Cover Letter Draft

Dear Portfolio Reader,

It has been a pleasure to take WRT 102 with Professor Lucenko, who helped me to get familiar with a second language and learn to be a writer. I did not take WRT 101, so this is technically the first writing class I have ever had in the U.S. Due to the difference between Chinese and English, learning to write effectively in English is not a easy thing for me. I am glad that I chose this class and such a nice Professor.

In the first essay, rhetorical analysis, I learned how to analyse a writer’s motives and it expanded my knowledge of the Aristotelian appeals. I have never written such detailed analysis before, and it helped me to build a language sense of English. I also learned to use examples and explanations properly in my own essay. In the second essay, comparative analysis, I got to know how to really look into two different essays and find out their differences and  things in common. I have developed the ability to target on certain audience and write purposive. In the third essay, researched argument, which is my favorite, I mastered the ability of performing research based on credible sources, integrate information and interpret them in my own perspectives. It is definitely a life-long benefit for me, which may help me over years after.

Research Argument Process

My research argument paper is moving slowly, but I think I’m on the right track. I’ve already got concrete evidence and convincing examples, but I’m still working on the explanations and organization. I am having problem to develop the counterarguments and to argue back. I find it didfficult to put the counterarguments into the essay. Also I’m having a hard time revising the previous essays, though I am following the instructions, I still can’t figure out where to start. I think it’s a matter of time, I’ll spend more time over weekends to actually look through both of them and find out the weaknesses.

My Ongoing Research

Right now my research is going well, finally. At the first, I had problem finding the peer reviewed academic journals, because the new discovery about mammograms that I am discussing about in the paper is pretty new, and it was hard to find any related peer reviewed journals. However, I soon realized that the new discovery didn’t come in one day, there should be a lot of other researches supporting it. So I searched for the similar topic and finally got what I need.

Since mammogram is a topic that is closely related to medical science, which I am not good at, it is taking me a lot of time to analyse all the statistic and to understand all the professional words in the researches. Since I already had a clear structure in my mind, it won’t be hard to finish the remaining work.

Bibliography

Citation: Kolata, Gina. “Vast Study Casts Doubt on Value of Mammograms.” New York Times. New York Times, 11 Feb. 2014. Web. 8 Apr 2014.

Summary:  A new vast research shows that the death rates from breast cancer and from all causes were the same in women who got mammograms and those who did not. It shows that mammography may not reduce breast cancer deaths. The research also shows that it arises unnecessary anxiety and causes unnecessary surgeries.

How will I use it: This story is the foundation of my research paper, and it is what triggered my interest in mammograms and women’s health. In my research paper, I will use it as a basic argument because it provides concrete statistics and evidence of the latest discoveries about mammograms. I will separate the evidence into two sub-thesis sentences. First one tells that mammography may be overvalued; Second  tells that about the danger of causing anxiety and unnecessary surgeries.

Research Proposal

Introduction:

Mammography is the process of using low-energy X-rays (usually around 30 kVp) to examine the human breast and is used as a diagnostic and a screening tool. The goal of mammography is the early detection of breast cancer, typically through detection of characteristic masses and/or microcalcifications. (Wikipedia) But, can mammography really reduce breast cancer deaths? What are its advantages and disadvantages? Should women, especially elder ones, get mammograms? I want to figure out the goods and bads of mammography, and try to inform females of what it could bring to them.

Rationale:

I am interested in this topic since my grandmother had breast cancer, my mom and me may have a respectively higher rate of getting breast cancer than others. As a result, my mom used to do mammograms every year and she insisted that it’s a good thing for her health. She also encouraged me to do it with her. However, a story on New York Times says that a new research shows that the death rates from breast cancer and from all causes were the same in women who got mammograms and those who did not. (New York Times) People feel confused with mammography now because we can’t really know whether it’s a good way of examine and prediction or it adds risk to our health, and that’s why some people insist on doing it while others have never got it. My target audience is all the females and those who have family history of breast cancer. These people are just like me and my mom, who care very much about their breast health and would like to know a lot more about what we can do to maintain a healthier life.

