00

What am I struggling with this week in chemistry? This week I am finding that I am not understanding how to name and write out empirical chemical equations. I am struggling with the ionic compounds and then you have to calculate the number of ions in a sample.
What do I understand in chemistry? I understand the covalent and ionic bonds and how they differ from each other. I understand how the periodic table is interpreted, with nonmetals, metals, and metalloids. I also can comprehend the idea of isotopes and how they don't differ much from each other since the number of electrons are the same, and that is what reacts with other atoms.
How do I feel about the things that I am learning? The things that I am learning are great, but I would like to learn more about the equations and how to read, write, and balance them. I know that you most likely expect us to know how to do this, but I'd just like a reassurance of if I am doing it right.
This relates to my life, partially because my life is revolving around science right now and until may. But, honestly it does relate, because now I am finding out why things are named the way they are and how they are formed. Such as calcium chloride and simple everyday things.
Describe an atom. An atom is the smallest piece of matter than man has physically been able to cut. A, meaning without and tom, meaning to cut explains that this piece of matter cannot be cut down any further. But, even something that small has to be made of something. An atom is made up of protons with a positive charge, neutrons with no charge. These two subatomic particles make up the nucleus, the middle of the atom. Then, the atom has surrounding orbitals with electrons that have a negative charge. The number of protons makes the atom a specific element. Atoms make up every piece of matter. They can combine by means of covalent or ionic bonds.
What does a chemical equation tell me? A chemical equation tells me the number of substances taking place in a reaction and to which other substance they are reacting with. It also tells you what the products of the reaction are and their quantity.

Chemistry Blogger #3

2004-09-09T14:33:00.000-07:00

Chem Blogger #2!

2004-09-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

What am I struggling with? In chemistry this week, I would say that I am struggling with the concept of how the cathode tube explained electrons. I understand their charge and how they appear on the atom. I guess what I really don't understand is Rutherford's experiment, how he came to understand that the "mass and positive charge must be concentrations a small fraction of the total volume of the atom"(Trisha, class lecture 9/2).
I understand the structural concept of the atom, and how to read the periodic table. J.J. Thompson's "Plum Pudding" model brings back high school chemistry, which I understand and can picture. The part of lecture that intrigued me the most was Dalton's postulates. I find them amazing, and every postulate makes perfect sense to me. What is fascinating is that he wrote these postulates with a very limited amount of technology and education.
I feel that I am learning the most important things in chemistry, how we came about and why they are. If we were to jump right into chemistry without any background, as in high school I would feel unprepared. I feel that the things we are learning are essential and interesting. I never knew that Dalton had started teaching science at the age of twelve. I always knew the mass of an electron, but had no idea how and who discovered it. But now, I know it was all thanks to cathode ray tubes, oil droplets, and Robert Millikin.
Ok, maybe not directly to my life does the mass of an electron or cathode ray tubes relate, but what I am learning is a stepping stone to what I will need to know further down the line in my studies of biology. These experiments relate directly to my life, because our chemistry lab will be asking us to think like these chemists had thinks when they were in the lab.
The current model of the atom came to be by the experiments of Ernest Rutherford, J.J. Thompson, Wilhelm Wie, Eugen Goldstein, and Robert Millikin. Each of them had contributions to how the atom is considered today. Rutherford found that the mass and positive charge was only a small amount of the total volume of the atom. Using radioactivity and the plum pudding model, Rutherford found that an atom is mostly space filled with electrons. He then went on to name the center of an atom the nucleus. Chadwick later went to find that there was more to the nucleus than positively charged protons, but neutral particles, name neutrons. Millikin found the charges from oil droplets and found the mass of an electron to be 9.109 * 10-28 g. J.J. Thompson created the Plum Pudding model to show his view of how the atom is set up by the results of his experiments with the cathode rays, finding that they can be bent by electric fields. Also, he found that they were negatively charged, which provided him with an estimate of the charge to mass ratio.
Dalton's postulates have been modified since the original only slightly. Number 1: Everything is made up of atoms, but atoms are not indivisible. There are subatomic particles, called protons, neutrons, and neutrons. Number 2: Atoms cannot be created or destroyed. True, but in nuclear reactions chemicals can become other atoms. Number 3: All atoms have the same number of protons. But, there are such things as isotopes, elements with the same number of protons, but they differ in number of neutrons. Number 4: Compounds are formed by chemical combination, now the only change is that some have different atom ratios. These are significant because now we know that atoms are not the smallest particles of life. Now we know what makes one atom different from the other, the number of protons. To know that atoms can convert into other atoms is important, now scientists are not limited to certain elements, now they have the ability to change certain ones in nuclear reactions. The isotopes are the same type of element, only with a different number of neutrons, not changing the charge of the atom, only varying the mass slightly.

