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Archive through October 11, 2007

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Oct. 2007 ~ Dec. 2007: Free Expressions: Advice please....: Archive through October 11, 2007 users admin

Author Message
Holly
Member

06-19-2005

Friday, September 21, 2007 - 6:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Holly a private message Print Post    
Those citation sites are fantastic Teach. Wish they'd been available when I was in college.

Neko
Member

08-03-2001

Friday, September 21, 2007 - 7:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Neko a private message Print Post    
OMG APA format!!

How did I not know you guys were talking about the devil's formatting (because it's PURE EVIL!!). LOL
I'm a Psych minor, and if I didn't have to write another APA format paper, I'd be the happiest person EVER.
(I actually have 2 APA papers to write this term )

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Friday, September 21, 2007 - 8:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Huh.. you all should have had to write to format back when you had to type on a certain kind of paper and have NO white-out, no erasures..

My ex and I typed his dissertation on two matching typewriters.. oy! For his master's thesis he had some grant money and paid a professional typist but we weren't so rich by the time he got his PhD.

This was before anyone did these things on computers.

But the formatting was a pita!

Serenity
Member

06-28-2005

Friday, September 21, 2007 - 8:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serenity a private message Print Post    
I feel for you... I have a BA in Psych (used APA) and a BA in English (used MLA). I got both degrees concurrently and was forever switching between both formats. ICK.

Max
Moderator

08-12-2000

Friday, September 21, 2007 - 11:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Max a private message Print Post    
Okay, so here's my question:

Has anyone ever used those formats (APA or MLA) after they were out of college -- in a non-academic setting, that is?

I ask because I spent about 20 years in the corporate world and never once was asked to submit a formal paper in any kind of format like that. Most proposals were submitted in email or in person with PowerPoint presentations (or whatever we used in the "olden days" before computers -- my memory fades).

Maybe it's because I was in the software industry and things were always fairly informal and moved fairly quickly -- especially back in the early days of Silicon Valley. No one had patience for full-blown reports with citations and such. Innovation and entrepreneurship were much more valued than formatting skills and formal reports.

And when I was doing technical writing, the formatting was all for user manuals, not for research papers. Indexing a technical manual is a whole different manner of pain in the patootey! :-)

Oh, and I don't have a college degree and when I WAS in college in the '70s majoring in psychology, I don't remember ever learning about APA or MLA style formatting. But then, as I said, memory fades. :-)

Mack
Member

07-23-2002

Saturday, September 22, 2007 - 6:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mack a private message Print Post    
Well I have my PhD..from years ago...been working in the business and don't use APA or MLA. I retire next January and I'm going back to school for a year to catch up. I can hardly wait to have to learn APA....NOT!

Cndeariso
Member

06-28-2004

Saturday, September 22, 2007 - 6:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cndeariso a private message Print Post    
now that i know what all those acronyms mean i can say i used APA style in college back in the late 70's/early 80's on a typewriter (at least it was electric LOL) for research papers. i don't do research papers now so i have no need.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Saturday, September 22, 2007 - 6:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vee a private message Print Post    
MLA is what I required students to use for research papers. It's considered standard for literary purposes and is much easier to do than the old footnote system from my highschool days. The APA is standard for science purposes. There are many excellent online sites explaining both and you can get an MLA Handbook from ABE books, I think. Let me check... Okay, those copyright dates are a bit old and the guidelines do keep shifting.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Saturday, September 22, 2007 - 11:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Many journals require a specific writing and bibliographic style, such as MLA or APA. Research scientists, who are not necessarily in the academic world, are usually required to submit articles in whatever format the journal specifies. This can be a problem because, while the writing styles may be similar, the bibliographic styles are not.

I worked for a company (yes, as a technical writer and online help author) that created bibliographic database management software. The software was used to manage references and allowed for automatic formatting of the footnotes and bibliography. It could be useful to someone who submitted a paper to a journal, was declined, and wanted to submit the paper somewhere else using a different style. With a click of a button, the paper could be reformatted to match the required style. Note that bibliographic references are not indexes (I teach sessions on how to create a usable index).

Oddly enough, when I worked at that company, I went to a fairly ritzy cocktail party. Someone asked me what I did and I said I was a writer. When they wanted to know the name of the company, I replied "oh, you'd likely never have heard of us if you weren't a research scientist." Damn if the guy wasn't a research scientist (at Salk Institute no less!)

Merrysea
Member

08-13-2004

Saturday, September 22, 2007 - 1:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Merrysea a private message Print Post    
I'm currently working on my master's in psychology, so I'm doing a lot of papers in APA format. I've got the manual, as well as a condensed version from one of my profs. My current teacher recommends buying the software that automatically puts things into APA format. I'm considering buying it, but so far, it doesn't seem all that difficult. (Of course, I've also typed many papers and theses for clients over the years using APA format, so I had a bit of a head start.)

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 5:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
New advice question:

I am the den leader of my cub scout's den. (8 year old third graders). Each year some kids drop out and new ones sign up. There is one boy who signed up and came to one meeting. I just found out he is dropping out.

I really like this kid and so does my son. Is it rude if I ask the mom (via email) why the boy is dropping out? (I never met the mom before the one meeting.) Is there a "gentle" way to ask in a way that she does not feel irritated/bad/defensive?

TIA!

