ENGL 101 Mindtap week 4 assignment solutions complete answers

ENGL 101 Mindtap week 4 assignment solutions complete answers 

 

1 . Introduction to Source Reliability
Reliability is the degree to which something can be trusted or believed. When consulting a secondary source, always evaluate its reliability before using it. A reliable secondary source is well written or well presented by an expert in the field, carefully researched, and accompanied by thorough documentation. The most reliable sources are also reviewed by a committee of peers (fellow experts in the field). Although some types of primary sources, such as a map or a personal letter, can be biased, they are often considered reliable because they are firsthand accounts.

Click on the name of each type of secondary source to find out how reliable it is.

Reliability of Secondary Sources

Academic journal articles and books
Unregulated Internet material
News stories
Trade books and journal articles
Business and nonprofit publications
Tabloid articles
Government publications
Textbooks
 

Miki is writing a paper on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles—also called drones—in wildlife conservation efforts. Which of the following are extremely/highly reliable sources to use in her research? Check all that apply.

A book on the development and capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicles written by an aeronautical engineer

A lengthy article in a tabloid publication that describes an unmanned aerial vehicle missile attack on ivory poachers

Several bits of information and opinions on what roles unmanned aerial drones should play in military and civilian use, pulled from an online discussion board on a military enthusiast’s website

A peer-reviewed journal article written by a field researcher with a PhD in conservation who is working at a rhinoceros sanctuary in southwest Africa

 

Lupita has found an interesting perspective on how to handle student debt. It is in the form of an editorial. Why should she be cautious of using this source?

Lupita should not be cautious of using an editorial.

Editorials, although often found in newspapers, are opinion pieces.

Editorials are usually poorly written.

 

Aileen is writing a paper on the factors that contribute to a web-posted video going viral. Which of the following are extremely/highly reliable sources to use in her research? Check all that apply.

A detailed tabloid article on viral video stars and their personal lives

A book on viral Internet trends written by a professor of marketing with a specialty in digital marketing

A peer-reviewed journal article written by a digital communications expert describing the origins and rise to popularity of three recent viral videos

A personal blog of an individual who claims to know several tricks for making a personal video get a million or more hits on the Internet

 

Why would a personal blog about how to make viral videos be an unreliable source?

A personal blog may reveal content that is far too private to share with others.

Personal blogs consist of the author’s personal opinions, experiences, and agendas, and are generally not based upon careful research.

Personal blogs are usually written by people with too much time on their hands.

 

Lupita is writing a paper on student debt. Which of the following are extremely/highly reliable sources to use in her research? Check all that apply.

A peer-reviewed journal article written by a prominent economist

A book that analyzes the practice and ramifications of marketing credit cards to college students, written by a financial expert who specializes in debt management

A personal post on a social media website referring to the high costs of student loans and soliciting advice in dealing with them

A detailed web advertisement for debt management services geared toward graduating college students

 

Why should Miki not consider using her textbook, which is 10 years old, as a source?

Miki can use her textbook; a 10 year old publication date is not a problem.

Textbooks are not well-written, nor are they thoughtfully researched.

Textbooks only contain small pieces of information on larger topics; also, a 10 year old book that discusses aeronautical engineering would be out of date.

 

2 . Evaluating the Reliability of Online Sources

The Internet is one of the most useful and widespread research tools available. For most people, not a day goes by when they are not online seeking answers to important questions and everyday ones, too. Keep in mind, however, that the information you find on the Internet can range from thoughtful and reputable to illogical and misinformed. When determining whether to use that information as part of your research, treat it as you would any other source by evaluating its reliability.

Directions: To learn more about how to evaluate information you find online, explore the following interactive table.

Directions: Read the annotated bibliography card for each online source, and answer the questions that follow.

 

Source 1: “The forests in Washington state are in acceptable shape as of 2008, according to the standards of the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA keeps scheduled statistics on a quarterly basis.”

—From Wendy Walsh, a conservation biologist with the EPA, as quoted on forests.gov

 

Based on the information provided, is the domain of Source 1 reliable or unreliable?

Unreliable

Reliable

 

What do we know about the reliability of the author in Source 1?

The author is reliable because she is an expert in her field and works for a reputable organization.

The author is unreliable and biased because of her conservation agenda.

Not enough is known about the author to determine reliability.

 

Source 2: “Black holes should emit radiation. Radiation allows black holes to lose mass. Black holes that lose more matter than they gain through other means are expected to dissipate, shrink, and ultimately vanish.”

—From Stephen Hawking, professor of mathematics at the University of Cambridge and author of the best-selling book A Brief History of Time, writing on stephenhawking.cambridge.edu

 

Based on the information provided, is the domain of Source 2 reliable or unreliable?

Unreliable

Reliable

 

What do we know about the reliability of the author of Source 2?

The author is reliable because he is an expert in his field and is well respected across the globe.

The author is unreliable because of his bias towards his beliefs about mathematics and science.

There is not enough known about this author to determine reliability.

 

Source 1: “Birds don’t eat monarch butterflies. We tasted a male butterfly while vacationing in Costa Rica and it tasted like hazelnuts. We didn’t get sick or throw up, so the butterflies can’t be toxic. Birds must not like the taste of hazelnuts.”

—From nature enthusiasts Robin Brooks and Jasmine Birch, writing on wildlyedible.com

 

The authors are unreliable because “nature enthusiasts” would never eat butterflies.

The authors are unreliable because the term “nature enthusiast” does not necessarily mean “expert”; not enough is known about them besides being vacationers.