Research Plan:

What I already know?

1. Researches show that mammography may not reduce breast cancer deaths.

2. Nowadays many women care more about their health so they can examine their body well by themselves, instead of spending big money to get mammograms.

3. Researches show that it also arises unnecessary anxiety and causes unnecessary surgeries.

4. News reports show that mammography itself may add risk to cancer because of repeated exposure to radiation.

5. Though mammography could help women to better examine their breasts health, it may lead to over- and misdiagnoses.

What I need to further research: Right now, I want to know exactly what are the harms are and how it harms women’s health. Also, I need to find out the proper frequency of a female adult getting mammograms. Does its advantage overweigh the disadvantage? What are the other ways for women to maintain breast health other than doing mammograms?

Implications:

For the average woman, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended (2009) mammography every two years in women between the ages of 50 and 74. The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (2012) and the European Cancer Observatory (2011) recommends mammography every 2–3 years between 50 and 69. These task force reports point out that in addition to unnecessary surgery and anxiety, the risks of more frequent mammograms include a small but significant increase in breast cancer induced by radiation. Mammography has a false-negative (missed cancer) rate of at least 10 percent. This is partly due to dense tissues obscuring the cancer and the fact that the appearance of cancer on mammograms has a large overlap with the appearance of normal tissues. A meta-analysis review of programs in countries with organized screening found 52% over-diagnosis.(Wikipedia) These statistics show the significance of knowing about mammography, because it is wide used and it affects so many lives and families. Since breast cancer is growing into a hot issue in recent years and people are getting more concerned about their personal health, women deserve to learn a right way of keeping their breasts healthy. To reach that goal, they have to fully understand how mammography works, what it brings, no matter good or bad.

Sources:

Wikipedia：http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammography

NYT articles:

1. Why I never got a mammogram

2. Vast study casts doubts on value of mammograms

Boston Golobe article:

Benefits of mammograms may have been oversold, new study finds

Pro/con Exercise

My topic (the subject your will research and explore in your essay)
Mammography.

My tentative question (the question that will guide your research and inquiry)
Can mammography reduce breast cancer deaths? What are its advantages and disadvantages? Should women, especially elder ones, get mammograms?

My tentative thesis/main argument (a statement that is debatable, with which others could disagree)
Mammography is not necessary, rather, may even add risk of getting cancer.

Claims and types of evidence I will need to support this claim:
1. Mammography has been a controversial issue for decades. (providing background of the debate, different views);
2. Researches show that mammography may not reduce breast cancer deaths. (proving statistics);
3. Nowadays many women care more about their health so they can examine their body well by themselves, instead of spending big money to get mammograms. (providing examples showing the high expenses of getting mammograms)

Counterclaim and types of evidence I will need to respond to this claim:

1. Mammography saved many people’s lives. (examples show that it also arises unnecessary anxiety and causes unnecessary surgeries)
2. Without mammography, women may not know if they are sick or not. (providing examples showing that mammography itself may add risk to cancer because of repeated exposure to radiation);
3. Hospitals could help women to better examine their breasts health. ( this may lead to over- and misdiagnoses, examples)

Blog Post 2: Monster and Marvel

The Monster and Marvels exhibit was very interesting to me because as a Chinese, I could know about how Asians are perceived by Americans throughout the history and indicated in American comics. What more surprising was that the stereotypes have hardly changed until today. Americans still consider Chinese people as math genius, a.k.a. “The Brain”, or martial arts masters, a.k.a. “The Brute” . Such stereotypes indicates the lack of communication among different ethnical groups, and even today, the communication is far from enough.