Karen
Member

09-07-2004

Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 5:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karen a private message Print Post    
My Mum was a Beaver leader for many, many years. I know more than once she called up the mother of a boy in her group who wanted to leave. If you were just another parent and you only wanted this boy to stay because your son liked him, that might seem rude. But as the den leader, I think it's perfectly acceptable to inquire.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 6:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
Dear Mom, I was so sorry to hear that your son wasn't going to continue with scouts. I have really enjoyed getting to know him, and my son is just crazy about him. If there is anything that I could do to help him to reconsider his decision, please let me know. I would be so pleased if he decided to stay.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 6:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Thanks Annie and Karen! That example is great Annie!

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 10:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Good work, Texannie! You da best!

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 12:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
I like Tex's post, but if your son really likes this kid, could you guys get together OUTSIDE of cubs? Maybe go to a ball game, or sledding, or something? I think lots of moms would love to swap babysitting duties, in that one day you take your son and hers roller skating, and then the next time you send you son to hang out with her and her son.

I'm just afraid that maybe the "reconsider cubs" angle may not work, and that it cuts off an opportunity for your son to get to know this boy better outside of cubs, if the boy or mom REALLY don't like cubs.

I know boys don't really "play date" but maybe there's a cool outing or something that could bring the kids together outside of cubs.

Aren't cub dues expensive? Maybe the mom can't afford it? Or maybe the kid just plain doesn't like cubs.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 5:06 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
think she was trying to find out why the boy was quitting

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 6:08 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
<< really like this kid and so does my son. Is it rude if I ask the mom (via email) why the boy is dropping out? (I never met the mom before the one meeting.) Is there a "gentle" way to ask in a way that she does not feel irritated/bad/defensive?>>

Hello Ms. So and So,
I am sorry to hear that Johnny has decided not to stay in cub scouts! As the den mother, I am always concerned that my cubbies are enjoying themselves. Was there something about our first meeting that made Johnny not want to come back? My son said that he really liked Johnny and wishes he would come back, too! Please let me know if there is anything that I can help you with because I would love to have him rejoin our den!

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 6:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Yes, Annie is right. I am trying to find out why he is quitting.

Cuz maybe it is something that I can fix. Or maybe it is something that I am not even aware of...

I do like Hukd's letter as well... I just don't want to come across as too pushy or needy/begging or anything. Honestly I would just like to know what they were expecting vs what they got and if the difference is why they left.

So anymore sample letters (taking Annie's and Hudk as starts) would be great...

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 8:20 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Another question:

(really rather minor, but want opinions anyway)

There is a little boy (kindergarten/age 6) who has been playing a lot with my son and all the boys in our neighborhood. The group of boys are ages 5 to 10. They mainly all get along great. Well, this little boy (we'll call him Joe) is very quiet and his mom is very very nice.

Problem? Well I've heard from my son that Joe is doing and saying some not very nice stuff (ie peeing on the covered slide at the playground, saying the F word and calling one of the little-er kids "gay.")

Question: Do I say something to the mom, or do I MYOB? My son does not want me to say a thing. And most of the other boys do not even like Joe as he also has a habit of punching the other kids from time to time, in the stomach. He has never punched Ryan. And I have encouraged Ryan to keep playing with Joe, even when the other kids want to shun him. (Which they have.)

Opinions? TIA!

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 8:43 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
I'm more interested in the fact that you are encouraging Ryan to continue to play with him when the other boys (for what I see as very valid reasons) refuse to do so. I understand that you are trying to help socialize "Joe" via Ryan's friendship but I wonder about the message that sends and the effect on Ryan.

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 8:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
It seems to me that it might reaffirm to Joe that his behavior is at least acceptable to Ryan, when clearly it isn't if Ryan is concerned enough to discuss it with you. IMHO only...

Twiggyish
Member

08-14-2000

Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 9:12 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twiggyish a private message Print Post    
I agree with Jimmer about this boy.

Julie, I think this child Joe has problems. It sounds like he comes from a rough home. Children do not use that language unless they hear it. Yes, I know they hear bad language on tv, but it's not normal for a child to continue using it. Joe is aggressive, which means he could be "acting out" behavior he is seeing at home. You may want to be careful about letting Ryan play with him. I know it seems that Joe has no other friends, but he has to learn that his behavior is not acceptable.
I'd try talking to his parents. You can casually speak to them to get an idea about them. If they are open for discussion, you can talk to them about Joe's aggression telling them it's from your observation. That might keep Ryan from being blamed for telling.
Your Ryan sounds like he has a big heart, but that could be a problem if Joe turns on him.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 9:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
I might encourage the other boys to tell Joe to knock it off. They can kindly tell him that they won't play with him when he acts like that. If he doesn't change his behavior, he has been warned.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 9:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Thank you guys so much! You really are shining a light on this that i have not seen before. I guess I am giving Joe too much credit because he was the kid that seemed to bring Ryan to this group of boys. Before Joe, Ryan liked to stay home. So Joe was the first kid to get Ryan to go to the park and that is where he hooked up with these other boys.

The funny thing is now it seems like Ryan is one of the most liked kids. One of the moms said she overheard her two boys talking and they said everyone likes Ryan cuz he is not mean to anyone. (That made my heart sing!)

Lots of times these boys will pick on one kid, but I told Ryan he should never be mean.

But I do need to be realistic about Joe.... So thanks for your input!!