The authors are reliable because as “nature enthusiasts,” they probably pay a lot of attention to the behavior of the animals in their surroundings.

 

Source 2: “All politicians are dirty rats who will sneak into your back pocket and steal your wallet if they have to. They are nothing but glorified thieves in a suit and tie. They commit crimes left and right without being punished. We should throw them all into prison and let out the rest of the convicts so they can run the country. The convicts would do a better job of making this country a respectable nation again.”

—From “cynic9871,” in a message board post on politiciansstink.com

 

The author is unreliable because he or she is anonymous and expresses personal opinions.

The author is reliable because he or she is not afraid to express how he or she really feels; nothing is being hidden from readers.

 

Source 1: “The central question surrounding the problem of school violence is whether it should be addressed primarily through changes in legislation or by raising awareness in schools and among parents.”

—From the transcript of an interview conducted by National Public Radio with Dr. Harlan Collar of the New York University School of Law, posted on gunlaws.nylaw.edu

 

The author is unreliable because as a law professor, he probably knows how to manipulate others into agreeing with his agenda.

The author is reliable because he is an expert in his field and is deemed worthy of an interview by a respected radio station.

 

Source 2: “Troy Landsdale, a self-proclaimed expert in personal safety, designed an armor that can protect people from grizzley bear attacks. People can even use it in the military to ambush crazy evildoing enemys. It costs only $495.00. Troy is currently wearing the suit on a march across the United States. Go to the shopping cart now while supplies last.”

—From the homepage of grizzleysuit.com

 

The author is unreliable because he or she is financially invested in the product he is offering; there are also multiple spelling errors.

The author is reliable because he or she clearly wants to keep people safe from bear attacks.

 

3 . Using Notecards to Record Source Information

Has this ever happened to you? You’re in the process of writing a research paper or assignment, and you realize that a specific quotation, fact, or example you found during your research process would fit perfectly within your paragraph. But there’s one problem: You can’t remember what it was or where you found it.

Developing a personalized note-taking system can help you organize and apply your research. The system that you use will depend on the type of research you are conducting and your note-taking preferences. Some students like to take notes by hand using a pencil and index cards, whereas others opt to use a computer. However, all systems will share certain key characteristics. Consider the following example.

Isaac is writing a research paper on the benefits of driving an electric car. One of his sources is an article from Consumer Reports that compares electric cars to traditional gasoline-powered cars in terms of overall cost. He has already determined that the source is reliable. Now he wants to record information using a note-taking system.

To learn more about note-taking best practices, read the information that follows.

A System for Taking Notes

Over time, owning an electric car saves you money.

• A Nissan Leaf (pure electric) sells for $35,430 and costs $1.74 to drive for 50 miles.

• A Toyota Corolla (gasoline) sells for $18,404 and costs $5.94 to drive for 50 miles.

• The author states, “Maintenance on an electric car is theoretically miniscule compared with gasoline cars.”

Evarts, Eric. “Leaf, Volt Tests Show Electric Cars Cost Less Per Mile to Operate.” ConsumerReports. December 2011, www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2011/12/leaf-volt-tests-show-electric-cars-cost-less-per-mile-to-operate/index.htm.

Always identify the source. Identifying the source will help you find it again later and ensure that you give full credit to the original author for his or her ideas.

Many instructors require students to use a specific documentation style, such as MLA or CMS, in their research papers. In this example, Isaac has identified his source using the appropriate MLA style. This will save him time and effort later on in the research process.

 

Key information generally consists of which of the following? Check all that apply.

Ideas

Publication dates

Statistics

Facts

Examples

 

Directions: Review the following note card. Then answer the questions that follow.

Problems of an aging prison population

• Longer sentences and more older people being sent to prison = twice as many prisoners 55 and older now than in 1995

• Prisoners are at higher risk of dementia than their unimprisoned counterparts

• Identification and care of prisoners with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia is expensive

• Paul Kleinman, psychologist, said, “There’s a number of people [with Alzheimer’s] in the system that we really haven’t tapped. They’re not being identified properly.”

 

The final note on this card (“Paul Kleinman, psychologist, said . . .”) is which of the following?

Phrase or sentence connecting the information to the topic

Source

Direct quotation

 

What information is missing from this note card?

 

In this example, Isaac has included two pieces of key information and one direct quotation.

 

Directions: Review the following note card. Then answer the questions that follow.

How Alzheimer’s is diagnosed

• Alois Alzheimer first described the disease in 1906

• Alzheimer’s disease can still only be detected after death through autopsy of the brain

• A pathologist, a person who studies diseases, looks for plaque on the brain

• High rate of misdiagnosis in living patients—20%

 

This note card shows the rate of misdiagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease is 20%. Why is this information included on the card?

 

In this example, Isaac has associated the information with the portion of his research that addresses the financial benefits of owning an electric car: It will save the owner money.

 

• Alzheimer’s patients often suffer from not only memory loss but personality changes and a lack of social skills

• A new trend in Alzheimer’s care is to allow patients almost anything that comforts them in order to stabilize their mood and behavior

• Director of research at Beatitudes (a nursing home) Tena Alonzo said, “The state tried to cite us for having chocolate on the nursing chart. They were like, ‘It’s not a medication.’ Yes, it is. It’s better than Xanax.”

• Studies show Alonzo is right. Food, art, music, and exercise help to improve moods and behaviors of Alzheimer’s patients

Belluck, Pam. “Giving Alzheimer’s Patients Their Way, Even Chocolate.” The New York Times. 31 December 2010, www.nytimes.com/2011/01/01/health/01care.html?_r=0.

