Lesson Plan
Course Title: Principles of Information Technology
Session Title: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA
Style
Lesson Duration: 1 Week
Performance Objective:
Upon completion of this assignment, the student will be able to format a text document
containing research information to display appropriate characteristics of the MLA style.
Specific Objectives:
 Identify the purpose of the Modern Language Association
 Identify the steps to apply MLA format
 Identify characteristics of MLA style format for research papers
 Identify functions of word processing software tools associated with research paper
format
 Apply basic MLA format to text documents
 Format internal quotations of a research paper according to MLA standards
 Develop a works cited section of a research paper according to MLA standards
Preparation
TEKS Correlations: 130.272
(7) The student applies word-processing technology. The student is expected to
(A) identify the terminology associated with word-processing software and its functions;
(C) edit a variety of text documents using functions such as pagination, appropriate
white space, tab settings, and font style, size, and color;
(E) apply formatting techniques to a multipage research paper using approved
publication standards such as American Psychological Association and Modern
Language Association;
Instructor/Trainer
References:
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, seventh edition
Instructional Aids:
 Formatting Research Paper using MLA Presentation
 Formatting Research Paper using MLA Notes Organizer
 Activity #1 - #3 Instruction Sheet
 Activity #1 Text File
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
1







Activity #1 Answer Key
Activity #2 Answer Key
Activity #3 Answer Key
Activity #4 Instruction Sheet
Activity #4 Text File
Activity #4 Answer Key
Activity #4 Grading Rubric
Materials Needed:
 Copies of Organizer, Instruction Sheets, and Exam
 Electronic text files provided to students
Equipment Needed:
 Computer and projector for presentation
 Computers for individual student use with word processing software
Learner
Have students browse through printed documents such as newspapers or magazines to find 2
articles. One article should be about a topic that is questionable as to the truth of the content,
and the second should have content that is very believable. Be sure to have research articles
available.
Note: The objective of this exercise is to have students realize how quotations and
documented research of experts can sway a reader’s opinion of the topic or support the level
of believability of the information provided.
Introduction
MI
Introduction (LSI Quadrant I):
ASK, “Have you ever been reading an article and wondered to yourself if what
you were reading was really the truth?”
ASK, “What was it about the article that made you question its
authenticity?”
Ask a few of the students to stand up and read part of the unbelievable
document they found. Ask them to name at least one thing that makes IT
seem unbelievable.
Optional: Have a student make a list on the board of the unbelievable qualities of
the documents.
ASK, “Have you ever been reading an article and believed the content even
though it was a controversial issue?”
ASK, “What was it about the article that made you believe its
authenticity?”
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
2
Ask a few of the students to stand up and read part of the believable document they
found. Ask them to name at least one thing that makes it seem believable.
Optional: Have a student make a list on the board of the believable qualities of the
documents.
Note: The objective of this exercise is to have them realize how quotations
and documented research of experts can sway a reader’s opinion of the topic.
Outline
MI
Outline (LSI Quadrant II):
Instructor Notes:
I.
Students identify the purpose of the Modern
Language Association (slide 4)
II.
Students identify the steps to apply MLA
format to a research paper (slide 7)
III.
Identify characteristics of MLA style (slides 932)
IV.
Identify functions of the tools of word
processing software associated with
research paper format (slides 9-32)
Explain the MLA purpose,
publications, and steps to the
formatting process of a
research paper, using the
presentation provided.
Speaker notes are provided
in the presentation to aid
the instructor with the
content of each slide.
Hand out the Formatting a
Research Paper Using MLA
Style Notes Organizer (1) per
student to aid them in note
taking during your
presentation.
Encourage the students to
peruse the images on each
slide that give a specific
example of each formatting
technique.
Activity #1: Also listed in guided practice below
V.
Apply basic MLA format to text documents
Provide feedback to students
Provide each student with an
electronic copy of the Activity
#1 text file along with the
instruction sheet for Activity
#1.
After students complete
activity, provide them with a
copy of the answer key.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
3
Activity #2: Also listed in guided practice below
VI.
Format internal quotations of a research
paper according to MLA standards
Provide feedback to students
Activity #3: Also listed in guided practice below
VII.
Develop a works cited section of a research
paper according to MLA standards
Provide feedback to students
Activity #4: Also listed in independent practice below
Students will apply basic MLA format to the text
document, format internal quotations, and develop a
works cited section of a research paper.
Students will complete the review activity listed
below in the Summary section.
Students will complete the exam activity listed below
in the Evaluation section.
Provide each student with a
copy of the instruction sheet
for Activity #2.
After students complete
activity, provide them with a
copy of the answer key.
Provide each student with a
copy of the instruction sheet
for Activity #3.
After students complete
activity, provide them with a
copy of the answer key.
Provide each student with an
electronic copy of the Activity
#4 text file and a copy of the
instruction sheet for Activity
#4.
Grading rubric provided in
lesson documents.
Place the students in pairs or
groups of three for this
activity.
Students will do this
individually.
Answer key provided in
lesson documents.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
4
Application
MI
Guided Practice (LSI Quadrant III):
Note to instructor: The statistics presented in this research paper are completely
fictional and were only produced for the purpose of teaching MLA format, not to
present factual information or sway anyone’s opinion on any of the topics presented.
Activity #1:
Students will open the text file of Activity #1 (unformatted text of a research paper)
and apply basic MLA formatting techniques (font style & size, margins, line spacing,
and title block), then save as Activity 1. When finished, they will compare their work
to the answer key provided, make needed corrections, and resave.
Activity #2:
Students will open the file they named Activity 1 and apply MLA style formatting for
the internal quotations, then save as Activity 2. When finished, they will compare
their work to the answer key provided, make needed corrections, and resave.
Activity #3:
Students will open the file they named Activity 2 and apply MLA style formatting for
the works cited section, then save as Activity 3. When finished, they will compare
their work to the answer key provided, make needed corrections, and resave.
MI
Independent Practice (LSI Quadrant III):
Note to instructor: The statistics presented in this research paper are completely
fictional and were only produced for the purpose of teaching MLA format, not to
present factual information or sway anyone’s opinion on any of the topics presented.
Activity #4:
Students will open the text file of Activity #4 (unformatted text of a research paper)
and apply basic MLA formatting techniques (font style & size, margins, line spacing,
and title block), apply MLA style formatting for the internal quotations, and apply
MLA style formatting for the works cited section of the research paper.
When finished, they will evaluate their own work, make corrections, and then print a
copy for the instructor to grade.
Summary
MI
Review (LSI Quadrants I and IV):
In pairs, have students ask questions of each other from the lesson note organizers
they filled out at the beginning of the lesson.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
5
Evaluation
MI
Informal Assessment (LSI Quadrant III):



MI
Discussion comments during introduction activity
Observation of note-taking during presentation of lesson
Guided practice activities – making corrections to documents
Formal Assessment (LSI Quadrant III, IV):
Activity #4: Application of all the steps to apply MLA style format to a research
paper. (Grading rubric provided)
Extension
MI
Extension/Enrichment (LSI Quadrant IV):
Enrichment #1: Have students obtain an essay that they wrote for English class and apply
basic MLA format to the document.
Enrichment #2: Instruct the students to use that same essay, locate 3 sources of
information on this topic, and quote the sources within the text of the essay.
