Improvements

My research paper on the smoking ban is coming along nicely. I felt that I couldn't really get a good grip on the paper at first but now I have a pretty good feel about it. This kind of research paper is new to me with the abstract, the methods section, and discussing the results. It is kind of nice to be able to break the sections apart though and work through them that way. I made a lot of changes from my first draft to improve my paper and it's much better already and I'm not even close to being completely finished yet.

Struggling

It was difficult for me to narrow down my topic of Bennigans, from my Wikipedia essay, to something usable for a research paper. I did a web diagram and decided on the recent non-smoking ban that all Michigan restaurants and public places have put in place. I plan to research business declines or possible raises. I also want to see how the ban has been for places like Florida and California. I would like to see how the ban is bad at first and possibly gets better as people get used to it.

I know that personally it was hard for me to get used to as well. I work at Bennigan's so I was always asking people "smoking or non" and it is really nice to not have to think about that and there is more available seating for everyone. Also, it is really nice coming home and not smelling terribly of old smoke. I think that it will take the smokers some getting used to but the ban is a good thing.

Researching

     When I am assigned a research paper, I normally start by looking on google first just to get an idea of what I am actually looking for. It's always hard to tell what I'm really researching if I don't have a clear idea of what it really is. After that I look into books and more credible sources. When I do my first look on google, I normally don't check to make sure it is credible or anything. I'm just looking for a main idea so it's easier to narrow my search down. Then when I get deeper into the research I make sure I know that every source I use is a reliable one. 

     When I do simple research in order to find random things out, I never really make sure it is credible first. I just google the topic I'm curious about and usually read the first thing that come up about it. I know that the information I find first may not be the most reliable, but I am just doing it fast to find a small fact out rather than writing a paper on the topic in greater detail. 

A "Final" draft

     I find it hard to quit revising a paper. There is always something to be done to make it better. I added a lot of things to my paper to make it a "final" copy. I was happy with how well I tied my tone, audience and quotes all together. We were suppose to write a letter to someone of our choice about an article on Wikipedia of our choice. We were also suppose to talk about Wikipedia in general and how accountable it is. I felt that my tone was strong and related well with how terrible the article I chose was. Which led to me also believing that Wikipedia in general is not a good source to go to.  
    I addressed my audience effectively throughout the entire letter. I felt that it never lost its sense of being a letter rather than an essay. I made sure to keep mentioning small hints that it was directed towards who i wanted it directed to. It was hard at first to keep it going as a letter while you are quoting specific things in the text but in the end I feel I did a good job keeping to the tone and audience.
   I feel as though I deserve at least a B+. I worked really hard on improving my paper from first draft to the final. Hopefully I will receive an A on this assignment because I feel really good about it.