 

The first note (“Alzheimer’s patients often suffer from not only memory loss . . .”) provides which of the following?

 

4 . Understanding Your Library Resources

Although the Internet allows you to access information from anywhere, physical libraries remain useful places to conduct research. Besides providing a quiet place to work, physical libraries offer books and periodicals, such as magazines and journals, that are not available online or require a subscription. In addition, librarians can show you how to search for library materials or use specific resources, such as subscription databases, which are systems that index articles and scholarly papers according to specific subjects and topics. If your college or institution doesn’t have a library, try going to one in your community. Taking advantage of the resources available to you will always result in stronger, more productive research activities.

Use the interactive graphic to explore some basic library resources.

Know Your Library Resources

Directions: Help Isaac start his research and use library resources effectively by answering the question that follows.

Isaac is writing a research paper on the benefits of driving an electric car. Using the library’s catalogue, he located a nonfiction book available for loan called Electric and Hybrid Cars: A History by Curtis and Judy Anderson.

 

How can Isaac best use his college library to help him?

Isaac should head to the periodicals section of the library to find the book on the shelves.

Isaac should head to the reference section of the library to find the book on the shelves.

Isaac should head to the circulating materials section of the library to find the book on the shelves.

 

Besides the book he is searching for, what other type of potentially useful source might Isaac be able to locate within the same section of the library?

Isaac may be able to find magazines that discuss the latest trends in electric car engineering.

Isaac may be able to find reference materials that clearly define what an electric car is and its history.

Isaac may be able to find DVDs on the subject of electric cars.

 

Directions: Read the following student scenario, and then answer the question that follows.

Sondra is starting a research paper on homeless populations in rural Maine. Her college library subscribes to an online database containing articles in the field of sociology. From her computer at home, Sondra uses the database to locate a relevant magazine article. The full text of the article, however, is not available online.

 

How can Sondra best use her college library to help her?

Sondra should try to locate the article in the library’s reference section.

Sondra should head directly to the circulating materials section to see if she can locate the article among the stacks of books.

Sondra should search the periodicals index to determine whether her college library has the full text of the article in print form or electronic form.

 

After searching for the full text version of the article she found, Sondra has been unable to locate it. However, she is not sure she is effectively searching for the source and is hesitant to give up looking. What can Sondra do at this point?

Sondra should search for article online.

Sondra should just give up. It’s not worth the frustration to continue looking.

Sondra should ask a librarian to help her search.

 

Isaac is writing a research paper on the benefits of driving an electric car. He’s having trouble using one of the subscription databases the library provides.

 

Isaac should stop using databases and try a different research tool.

Isaac should ask a librarian for assistance.

Isaac should stop researching his topic and try again another day.

 

Isaac would like to locate an encyclopedia so he can gain a general understanding of how electric cars have progressed over the years. However, he is not sure where to find one. Where should Isaac look?

Isaac should look in the circulating materials section of the library.

Isaac should look for an encyclopedia in the reference section of the library.

Isaac should look in the periodicals section of the library.

 

Vicky is starting a research paper on the history of stunt performers in Hollywood. She read an article online about Florence Lowe “Pancho” Barnes, a famous aviator and founder of the first union for movie stunt pilots. The article mentioned a documentary film about Pancho that Vicky would like to watch, but it’s not available online.

 

How can Vicky best use her college library to help her?

Vicky should conduct a catalog search to find out if the DVD is part of the library’s collection.

Vicky should try to locate the DVD in the library’s reference section.

Vicky should head directly to the periodicals section to see if she can locate the DVD.

 

If the library carries the DVD Vicky is searching for, in which section would she find it?

Vicky would have to ask the librarian for the DVD because they are kept in the library offices.

Vicky would find the DVD in the circulating materials section.

Vicky would find the DVD online in a subscription database.

 

Isaac is writing a research paper on the benefits of driving an electric car. Since electric cars are relatively new and often discussed in the media, he wants to find articles from magazines and newspapers that deal with the topic.

 

Isaac should search for articles using a subscription database.

Isaac should avoid articles from periodicals because they’re too hard to locate.

Isaac should head directly to the periodicals section of the library and start browsing magazines at random.

 

Isaac has located a couple of good articles, but needs to find more sources. Where else can he look for the latest information on his topic?

Isaac should search the Internet outside of subscription databases for up-to-date, credible articles on websites, in online magazines, or in online newspapers.

Isaac should turn back to reading only books, since he cannot find all he needs in online databases.

Isaac should peruse the magazine stands at the local stores for headlines on his topic.

 

Emma is starting a research paper on the life cycle of the spring peeper (a species of small chorus frog) for an environmental science class. She found a web page that came from a reliable source. However, the article on the web page did not contain the level of detail she had been hoping for. She checked the bibliography at the end of the article and discovered the title of a nonfiction book that she feels would be useful in her research.

 

How can Emma best use her college library to help her?

Emma should try to locate the nonfiction title in the library’s reference section.

Emma should conduct a catalog search to find out if the book is part of the library’s collection.

Emma should head directly to the periodicals section to see if she can locate the book.

 

Emma is struggling to locate this specific book. She is also struggling to find other sources she feels would be relevant to her research. What should Emma do?

Emma should search the Internet for any source she can find on her topic.

Emma should ask a librarian for help locating sources.

Emma should give up and leave the library.