Enrichment #3: Instruct the students to use that same essay and develop a works cited
section for the three sources they used for internal quotations.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
6
Icon
MI
Verbal/
Linguistic
Logical/
Mathematical
Visual/Spatial
Musical/
Rhythmic
Bodily/
Kinesthetic
Intrapersonal
Interpersonal
Naturalist
Existentialist
Teaching Strategies
Personal Development
Strategies
Lecture, discussion, journal
writing, cooperative learning,
word origins
Reading, highlighting, outlining,
teaching others, reciting information
Problem solving, number
games, critical thinking,
classifying and organizing,
Socratic questioning
Mind-mapping, reflective
time, graphic organizers,
color-coding systems,
drawings, designs, video,
DVD, charts, maps
Use music, compose songs
or raps, use musical
language or metaphors
Organizing material logically, explaining
things sequentially, finding patterns,
developing systems, outlining, charting,
graphing, analyzing information
Developing graphic organizers, mindmapping, charting, graphing, organizing
with color, mental imagery (drawing in the
mind’s eye)
Use manipulatives, hand
signals, pantomime, real life
situations, puzzles and board
games, activities, roleplaying, action problems
Reflective teaching,
interviews, reflective listening,
KW L charts
Cooperative learning, roleplaying, group brainstorming,
cross-cultural interactions
Natural objects as
manipulatives and as
background for learning
Socratic questions, real life
situations, global
problems/questions
Creating rhythms out of words, creating
rhythms with instruments, playing an
instrument, putting words to existing
songs
Moving while learning, pacing while
reciting, acting out scripts of material,
designing games, moving fingers under
words while reading
Reflecting on personal meaning of
information, studying in quiet settings,
imagining experiments, visualizing
information, journaling
Studying in a group, discussing
information, using flash cards with
other, teaching others
Connecting with nature, forming study
groups with like-minded people
Considering personal relationship to
larger context
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
7
NAME
DATE
Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style
Notes Organizer
1. The initials MLA represent what?
2. The purpose of MLA is to promote
, criticism, and research.
3. MLA publishes two different manuals. What are their names?
a.
b.
4. Of the two items listed above, which is used by high school students and undergraduate students?
Apply Basic Formatting
a. Choose Font Style and Size: if not given, select
b. Indent the
c.
size
line of each paragraph by
-- align the text
d. Set Page Margins: Top, Bottom, Left, & Right should be
e. Set line spacing to
f.
Leave
g. The first
space after the period at the end of a sentence
lines of the report are called the
Block
These five lines contain what information? Line #1:
Line #2:
Line #3:
Line #4:
Line #5:
h. Line #5 should be
, not
,
, or font size change. Should also use
case and not all caps.
i.
The header should contain
,
,
, and should be
aligned.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
8
NAME
DATE
Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style
Notes Organizer
Format the Quotations
5. A quotation is anything copied
for word from a
the beginning and end of quotations. Add
at the
. Place
of the quote followed by ending
mark. Place page number of quote
the parentheses.
6. The title of books and magazines should be
_.
7. Titles of articles inside a book or magazine should be
8. If a quote takes up more than
and indenting it from the
preceded by a
.
lines, it should be set apart by beginning it on a
margin by
the ending punctuation should
. It should
have quotation marks, and
be moved to outside the parentheses. The quotation should be
.
9. If quoting a short piece of a poem or lines of lyrics, place them in
lines by a
at
marks and separate the
mark.
10. If quoting a long piece of a poem (more than
lines), use the same format as a
quote.
11. If the author of the quote isn’t presented in the text preceding the quote, then add the author’s
inside the parentheses, before the
12. Each picture, graphic, image, etc. is considered a
.
.
each figure should
appear with the abbreviation Fig. Following Fig. should be a space and an Arabic number (1, 2, 3 . . .)
13. These numbers should be sequential as the images appear in the report. After the number is a period, then
a space, then a
of what the image is about.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
9
NAME
DATE
Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style
Notes Organizer
Format the Works Cited Section
14. Begin the works cited section on the
the top of next page.
page. Hold
and press Enter to go to
15. The title should be the words
and should be centered.
16. Each entry begins on a
a.
and at the
Set the paragraph format to
margin.
indent. To format hanging indent, click the
dialog box button. Under the Indentation section, locate the
option. Click on the drop down arrow under the Special section and choose
then click OK.
17. The entries of the works cited section should be in
order.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
10
Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style
Instructions for Activity #1, #2 and #3
Activity #1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Open the text file named MLA Act_1.
Save this to your student folder as Your Name MLA Activity 1.
Look at your MLA Notes Organizer. Follow the steps listed under the Apply Basic Formatting Section.
Save your changes.
Print your document.
Compare your document with the answer key provided.
Make any necessary changes and resave.
Activity #2
1. Open the text file named MLA Act_1.
2. Save this to your student folder as Your Name MLA Activity 2
3. Look at your MLA Notes Organizer. Follow the steps listed under the Format the Quotations section.
4. Quote #1: Locate the 1st sentence of the 2nd paragraph that contains the following quote:
non-profit entity that regulates the industry that creates and markets video games
This quote was taken from page 4 of a book written by Jonathon Brown.
5. Quote #2: Navigate to page 2 of the report. Find the paragraph that reads as follows:
pediatric psychologist, Dr. Jennifer Johnson, when young children play the games that
are rated for older children they may act out what they see on screen because they have
difficulty distinguishing reality from fantasy.
This quote was taken from page 57 of an article written by Dr. Jennifer Johnson.
6. Quote #3: remain on page 2 of the report. Find the paragraph that reads as follows:
video games reduce violent and aggressive acts . . . to act out in an aggressive or violent
manner.
This quote was taken from a magazine article on page 17 and was written by Simeon Roberts.
7. Quote #4: Locate the 3rd sentence of the next paragraph. Find the section that reads as follows:
According to clinical psychologist, Laura Swanson, there are too many variables that can
skew the outcome of the study results to be able to conduct research on this topic that
would render valid or reliable results.
This was taken from a page 46 of a book written by Laura Swanson.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
11
Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style
Instructions for Activity #1, #2 and #3
8. Quote #5: Locate the 1st sentence in the next paragraph. Find the portion that reads as follows:
In one game study conducted by Dr. Richard Little, researchers chose two video games,
one with an over 17 rating because of blood, gore and violence, and one with an E rating.
This quote was taken from page 32 of a book written by Dr. Richard Little.
9. Quote #6: Navigate to page 4. Notice the italicized lines of text. These are lines from a poem. Use the
correct format to quote several lines of a poem.
This quote was taken from page 27 of a book by Donald Stephenson.
10. Save your changes.
11. Read through the document and locate the names of books, magazines or articles within those
publications and correctly format them.
12. Print your document.
13. Compare your document with the answer key provided.
14. Make any necessary changes and resave.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
12
Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style
Instructions for Activity #1, #2 and #3
Activity #3
1. Open the text file named MLA Act_1.
2. Save this to your student folder as Your Name MLA Activity 3.
3. Look back at the PowerPoint presentation your instructor showed at the beginning of this lesson.
Follow the steps listed under the Format the Works Cited Section (slides #23-#30).
4. The resource items for the works cited page are listed below:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MAGAZINES
BOOKS
Magazine name: Entertainment Weekly
Book name: Rating Systems and What
Article Title: The Influence of Video Games
They Mean
on Today’s Teens
Town of publication: San Angelo
Page numbers of article: 16-18
Printed date: 2008
Author: Simeon Roberts Jr.
