Research

While taking this class I learned a lot about the research process. I learned that doing research is a lot more than just typing your topic into google and clicking on the websites that come up. I learned that in order to have a research paper that has valid sources you must use data bases. The data bases make it harder to find information but the info that you find is usually a lot more credible and better. Learning how to cite the information is also very helpful when learning how to write a research paper.

I started out golfing as kid with my dad just for something fun to do I was never really as into it as I was baseball basketball and all the other sports I played growing up, until high school. Freshman year I tried out for the golf team and wasn’t really sure what to expect. I went out to tryouts and had one of the top five scoring averages and of course made the team. From then out golf was the only sport I would play and it has gotten me a long way but I always missed the other sports I played growing up. Sure golf is a team sport in high school and college level but it’s a team made of individuals and is not quite the same as other sports. In the beginning that was all part of my attraction to golf you didn’t have to rely on another people you either sank or swam all on your own no one else could blame you and you couldn’t blame anyone else for mistakes. In the end I think I made a good decision golf has helped me grow up and has even gotten me a scholarship for college.

From High School to College

If there is one thing that I’ve learned so far, it is that life is all about transitions. One of the most difficult transitions in my life was the transition from high school to college and all the changes that came with it. One of the most obvious differences was the change in the amount of work. I had a hard time understanding that just because I physically spent less time in a classroom did not, by any means, mean that there was going to be less homework. Another change that was much harder for me to accept was the fact that all my friends would be going to different schools. After spending four years with the same group of friends, it was hard to grasp the idea that we would all be going our separate ways. Lastly, I had to adjust to an entirely new mindset when I started college. I realized that I needed to be better organized, I needed self-motivation, and I needed to develop better time management skills if I wanted to be successful. Entering college has provided me with the ability to balance all aspects of my life, and taught me how to prioritize. College has been a new and exciting experience, and although it was a hard transition to make, it was one that I was ready for.

Thoughts and Concerns

Although I spend a great deal of time on computers, I have never actually blogged before. So, much like everyone else, this is also a new experience for me. Unfortunately, I am not much of a writer. I am more of a just-state-the-facts type, rather than one who dresses up their writing with fancy words. I usually am also not the type to share my writing with others, except for the occasional editing of my work from my sister, so in that respect, I am a little uncomfortable. Regardless, I think receiving possible feedback from others on what I post will be beneficial to me in the long run.

February 10, 2008

Speed Cameras Aren’t Perfect

Scottsdale dismissing nearly 600 speeding tickets is not nearly as big of a story as it should be. Lawmakers are quick to tell everyone about how good these speed are but are not so quick to tell you about the faults they may have.

The city blamed the tickets on a faulty sensor embedded in one of the cameras. If that sensor went bad who knows how many other sensors could be faulty. Are these tested on a regular basis?

The city gave refunds to those who already paid their tickets but what about those who went to traffic school how will they be repaid for their wasted time?

How many other cameras are out there right now clicking away giving out tickets that may not even be deserved? How many more people have to get phony tickets before these speed cameras will be taken down and our rights will be restored.

-Brett Warren
Tempe, AZ








Brett Warren
Matthew Jolly
Eng 102
February 11, 2008
Reflection/Analysis
When trying to decide what I wanted to write about I came across an article in The Valley and State section of Wednesdays Valley and state section. The article was about Scottsdale dismissing 600 speeding tickets due to a faulty speed camera. Since I am not a big fan of the speed cameras in the first place I figured it would be perfect for me to write about. I thought why are lawmakers so quick to put these cameras and infringe on our rights but its not even a very big story when it is found that 600 tickets were given out that should not of been.
When writing my letter I had to consider many things about my audience. Including in what way could I make my arguments and the best response out of my readers. I figured that my audience would be pretty neutral to my letter and if anything they would tend to be a little more on my side of the argument rather than being for them. My intended audience is one that does not like speed cameras and think that they need to be taken down. My actual audience is one that is pretty neutral to speed cameras and probably don’t have a very strong opinion on the subject
I figured I would use mostly Pathos in my arguments and I started that off early when I said that speed cameras infringe on our rights. I used ethos in my paper when talking about the faulty sensor that caused the tickets. This showed that I read the article and know what I’m talking about. I think that the audience responds best to the emotional appeals that I used in the letter.
I tried to maintain a pretty consistent tone throughout my letter which was pretty serious. I showed that I knew what I was talking about in the letter when I mentioned the cause of the tickets was the faulty sensor.
Had I been able to make my letter longer I would of gone into more detail about speed cameras and other instances of when they have failed. I would of also gone into more detail about what people had to do in order to get their refund. I would of also done more research to find out what the city is planning on doing to make sure that this wouldn’t happen again in the future.