BYU-Idaho Class Projects

Personal Editing Project

In one of my classes we had an assignment to edit the work of another individual. I found someone working on a novel in need of some editing to be done. Below is a presentation of some of the different things I went over and looked for in his novel to help it become more well-written and connecting for those who read it.

Should the government fund news media?

In a class I was given a topic to create a presentation for. I was given the topic of whether the United States government should be the ones funding the news media as more and more are struggling to stay open. After a lot of research I learned the the United Kingdom does fund their news stations and others wish to do the same.

Below is a slideshow showing my presentation on whether news should be funded by our government.

Interviewing Techniques

In one of my classes I had an assignment to teach on the basics of interviewing techniques. Months before I had the opportunity to attend a workshop put on by the Investigative Reporters and Editors group. Using some information given by their presentation along with information taught by our professor I was able to put together a presentation.

Natural Effects of Climate Change

It seen that humans are big part of the reason we have global warming and issues with climate change, but there is more that factors to it. There are many natural effects of climate change that still have a big impact. One would be aerosols.

Aerosols are tiny little particles and water droplets that float in the air. The air may seem very clear, but it is certain that we are breathing this in daily. There are millions of these particles in the air. Although aerosols are very small and hard to see they have a very big impact on the planet and for our health.

Aerosols are called by other names such as nanoparticles and some may call them particulate matter. Aerosols are made up of so many particles that include soot, ash, and smoke. These are the most commonly referred to in the media or by scientists. Other particles include sea salt, mineral dust, black carbon, nitrates, organic carbon, and sulfates. Many of the last terms used can combine together. These can coat the surface in a dust.

A majority of aerosols, about 90 percent, are completely organic. Volcanoes are one example of this. Volcanoes as they erupt will put a lot of sulfate into the air. Ash and soot will fill the air and this can have a big effect on the earth. It makes the air thicker and block out the sun. The solar radiation will not be able to come through as this happens and it will lower the temperatures for the troposphere as well as changing circulation patterns within the atmosphere.

Although the volcano activity can last several days the little particles can reside within the air for several years. This can affect climate patterns with the gas that was put into the air during the eruption.

Forest fires as well can be a major natural effect on Climate Change. As the trees and plants burn it sends a partially burned organic carbon into the air. There are many types of plants that have specific aerosols. When these plants burn the aerosols mix and will react to whatever they mix with.

It is seen that as temperatures increase as do forest fires. The smoke that comes from it can have a huge effect on the climate.

Sea salt and dust as well are natural effects on the climate change. As the wind whips in many directions it can pick up the dust and sea salt and pull it into the atmosphere.

Natural aerosols are more easily seen by satellites; they can be seen moving around in the atmosphere.

Aerosols do not last a long period of time in the atmosphere, but these little particles can move over long distances. They can move from 5 meters per second. Normally these particles will stay in the air for up to weeks which means 5 meters per second for a week could reach very long distances on the earth.

Aerosols have the tendency to block out the sunlight. The sun gives the energy to the earth that will drive it’s climate, but thanks to the aerosols in the air that energy does not always go to where it is needed to be. The aerosols and the clouds will reflect the energy back into space to where it came from.

Different aerosols reflect or collect the energy sent to the planet. This is called the “direct effect”. This is considered to be very complicated. The lighter particles reflect the light as the darker particles absorb it. The darker particles that reflect the light tend to warm up the atmosphere as well as shading the surface.

Aerosols can alter the albedo of the planet. When the shading occurs it stop the ice from being able to reflect the light that was coming towards it. This could be the cause of why the ice could be melting. The most common known reasons for the dark aerosols would be forest fires.

Humans can create quite a bit of aerosols, but natural aerosols have a big impact on the world as well. As much as humans may be adding to climate change the world has already been going through it with the natural effects that contribute to the Earth. There are so many ways of this and aerosols are a very big contributor to this.

It is believed that the natural aerosols may help with climate change. Although there are some cases that can affect it poorly the aerosols created by plants can have a very good effect on the planet. The aerosols of plants can help create clouds.; this blocks out the light and will cool down the Earth. These can stay in the atmosphere for a certain amount of time. Plant aerosols are a very important part of nature today. It will truly help the climate changes on the planet.

Aerosols have a huge impact on the planet. Aerosols are very different from greenhouse gases, but they have an impact on the climate just as greenhouse gases do.  If we can understand aerosols much better, it is said that we can help with the climate change so that it will have a good effect on the planet instead of the bad effect that is seen to occur today.

Works Cited

“Natural Aerosols may Help Slow Climate Change by Small Amounts, New Study Shows.” 01 05 2013. Huffington Post. 11 11 2017 <www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/01.natural-aerosols-global-waeming_n_3193360>.

 

Volland, Adam. “Aerosols: Tiny Particles, Big Impact.” 2 Nov 2010. Earth Observatory . NASA. 11 Nov 2017

<https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Aerosols/ >.

 

Wolfe, Jason. “Valcanoes and Climate Change.” 5 Sept 2000. Earth Observatory. 11 Nov 2017 <https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/Volcano/&gt;.

Science Credibility

From my understanding science is there to help us solve issues, but to do so we must be able to understand what are the good decisions needed to receive the answers. There are several ways that we can receive our answers correctly that are good decisions.

One very good example is through peer reviews. Peer reviews can help us determine if the results are correct. Peer review can help us make sure there is no mistakes in our work and can sometimes help us receive new results than what we originally had. Peer review can help a lot with the work that is needed done to make sure that there will be no errors among the work. It is important to have work peer reviewed.