Author: Jonathon Brown
Issue: September 14, 2009
Format: Printed version
Format: Printed version
Name of Publisher: Vaudeville Publishers
Magazine name: Just for Kids
Article Title: Children Learn What They
See
Page numbers of article: 53-54, 61, 63
Author: Jennifer Johnson
Issue: May 3, 2009
Format: Printed version
Book name: When Data Becomes Unreliable
Town of publication: Chicago
Printed date: 2008
Author: Richard Little
Format: Viewed electronically through
Hampton Electronic Database Library
Name of Publisher: Zebra Books
POEM
Book name: RESEARCH SIMPLIFIED
Book name: The Darker Side of Poetry
Town of publication: Charleston
Town of publication: Miami
Printed date: 2010
Printed date: 2003
Author: Laura Swanson & Marion Compton
Author: Donald Stephenson
Format: CD-ROM
Poem Name: The Murderous Roar
Name of Publisher: Seasons Group Publishing
Editor: Leslie Divers
Translator: Derek Dugan
Format: Printed version
Name of Publisher: AVON BOOKS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5. Save your changes.
6. Print your document.
7. Compare your document with the answer key provided.
8. Make any necessary changes and resave.
9. Submit your final paper to the instructor for grading.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
13
VIDEO GAMES DO NOT SPAWN VIOLENCE
As we hear about shooting sprees at local high schools, people immediately begin to lay blame
for the event on the video gaming industry. Critics then use these events to raise their voices
against the violence that is portrayed in many of the popular video games. Critics proceed to try
to ban the sale of these video games without having any real proof of their accusations. Video
games do not contribute to youth violence because there is an excellent rating system in p lace,
the simulated violence provides an outlet for aggression, and the research that critics use is
flawed.
Just like movies, video games receive a content rating by the ESRB, Entertainment So ftware
Rating Board which is a non-profit entity that regulates the industry that creates and markets
video games. Video games receive a rating that suggests age appropriateness for the game and
content descriptors which indicate attributes of the game that triggered the rating.
This is an excellent rating system. If video games are correctly identified using this system, and
purchasers of the games adhere to the system, then only those people who are mentally mature
enough to be exposed to violence without being influenced by it will be exposed to the higher
levels of violence. For example, when the game Mortal Kombat came out, my teenage brother
purchased the game and was playing it while I was watching. When my mother saw the scene
where a person in the game fell into a pit and was impaled on spikes with a lot of blood
surrounding him, she was upset that I was watching this and felt that I was too young to watch
such a scene. I was only 8 years old. So when she looked at the content rating of the game, she
banned the game from being played while any children were able to view the screen. If all
parents would pay this much attention to the games their children are playing, then younger,
more easily influenced children would not be exposed to violence that their young minds are not
able to properly process.
According to an article in Just for Kids medical magazine, pediatric psychologist, Dr. Jennifer
Johnson, when young children play the games that are rated for older children they may act out
what they see on screen because they have difficulty distinguishing reality from fantasy.
However, when video game users are adhering to the ESRB rating system, then teenagers and
young adults can play the video games without being influenced by what is acted out on screen.
Teenagers and young adults have the capability to understand that the video game is just a
fantasy world and that the behaviors portrayed by the characters in the game are not the same
behaviors that should be displayed in the real world. Sometimes, when people get angry they can
go play a video game to release their aggression through the fantasy type world and get over their
anger without committing violent acts in reality. In a recent article entitled, The Influence of
Video Games on Today’s Teens, advocates of video games argued that video games reduce
violent and aggressive acts because it allows the user to release the feelings of frustrated through
the simulations, therefore helping the user to no longer have the desire to act out in an aggressive
or violent manner.
Video game advocates contend that a majority of the research on the topic is deeply flawed and
that no causal relationship has been found between video games and social violence. It’s
difficult to determine if violent video games increase violent behavior in research settings.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
14
According to clinical psychologist, Laura Swanson, there are too many variables that can skew
the outcome of the study results to be able to conduct research on this topic that would render
valid or reliable results. Some of the issues that I see are the already existing aggressive
tendencies of the research subjects, the current emotional mindset of the subjects, the level of
individual interest in the game used in the research study and other life factors that could induce
stress.
In one game study conducted by Dr. Richard Little, researchers chose two video games, one with
an over 17 rating because of blood, gore and violence and one with an E rating. An E rating is
considered safe for everyone, somewhat like a rated G movie is considered safe for general
audiences. Each study participant was between the ages of 18-19 and placed inside a room with
only a television, video game console and a chair. They played the given game for 2 hours.
Before the two hours were up the teenagers playing the E rated game were bored and just wanted
their time to be over. They were not interested in the game and considered it an unpleasant
experience. The other group of teenagers was excited over the new game because they had just
learned the basics of navigating the various levels and had a high interest in the game. The
players were given a questionnaire afterwards that asked them if they wanted to strike anyone.
Players of the violent game reported that they were excited and in a good mood and none of them
reported that they were in an aggressive mood. Several players of the E rated game remarked
that they wanted to punch the person who designed the game. Now, we know they really didn’t
mean that – but as researchers, the comments had to be recorded. Therefore, this research
showed that violence was provoked in the players of the E rated game more than in the players of
the more violent game. This is flawed research.
If we look at the music industry, we can see the same controversy. Music albums that have
explicit lyrics have a parental warning on the cover. The hostility represented in the lyrics can
incite people to violence, especially those on illegal drugs or drinking a lot of alcohol. If you
recall the Steven Donaldson murder case, he had read a poem by Donald Stephenson, notice the
play on names. Because of the similarities in the names, Steven believed that the poem had been
written just for him and was giving him Divine Instructions. Here is a piece of that poem:
On the outside so beautiful, who could ask for more?
Your smile so lovely, but rotten at the
core. You cheated, you stole,
You’re hearts blacker than coal.
My love you tossed
away, like rubble or trash
My heart you broke, shattered like glass.
Now murder eats at
me, it’s all I have heard
Like ants crawling, on the carcass of a dead baby bird.
Steven Donaldson was chanting these lines as he murdered his ex-girlfriend, her new boyfriend,
her sister and her mother. These lyrics had a huge impact on him and he was in his late twenties.
Not everyone has the emotional stability to keep themselves from being influenced by darker
subjects. During Donaldson’s trial it was proven that he had a history of mental illness. Should
there be a law that mentally ill people can’t listen to certain music or play certain video games? I
don’t think that’s the answer either.
In any public setting, you can look around you and watch the interactions of individuals an d be
witness to various different acts of aggression. You can let your mind wander and try to discern
what it was that caused that person to believe that their behavior in that situation was socially
acceptable. You might even wonder if they saw that kind of behavior in a movie or perhaps a
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
15
video game. It’s people who are wondering along these types of thoughts who decide to voice
their negative opinions of video games when they have no valid proof on which to make these
accusations. If they really stopped to gather the facts they would find that, the United States has
an excellent rating system for video games. People should consider these ratings before they
allow their children to play these games. People should not jump to conclusions about video
games without being able to provide proof. Valid proof however, is not available because the
research studies that have been attempted are flawed. If there is no valid proof that video games
cause violent behavior then people should not make a rush to jud gment about something they
don’t really understand. In this country, a person is considered innocent until proven guilty. We
need to take this stance on this issue as well. We should believe that video games do not spawn
violence in today’s youth. We should believe this until it can be proven otherwise with
impeccable research studies.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
16
Walters
17
Rhonda Walters
Mr. Instructor
Principles of IT
November 14, 2009
Video Games Do Not Spawn Violence
As we hear about shooting sprees at local high schools, people immediately begin to lay
blame for the event on the video gaming industry. Critics then use these events to raise their
voices against the violence that is portrayed in many of the popular video games. Critics proceed
to try to ban the sale of these video games without having any real proof of their accusations.
Video games do not contribute to youth violence because there is an excellent rating system in
place, the simulated violence provides an outlet for aggression, and the research that critics use is
flawed.
