Media Free Week (In class week 6)

This blog is about what i would do if i had to participate in a media free week. The week would consist of no technology for a week.

           If i had to go with out technology or anything with a screen, I would know how to survive without it, but I don't know how long it would be before i break. For the week, I would not only have to entertain myself, but my son as well. So, i feel this week would not be that successful.

Argument essay first thesis attempt

Summer english 1010 is coming to an end., and our last major writing assignment is an argument essay. My topic is forensic science. I've decided to argue that forensic science isn't completely reliable. In this blog I will attempt to write thesis for my argument essay.
                    In today, forensic science is being surrounded with the media and entertainment. When a suspect is found guilty and put behind bars, we as people, are at peace. But what if I were to tell you forensic science is not completely reliable.

Advocate (In Class Writing week 5)

If I had the time to advocate a group, I would choose single mothers on welfare. Listening to our discussion in class, I've realized that this group of people could use some help, advice, and skills. I myself am a single mother on welfare, but i want more for myself and my child. I am also attending school faithfully to someday get off of welfare and provide for my child.
I feel that some single mothers don't understand that government is temporary. But as a single mother on welfare I am too looked at just like any other single mother having so many kids and want to live on assistance for the rest of their life. But I feel as being an advocate things could change. And change the way the think and live.

Simplify writing (Journal entry 9)

Simplifying writing
Today in class we discussed simplifying our writing. Notes on this topic explain that wordiness can make the point of the sentence not understandable. In reflection to my own writing, I've realized I do this a lot. I write my sentences thinking my point will be understood, but when someone reads my writing, they do not know what i'm saying.

In class we were assigned to simplify sentences:
-He dropped school to support his family.
-The bus company will announce the new schedule within a couple of days.
- There are many ways for a student to meet foreign students.
-Many people have lied on purpose.
-Disobeying rules can lead to trouble.
-A campus rally was interrupted with arrest for disorderly conduct and having no permit.
-College freshman should contact an academic advisor in regards to their major.
-The students considered classes that would be useful after college.

See All Sides (journal entry 6)

The purpose of this journal is to give all the sides and debates of my topic. The topic I have chosen is bias analysis in forensic science. Here is a list of the debates concerning biased analysis:

-How the errors occur?
-What influences the errors?
-how reliable is the analysis if errors can occur?
-What is being reinforced to eliminate errors?
-Can police tamper with analysis?
-What can be done in the near future to train examinees to complete an analysis without being biased?

In Class Writing (week 4)

First attempt to write a thesis for my topic:

The topic of this paper is to bring forward the views, the influences, the consequences, of intentional and unintentional biased analysis in the forensic science field, and the solutions to them.

The Bounty Of The Sea ( In class writing week 3)

This essay basically explains in a timeline how the filthiness of the ocean can wipe out the marine life and eventually destruct mankind. He describes how the oceans are being destroyed by landfills. This would kill marine life. The lack of marine life would eliminate evaporation causing the polar icecaps to melt. The melted ice would flood half the world. This would cause everyone to migrate to one area with drylands having less oxygen and food would kill all mankind.

Annotated Bibliography

Ahimsa Butler

Professor Goff

English 1010

7 July 2014

Forensic Science: Biased analysis and their solutions

Budowle, Bruce, et al. "A Perspective On Errors, Bias, And Interpretation In The Forensic Sciences And Direction For Continuing Advancement."Journal Of Forensic Sciences (Wiley- Blackwell) 54.4 (2009): 798-809. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 July 2014.

This article is from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences peer reviewed journal. In the article the author explores many causes of errors caused by biased judgments and the need for improvement. He goes on to state that forensic scientists fail from human vulnerabilities, and this results in inaccurate, biased analysis, and sometimes these errors are overlooked. Bias and criticism will sometimes lead forensic scientist to purposely or accidentally make false accusations. It can also taint their liability.

The author states that some action should be taken and procedures should be reinforced to minimize biased mistakes and false convictions. Error rates should be specified. And, qualified experts should be required to review analysis to approve the findings or results. He also proposes that education and training should stress the nature of being biased.

Kassin, Saul M., Itiel E. Dror, and Jeff Kukucka. "The forensic confirmation bias: Problems, perspectives, and proposed solutions."Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition 2.1 (2013): 42-52.

This article explains how forensic examiners results convicted an innocent man. The findings resulted from biased and preexisting beliefs. This lab has the best, highly trained examiners in the world, how could this mistake be possible. Many innocent people have been falsely convicted, and improving technology has proved this.