 

5 . Finding Information in Databases

A library database is a collection of published information that includes articles from periodicals (newspapers, magazines, or scholarly journals). You can use the database at your college library to locate pertinent information on research topics. Most libraries subscribe to databases, so if you have a library card for your school library or local city library, you can talk to a librarian to find out what databases your library membership will allow you to access.

To use a database, you need to understand how to read the results that appear following a search. These are called database citations. A citation tells you important information about a source: who wrote or created it (the author), what it is called (the title), when it was published or created (the date), where it appears (magazine, newspaper, periodical, or journal), the type of source (editorial, journal, newspaper, magazine article, or advertisement), word count, and the available form (abstract or full-text, with or without graphics). Usually the title of the source is also a link that will take you to the electronic copy of the source. Take a look at the following sample database citation:

  

Directions: Use the following database search results to answer the questions that follow.

 

Which of the following can a database include?

Updates from social media sites

The full text of periodical articles

Search results from major search engines on the Internet

 

Which of the search results include graphics?

 

When was the article “New Points of View” published?

 

Which of the search results is an editorial?

 

If you were writing an essay on leadership and motivation in business, which of the search results would probably be the best source of information?

 

How do you use a database?

Type a search term into the database to get a list of hits.

Type your topic into a major search engine on the Internet.

Perform a search for your topic on social media platforms.

 

What is in search result #29, “We inspire you, you inspire us.(news from mother)”?

 

What volume and issue number of The Journal of Light Construction contains the article “New Points of View”?

 

Who wrote the article “Inspiration”?

 

Which are the two most current search results?

 

What is a database?

A searchable collection of published information designed for use by researchers

A collection of mathematical data on topics that need to be researched

A tool used by librarians to categorize transactions and periodicals

 

What would clicking on the results for search #30 lead you to?

 

What is the name of the periodical in search result #31?

 

How many pages long is the article “Inspiration”?

 

Which of the search results appear to come from non-business-related periodicals?

 

6 . Indicating the Boundaries of a Source
It can be fairly easy to indicate the beginning of a citation: just plug in the author’s name and the title of the outside source in the beginning of your sentence. However, it can be a little trickier to indicate where your paraphrase or summary ends and your own thoughts, ideas, or comments begin. Thus you must clearly indicate the boundaries of a source in your text. The following expressions can help you convey this shift to readers.

Expressions That Indicate the Boundaries of a Source

To introduce a source:
To shift from a source to your own commentary:
According to . . .
It follows that . . .
(Author or source) makes the point that . . .
(Author’s) explanation shows that . . .
(Author or source) points out . . .
The data show that . . .
As (author) once said . . .
As a result . . .
In (title of source), (author) argues/suggests/points out . . .
Evidently . . .
A survey/poll conducted by (name) reveals that . . .
Obviously . . .
 
Clearly . . .
 
Apparently . . .
 

Directions: Review each pair of citations in the tables that follow. In one citation, the writer uses clear boundaries to separate his or her commentary from outside source material. In the other citation, these boundaries are unclear. Use the dropdown menus to indicate the type of boundary for each citation.

 

Citation
Citation Boundary
A. According to Candace Savage in Crows: Encounters with the Wise Guys of the Avian World, crows exhibit several traits of higher intelligence, including tool use and complex social behavior. Apparently there is more to our feathered friends than meets the eye.
 
B. According to the author, crows exhibit several traits of higher intelligence, including tool use and complex social behavior. There is more to our feathered friends than meets the eye.
 
 

A. A recent study found that people who are organized tend to make healthier food choices and live longer than people who are disorganized. The study also found that people who favor cluttered environments tend to be more creative than their neater counterparts. There are advantages and drawbacks to both personality types.
 
B. As reported by Gretchen Reynolds in “What a Messy Desk Says About You,” a recent study found that people who are organized tend to make healthier food choices and live longer than people who are disorganized. The study also found that people who favor cluttered environments tend to be more creative than their neater counterparts. Clearly there are advantages and drawbacks to both personality types.
 
 

A. A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that lifelong smokers lose an average of ten years of their life expectancy. Evidently individuals who want to increase their life span should avoid or quit smoking.
 
B. A recent study found that lifelong smokers lose an average of ten years of their life expectancy. Individuals who want to increase their life span should avoid or quit smoking.
 
 

A. In American culture, the number 13 is considered to be unlucky. In “Superstitious Numbers Around the World,” Jackie Skurie points out that a similar belief exists in China. In Chinese culture, the number 4 is bad luck because the pronunciation of four is nearly identical to that of the Chinese word for death. Evidently superstitions surrounding numbers are common across many cultures and countries.
 
B. In American culture, the number 13 is considered to be unlucky. Similarly, in Chinese culture, the number 4 is bad luck because the pronunciation of four is nearly identical to that of the Chinese word for death. Superstitions surrounding numbers are common across many cultures and countries.
 
 

A. A record 31.1 million viewers tuned in to watch the broadcast of the London summer Olympic games in 2012. Summer events are among the most entertaining Olympic sports to watch.
 
B. According to Richard Sandomir, a record 31.1 million U.S. viewers tuned in to watch the broadcast of the London summer Olympic games in 2012. The data show that summer sports are among the most popular Olympic events.
 
 

A. A national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2013 reveals that 52% of Americans favor legalizing marijuana, up from 41% in 2010. The majority of the support is found among young people between the ages of 18 and 32. It is clear that attitudes toward marijuana usage continue to shift and change over time.
 