Just like movies, video games receive a content rating by the ESRB, Entertainment
Software Rating Board, which is a non-profit entity that regulates the industry that creates and
markets video games. Video games receive a rating that suggests age appropriateness for the
game and content descriptors which indicate attributes of the game that triggered the rating.
This is an excellent rating system. If video games are correctly identified using this
system, and purchasers of the games adhere to the system, then only those people who are
mentally mature enough to be exposed to violence without being influenced by it will be exposed
to the higher levels of violence. For example, when the game Mortal Kombat came out, my
teenage brother purchased the game and was playing it while I was watching. When my mother
saw the scene where a person in the game fell into a pit and was impaled on spikes with a lot of
blood surrounding him, she was upset that I was watching this and felt that I was too young to
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
17
Walters
18
watch such a scene. I was only 8 years old. So when she looked at the content rating of the
game, she banned the game from being played while any children were able to view the screen.
If all parents would pay this much attention to the games their children are playing, then
younger, more easily influenced children would not be exposed to violence that their young
minds are not able to properly process.
According to an article in Just for Kids medical magazine, pediatric psychologist, Dr.
Jennifer Johnson, when young children play the games that are rated for older children they may
act out what they see on screen because they have difficulty distinguishing reality from fantasy.
However, when video game users are adhering to the ESRB rating system, then teenagers and
young adults can play the video games without being influenced by what is acted out on screen.
Teenagers and young adults have the capability to understand that the video game is just a
fantasy world and that the behaviors portrayed by the characters in the game are not the same
behaviors that should be displayed in the real world. Sometimes, when people get angry they
can go play a video game to release their aggression through the fantasy type world and get over
their anger without committing violent acts in reality. In a recent article entitled, The Influence
of Video Games on Today’s Teens, advocates of video games argued that video games reduce
violent and aggressive acts because it allows the user to release the feelings of frustrat ion
through the simulations, therefore helping the user to no longer have the desire to act out in an
aggressive or violent manner.
Video game advocates contend that a majority of the research on the topic is deeply
flawed and that no causal relationship has been found between video games and social violence.
It’s difficult to determine if violent video games increase violent behavior in research settings.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
18
Walters
19
According to clinical psychologist, Laura Swanson, there are too many variables that can skew
the outcome of the study results to be able to conduct research on this topic that would render
valid or reliable results. Some of the issues that I see are the already existing aggressive
tendencies of the research subjects, the current emotional mindset of the su bjects, the level of
individual interest in the game used in the research study and other life factors that could induce
stress.
In one game study conducted by Dr. Richard Little, researchers chose two video games,
one with an over 17 rating because of blood, gore and violence, and one with an E rating. An E
rating is considered safe for everyone, somewhat like a rated G movie is considered safe for
general audiences. Each study participant was between the ages of 18-19 and placed inside a
room with only a television, video game console and a chair. They played the given game for 2
hours. Before the two hours were up the teenagers playing the E rated game were bored and just
wanted their time to be over. They were not interested in the game and considered it an
unpleasant experience. The other group of teenagers was excited over the new game because
they had just learned the basics of navigating the various levels and had a high interest in the
game. The players were given a questionnaire afterwards that asked them if they wanted to
strike anyone. Players of the violent game reported that they were excited and in a good mood
and none of them reported that they were in an aggressive mood. Several players of the E rated
game remarked that they wanted to punch the person who designed the game. Now, we know
they really didn’t mean that – but as researchers, the comments had to be recorded. Therefore,
this research showed that violence was provoked in the players of the E rated game more than in
the players of the more violent game. This is flawed research.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
19
Walters
20
If we look at the music industry, we can see the same controversy. Music albums that
have explicit lyrics have a parental warning on the cover. The hostility represented in the lyrics
can incite people to violence, especially those on illegal drugs or drinking a lot of alcohol. If you
recall the Steven Donaldson murder case, he had read a poem by Donald Stephenson ; notice the
play on names. Because of the similarities in the names, Steven believed that the poem had been
written just for him and was giving him Divine Instructions. Here is a piece of that poem:
On the outside so beautiful, who could ask for more?
core. You cheated, you stole,
Your smile so lovely, but rotten at the
You’re hearts blacker than coal.
My love you tossed
away, like rubble or trash
My heart you broke, shattered like glass.
Now murder eats at
me, it’s all I have heard
Like ants crawling, on the carcass of a dead baby bird.
Steven Donaldson was chanting these lines as he murdered his ex-girlfriend, her new
boyfriend, her sister and her mother. These lyrics had a huge impact on him and he was in his
late twenties. Not everyone has the emotional stability to keep themselves from being
influenced by darker subjects. During Donaldson’s trial it was proven that he had a history of
mental illness. Should there be a law that mentally ill people can’t listen to certain music or play
certain video games? I don’t think that’s the answer either.
In any public setting, you can look around you and watch the interactions of individuals
and be witness to various different acts of aggression. You can let your mind wander and try to
discern what it was that caused that person to believe that their behavior in that situation was
socially acceptable. You might even wonder if they saw that kind of behavior in a movie or
perhaps a video game. It’s people who are wondering along these types of thoughts who decide
to voice their negative opinions of video games when they have no valid proof on which to make
these accusations. If they really stopped to gather the facts, they would find that the United
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
20
Walters
21
States has an excellent rating system for video games. People should consider these ratings
before they allow their children to play these games. People should not jump to conclusions
about video games without being able to provide proof. Valid proof, however, is not available
because the research studies that have been attempted are flawed. If there is no valid proof that
video games cause violent behavior then people should not make a rush to judgment about
something they don’t really understand. In this country, a person is considered innocent until
proven guilty. We need to take this stance on this issue as well. We should believe that video
games do not spawn violence in today’s youth. We should believe this until it can be proven
otherwise with impeccable research studies.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
21
Walters
22
Rhonda Walters
Mr. Instructor
Principles of IT
November 14, 2009
Video Games Do Not Spawn Violence
As we hear about shooting sprees at local high schools, people immediately begin to lay
blame for the event on the video gaming industry. Critics then use these events to raise their
voices against the violence that is portrayed in many of the popular video games. Critics proceed
to try to ban the sale of these video games without having any real proof of their accusations.
Video games do not contribute to youth violence because there is an excellent rating system in
place, the simulated violence provides an outlet for aggression, and the research that critics use is
flawed.
Just like movies, video games receive a content rating by the ESRB, Entertainment
Software Rating Board which is a “non-profit entity that regulates the industry that creates and
markets video games” (Brown 4). Video games receive a rating that suggests age
appropriateness for the game and content descriptors which indicate attributes o f the game that
triggered the rating.
This is an excellent rating system. If video games are correctly identified using this
system, and purchasers of the games adhere to the system, then only those people who are
mentally mature enough to be exposed to violence without being influenced by it will be exposed
to the higher levels of violence. For example, when the game Mortal Kombat came out, my
teenage brother purchased the game and was playing it while I was watching. When my mother
saw the scene where a person in the game fell into a pit and was impaled on spikes with a lot of
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
22
Walters
23
blood surrounding him, she was upset that I was watching this and felt that I was too young to
watch such a scene. I was only 8 years old. So when she looked at the content rating of the
game, she banned the game from being played while any children were able to view the screen.
If all parents would pay this much attention to the games their children are playing, then
younger, more easily influenced children would not be exposed to violence that their young
minds are not able to properly process.
According to an article in Just for Kids medical magazine, pediatric psychologist, Dr.
