March 11, 2014

1. Describe at least 1 Daybook entry youve done that was significant for you for any
reasonbeyond simply enjoyment or ease. It could have been challenging, new, helpful,
etc. (You may choose from anything this semester; it doesnt have to be from the last 2
weeks.
Note: Anything whether homework, in-class, or on your own thats in
your Daybook, counts as a Daybook entry. It doesnt have to be just the
entries that you completed at home.
For me, Daybook 3 where I responded to Wikipedia Is Good for You?!, was particularly
insightful because going through middle and high school, I had always been told to avoid
Wikipedia due to its freedom in editing. However, looking at Wikipedia as a starting point
rather than a drawing point has helped me in some of my basal understanding of certain
subjects, and I feel will help me obtain a starting point in some future assignments for which I
would otherwise be at a loss of how to proceed.
2. Describe at least 1 thing youve learned this semester (or at least had to consider in a
different way) regarding writing and/or research.
Prior to this class, I had always considered conducting a research paper a means to an
end, write a paper to get a grade. However, something that you mentioned in class made me
realize that while conducting research for a paper truly poses more questions than it does
answer, and that the times I feel I have thoroughly answered my initial inquiry, I oftentimes
have many more questions which I seek to answer in my own time.
3. Describe at least 1 thing youve learned this semester about your line of inquiry. (This
doesnt have to be entirely brand new material. It can be nuanced learning or
consideration of new points, ideas, questions, etc.)
Prior to conducting a more in-depth inquiry of my topic, I had erroneously assumed
that my topic merely applied to a single group of those affected, when in actuality it affects a
varying number of groups. To clarify, instead of affecting merely those who buy health
insurance, or those who do not, it indirectly affects third parties such as small businesses who
may share partial responsibility in maintaining insurance status, or certain governmental
agencies who are required to provide coverage or coverage standards.
4. Explain where you are with your research. Consider the following questions: How many
sources have you collected and/or read? What issues are you running into? Have you had
to adjust your inquiry question at all? What questions do you have?
Currently,I feel that I am at a very good spot with my research, and I feel that I
have the majority of the information necessary to formulate my response, with only a few
sources remaining for a few specific inquiries regarding my topic. I have a total of 15 sources,
currently; 8 of my sources are books or ebooks, 5 of my sources are web articles, and 2 of my
sources are periodicals. The most trouble I've had in obtaining sources, name books or
ebooks, has been in obtaining books or ebooks that do not stem from a government report.
Thankfully, I have not had to majorly adjust my inquiry question, although I think that stands to
speak about how much of my topic I knew prior to entering my inquiry. However, I do still feel
as though I am learning a significant amount and postulating new ideas.
5. Describe at least two sources youve come across that you feel have provided some sort
of significant insight into your line of inquiry: new information, a new perspective, etc. Be
sure to describe what the source is and where it came from as well.
One source that I came across described the significance of the act from the
perspective of a local business owner, which helped to shed some light on one of the
potential benefits of the act. Not only did this help me see a new potential benefit from the act,
is also highlighted a focus group, which helped me add more than one focus group to
look for when creating search topics in order to obtain sources. Additionally, one of my
other sources elaborated greatly on the disparity that existed between the executive power
that existed in previous privatized health insurance as opposed to that of health
insurance post-ACA
6. What questions do you have regarding your research blog?
What I mainly want to know is how the research blogs themselves will be
graded, and whether or not we will have a rubric to go by.
7. What aspects of the course, your work, or your performance are you concerned about or
have questions about? (Be more specific than: How am I doing?)
I'm somewhat concerned that I may not be writing enough, or with enough
frequency in my daybook. Additionally, I've never been sure as to how my writing stacks up
to the standard.