Chemistry Post #1

2004-09-01T11:37:00.000-07:00

What am I struggling with in Chemistry 115? The chemistry 115 class so far has been a review from my chemistry class in high school, this time with more background and reasoning. I think the only thing that I am struggling with is the conversions. I had trouble with a question on the homework that had to convert to nanograms, and I got really confused and do not think that I derived the correct answer. I don't believe that I had enough conversions in high school, so this is a spot where I need to review.
What do I understand? I understand the background information and why certain people believed in certain ideas. I completely understand the SI units and how they pertain to measurements. The physical and chemical properties. The structure and function of atoms. I understand how the law of conservation of matter and the law of definite proportions work.
How do I feel about the things that I am learning? I feel that what I am learning is a good review to refresh what I may have forgotten since high school. The background and history is really important to me. This was something that I never learned in high school, but feel is very critical to understanding how and why things happened. The things being taught to me are the building blocks to success in chemistry .
Why do scientists believe in atoms? Scientists believe in atoms because of Dalton's atomic theory. The law of conservation of matter, the fact that matter can not be created nor destroyed. After all of the experiments done, all coming up with the same results. They believe in atoms because there is nothing else to believe in, until something else comes up, this is what there is.
The quantitative side of chemistry has able scientists to test and prove theories. Without the quantitative side, no one could prove and have physical evidence of their findings. Sure people can do experiments, but without the data to prove and to keep track, the world would still be believe in phlogiston.
My definition of chemistry is the study of how the world reacts. I think that chemistry is a way to prove by math and experimentation.

Elizabeth in a nutshell

2004-08-26T15:20:00.000-07:00

Growing up in a house with a father as an OB/GYN and a mother as a medical assistant, dinner table conversations always concerned biology in some way, shape or form. Then my frequent trips to the hospital with my father when he did his rounds, I would follow with my scrubs dragging on the floor. I guess you could say that I was swayed into the major of biology because it was the way to the life I was used to living. It also helped that my high school biology teacher was the epitome of knowledge and his love for biology rubbed off on me. Science has always been a subject that sparked my interest and one that I have excelled in. I think that the reason biology especially interests me is the fact that there is always room for expansion, the field is always growing, and there is always something to learn.
After receiving my degree from Purdue University in Biology I am going to attend The Ohio State University Dental School so that I can practice dentistry.
It matters to be whether or not I make something of myself because I want to make my parents and family proud of me. My parents have done so much for me over the years, and by showing them that I can accomplish my goals means that they have taught and raised me well. I think that the main reason it matters so much is that other people have done it, so why can't I?
This is important to me because it is something that I have wanted to do since I was a sophomore in high school. Another important factor is that I want to reach my goals. I don't set goals just to say that is what I want to do, I have the determination and drive to do whatever I put my mind to. Failing is not an option, so to reach my desired career as a dentist is extremely important to me. I feel that especially my hometown society it is important for me to become a professional, to show the kids that someone distinguished came from their high school and hometown and that it is possible for them as well.

TOMBSTONE. The epitome of movies.

2004-08-25T12:02:00.001-07:00

TOMBSTONE. The epitome of movies.

2004-08-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

There are thousands upons thousands of movies circulating the world. All of different intellectual levels, different comedic tastes, and all with different audiences. Everyone has a favorite movie, a movie they could watch over and over without ever getting tired of it and annoying the one they are watching it with by reciting each and every word. When asked what my favorite movie is, there is no question, no hesitation, one word. Tombstone.
For a movie to be a persons favorite, it must include either a favorite actor/actress, a common theme that the movie and the watcher both have in common, or must give a certain vibe the watcher is in the mood for. Tombstone for me captures the wild west perfectly in my perspective. The wild west, a place I have both visited and studied. After becoming familiar with the times and people by my trip to the O.K. Corral and reading numerous books about the Kansas law dog Wyatt Earp and lunger Doc Holiday, Tombstone epitomizes the story of the Cowboys and old Tuscon, Arizona.
Two words that will draw me to the screen of the television, Val Kilmer. Probably my favorite actor of all time. Another reason that Tombstone takes first place on my list. The two main characters player by Kurt Russel and Val Kilmer make the movie. Their manurisms and accents are played so well. Their acting takes you back to this place and time, without having to put on a pair of cowboy boots and strappping your rifle onto your belt.
The main reason for my love of this movie is mainly the single liners from the actors. Such as Doc Holiday's "I've got two guns, one for the each of you," when he is talking to one of the drunk cowboys after the mayor was shot in one of the dusty roads.
Most people turn their heads when they hear that this movie is a cowboy, John Wayne, old western. But, not only is there action, there is comedy, and history. Everything to make a night complete.

let's throw a blog party!!

2004-08-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

MY FIRST BLOG