Jennifer Johnson, “when young children play the games that are rated for older children they
may act out what they see on screen because they have difficulty distinguishing reality from
fantasy” (57). However, when video game users are adhering to the ESRB rating system, then
teenagers and young adults can play the video games without being influenced by what is acted
out on screen. Teenagers and young adults have the capability to understand that the video game
is just a fantasy world and that the behaviors portrayed by the characters in the game are not the
same behaviors that should be displayed in the real world. Sometimes, when people get angry
they can go play a video game to release their aggression through the fantasy type world and get
over their anger without committing violent acts in reality. In a recent article entitled, “The
Influence of Video Games on Today’s Teens”, advocates of video games argued that “video
games reduce violent and aggressive acts because it allows the user to release the feelings of
frustration through the simulations, therefore helping the user to no longer have the desire to act
out in an aggressive or violent manner” (Roberts 17).
Video game advocates contend that a majority of the research on the topic is deeply
flawed and that no causal relationship has been found between video games and social violence.
It’s difficult to determine if violent video games increase violent behavior in research settings.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
23
Walters
24
According to clinical psychologist, Laura Swanson, “there are too many variables that can skew
the outcome of the study results to be able to conduct research on this topic that would render
valid or reliable results” (46). Some of the issues that I see are the already existing aggressive
tendencies of the research subjects, the current emotional mindset of the subjects, the level of
individual interest in the game used in the research study and other life factors that could induce
stress.
In one game study conducted by Dr. Richard Little, “researchers chose two video games,
one with an over 17 rating because of blood, gore and violence, and one with an E rating” (32).
An E rating is considered safe for everyone, somewhat like a rated G movie is considered safe
for general audiences. Each study participant was between the ages of 18-19 and placed inside a
room with only a television, video game console and a chair. They played the given game for 2
hours. Before the two hours were up the teenagers playing the E rated game were bored and just
wanted their time to be over. They were not interested in the game and considered it an
unpleasant experience. The other group of teenagers was excited over the new game because
they had just learned the basics of navigating the various levels and had a high interest in the
game. The players were given a questionnaire afterwards that asked them if they wanted to
strike anyone. Players of the violent game reported that they were excited and in a good mood
and none of them reported that they were in an aggressive mood. Several players of the E rated
game remarked that they wanted to punch the person who designed the game. Now, we know
they really didn’t mean that – but as researchers, the comments had to be recorded. Therefore,
this research showed that violence was provoked in the players of the E rated game more than in
the players of the more violent game. This is flawed research.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
24
Walters
25
If we look at the music industry, we can see the same controversy. Music albums that
have explicit lyrics have a parental warning on the cover. The hostility represented in the lyrics
can incite people to violence, especially those on illegal drugs or drinking a lot of alcohol. If you
recall the Steven Donaldson murder case, he had read a poem by Donald Stephenson, notice the
play on names. Because of the similarities in the names, Steven believed that the poem had been
written just for him and was giving him Divine Instructions. Here is a piece of that poem:
On the outside so beautiful, who could ask for more?
Your smile so lovely, but rotten at the core.
You cheated, you stole,
You’re hearts blacker than coal.
My love you tossed away, like rubble or trash
My heart you broke, shattered like glass.
Now murder eats at me, it’s all I have heard
Like ants crawling, on the carcass of a dead baby bird. (27)
Steven Donaldson was chanting these lines as he murdered his ex-girlfriend, her new
boyfriend, her sister and her mother. These lyrics had a huge impact on him and he was in his
late twenties. Not everyone has the emotional stability to keep themselves from being influenced
by darker subjects. During Donaldson’s trial it was proven that he had a history of mental illness.
Should there be a law that mentally ill people can’t listen to certain music or play certain video
games? I don’t think that’s the answer either.
In any public setting, you can look around you and watch the interactions of individuals
and be witness to various different acts of aggression. You can let your mind wander and try to
discern what it was that caused that person to believe that their behavior in that situation was
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
25
Walters
26
socially acceptable. You might even wonder if they saw that kind of behavior in a movie or
perhaps a video game. It’s people who are wondering along these types of thoughts who decide
to voice their negative opinions of video games when they have no valid proof on which to make
these accusations. If they really stopped to gather the facts, they would find that the United States
has an excellent rating system for video games. People should consider these ratings before they
allow their children to play these games. People should not jump to conclusions about video
games without being able to provide proof. Valid proof, however, is not available because the
research studies that have been attempted are flawed. If there is no valid proof that video games
cause violent behavior then people should not make a rush to judgment about something they
don’t really understand. In this country, a person is considered innocent until proven guilty. We
need to take this stance on this issue as well. We should believe that video games do not spawn
violence in today’s youth. We should believe this until it can be proven otherwise with
impeccable research studies.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
26
Walters
27
Rhonda Walters
Mr. Instructor
Principles of IT
November 14, 2009
Video Games Do Not Spawn Violence
As we hear about shooting sprees at local high schools, people immediately begin to lay
blame for the event on the video gaming industry. Critics then use these events to raise their
voices against the violence that is portrayed in many of the popular video games. Critics proceed
to try to ban the sale of these video games without having any real proof of their accusations.
Video games do not contribute to youth violence because there is an excellent rating system in
place, the simulated violence provides an outlet for aggression, and the research that critics use is
flawed.
Just like movies, video games receive a content rating by the ESRB, Entertainment
Software Rating Board which is a “non-profit entity that regulates the industry that creates and
markets video games” (Brown 4). Video games receive a rating that suggests age
appropriateness for the game and content descriptors which indicate attributes o f the game that
triggered the rating.
This is an excellent rating system. If video games are correctly identified using this
system, and purchasers of the games adhere to the system, then only those people who are
mentally mature enough to be exposed to violence without being influenced by it will be exposed
to the higher levels of violence. For example, when the game Mortal Kombat came out, my
teenage brother purchased the game and was playing it while I was watching. When my mother
saw the scene where a person in the game fell into a pit and was impaled on spikes with a lot of
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
27
Walters
28
blood surrounding him, she was upset that I was watching this and felt that I was too young to
watch such a scene. I was only 8 years old. So when she looked at the content rating of the
game, she banned the game from being played while any children were able to view the screen.
If all parents would pay this much attention to the games their children are playing, then
younger, more easily influenced children would not be exposed to violence that their young
minds are not able to properly process.
According to an article in Just for Kids medical magazine, pediatric psychologist, Dr.
Jennifer Johnson, “when young children play the games that are rated for older children they
may act out what they see on screen because they have difficulty distinguishing reality from
fantasy” (57). However, when video game users are adhering to the ESRB rating system, then
teenagers and young adults can play the video games without being influenced by what is acted
out on screen. Teenagers and young adults have the capability to understand that the video game
is just a fantasy world and that the behaviors portrayed by the characters in the game are not the
same behaviors that should be displayed in the real world. Sometimes, when people get angry
they can go play a video game to release their aggression through the fantasy type world and get
over their anger without committing violent acts in reality. In a recent article entitled, “The
Influence of Video Games on Today’s Teens”, advocates of video games argued that “video
games reduce violent and aggressive acts because it allows the user to release the feelings of
frustration through the simulations, therefore helping the user to no longer have the desire to act
out in an aggressive or violent manner” (Roberts 17).
Video game advocates contend that a majority of the research on the topic is deeply
flawed and that no causal relationship has been found between video games and social violence.
It’s difficult to determine if violent video games increase violent behavior in research settings.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
28
Walters
29
According to clinical psychologist, Laura Swanson, “there are too many variables that can skew
the outcome of the study results to be able to conduct research on this topic that would render
valid or reliable results” (46). Some of the issues that I see are the already existing aggressive
tendencies of the research subjects, the current emotional mindset of the subjects, the level of
individual interest in the game used in the research study and other life factors that could induce
stress.