Another important aspect is the credibility of the paper. It is very important to make sure that the work is credible. It is also extremely important that the information is not bias. Bias information or results can lead to a few complications and may result with false results. We all have a bias, but letting our bias overtake us can usually lead to bias results.

I found two websites with two different types of bias. One uses an example of why the climates change is happening in the Antarctica. They do not believe that the change is coming from Global Warming. They say in the article;

“The researchers from the Desert Research Institute (DRI) say that a 192-year series of eruptions that came from the West Antarctic’s Mount Tahake volcano coincided with the rapid deglaciation that was seen 17,700 years ago and the beginning of the rise in concentrations of greenhouse gas around the world. These eruptions, they say, released gases that formed an ozone hole in the stratosphere above Antarctica.” (Z)

In this example given it shows that they do not believe in Global Warming and have a bias that there are other things causing the ice to melt in Antarctica.

Another example of bias is of a group of scientists who do believe in Global Warming. Throughout the article it focuses on how the earth is balancing out the effects of the Carbon in the air, but they continue to talk about how fossil fuels are affecting the earth.

In the article it says;

“For most of human history, carbon has been in a more or less steady cycle. This cycle has been thrown off balance as people burn fossil fuels – carbon that has been long buried underground as oil, gas and coal – and as forests are cleared and soils are turned for agriculture. All of these contribute to increasing carbon emissions. While the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that ecosystems absorb from the atmosphere each year varies quite a bit, the fraction in the long run has averaged out to about half.

More carbon dioxide and methane in the air mean warmer global temperatures. Warmer temperatures can disrupt some ecosystems and impact their ability to absorb more and more carbon. An even more imbalanced carbon cycle will cause greater variability and consequences that are not yet fully understood.” (Rasmussen)

With this website it also shows graphs that explains what changes are occurring to the planet.

Another example of bias information can result from confirmation bias. It is when someone becomes prideful of his or her work. This can usually lead to some issues for the person who has the pride. It is very important that we avoid becoming bias and prideful in our work so that we are able to come up with true and honest results.

It is also important to get information from credible sources. We can know if a source is credible by their h-index. The higher the h-index the more papers a person had written that has been cited. This could mean that the person is quite accurate on the stuff they have written. The credibility in their work can help others understand more for their own work.

It is very important that we receive the correct results. We all do have a bias and sometimes the bias can lead us to making the wrong decisions, but as long as we choose to make the correct decision by making sure our work is correct we will be able to receive the results we need.

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Z., Isabelle. “Volcanic acvitiy in Antartica responsible for changes in climate in the region; not global warming.” Climatesciencenews.com. 8 10 2017 <climatesciencenews.com/2017-10-06-volcanic-activity-in-antartica-responsible-for-changes-in-the-region-not-global-warming.html>.

 

Rasmussen, Kate Ramsayer and Carol. “Global Climate Change.” 3 10 2017. NASA. Ed. Holly Shaftel. Earth Science Communication Team. 8 10 2017 <https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2364/a-breathing-planet-off-balance/&gt;.

Z., Isabelle. “Volcanic acvitiy in Antartica responsible for changes in climate in the region; not global warming.” Climatesciencenews.com. 8 10 2017 <climatesciencenews.com/2017-10-06-volcanic-activity-in-antartica-responsible-for-changes-in-the-region-not-global-warming.html>.

 

Interpersonal Theory- Confidence

I asked a group of people on their opinions of the word Confidence and what it means to them. All of them responded with the result of one believing in themself. One explained it to be like faith. A belief in ones’ self, somebody, or something that allows them to act.

As I talked with them I learned that a few of them were unaware that others admired the trait within them. All of them mentioned having been talked to about it, but only half knew that people looked up to them for having the trait.

I learned that they each received this trait in different ways. Dennis said that he received it through some leadership training and by being put in difficult situations that he had to overcome. The situations helped him overcome the fear and gain the confidence he needed. He also said that he learned how to get confidence through his own family.

Hunter said that the way he gained confidence was through the success he received.

Carly was unsure of how she became confident, but she believes that she has always been a very confident person.

Lastly Maddison said it was through feeling good about herself and being able to be on her own enough that she was capable to receive her confidence.

I found it interesting to see how different each of their answers were on how they were able to receive this trait and how it helped each of them become who they are.

They as well had different advice on how a person can receive confidence. Dennis said, “ Confidence comes from personal experiences therefore if people want to be more confident they must put themselves out there interacting with the public, peers and leaders. It’s always important and helpful to have a mentor.”

In addition to his comment another spoke of perfectionism. She mentioned that in order for us to be confident we need to understand that no one is perfect and that we must be able to accept ourselves for who we are and the confidence will come with it.

The others as well talked about how a person sees themself.  I’ve come to see that the real confidence comes from how we look at ourselves and if we are willing to put ourselves out there to learn.

As I talked with each of them about the people they look up to with confidence they each mentioned a relative. They looked up to and learned from a relative they were around during their life. They, as well, mentioned people they spent time around throughout their life. Along with people they did not know in person such as presidents of the United States or apostles and prophets.

It is through the people they look up to that they are able to build up their own confidence.

Talking with the four helped me learn so much more about confidence and how I personally can receive this confidence as they have. I am a perfectionist and as one stated we need to put perfectionism behind. I plan to use the advice given so that I may be able to build up my own confidence so that I may be more like them.