B. A national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2013 reveals that 52% of Americans favor legalizing marijuana, up from 41% in 2010. The majority of the support is found among young people between the ages of 18 and 32. Attitudes toward marijuana usage continue to shift and change over time.
 
 

A. Venus transversed the sun in 2012. It is a shame if you missed this spectacular event; the next Venus transit will not occur until 2117.
 
B. According to NASA, Venus transversed the sun in 2012. Clearly it is a shame if you missed this spectacular event; the next Venus transit will not occur until 2117.
 
 

A. According to Jennifer S. Holland in “A Fragile Empire,” the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is home to over 5,000 types of mollusks, 1,800 species of fish, and 125 types of sharks. As a result of this remarkable diversity, the reef is likely one of the top scuba diving destinations on the planet.
 
B. “A Fragile Empire” points out that the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is home to over 5,000 types of mollusks, 1,800 species of fish, and 125 types of sharks. The reef is likely one of the top scuba diving destinations on the planet.
 
 

A. In recent years, the wisdom of raising children on a strict vegan diet, a vegetarian food regimen that excludes all animal products, has come under scrutiny. In 2004, a six-week-old American boy died of starvation because his vegan parents fed him primarily apple juice and soy milk. Parents should not impose a vegan lifestyle on their children.
 
B. In recent years, the wisdom of raising children on a strict vegan diet, a vegetarian food regimen that excludes all animal products, has come under scrutiny. Nina Planck points out that in 2004, a six-week-old American boy died of starvation because his vegan parents fed him primarily apple juice and soy milk. Evidently parents should not impose a vegan lifestyle on their children.
 
 

7 . Conventions of Academic Style

Imagine the kind of clothes you would wear to a party at a friend’s house. Would you wear the same style of clothing to a job interview? Most people would likely say no: what’s appropriate in one situation isn’t necessarily appropriate in another.

The same concept applies to writing: different styles work in different situations. Consequently, whenever you write in academic situations, it’s important that you write in an appropriately academic style. To learn about the traits of academic style, read the information that follows.

Academic Style

Most people relate the idea of tone to the sound of a person’s voice. Someone who is having a good time is likely to sound happy or enthusiastic, while someone who is nervous is likely to sound uncertain or afraid. It’s important to recognize that tone applies to all types of communication; both written words and spoken words are accompanied by tones.

The tone of a piece of writing can create a powerful impression. Consequently, when you write in academic situations, it’s important that your work carry an academic tone. When writing has an academic tone, it suggests that the author should be taken seriously and that the ideas have been carefully considered.

An academic tone IS:

•
serious
•
formal
•
thoughtful
•
dispassionate
•
fair
•
earnest
•
respectful of subject and audience
An academic tone is NOT:

•
funny
•
casual
•
careless
•
overcome with emotion
•
one-sided
•
sarcastic
•
disrespectful of subject or audience
Writing that does not carry an academic tone may suggest many things about the author, but it will not typically suggest that the composition is a thorough, fair, and well-reasoned examination of a subject.

 

Directions: Read this student’s concern, and then answer the question that follows.

“I’m writing an essay for my English class. Which of these sentences uses a voice that’s appropriate for a literature essay?”

 

Which sentence uses a grammatical voice that is appropriate for the writing situation?

American literature was revolutionized by Mark Twain.

Mark Twain revolutionized American literature.

 

Directions: The following paragraph is part of an academic essay. Read the paragraph, and then answer the question that follows.

Can Murder Be Justified? The Ethics of Mystery and Crime Fiction

It’s my belief that the meaning of justice is addressed in mystery and crime novels. I believe you don’t even have to look beyond the novels of famed British writer Agatha Christie, whose murderers are always punished. (I HATE it when murderers get away with the crime—that’s the absolute worst.) However, in books by author John Dickson Carr, murderers do occasionally get away with it, especially if the victim seems to have been a terrible human being. This leads one to conclude that sometimes murder is justified.

 

As a piece of academic writing, this paragraph is flawed. However, in some ways it adheres to academic style. What aspects of this paragraph are appropriate for a piece of academic writing? Check all that apply.

It tries to draw connections between ideas.

It argues with evidence.

It avoids using slang.

It uses the word I.

It uses contractions such as don’t and can’t.

The writing sounds highly emotional.

 

Part of what makes academic writing different from other kinds of writing is the way it approaches its subject. In general, academic writing does the following:

•
Tries to answer challenging questions. Academic writing doesn’t seek to answer questions that have easily identifiable right and wrong answers. Instead, it tackles questions whose answers aren’t obvious or simple—questions without definite answers, or questions that might reasonably cause people to disagree.
•
Explains, analyzes, or persuades. The goal of academic writing is usually to help readers understand an idea or convince readers to agree with the author. In some cases, academic writing may pursue all of these goals simultaneously.
•
Argues with evidence. In academic writing, the main point is heavily supported with evidence—that is, with things like facts, statistics, examples, and expert opinions. Personal observations may also be used as evidence in academic writing, although the use of these is often limited.
•
Draws connections. Academic writing explains how ideas relate to each other: How does one idea compare to another? How do supporting ideas connect to the main point? How does the main point connect to the life of the reader or the world at large? By answering questions such as these, academic writing enables readers to understand the relevance of key concepts.
•
Stays focused. Academic writing doesn’t draw attention to information that isn’t related to the main point. It keeps a continual focus on the issue at hand.
Directions: Read this student’s concern, and then answer the question that follows.

“I’m writing an essay for my psychology class. Which of these sentences uses a voice that’s appropriate for a psychology essay?”