In one game study conducted by Dr. Richard Little, “researchers chose two video games,
one with an over 17 rating because of blood, gore and violence, and one with an E rating” (32).
An E rating is considered safe for everyone, somewhat like a rated G movie is considered safe
for general audiences. Each study participant was between the ages of 18-19 and placed inside a
room with only a television, video game console and a chair. They played the given game for 2
hours. Before the two hours were up the teenagers playing the E rated game were bored and just
wanted their time to be over. They were not interested in the game and considered it an
unpleasant experience. The other group of teenagers was excited over the new game because
they had just learned the basics of navigating the various levels and had a high interest in the
game. The players were given a questionnaire afterwards that asked them if they wanted to
strike anyone. Players of the violent game reported that they were excited and in a good mood
and none of them reported that they were in an aggressive mood. Several players of the E rated
game remarked that they wanted to punch the person who designed the game. Now, we know
they really didn’t mean that – but as researchers, the comments had to be recorded. Therefore,
this research showed that violence was provoked in the players of the E rated game more than in
the players of the more violent game. This is flawed research.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
29
Walters
30
If we look at the music industry, we can see the same controversy. Music albums that
have explicit lyrics have a parental warning on the cover. The hostility represented in the lyrics
can incite people to violence, especially those on illegal drugs or drinking a lot of alcohol. If you
recall the Steven Donaldson murder case, he had read a poem by Donald Stephenson, notice the
play on names. Because of the similarities in the names, Steven believed that the poem had been
written just for him and was giving him Divine Instructions. Here is a piece of that poem:
On the outside so beautiful, who could ask for more?
Your smile so lovely, but rotten at the core.
You cheated, you stole,
You’re hearts blacker than coal.
My love you tossed away, like rubble or trash
My heart you broke, shattered like glass.
Now murder eats at me, it’s all I have heard
Like ants crawling, on the carcass of a dead baby bird. (27)
Steven Donaldson was chanting these lines as he murdered his ex-girlfriend, her new
boyfriend, her sister and her mother. These lyrics had a huge impact on him and he was in his
late twenties. Not everyone has the emotional stability to keep themselves from being influenced
by darker subjects. During Donaldson’s trial it was proven that he had a history of mental illness.
Should there be a law that mentally ill people can’t listen to certain music or play certain video
games? I don’t think that’s the answer either.
In any public setting, you can look around you and watch the interactions of individuals
and be witness to various different acts of aggression. You can let your mind wander and try to
discern what it was that caused that person to believe that their behavior in that situation was
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
30
Walters
31
socially acceptable. You might even wonder if they saw that kind of behavior in a movie or
perhaps a video game. It’s people who are wondering along these types of thoughts who decide
to voice their negative opinions of video games when they have no valid proof on which to make
these accusations. If they really stopped to gather the facts, they would find that the United States
has an excellent rating system for video games. People should consider these ratings before they
allow their children to play these games. People should not jump to conclusions about video
games without being able to provide proof. Valid proof, however, is not available because the
research studies that have been attempted are flawed. If there is no valid proof that video games
cause violent behavior then people should not make a rush to judgment about something they
don’t really understand. In this country, a person is considered innocent until proven guilty. We
need to take this stance on this issue as well. We should believe that video games do not spawn
violence in today’s youth. We should believe this until it can be proven otherwise with
impeccable research studies.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
31
Walters
32
Works Cited
Brown, Jonathon. Rating Systems and What They Mean. San Angelo: Vaudeville Publishers,
2008. Print.
Johnson, Jennifer. “Children Learn What They See.” Just for Kids 3 May 2009: 53+. Print.
Little, Richard. When Data Becomes Unreliable. Chicago: Zebra Books, 2008. Hampton
Electronic Database Library.
Roberts, Simeon, Jr. “The Influence of Video Games on Today’s Teens.” Entertainment Weekly
14 Sept. 2009: 16-18. Print.
Stephenson, Donald. “The Murderous Roar.” Trans. Derek Dugan. The Darker Side of Poetry.
Ed. Leslie Divers. Miami: Avon Books, 2003. 27. Print.
Swanson, Laura, and Marion Compton. Research Simplified. Charleston: Seasons Group
Publishing, 2010. CD-ROM.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
32
Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style
Instructions for Activity #4
Complete the following steps:
Apply Basic Formatting
1.
2.
3.
4.
Open the text file named MLA Act_4.
Save this to your student folder as Your Name MLA Activity 4
Look at your MLA Notes Organizer. Follow the steps listed under the Apply Basic Formatting Section.
Save your changes.
Format the Quotations
5. Look at your MLA Notes Organizer. Follow the steps listed under the Format the Quotations section.
1. Quote #1: Locate the 2nd paragraph, on the first page. Find the text that reads as follows:
written by Otto Mortimer as this ( following this text is a long quote):
a process in which heat produced by humans, such as . . . a lot of it is just cycled back
towards the earth’s surface, where we live.
This quote was taken from page 44 of a magazine article written by Otto Mortimer.
2. Quote #2: navigate to page 2 of the report. Find the paragraph that contains the text:
According to a world-renown scientist, Rudolph Mezmer, . . . he claims that (following this text is
a quote):
The existing hole in the ozone layer . . . size to be 11 million square miles.
This quote was taken from page 4 of an article written by Rudolph Mezmer.
3. Quote #3: remain on page 2 of the report. Find the paragraph that reads:
In this agreement, countries agreed to
(following this text is a quote):
phase out the use of chemicals that erode the ozone layer.
This quote was taken from a book on page 15 and was written by Cyndi Lemur.
4. Quote #4: Navigate to page 3. Find the section that reads:
Physicist, John Montgomery, claims that (following this text is a quote):
the levels of ozone layer erosion chemicals have steadily decreased since the enacting of
the Montreal Protocol
This was taken from a page 12 of a book written by John Montgomery.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
33
Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style
Instructions for Activity #4
5. Quote #5: Navigate to page 4. Find the section that reads:
According to Mr. Farwell, ( following this text is a quote):
In 1995, production of R-12 ceased. It is our intention to phase out the production of R22 by the year 2020.
This quote was taken from page 78 of a book written by Max Farwell.
6. Save your changes. Read the document and locate the names of books, magazines, or articles
within those publications and correctly format them.
7. Navigate to page 3 and correctly label the Ozone chart.
Create a Works Cited Section for this research paper using the resource information below:
BOOKS
Book name: The Montreal Protocol Explained
Town of publication: Boston
Printed date: 2006
Author: Cyndi Lemur & Dylan Jennings
Format: Printed version
Name of Publisher: Green Publishing
MAGAZINES
Magazine name: Discover
Article Title: ITS STILL GROWING
Page numbers of article: 4-7
Author: Rudolph Mezmer
Issue: March 22, 2009
Format: CD-Rom
Book name: An Analysis of the Composition of
Ozone Depleting Chemicals
Town of publication: Chicago
Printed date: 2006
Author: John Gerald Montgomery
Format: Printed version
Name of Publisher: Blastiff Books
Magazine name: National Geographic
Article Title: What is the Greenhouse Effect All
About?