Among all the stereotypes that presented in the comic exhibit, the most impressive one was “The Brain”. For millions of times, I was asked “Are you good at math? You are Chinese!” Unfortunately, I am so poor at math and that is why my major is journalism. But people still keep asking me questions like that. Most westerners perceive Asians, especially Chinese people talented and smart, particularly in math and science. In the exhibit, there was a comic drawing “The Brian”, and noted that “The hyperintelligent mind without a body; sexless, heartless, friendless, a self-hating prodigy more comfortable interacting machines than people.” It fully illustrates the characteristics of this stereotype: smart, silent, and not sexy at all. But are all Asians like this? Absolutely no. People tend to consider Asian people’s high grades come from their god-given talent, but ignored their efforts in study in a foreign country. As an alien, if you want to survive, you have to pay much more efforts and attention than your peers. Maybe that’s why “The Brains” always look serious and tired. However, in today’s America, there are more and more Asian students getting involved in school affairs and student activities, and there are also more and more American students getting to know their Asian peers better than ever. The myth of “The Brain” is being broken, instead, people starts to appreciate Asians’ hardworking and devotions.

There were many other interesting stereotypes, such as “The Lotus Blossom”, who is perceived as “long-suffering wife and left-behind lover”, and “The Temptress”, who is considered as “exotic seductress”. “The Lotus Blossom”, wearing cheongsam, is being killing by a military guy. On the other hand, “The Temptress”, also wears cheongsam, but a more sexy version. These two female image are completely contradict to each other. One is submissive, while another is predominant. It’s interesting because they give us an insight of how westerners think about Asian women. As we can see, in America, Asians marry Americans is not a rare thing, which can be seen as result of enhanced communication and understanding between different ethnical groups and genders. Today as we look back on these stereotypes, we see it funny and irony, that’s because everything’s changing and no one is completely the same as another.

Blog Post 1: Research Topics

1. Mammogram: I am interested in this topic since my grandmother had breast cancer, my mom and me may have a respectively higher rate of breast cancer compared to others. As a result, my mom used to do mammograms every year and she insisted that it’s a good thing for her health. She also encouraged me to do it with her. However, a story on New York Times says that a new research shows that the death rates from breast cancer and from all causes were the same in women who got mammograms and those who did not. And the screening has harms. (Click here.)

Right now, I want to know exactly what are the harms are and how it harms women’s health. Also, I need to find out the proper frequency of a female adult getting mammograms. Does its advantage overweigh the disadvantage? What are the other ways for women to maintain breast health other than doing mammograms?

People feel confused with mammogram right now because we can’t really know whether it’s a good way of examine and prediction or it adds risk to our health, and that’s why some people insist on doing it while others never got it.
My target audience is all the females and those who have family history of breast cancer. These people are just like me and my mom, who care very much about their breast health and would like to know a lot more about what we can do to maintain a healthier life.

2. Data sync between flights and ground: I am interested in this because of the recent tragedy of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which was claimed went down into Indian Ocean by Malaysia president. This is absolutely sad news especially for those families who are experiencing the loss. Since their were 154 Chinese on board, the whole nation is paying close attention to this accident. However, after 17 days of searching, the evidence was so vague. Why we have to wait until the discovery of the black box? That is why I want to know about the technology of data sync between flights and ground. It took us way too much time to figure out what really happened to the jet.

In a recent story on New York Times, “The technology of tracking airplanes in flight or using deployable black boxes that can broadcast their location via satellites has been around for many years and gained attention after an Air France jet crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in 2009”. So why the Malaysia officials did not apply this technology to their search of MH370? Is there any other possible means to get the information of the jet as it’s flying? That is what I need to find out.

In this case, my target audience would be frequent fight passengers and any other people who care about flying safety. It is important because accident happens. We have to know what to do before it happens, not afterwards.

Beeland and Dunn

Point-by-Point

Introduction— T. Delene Beeland’s “Saving Ethiopia’s ‘Church Forests” and Rob Dunn’s “Man Discovers A New Life-form at An South-African Truck Stop” are two articles discussing the same topic: the significance of discovering and protecting the endangered species in South Africa. However, in terms of modes, adaptation strategies, and knowledge gaps, Beeland and Dunn chose different ways.