The author states what should be done in order to limit these biased errors. The writer explains that examiners should not assume the crime scene based on previous findings. Instead examine all information with certain procedures to get accurate results. He also says that the examiners should not be exposed to certain or irrelevant information about the case and the results should be verified by a second examiner with the same procedures.

Koppl, Roger. "How to improve forensic science."European Journal of Law and Economics” 20.3 (2005): 255-286.

This article is written by Roger Koppi, Professor of Economics and Finance, and it appeared in the European Journal of Law and Economics. He states the problem is the forensic labs are a monopoly. This monopoly includes law enforcement and lack of competition.

Most of the forensic work is performed in police labs, and some forensic examiners are previous police officers, and this can also bring bias into forensic science. The author explains how biased results can also be almost like pure pressure, being that the forensic scientist depend on the law enforcement for pay and evaluations.

The author suggests the solution to the problem would be to break the monopoly and add competition. The competition would prove “pure science”. The labs should become independent instead of depending on law enforcement. These solutions would reduce biased and inaccurate results.

Miller, Larry S. "Procedural bias in forensic science examinations of human hair."Law and Human Behavior”11.2 (1987): 157.

This article written by Larry S. Miller, appeared in the Law and Human behavior Journal. The author focuses on the fact that forensic examiners are subject to give their opinions of the concluded results. He gives an example of the analysis of hair examinations are subject to the opinion of an examiner. The author hypothesizes that examiners bias findings can occur from social interaction among police and attorneys. In order to test this hypothesis he preforms an experiment with examiners that analyze hair samples. He sets a line up of suspects and hair samples with the same characteristics.

After He looks over the results he concludes there is a huge amount of unintentional biased analysis. The results were influenced by the additional information received about the suspects and also the overlooked similarities. He says how it is difficult to control presumptions, and based on his experiment, he suggests that police should present more than one hair sample and different types of suspects.

Saks, M. J., et al. "Context effects in forensic science: A review and application of the science of science to crime laboratory practice in the United States."Science & Justice”43.2 (2003): 77-90.

This article explores how being a forensic science technician over time can lead to biased analysis. It states that over time the technicians may adapt so much to the field that there jobs become second nature. It explains how their previous cases and work can influence an observation for a new analysis, and also how different circumstances can lead to biased results.

The writer goes on to say that this article is written to open examiners eyes to the many possibilities and be aware of the mistakes that can occur. The writer also proposes suggestions that can eliminate biased errors from occurring. One suggestion is “blind testing”, where scientists preform their procedures without any outside information so their results are not influenced by this information. And last, he suggest that a solution would be to minimize the human observation procedures and add more technology.

(E)DENTITY: Public Displays Of Connection (week 4)

In class discussion was about comparing our social network connections. The questions we answered in our discussion were how many friends do we have? And to break down strong and weak ties.
My social networks altogether would be about 4,000 connections. Most are family, some are friends, and some are mutual friends. I also have friends that have migrated with my profiles from site to site.

Journal Entry 5

My favorite season is Summer. Summer brings happiness and families together. During summer I love to spend time with my family. We have barbecues, we have get-togethers, and parties. Its nice to see my family getting along and having a nice time. I also like take my son swimming, and now that he's 3 its fun to introduce him to my favorite summer activities. I've taught him how to make lemonade, We've planted plants, we play jumprope and hopscotch. I guess I've taught him everything I enjoy doing.
           

Who Has Had A Strong Influence in My Life (Journal Entry 4)

My son has had a major influence on my life . I know he's only a child, but he has changed me drastically. He's made me realize what life is and what life is all about. I dropped out of high school, and never had intentions on going back. The moment I looked into my son's eyes for the first time, I immediately became motivated to give him the life I never had. My first step was getting back in school and getting my diploma. It was not easy and at times I wanted to give up or even sometimes thought it was impossible to finish. But my son was my motivation. Giving up was not apart of the plan. I received my diploma and two weeks later I was enrolled in Weber State University. I've learned to think twice. I now think about how my decisions would affect him and in what way, positive or negative. I now have different priorities. Everything that used to matter doesn't matter any more. He's now my main priority.
Being a parent is not so easy but I do plan to raise my child the best way possible. I want to be with him through every step and milestone. It amazes me how quick he learns new things, and how he is so eager to do things on his own.

In Class Writing Dawn Of The Digital (week 2)

       In the past week the only book I've read is our English book, Edentity. I have not read any print materials in a long time. But I can say I've done a lot of on screen reading. While being in English I've been assigned a research annotation, this has required me to do a huge amount of reading articles. I've also been on different blogs. But typically,  I'm usually on social networks reading comment posts, messages, and emails.

     Over time my reading habits have changed drastically. Id rather read in the computer, than read something in print. On-screen reading has been more convenient.