Page numbers of article: 27, 39, 44-45
Author: Otto Mortimer
Issue: June 5, 2002
Format: Printed version
Book name: A COMPARISON OF THE MOST
DANGEROUS OZONE DEPLETING CHEMICALS
Town of publication: New York
Printed date: 2004
Author: Max Farwell III
Format: Printed version
Name of Publisher: Only Science Publishing
8. Spellcheck your document and save changes.
9. Print your document.
10. Submit your document to instructor for grading.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
34
Going Green – What Does It Mean
As we experience an increase in natural disasters, people having been wondering
about the cause of this increase. We have heard that it is the greenhouse effect or
global warming or the depletion of the ozone layer. Most Americans have heard
these phrases and yet many still do not understand what they mean. If we do not
understand what they are how are we to reason in our own minds if there is
anything that we as individuals can do about them to help stop this insane weat her
situations? Today I am going to explain these phrases to you so that you can
determine if they are important enough to your livelihood to try to do something
to help prevent them from getting worse. I’m also going to inform you of
possible solutions that others have suggested might help alleviate this dire
situation.
The greenhouse effect is described in this article that appeared in National
Geographic magazine, written by Otto Mortimer as this: a process in which heat
produced by humans, such as running motor equipment, factory equipment, forest
fires, and heating of homes, rises into the air, bounces off of the clouds and is sent
back down to the surface of the earth. This process repeats itself over and over in
a never ending cycle. A portion of the heat is released into the outer atmosphere
but a lot of it is just cycled back towards the earth’s surface, where we live.
The greenhouse cycling effect has been occurring for centuries, and as technology
has brought about an increase in heat-generating equipment, this has caused the
temperature at the earth’s surface to steadily increase. Therefore, the result of this
is that the air at the surface of the earth is getting hotter and hotter this increase in
temperature is called global warming.
Another issue that goes hand-in-hand with these is the ozone layer issue. The
ozone layer is a thick, protective barrier high in the atmosphere. It keeps the most
harmful rays of the sun from reaching earth. This barrier is made of a certain
substance. This substance can be altered by different chemicals that are floating
around in the air. Several years ago it was discovered that certain chemicals were
reacting to the ozone layer material and causing it to dissolve. If enough
chemicals react to the ozone in the same place it could wear a hole through the
ozone layer and once the hole is made, the harmful rays of the sun can come
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
35
through and cause many problems for all life-forms on earth. According to a
world-renown scientist, Rudolph Mezmer, in his article entitled, It’s Still
Growing, he claims that The existing hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica
was approximately 9 million square miles wide. After today’s measurements we
now estimate this size to be 11 million square miles.
The existence of this hole caused world-wide speculation of what might happen to
the inhabitants of this planet if the entire ozone layer dissolved. Scientists
identified the chemicals that were doing the most harm to the ozone material. Then
representatives from all over the world met to discuss this topic. An
agreement was reached by these representatives which is now called the Montreal
Protocol. In this agreement, countries agreed to phase out the use of chemicals
that erode the ozone layer. Some manufacturers like those who use plastic foam
blowers were upset by this agreement because they did not have an alternative
chemical as a substitute. Then when an alternative was discovered, it was less
cost-effective. Another culprit of these harmful chemicals is something very
common, one you either use or witness being used, on a daily basis. This
chemical is used in common asthma inhalers. Experiments have been done to try
to find an alternative that works as effectively for this medical purpose, but to
date, none has been found.
Another chemical that erodes the ozone layer is found in common fire
extinguishers. Since the Montreal Protocol was enacted, there has been a
substitute found for fire extinguishers. However, there are still older
extinguishers that are being used and are releasing the harmful chemicals.
Physicist, John Montgomery, claims that the levels of ozone layer erosion
chemicals have steadily decreased since the enacting of the Montreal Protocol.
The chart below was published in Time magazine to declare that the Montreal
Protocol was a success:
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
36
Parts per million
Levels of Ozone Depleting Chemicals
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Before Montreal
After Montreal
Component Name
A chart comparing the level of ozone depleting chemicals in the atmosphere both
before the Montreal Protocol was enacted and several years after it was enacted.
Published in the Feb. 14, 2007 issue of Time Magazine, in an article titled The
Success of the Montreal Protocol by Medalin Sykowski.
A chemical that has a very strong erosion effect on the ozone layer is called CFC.
This chemical has been replaced with HFC. These are less harmful to the ozone
layer, but they keep the heat in the air from escaping past the outer atmosphere,
which basically means that they cause an increase in the global warming effect. So
another alternative needs to be found to replace the HFC chemicals.
Another common chemical is used in refrigerators and air conditioners. The
chemical used for automobile air conditioners is called R-12 and the chemical
used in the air conditioners of residential houses (that’s where you live) is called
R-22. They don’t have the dangerous CFC but they have a different chemical that
causes erosion of the ozone layer. According to Mr. Farwell, In 1995, production
of R-12 ceased. It is our intention to phase out the production of R-22 by the year
2020. However, the alternatives for both of these chemicals are being criticized
for their effect on the increase of global warming.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
37
Let us not forget about carbon dioxide. We as humans breathe in oxygen and
breathe out carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is also released when we burn
gasoline, methane or propane. The carbon dioxide in the air reacts to heat.
Without going into the full scientific explanation of how the molecules change
and move, which might be confusing, I’ll put it in simple terms by saying that the
carbon dioxide helps retain heat close to the earth’s surface which increases the
global warming effect. This is where consideration of trees and plants come in to
the picture. Trees and plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. We need
lots of trees and plants to help remove the carbon dioxide from the air. Since
paper is made from trees, we should recycle paper products whenever possible.
Unfortunately, there isn’t any natural filter or man-made filter that can rid the
atmosphere of the CFCs or HCFCs that we have already released. We just have
to wait until they have reacted to other chemicals and depleted themselves on
their own.
The earth needs time to be able to heal the hole in the ozone layer. We as the
earth’s inhabitants need to take measures to help heal that hole and prevent any
more from occurring. We need to pay close attention to the products we use and
educate ourselves on the chemicals used in these products. We need to practice
paper recycling habits. Hopefully, with the whole world working together, we
can prevent further global warming and prevent further depletion of the ozone
layer.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
38
Martinez
39
Maria Martinez
Mr. Instructor
Principles of IT
April 27, 2009
Going Green – What Does It Mean
As we experience an increase in natural disasters, people having been wondering about
the cause of this increase. We have heard that it is the greenhouse effect or global warming or
the depletion of the ozone layer. Most Americans have heard these phrases and yet many still do
not understand what they mean. If we do not understand what they are how are we to reason in
our own minds if there is anything that we as individuals can do about them to help stop this
insane weather situations? Today I am going to explain these phrases to you so that you can
determine if they are important enough to your livelihood to try to do something to help prevent
them from getting worse. I’m also going to inform you of possible solutions that others have
suggested might help alleviate this dire situation.
The greenhouse effect is described in this article that appeared in National Geographic
magazine, written by Otto Mortimer as this:
a process in which heat produced by humans, such as running motor equipment,
factory equipment, forest fires, and heating of homes, rises into the air, bounces
off of the clouds and is sent back down to the surface of the earth. This process
repeats itself over and over in a never ending cycle. A portion of the heat is
released into the outer atmosphere but a lot of it is just cycled back towards the
earth’s surface, where we live. (44)
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
39
Martinez
40
The greenhouse cycling effect has been occurring for centuries, and as technology has
brought about an increase in heat-generating equipment, this has caused the temperature at the
earth’s surface to steadily increase. Therefore, the result of this is that the air at the surface of
the earth is getting hotter and hotter this increase in temperature is called global warming.