 

2. purpose

A. Beeland (inform the readers of the significance of protecting and saving natural resources.)

B. Dunn (inform the readers of the significance of protecting and saving natural resources.)

　　　　

3. rhetorical modes

A. Beeland uses information as well as case study.

B. There are more narration and description in Dunn’s essay

 

3. adaptation strategies

A. Beeland adapts her argument through examples.

B. Dunn uses narrations.

 

4. knowledge gap

A. Beeland gives two videos of the scientific research process as well as a Google Earth photo of Ethiopia’s “church forest”.

B. Dunn provides background about Zompro’s studies and his adventures in Africa.

 

5. Conclusion—T. Delene Beeland’s “Saving Ethiopia’s ‘Church Forests” and Rob Dunn’s “Man Discovers A New Life-form at An South-African Truck Stop” are two articles discussing the same topic: the significance of discovering and protecting the endangered species in South Africa. The different writing styles and strategies make the two articles better and more effectively approach to their audience.

Comparative Analysis

T. Delene Beeland’s “Saving Ethiopia’s ‘Church Forests” and Rob Dunn’s “Man Discovers A New Life-form at An South-African Truck Stop” are two articles discussing the same topic: the significance of discovering and protecting the endangered species in South Africa. However, in terms of modes, adaptation strategies, and knowledge gaps, Beeland and Dunn choose different ways.

 

First of all, the modes of the two essays are quite different. Apparently, Beeland uses information as well as case study. For example, she introduces the “church forest” as “There are some 35,000 church forests in Ethiopia, ranging in size from a few acres to 300 hectares. Some churches and their forests may date back to the fourth century, and all are remnants of Ethiopia’s historic Afromontane forests. To their followers, they are a sacred symbol of the garden of Eden — to be loved and cared for, but not worshiped.” Beeland adapts several significant numbers to inform the readers of what the “church forest” is, which is surely a powerful method. Also, she uses case study in the “Awakening awareness” part by choosing an Ethiopian forest researcher who did his PhD work on his country’s coptic forests, called Alemayehu Wassie Eshete, as an example to illustrate the significance for understanding the endangerment of “church forests”. This provides a specific story that is more approachable to the audience.

 

However, there are more narration and description in Dunn’s essay. In the beginning of the essay, Dunn writes that “Like many biologists, the German biologist Oliver Zompro spends thousands of hours looking at specimens of dead animals. ” This start tells us that this whole piece is a narration, a specific story. Furthermore, when talking about Brandberg Massif, Dunn describes that “Miles of desert extend from the Massif in every direction. There are no surrounding hills, no trees and no bumps of stubble. The Massif, formed by the extrusion of lava, looks as though it were dropped on to the landscape. It is formidable, unique, and isolated, just the kind of place where one might find a yeti, or the ghost of an ancient animal.” This detailed description offers a lively vision of the scene, which brings the audience to the actual environment and understand the hardship of finding the new species.

 

Accordingly, due to the different modes of the essays, the adaptation strategies are respectively distinguishable. Beeland adapts her argument through examples, while Dunn uses narrations. Beeland’s appropriate application of examples have greatly enriched the article, for the readers are able to obtain the information through various cases. On the other hand, Dunn’s narrations has a clear timeline and logic, along with abundant descriptions and details, providing a direct and unique reading experience.

 

Speaking of the knowledge gaps, Beeland gives two videos of the scientific research process as well as a Google Earth photo of Ethiopia’s “church forest”. This use of multimedia sources emphasizes the geographic and environmental features of “church forest”, which could effectively inform the readers of the urgency of saving the forests. On the contrary, Dunn provides background about Zompro’s studies and his adventures in Africa, so that the audience could imagine the difficulties and significance of discovering the new life-form.