Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's exact words or ideas in your own paper or speech without proper citation, which either blatantly or inadvertently claims the work as your own. Basically, when you commit plagiarism, you're using another person's work without giving them credit for it.
Plagiarism can be easily avoided, in my opinion. First of all, use your own words. I know that sounds basic, and it's not always easy, but it's the first way to avoid plagiarism. After reading from a certain source, try to develop your own ideas. You can also summarize and paraphrase your source's exact words if you are writing a review of that source or presenting information from it. Lastly, use quotation marks. By putting quotation marks around a word or sentence, you are directly stating "these are not my words, but are someone else's." Just don't forget to acknowledge exactly whose words they are (i.e. According to Matthew Bentley, "these are not my words, but are someone else's."
Now, for my paper on the social impacts of the 9/11 attacks, I have identified a few secondary sources including "What Lessons Did We Learn (or Re-Learn) About Military Advising After 9/11?" "Generation 9-11," and "How 9/11 Changed Our Culture" which are all news articles written after the September 11th attacks regarding lessons learned and how society was changed after those attacks. I think these sources will prove to be helpful in my paper for this reason.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Historical Controversies (This One's Going to be a Little Long, Sorry.)
There are so many historical controversies out there. The American Revolution, slavery, segregation, the Indian Removal Act, the Roswell UFO incident, and even more recent ones like 9/11, Confederate memorabilia, abortion, and the Iranian nuclear deal.
One of the most intriguing controversies to me is the Nixon Administration's Watergate Scandal. A lot of people I know find it boring, and I did too, at first. I really just find it interesting because Richard Nixon was one of the most popular presidents up to that time, winning just over 60% of the popular vote in the 1972 election. All but two states voted for Nixon to serve a second term.
But, you see, in 1972, two years before the election, two burglars were caught attempting to wiretap phones and conference rooms within the Democratic National Convention's headquarters in the Watergate Hotel, Washington D.C. After some phone numbers tied to Nixon were found with the burglars, people began to question the President's involvement in the espionage. However, Nixon assured the American people neither he, nor his office, was involved in the break-in, and Richard Nixon went on to win the election by a landslide in 1974.
Long story short, President Nixon was ratted out by some aides and campaign partners who testified to his crimes. Nixon not only lied about being unaware of the break-in, but also arranged for hundreds of thousands of dollars to be paid out in "hush money," and he even attempted to obstruct the CIA's investigation by means of the FBI. After hearing that Nixon's cover-up plans were recorded in the Oval Office, the Supreme Court demanded Nixon hand over the tapes, which ultimately led to his downfall.
Impeachment was inevitable, so Nixon resigned from the Presidency with his famous, "I am not a crook" speech. Gerald Ford later pardoned Nixon, yet the Watergate scandal changed American politics forever, and people began to think more seriously about who they chose as their leader.
To this day, 18 minutes of the Watergate tapes are missing and have never been found.
One of the most intriguing controversies to me is the Nixon Administration's Watergate Scandal. A lot of people I know find it boring, and I did too, at first. I really just find it interesting because Richard Nixon was one of the most popular presidents up to that time, winning just over 60% of the popular vote in the 1972 election. All but two states voted for Nixon to serve a second term.
But, you see, in 1972, two years before the election, two burglars were caught attempting to wiretap phones and conference rooms within the Democratic National Convention's headquarters in the Watergate Hotel, Washington D.C. After some phone numbers tied to Nixon were found with the burglars, people began to question the President's involvement in the espionage. However, Nixon assured the American people neither he, nor his office, was involved in the break-in, and Richard Nixon went on to win the election by a landslide in 1974.
Long story short, President Nixon was ratted out by some aides and campaign partners who testified to his crimes. Nixon not only lied about being unaware of the break-in, but also arranged for hundreds of thousands of dollars to be paid out in "hush money," and he even attempted to obstruct the CIA's investigation by means of the FBI. After hearing that Nixon's cover-up plans were recorded in the Oval Office, the Supreme Court demanded Nixon hand over the tapes, which ultimately led to his downfall.
Impeachment was inevitable, so Nixon resigned from the Presidency with his famous, "I am not a crook" speech. Gerald Ford later pardoned Nixon, yet the Watergate scandal changed American politics forever, and people began to think more seriously about who they chose as their leader.
To this day, 18 minutes of the Watergate tapes are missing and have never been found.
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Historical Museums and Sites
I love history museums, although I rarely get the chance to visit them. However, I haven't yet visited one I did not thoroughly enjoy, but the History Museum of Mobile and the WWII Museum of New Orleans are perhaps my two favorites. Regarding historical sites, it'd be impossible for me to pick one to call my favorite.
The History Museum of Mobile is probably the one I'm most familiar with. I've been there multiple times and I always learn something new or notice something I hadn't before. Many native Mobilians and even Alabamians don't really understand the historical significance of Mobile, and I think a visit the history museum here should really be a priority for tourists and newcomers to the city.
I think my favorite exhibit in the museum is a room that contains numerous doll-houses in glass cases, but each of those houses actually existed in Mobile at one time, known as the Friedman Miniature House Gallery. Each of the glass cases has a switch by which you can turn on the lights within the house, and a placard with information of the houses. They really are beautiful and I just think it's so cool to know those houses and their grandeur were once a part of Mobile. I wish I had pictures to include here, but unfortunately I don't. However, there are millions of images on Google and if you haven't already I highly recommend you look it up and pay a visit. If you love history, you won't be disappointed.
The History Museum of Mobile is probably the one I'm most familiar with. I've been there multiple times and I always learn something new or notice something I hadn't before. Many native Mobilians and even Alabamians don't really understand the historical significance of Mobile, and I think a visit the history museum here should really be a priority for tourists and newcomers to the city.
I think my favorite exhibit in the museum is a room that contains numerous doll-houses in glass cases, but each of those houses actually existed in Mobile at one time, known as the Friedman Miniature House Gallery. Each of the glass cases has a switch by which you can turn on the lights within the house, and a placard with information of the houses. They really are beautiful and I just think it's so cool to know those houses and their grandeur were once a part of Mobile. I wish I had pictures to include here, but unfortunately I don't. However, there are millions of images on Google and if you haven't already I highly recommend you look it up and pay a visit. If you love history, you won't be disappointed.
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