Research Pick #3

PTSD

PTSD is interesting to me because I have close friends who suffer from this disorder. This disorder is sometimes looked past because some do not want to admit that they suffer from it or don't realize that they actually do. PTSD can have serious side effects, such as, night terrors, mood swings and self-destructive behavior that could include the use of drugs and alcohol. PTSD is sometimes dealt with through counseling and other times, depending on the severity, prescription drugs. PTSD is some times unclear to people who have not had to experience it or know someone who is dealing with it, but it is a true disorder that affects thousands of people in different circumstances every year. So the question is pretty basic, what exactly is PTSD?

Research pick #2

Scientology is a very controversial belief among some, but I guess that is because it is a religion that is not considered "normal". Scientology has two different beliefs, the first is to become certain of one's spiritual existence and one's relationship to God, or the "Supreme Being." The other belief, which is probably the most controversial, is that the human is an immortal alien trapped on Earth in a physical body. This belief is coined from the science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard in his book "Space Opera". Because this religion has two different beliefs and followers to both, it is very intriguing. So what are your religious beliefs? Do you believe we all have a higher calling or are we all just an extraterrestrial trapped on Earth until we can finally go home?

My first pick for Research Paper

Paranormal
The paranormal is interesting to me because not only are there skeptics among us about its existence, but more information and sightings are being reported. The existence of the paranormal is not talked about freely amongst some peers because of fears of being ridiculed or labeled "crazy". Spirits can be detected now through a number of scientific equipment, one piece of equipment is a simple voice recorder. It is said that voice recorders are able to pick up unexplained voices and sounds that the human hear is unable to detect. Another device is an EMF, Electro-Magnetic Field, detector, this device measures electro-magnetic waves that spirits are said to give off when trying to manifest themselves. There are two types of haunting's, residual and intelligent. Residual haunting's are when a spirit does not realize their passing and continues to do a routine at the same time of day over and over again. An intelligent haunting is a spirit who is able to interact and let themselves be known. The paranormal can be a scary thought to some but there are those few who are intrigued by it and seek more information and understanding of it. So the questions is, do you believe in ghosts?

Current Periodicals and Topic Interests

3 periodicals that seemed interesting and ones that i have never seen before were:

• National Interests
• Publications of the Modern Language Association of America (PMLA)
• Daedalus

3 Topics of interest are:

Personal

• Paranormal
• Scientology
• Programs offered to Veterans

School Related

• Clubs/Organizations
• how the school accommodates for the handicap students
• diversity
  

Things that BUG me!!

well i could write in paragraph form but i will write this as a list. So here are the things that bug me:

1. the sound of fingernails being cut
2. when people take forever to back out of a spot in a parking lot
3. when people judge a person before actually knowing them
4. people who write checks

Things I don't know about and want to know more about!!

Well it's kind of hard to actually think of something that I would like to know more about but one thing that has always had my attention but I never really looked into it further was the practice of Scientology. It seems like this "religion" is some what of a hush hush type of thing. I would like to know what their beliefs actually are and why so many people all of a sudden began following the religion. I have heard that they believe when their time comes to an end that aliens or something will come and take their bodys?!?! I'm not sure about that but I think it would be interesting to actually find out who they look up to as far as a religious leader and how this whole thing got started and how long it has been around.
Another thing I would like to know more about is the Satti system that is practiced in the Middle East. I know it is suppose to be banned but some still practice this ancient belief.

Research Experience

Well my research experience has not been and is not too bad. Throughout high school, my english teachers required us to write a 5-10 page research paper each year. So needless to say after 4 years my research skills had been fine tuned. Also while I attended another university, for a limited time, I completed one research paper that was 10 pages long, but since then I have not had to do any type of research for any type of paper until now. Hopefully, I plan to gain from this class a better understanding of how to write and prepare for a paper because I always find myself procrastinating and rushing when the due date nears.