 

In this experiment, students were asked about their feelings about their parents.

In this experiment, the scientists asked students about their feelings about their parents.

 

I think that ideas about the meaning of justice can be presented in mystery and crime novels. This is shown, I believe, in books by the ace British writer Agatha Christie. In her books, the killer always winds up being sent to the hole or put on the night train to the soul’s deepest midnight (killed). I really like her books, especially Murder in Mesopotamia, which I read once while I was visiting my friend in Romania. (Romania is an interesting country!!!) However, in books by mystery author John Dickson Carr, someone does occasionally get away with wrecking someone—especially when the victim, like, totally deserved it. . . .

 

The word voice can mean different things in different situations. When people talk about voice in academic writing, they are typically referring to one of the two grammatical voices: active voice and passive voice. Different academic subject areas favor the use of each voice. To learn how these voices are different and what they’re used for, examine the following table.

Characteristic
Active Voice
Passive Voice
Purpose
Emphasizing who performs an action
Emphasizing what action was performed
Usage
Nonscientific disciplines such as history and English
Scientific disciplines such as chemistry and psychology
Examples
Cortes ordered his men to burn their ships.
The liquid was heated by the scientist.
 
Shakespeare wrote plays to appeal to everyone in his audience.
The test subjects were asked to find their way through a maze.
Directions: Read this student’s concern, and then answer the question that follows.

“I’m writing an essay for my history class. Which of these sentences uses a voice that’s appropriate for a history essay?”

 

Many duels were fought—and some opponents were even killed—by President Andrew Jackson.

President Andrew Jackson fought many duels—and even killed some of his opponents.

 

Mystery and crime novels present a range of ideas about the meaning of justice. In books by famed British writer Agatha Christie, for example, the murderer never gets away with the crime. He or she is always adequately punished, which suggests that murder is never profitable or justifiable—not under any circumstances. However, in books by contemporary author John Dickson Carr, someone does occasionally get away with murder—especially when the victim was notably evil. . . .

 

What about this paragraph makes it an effective piece of academic writing? Check all that apply.

 

8 . Establishing the Appropriate Tone

Communicating effectively with your audience includes using an appropriate tone. But what is tone? Tone can reveal your attitude toward the topic and toward the audience. However, you can’t change the volume in your writing, and you can’t slow down or speed up your words, so how do you adjust your tone on the page? The answer is to carefully select the words, the length of sentences, and the variety of sentences you use. In most academic, business, and professional writing, you will use a reasonable, sincere, and unemotional tone. You should keep your tone consistent throughout your piece of writing.

Directions: Read each version of the passage, and answer the questions that follow.

Version 1

If you like sci-fi, I bet you’d love steampunk. It’s the best of the best! How could you resist stories that take place way back in the past, but have made-up, steam-powered things, such as subs and blimps. So, the past in these stories is different from the real past. This is why people are crazy about steampunk fiction. It’s fun to pretend the past was different, and it’s so cool to read about all the wacky, steam-powered machines and thingamajigs.

 

Which of the following is the best choice for the final sentence of version 1? (Hint: The answer should match the tone of the rest of the passage.)

As steampunk crosses over to the mainstream, films, television shows, and video games utilizing the genre are likely to emerge.

What an awesome treat it’ll be when steampunk flicks, TV shows, and video games come out.

 

Which words best describe the tone of version 1?

Casual and enthusiastic

Serious and academic

 

Version 2

For some reason, steampunk, which is an uninspired subgenre of fiction, is gaining traction. However, steampunk does nothing more than substitute spacecraft, lasers, and artificial intelligence with clunky, bizarre machines that run on steam. Once science fiction dilettantes figure out that steampunk is neither innovative nor intelligent, they are likely to drift on to the next popular dabble in science fiction.

 

Which of the following is the best choice for the final sentence of version 2? (Hint: The answer should match the tone of the rest of the passage.)

If that occurs, at least steampunk will dwindle into obscurity and, finally, extinguish, like other forgotten fad subgenres.

What an awesome treat it’ll be when steampunk flicks, TV shows, and video games come out.

 

Which words best describe the tone of version 2?

Pompous and annoyed

Humorous and academic

 

Version 3

Steampunk is a literary genre that has been gaining some popularity in recent years. Steampunk stories are usually set in the past—often in Victorian England—in a world in which steam-powered technology is ubiquitous. Unlike the sleek microchip and silicon technology of today, steampunk technology is cumbersome and unwieldy, with lots of visible moving parts and hissing jets of steam. Audiences enjoy the alternate-history settings and extravagant clockwork devices that are central to steampunk tales.

 

Which of the following is the best choice for the final sentence of version 3? (Hint: The answer should match the tone of the rest of the passage.)

As steampunk crosses over to the mainstream, films, television shows, and video games utilizing the genre are likely to emerge.

What an awesome treat it’ll be when steampunk flicks, TV shows, and video games come out.

 

Which words best describe the tone of version 3?

Authentic and objective

Sarcastic and exaggerated

 

Killer whales, notorious and brutal hunters of innocent seals, send sinister messages back and forth to one another with a series of creepy calls and clicks. But when these dark beasts engage in one of their bloody hunts, they mysteriously fall silent. The devilish creatures must be aware that the harmless seals they intend to slaughter can hear them coming if they call to one another. Their devious solution, then, is to carry out their massacres with stealth. Scientists are currently studying these monsters of the deep to see how they plot and coordinate their bloody attacks without communicating.

 

Perhaps as this study progresses, researchers will gain more insight into this creature and its rare communicative abilities.

