Y?

After initially reading Ballenger’s inquiry on the research paper, nothing changed how I feel about them. I am neither against them nor with them but rather indifferent to the paper itself (as for the hours of preparation and hard work I abhor it). Maybe my past history with research papers have all been negative experiences, who knows? Not even I. Every time I hear the word paper my thoughts linger out of context. I begin to think about what topics I could write and I begin to create a compassion towards the subject, then when the minimum kicks in, I remember why I loathe them. I understand that a research paper is “simply reporting” as Ballenger states in the Curious researcher. But my definition of simple is far different from Ballenger’s (maybe or maybe not). The one flashback I always have of a research paper is one that is comical for the audience of students, but humiliating for the audience of teachers. My first legitimate research paper came about in my sophomore year in high school, and as every kid in high school does I PROCRASTINATED. I procrastinated to the extent that I went to sleep and thought I would wake up in the AM to finish it. But the catch was it needed citations and had to be eight pages long. Playing my cards right I played hooky the next day from class as I thought of a way to beat the system. My next idea, at least for me, was notorious. I called up my best friend who had the same teacher but just in a different class period and asked him if I could just copy his paper, and of course he replied, “Ya bro.” To my surprise I ended up getting a higher grade than him on the paper, and the rest of my questions remain unanswered, because I dare not ask. After the first day of class, I began to think that everything I write could be plagiarized off someone else. Someone could have already had my same thoughts making my whole blog a phony. On the other hand, I guess my blog is a paradox to my next statement. I am curious about everything, I love asking questions that begin with “Why?” So Ms. O’Malley I confront you with a query more than a question. Why does a research paper have to have a minimum if I can explain the same subject matter in half as many pages with just as much maybe even more meaning?