| Author | Message | ||
     Grndskpr |
Well after some thinking, i am considering finishing up school(at least some of it) and one of the classes i have to take is english 103, what i need is some help with topics, or ideas for topics, so far i have come up with the history of buell(they say write about what you like) but i am up for other ideas, but, they have to be reaserchable, and no to difficult(i have trouble spelling, i dont want a topic about something i dont understand) so lets hear the ideas, and maybe a source or 2, i am still thinking about it, but i really need to get this done, one of these days later Roger | ||
| Mikej |
A good topic will be one that the instructor can also understand, consider your audience, then also consider your available sources of information. I'm thinking that with a name like Groundskeeper you will find much more relevent data to farm from your active occupation that will also be verifiable to the less informed and will not rely so heavily upon iternet-based research data. Academia has a major problem with relying on internet-found data as being valid. Get your data from printed scholarly journals or published/printed trade publications. Spelling and grammer will count as heavily or more so than content in an English-103 class. Just some thoughts. | ||
| Grndskpr |
Thanks Mike, the problem in the past has been that i get so bored with the content of the topic, that i just dont finish the paper, i lack follow through, so i was hoping to find a more interesting topic, one that i could reaserch, and maybe even be relavent to what i enjoy as opposed to what i do, in the past paper topics that relate to my field have been turned down due to instructor preference, so i was hoping to get a more motorcycle freindly audince this time, just thinking out loud Roger | ||
| Cjmblast |
history of buell Some topics are just too broad for a paper, you might try narrowing it down to the history of one particular type of Buell motorcycle !? CJM | ||
| Grndskpr |
I dont know Chris, is there enuff info to do a paper on one bike??? How would i find enuff info on say an S3T or M2, maybe a blast, there seems to be more info out there on how it was built and why, not sure, but a good start, have to keep thinking Roger | ||
| Bomber |
Roger -- how long does the paper have to be? also, my daughter has recently proven Mike's point about internet research . . .. .had to re-research and re-write a paper due to a luddite teacher . . . .before you wander too far down any particular path, you may wish to check with the prof . . . . . . I'll second Mile's suggestion about staying close to what you know . . . .. your other love (besides Ingrid) lends itself to a great paper, I think . . . . the hounds with whom you share your domicile and life would make a great topic . . . why they are so badly over-represented in the publics list of things to be mortally afraid of (forgive the dangling . .. oh, never mind), what their origninal mission was, ways to keep them as beloved family members . . . . . you already have a great deal of knowledge on the topic, and clearly know where to get more (from your informed and enpassioned posts on the topic) . . . | ||
| Blake |
What are the requirements for your paper? Ten pages or more typewritten? Start with a thorough outline. Put as much effort into the basic outline as you do the paper. Most students overlook a rigorous effort in forming their outline and end up with a poorly integrated paper. Example... 0. Evolution of a Sportbke, The Buell RR1000 (Introduction) 1. The Man Behind the Machines 1.1 Kid Racer 1.1.1 The Allure of Racing 1.1.2 Club Racing in the '70's 1.1.3 Competition and Success 1.2 Engineering Student 1.3 Harley-Davidson Engineering Talent 1.4 The Racing Bug that Refused to Die 1.5 Death of the RW750 - Frustrated by AMA Rules Changes 1.6 Bouncing Back - Still Friends with HD . . . 2. Predecessors - HD Sportster and Buell RW750 3. The Goal - An American Racing Machine 4. The Design - Form Follows Function 5. The Result - Success on the Racing Circuit 6. Fruition of the Effort - Buell American Motorcycles 7. Conclusion Now you have 8 small papers to write. Break each of those main outline sections into multiple subsections (see partial example for secton #1) with specific subtopics and sub-subtopics of their own... you then have three dozen or so paragraphs to write. The more detail you can put into your outline, the easier it is to write the paper; instead of one massive chore of a ten page paper, you now have only a bunch of paragraphs on specific topics. Then just tie them together with proper transitionary text. Piece of cake eh?  Spell checking and a competent proof reader are a must! Good luck! | ||
| Blake |
The dog topic, that would be an excellent choice. | ||
| Cjmblast |
I agree with Bomber, the dog topic would be really good too ! And you can probably include your own opinions and thoughts gained from your experience into the paper that way too ! And everything Blake said is true too, I always did my outlines, did each topic and listed the main points, then turned them into paragraphs and then just typed a few sentences at the end of each topic to tie into the next !! Don't try to do the entire paper at once, keep it broken down into smaller tasks. You'll feel like your getting somewhere each time you complete a topic and won't feel like giving up as much ! Then I always ended with a paragraph or two restating the main themes of each topic for my conclusion !! And then I did my introduction last, by introducing the topic and the main idea of each topic ! Good luck !! CJM | ||