Soon researchers will know more about how killer whales plot and execute their gory hunts and what other methods they have for scheming with one another.

 

Killer whales, also known as orcas, are a communicative species. Using distinctive calls and clicks, they chatter among themselves. But when the whales hunt—a time when scientists hypothesize communication would be of the utmost importance—they are silent. The orcas seem to understand that their calls alert potential prey, so they hunt with stealth. Scientists are currently studying orcas to determine how they coordinate their hunting efforts without auditory signals.

 

Let’s hope researchers figure out what these orcas are up to when they hunt.

Perhaps with further research, scientists will gain more insight into this creature and its rare communicative abilities.

 

Killer whales just rock. They are like the CEOs of the ocean. And so darned smart—these guys actually chat with one another, but instead of texting or instant messaging, they send out these clicky and shrieky noises that other whales pick up. The really interesting thing is that when they team up and go hunting, they do it without making their usual racket. So how can they carry out their game plan if they can’t talk? That’s the stumper scientists are working on now.

 

Let’s hope researchers get as smart as these killer whales and get some answers ASAP.

Soon researchers will know more about how killer whales plot and execute their gory hunts and what other methods they have for scheming with one another.

 

More than 300 years ago, the pirate Henry Morgan (also known as Captain Morgan) led one of the most successful raids in history. With his gang of criminals, he marched through the jungle and then attacked and razed Panama City, one of the biggest and most prosperous cities in the Western Hemisphere at that time. Before the attack, however, four of Captain Morgan’s ships sank off the coast of Panama. In the first months of 2011, an international team of marine archaeologists recovered six iron cannons, believed to be from Morgan’s sunken ships.

 

Centuries ago, Henry Morgan, a villainous and feared menace of the high seas, slashed through the creeping vines of Panama’s jungle with his bloodthirsty band of pirates. Morgan and his cutthroats ransacked and then utterly destroyed the bountiful and illustrious city of Panama. Prior to the murderous rampage, four of Morgan’s ships met their demise on the jagged reefs off the coast of Panama. Shortly after the arrival of the new year in 2011, a team of intrepid marine archaeologists salvaged six iron cannons from the ocean depths. Incredibly, experts believe that these cannons are the same ones from Morgan’s ships that sank so many ages ago.

 

Further analysis of the mystical artifacts should provide more enticing details about the dreaded pirate and his lost ships.

After the scientists give those old rusty guns the once-over, they’ll know more cool stuff about Morgan.

 

A long time ago, this pirate named Henry and his buddies hoofed it through the jungle and then laid into Panama City, which back then was chock-full of booty. Before they trounced the city, however, Morgan and his pals got served themselves—a reef did a number on the hulls of four ships. The ships went kaput, Titanic style but without the iceberg. The amazing thing is that just recently, a bunch of archaeologists scored big time; they found six iron cannons under the water. Experts are thinking that those oversized shooters came from Morgan’s ships.

 

9 . Avoiding Slang and Colloquialisms

In friendly letters, e-mails, social network communications, mobile device text messages, and so forth, you may choose to use colloquial language and slang. Such writing often imitates the way people speak in everyday life. In academic and professional writing, however, avoid colloquial words and expressions. Instead, use language that matches the formal tone that this type of writing calls for.

 

Directions: Match each colloquial word or expression (shown in bold type) with its formal equivalent.

Colloquial
Formal
The guy in the red car cut me off.
 
She was pissed off when she heard the news.
 
He was psyched to see her.
 
The show was a hit.
 
We felt that was a lame excuse.
 
 

Directions: Read the scenario and answer the question that follows.

Blaine must submit a proposal for his research project. His first sentence reads:

“Climate change is really messing with sea levels around the world, so I’d like to research ways we can stop it.”

 

Which revised sentence would better suit the formality of a research proposal?

Climate change is way bad for sea levels all over the world, so I’m gonna talk about how to stop it.

This research project will analyze the impact of climate change on rising sea levels around the world, as well as ways to resolve it.

In my research paper, I’ll talk about how climate change has jacked up sea levels all over the world, plus ways we can put a cork in it.

 

Colloquial
Formal
She was very into the television series.
 
He gave me a hand during the move.
 
She fired off an e-mail.
 
The meal was okay.
 
He hung out in the lobby.
 
 

Vicky must submit a proposal for her research project. Her first sentence reads:

“It ticks me off that men still make more money than women, even in the twenty-first century, so I plan to research why this is happening.”

 

I’d like to write about why men make more money than women, the latter who often get by financially via the skin of their teeth.

This paper will show why men still make more than women at work, despite the latter often doing their share, or more, of the heavy lifting.

This research project will analyze the causes and effects of the gender wage gap in the United States.

 

 

Colloquial
Formal
A whole bunch of of protesters showed up.
 
She did a top notch job.
 
The vehicle is a pain in the neck to drive.
 
He bad-mouthed the proposal.
 
The crash site was a ways away from the city
 
 

 “I’d like to research the Ancient Romans because of lot of their inventions were seriously awesome and are still used today.”

 

In my research paper, I’ll discuss some of the coolest and most useful inventions of the Roman Empire.

The Romans were aces when it came to useful inventions, so I’d like to research how they’ve impacted us today.

This research project will explore the enduring and modern impact of several Ancient Roman innovations.

 

10 . Avoiding Passive Voice

For the most part, sentences should be active. This means they should describe who or what acts upon someone or something. When too many sentences are passive (they instead describe who or what is acted upon), your writing style may seem dull and wordy. Study the following examples:

Active Voice

The firefighters fought valiantly to save what was left of the burning house.