Another issue that goes hand-in-hand with these is the ozone layer issue. The ozone layer
is a thick, protective barrier high in the atmosphere. It keeps the most harmful rays of the sun
from reaching earth. This barrier is made of a certain substance. This substance can be altered
by different chemicals that are floating around in the air. Several years ago it was discovered that
certain chemicals were reacting to the ozone layer material and causing it to dissolve. If enough
chemicals react to the ozone in the same place it could wear a hole through the ozone layer and
once the hole is made, the harmful rays of the sun can come through and cause many problems
for all life-forms on earth. According to a world-renown scientist, Rudolph Mezmer, in his article
entitled, “It’s Still Growing”, he claims that “The existing hole in the ozone layer above
Antarctica was approximately 9 million square miles wide. After today’s measurements we now
estimate this size to be 11 million square miles” (4).
The existence of this hole caused world-wide speculation of what might happen to the
inhabitants of this planet if the entire ozone layer dissolved. Scientists identified the chemicals
that were doing the most harm to the ozone material. Then representatives from all over the
world met to discuss this topic. An agreement was reached by these representatives which is
now called the Montreal Protocol. In this agreement, countries agreed to “phase out the use of
chemicals that erode the ozone layer” (Lemur 15). Some manufacturers like those who use
plastic foam blowers were upset by this agreement because they did not have an alternative
chemical as a substitute. Then when an alternative was discovered, it was less cost-effective.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
40
Martinez
41
Another culprit of these harmful chemicals is something very common, one you either use or
witness being used, on a daily basis. This chemical is used in common asthma inhalers.
Experiments have been done to try to find an alternative that works as effectively for this
medical purpose, but to date, none has been found.
Another chemical that erodes the ozone layer is found in common fire extinguishers. Since
the Montreal Protocol was enacted, there has been a substitute found for fire extinguishers.
However, there are still older extinguishers that are being used and are releasing the harmful
chemicals. Physicist, John Montgomery, claims that “the levels of ozone layer erosion chemicals
have steadily decreased since the enacting of the Montreal Protocol” (12). The chart below was
published in Time magazine to declare that the Montreal Protocol was a success:
Parts per million
Levels of Ozone Depleting Chemicals
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Before Montreal
After Montreal
Component Name
Fig. 1. A chart comparing the level of ozone depleting chemicals in the atmosphere both before
the Montreal Protocol was enacted and several years after it was enacted. Published in the Feb.
14, 2007 issue of Time Magazine, in an article titled “The Success of the Montreal Protocol” by
Medalin Sykowski.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
41
Martinez
42
A chemical that has a very strong erosion effect on the ozone layer is called CFC. This
chemical has been replaced with HFC. These are less harmful to the ozone layer, but they keep
the heat in the air from escaping past the outer atmosphere, which basically means that they
cause an increase in the global warming effect. So another alternative needs to be found to
replace the HFC chemicals.
Another common chemical is used in refrigerators and air conditioners. The chemical
used for automobile air conditioners is called R-12 and the chemical used in the air conditioners
of residential houses (that’s where you live) is called R-22. They don’t have the dangerous CFC
but they have a different chemical that causes erosion of the ozone layer. According to Mr.
Farwell, “In 1995, production of R-12 ceased. It is our intention to phase out the production of
R-22 by the year 2020” (78). However, the alternatives for both of these chemicals are being
criticized for their effect on the increase of global warming.
Let us not forget about carbon dioxide. We as humans breathe in oxygen and breathe out
carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is also released when we burn gasoline, methane or propane.
The carbon dioxide in the air reacts to heat. Without going into the full scienti fic explanation of
how the molecules change and move, which might be confusing, I’ll put it in simple terms by
saying that the carbon dioxide helps retain heat close to the earth’s surface which increases the
global warming effect. This is where consideration of trees and plants come in to the picture.
Trees and plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. We need lots of trees and plants to
help remove the carbon dioxide from the air. Since paper is made from trees, we should recycle
paper products whenever possible.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
42
Martinez
43
Unfortunately, there isn’t any natural filter or man-made filter that can rid the atmosphere
of the CFCs or HCFCs that we have already released. We just have to wait until they have
reacted to other chemicals and depleted themselves on their own.
The earth needs time to be able to heal the hole in the ozone layer. We as the earth’s
inhabitants need to take measures to help heal that hole and prevent any more from occurring.
We need to pay close attention to the products we use and educate ourselves on the chemicals
used in these products. We need to practice paper recycling habits. Hopefully, with the whole
world working together, we can prevent further global warming and prevent further depletion of
the ozone layer.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
43
Martinez
44
Works Cited
Farwell, Max, III. A Comparison of the Most Dangerous Ozone Depleting Chemicals. New
York: Only Science Publishing, 2004. Print.
Lemur, Cyndi, and Dylan Jennings. The Montreal Protocol Explained. Boston: Green
Publishing, 2006. Print.
Mezmer, Rudolph. “It’s Still Growing.” Discover 22 Mar 2009: 4-7. CD-ROM.
Montgomery, John Gerald. An Analysis of the Composition of Ozone Depleting Chemicals.
Chicago: Blastiff Books, 2006. Print.
Mortimer, Otto. “What is the Greenhouse Effect All About?” National Geographic 05 June
2002: 27+. Print.
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
44
Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style
Grading Rubric for Activity #4
Requirements
Report is printed; pages placed in sequential order; stapled in upper
left corner
Line 1 is student’s first and last name
Line 2 is instructor name
Line 3 is course name
Line 4 is date
Lines 1-4 are left aligned
Line 5 is the title, centered
Title is in Title Case
Text is Times New Roman, size 12
Title is not bold, underlined, or italic
Margins are all 1”
Line spacing is double
Header is last name and pg number; right aligned
Paragraphs are tabbed
Body text is left aligned
Quote #1 is preceded by a colon
Quote #1 starts on new line
Quote #1 indented 1”
Quote #1 no quotation marks
Quote #1: where we live (44).
Article title is in quotation marks “It’s Still Growing”
Quote #2: “the existing . . . square miles”
Quote #2: shows miles” (4).
Quote #3: “phase out . . .ozone layer”
Quote #3: shows layer” (Lemur 15).
Quote #4: “the levels of . . . Montreal Protocol”
Quote #4 shows: Protocol” (12).
Line above chart has the word Time in italics
Line below chart begins with: Fig. 1.
3rd line below chart has the word Time in italics
Following text shows article title in quotes “The Success of the
Montreal Protocol”
Pts
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
45
Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style
Grading Rubric for Activity #4
Requirements
Quote #5: “In 1995, . . . year 2020”
Quote #5 shows: year 2020” (78).
Works Cited page starts on a new page
Title on page is centered and in Title Case
Rest of text is left aligned and hanging indent
Entries on page are in alpha order
Note: the following lines will not wrap at the same place as the report.
Pts
2
2
2
2
2
2
Refer to answer key for correct
wrapping. Entries below should be graded to format, order, italics, quotes, and punctuation marks.
Farwell, Max, III. A Comparison of the Most Dangerous Ozone
5
Depleting Chemicals. New York: Only Science Publishing,
2004. Print.
Lemur, Cyndi, and Dylan Jennings. The Montreal Protocol Explained.
5
Boston: Green Publishing, 2006. Print.
Mezmer, Rudolph. “It’s Still Growing.” Discover 22 Mar 2009: 4-7.
5
CD-ROM.
Montgomery, John Gerald. An Analysis of the Composition of Ozone
5
Depleting Chemicals. Chicago: Blastiff Books, 2006. Print.
Mortimer, Otto. “What is the Greenhouse Effect All About?” National
5
Geographic 05 June 2002: 27+. Print.
Total Points Possible = 100
Your Score
2
IT: Principles of IT: Formatting a Research Paper Using MLA Style Plan
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
46