| Bomber |
Tell em what you're gonna tell em Tell em Tell em what ya told em | ||
| Grndskpr |
Bomber the problem with the dog topic is hard reaserch(not many people have writen on the topic, however there are experts whom i may contact, but writen facts in books or mags is hard to come by) i may consider it but its actually a harder paper to reaserch than you think Blake the paper i belive needs to be 12 pages typed(quarter starts next week and will find out more than) however all the tips you have given will be helpfull, i belive the way the class goes(indipendant study) is topic, outline, reaserch, ruff draft, paper, something like that And the man behind the Bike, again not much writen about him(as far as i know), i was starting to think(while mowing) about a early history, something like early history of buell, about the man about the rw750 about the rw 750 about the rs1200 about the rss 1200 transition to halrey(alittle than a lot) interviews with entusiats interviews with former/current workers how does racing intervien is it still a part of the company now/than how has harley helped/hurt Something like that, a little narower, some good info in fuel, art of the motorcycle, here, and other Harley history books(not much but some) oh and the grammar/spell check deal is a must with out a doubt, maybe i will have Dyna take a good look he seems to be able to spot every spelling eror How does that sound??? thanks Roger | ||
| Dynarider |
Sounds good to me, btw you have at least 13 spelling errors in your post  | ||
| Mikej |
Interview research. Take good notes and tape record it if possible. I had to do a paper last fall and interviewed one of Hal's owners. I asked for 30 minutes and he spoke for an hour. Turned it into a lengthy report, and had to do a re-write to cut it in half. Supplement the interview with book research and it may fly. Interview the owner of Uke's and his relationship with Erik. Include talking about his first ride on one of Erik's bikes when he looked down and realized he was going 90+mph when he thought he was only doing 45-60mph. Bring in some data from the H-D Investor's section of their web site and ask for a prospectus for printed documentation. There are quite a few books on H-D's history, and some of them have short sections on Buells. Couple this with a business analysis which can be garnered from many financial publications such as Harvard Business Review and others. Throw in some customer service, lifestyle marketing, demographic expansion and shifts, and you'll probably end up writing a book. | ||
| Dynarider |
There are quite a few books on H-D's history, and some of them have short sections on Buells Maybe you could get Willie or Erik to autograph it?  | ||
| Mikej |
I don't think he'll get any extra credit on his report for autographed copies of any books he uses.   | ||
| Blake |
Roger, Is this supposed to be a 100% factual investigative report or can it be a commentary? Your knowledge of the dog thing would EASILY fill twelve pages. You can talk about the history of the breed, traits, attributes, champions, breeding, shows/showing, judging, special training, competition, the working dog (police, guard, home protection), health issues, dog psychology, affects of diet and environment, the truth about mankillers... You don't need a lot of formal references, you are an expert, you are the reference. Go to www.amazon.com and do a search for "American Staffordshire Terrier"; I bet you'll find a substantial amount of reference material. Reports don't usually include interviews or dialogue of that nature. Your Buell oriented piece sounds good too. Maybe a compare/contrast section between Buells and metric 600cc sport bikes would be interesting too. The possibilities are pretty much boundless. Probably best to find out exactly what type of paper/report is required. edited by blake on June 09, 2003 | ||
| Bomber |
you could do the Buell thing from another angle . . . the success of a startup vehical business in our lifetime . . . . not many of those (and Erik's not tried to finance his efforts by selling coke, unlike certain Detroit execs ;-} ) that way, you could easily recycle your paper into something for a business class later | ||
| Grndskpr |
I belive it it a reaserch paper, so comentary is kinda out, i think they want me to learn not only how to write a paper, but how to go out and look for the info, along with interviews, and the like, and know i need a biblio, so i needsome factual book info that i can refer to,along with magazine articles andthe like, i would just like to go into the first meeting with several ideas to discus with the teach and see which way it leads me, then i can fire off emails with Buell related questions to people who were around in the begining, and have first hand knowledge of what happened and how, sounds like it could be fun, and i would like to get a semi interview with Mr. Buell himself, i think it would be a nice touch, have to see what the teach says and will let everyone know whats up early next week, but keep the ideas coming, you never know what i may end up liking the bestest Roger | ||
| Dynarider |
bestest Ok now you owe kelly 10 cents also | ||
| Sickquad |
I did a really good paper on efficient power supply for housing units and concentrated on Fuel Cell powered housing. My conclusion was that it's possible in 20 years. I'll sell it to you. |