(Note: Here, the firefighters are doing the action of saving the house.)

Passive Voice

The burning house was saved by firefighters who fought valiantly.

(Note: Here, the house is being acted upon by the firefighters.)

 

Directions: Read each sentence in the following table and indicate whether the verb in bold is active or passive.

Sentence
Active
Passive
The woman was awarded a scholarship by the committee.
 
 
 
Mitchell has been working on his thesis for two years.
 
 
 
Ariana invited me to attend her class as a guest speaker.
 
 
 
Elspeth was bitten by mosquitoes.
 
 
 
Although I was tired, I ran to the park with my dog.
 
 
 
Michelle Obama advocates programs that prevent childhood obesity.
 
 
 
The goal is being defended remarkably well by the defensive players.
 
 
 
 

Directions: In each of the following sentences, the main verb (which appears in bold) is in the passive voice. Select the sentence that uses the same verb and verb tense in the active voice.

Recently, more research has been done by sociologists on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States.

Recently, more research on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States was done by sociologists.

Recently, sociologists have done more research on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States.

Recently, Latinos in the United States have been researched more by sociologists on the relationship between diet and acculturation.

 

Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; Latinos’ acculturation into American culture is shown in part by their food choices.

Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; the food choices of Latinos is shown to be part of the acculturation of Latinos into American culture.

Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; the acculturation of Latinos into American culture is shown in their food choices.

Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; Latinos show their acculturation into American culture partly by their food choices.

 

Fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods are eaten by Latinos after they move to the United States, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

After moving to the United States, fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods are eaten by Latinos, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

Diabetes and hypertension are caused in Latinos after they move to the United States because their diet is changed to include fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods.

Latinos eat fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods after they move to the United States, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

 

In conclusion, the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, have been embraced by more Latinos; therefore, their rate of obesity has increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In short, the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, have been embraced by more Latinos; therefore, their rate of obesity has been increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In conclusion, more Latinos have embraced the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively; therefore, their rate of obesity has increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In conclusion, the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, were embraced by more Latinos; therefore, their rate of obesity has increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

 

Sentence
Active
Passive
All four sandwiches were devoured by Tony.
 
 
 
She regularly insults my intelligence.
 
 
 
The sidewalk was freshly paved by the Department of Public Works.
 
 
 
We were bombarded with calls from marketing agencies.
 
 
 
Allegedly, Mr. Fleming burned down his own house to collect the insurance money.
 
 
 
Mei Su has been training for a half marathon since April.
 
 
 
Is that any way for a dog to be treated by its owner?
 
 
 
 

Recently, more research by sociologists has been focused on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States.

Recently, research on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States has been focused on more by sociologists.

Recently, Latinos in the United States have been focused on more by sociologists in research on the relationship between diet and acculturation.

Recently, sociologists have focused more research on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States.

 

Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; the extent of Latinos’ acculturation into American culture is illustrated by their food choices.

Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; the acculturation of Latinos into American culture has been illustrated in their food choices.

Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; the food choices are illustrated to be part of the acculturation of Latinos into American culture.

Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; Latinos’ food choices illustrate the extent of their acculturation into American culture.

 

Fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods are consumed by Latinos after they move to the United States, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

After moving to the United States, fewer fruits and vegetables are eaten by Latinos, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

Diabetes and hypertension are caused in Latinos after they move to the United States because their diet is changed to include fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods.

Latinos consume fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods after they move to the United States, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

 

In conclusion, the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, have been adopted by more Latinos; therefore, their rate of obesity has increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In conclusion, the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, are adopted by more Latinos; therefore, their rate of obesity has increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In conclusion, the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, were adopted by more Latinos; therefore, their rate of obesity increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In conclusion, more Latinos have adopted the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively; therefore, their rate of obesity has increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

 

Sentence
Active
Passive
Renee was sitting in traffic for over an hour.
 
 
 
The building façade was vandalized by middle school students.
 
 
 
Moses has been accused of cheating.
 
 
 
Voice-recognition technology truly fascinates my father.
 
 
 
William Shakespeare is known as a great dramatist.
 
 
 
Colleen hasn’t forgotten her promise to us.
 
 
 
The airliners are being retrofitted with several new safety features.
 
 
 
 

Recently, research by sociologists has been concentrated on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States.

Recently, research on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States has been concentrated on by sociologists.

Recently, Latinos in the United States have been concentrated on by sociologists in research on the relationship between diet and acculturation.

Recently, sociologists have concentrated their research on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinos in the United States.

 

Acculturation is defined by researchers as the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group.

Researchers define acculturation as the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group.

Adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group is a process that has been defined by researchers as acculturation.

The process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group has been defined as acculturation by researchers.

 

Fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods are contained in the diet of Latinos after they move to the United States, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

After they move to the United States, fewer fruits and vegetables are contained in the diet of Latinos, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

Diabetes and hypertension are caused in Latinos because fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods are contained in their diet after they move to the United States.

After Latinos move to the United States, their diet contains fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.

 

In conclusion, as more of the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, are taken up by Latinos, their rate of obesity increases. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In conclusion, as more of the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, were taken up by Latinos, their rate of obesity increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In conclusion, as Latinos take up more of the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, their rate of obesity increases. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.

In conclusion, as more of the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, have been taken up by Latinos, their rate of obesity has increased. This trend has contributed to almost 73% of Latinos living in the United States being overweight or obese.