Research Paper Article Excerpts

Summaries:

The Great Debate Over Stem Cell Research

This article contains invaluable information on the stem cell research debate. It explains the basics of stem cell research and uses this information to highlight the reasons it is controversial. It has a few great quotes that I will be able to use and some good information as well.

The False Controversy of Stem Cells

This article is centered around the fact that stem cells simply should not be controversial. Its main argument is that fertility clinics, which kill "hundreds of thousands of unborn children in a year," are not controversial, and therefore stem cell research should not be either. This article is very biased but makes a good exception - that if you think fertility clinics should be shut down as well, go ahead and argue against stem cell research. Otherwise, you have no right. I could use many strong, resounding quotes from this article in support of stem cell research.

Stem Cells

This article is very informative and covers a lot of ground. It briefly describes stem cell research, but I should not have to use this information because I have found it in other articles. Its strongest point is the description of Bush and Obama's separate views on stem cell research. This establishes the controversy as a national concern.

Court Lets U.S. Resume Paying for Embryo Study

This article further describes the court case surrounding Obama's support of stem cell research and the Dickey-Wicker law. I did find one good quote in this article, b ut most of the other information I already knew from the New York Times article "Stem Cells."

Stem Cell Research

This article pretty much contains everything I could possibly need. If I ever run into a problem in my paper and can't find some piece of information in my other articles, I will be able to find it in this article. Its detailed descriptions will definitely come in handy, but it won't be very good for direct quotes.

Direct Quotes:

"For pro-life advocates, the moral cost of continuing such research outweighs any potential benefits. For scientists, however, the possibilities are both awe-inspiring and bewildering." - The Great Stem Cell Debate

• I would like to use this as a quote because it captures the essence of my paper exactly. It shows both sides of the story and briefly explains why each side feels the way they do, and for some reason it is very resounding in my mind.

"No one denies the moral dilemma of the stem cell debate. But to turn back now, researchers say, would be to turn our backs on a bright, sustaining light because we are terrified of the shadows it creates." - The Great Stem Cell Debate

• This is another perfect quote from the same article as the first. It remains mostly unbiased but proves my point yet again - that the answers when it comes to stem cell research are not and will never be clear. It might be morally wrong to continue stem cell research, but the price we would pay if we were able to stop it completely would be extremely high.

"An embryo used in stem-cell research... consists of a few dozen cells that together are too small to be seen without a microscope. It has no consciousness, no self-awareness, no ability to feel love or pain. The smallest insiect is far more human in every respect except potential." - The False Controversy of Stem Cells

• I like this quote because it proves another very valid point - these embryos that could potentially save so many lives would otherwise be thrown out. So why NOT use them? Still, that is a very difficult question to answer because, as said before, those embryos could possibly become humans. Yet they certainly wouldn't. They could, but they wouldn't.

"This is a momentous day not only for science but for the hopes of thousands of patients and their families who are relying on... life-saving discoveries and therapies that could come from stem cell research." - quoted in Court Lets U.S. Resume Paying for Embryo Study

• This quote, which was said by a scientist, draws directly to the court ruling that federal funding could continue to support stem cell research. I would like to quote it because the fact that a professional said it makes it much more valid and strengthens my argument.

Paraphrases

The stem cell debate has no clear answers. On the one hand, using stem cells to research cures that could save millions destroys potential human lives. On the other, preserving these potential lives means slamming the breaks on cures for the countless sufferers of many different diseases. For this reason, it is often difficult for even the most obstinate pro-lifer to take a stance on the issue.

• I chose to paraphrase the paragraph this information came from simply because it was very lengthy and, while informative, none of the passages struck me as particularly inspiring. It's necessary information, but nothing I read would strike a particular chord.

Stem cells are so valuable because they can grow into almost any type of cell in the body. Therefore, they have the potential to replace ailing cells with new, healthy ones. For this reason, stem cells are extremely important to people suffering from both illnesses and diseases.

• I paraphrased this information because, if I were to use it as a quote, I would simply be regurgitating sentences from my article. It is important to my paper because it describes the bare essence of stem cells. It lays down the foundation for my paper.

Stem cells are controversial because they are taken from human embryos. Usually these embryos are leftovers from fertility clinics. Pro-life advocates see this practice as the destruction of potential human life. In one case, a clinic even grew embryos specifically for research purposes. Stem cells can also be taken from aborted fetuses, a method that is frowned upon even more heavily than leftover in-vitro embryos.

• This information describes exactly why stem cells are controversial and will be very valuable to me, but there were no exact quotes that stuck with me.

Many stem cell opponents argue that adult stem cells can be used. However, these cells do not yield results as promising as cells taken from embryos. Adult cells can only create immune system, brain, or muscle cells and do not reproduce as quickly as their younger counterparts. For this reason, their potential is much more limited than those of cells taken from embryos.

• This information both shows and shoots down an opposing view at the same time. It shows that, for the best results, stem cells must be taken from embryos and not adult cells. I took the information from two different articles and combined it, so it would not be easy to quote.

Stem cells are important because they have the ability to help the countless people suffering from diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes, and heart failure. They can develop into any of the 200 different types of cells found in the human body in unlimited quantities. For these reasons, their potential is endless. They hold promise for hundreds of thousands of people whose lives are affected by debilitating illnesses and injuries.

• This passage is very important to the core of my paper - the reasons why stem cell research is so important. I collected this information from several areas within the same article, so I would be unable to quote it.

It is important to note that stem cell research has not yet yielded any specific medical treatments. However, as with all biomedical studies, this will come with time. Procedures like bone marrow biopsies, blood transfusions, kidney dialysis, organ transplants, and even simple antibiotics all took time to evolve. The most important thing is that stem cell research be continued. Unfortunately, due to its speculative nature, it has not been fully carried out. In order for the greatest good to come from stem cell research, it must be unhindered by any laws or protests.

• This information would be great for support of stem cell research. It admits that stem cell research has not yet yielded results - but it will, as long as the controversy and limitations surrounding it dies down. I also collected this from a broad articlea nd therefore cannot and do not want to quote it directly.

In "The False Controversy of Stem Cells" author Michael Kinsley uses the example of a state representative who decided to support stem cell research after his wife's success with in vitro. This proves the connection between fertility clinics and stem cell research labs. Both "destroy" embryos. They really are no different, and yet people do not protest against procedures like in vitro. This shows how unfair the stem cell controversy is.

• This paraphrased passage would be great for support of stem cell research. It is basically a summary of the entire article, which would be WAY too long to quote. It provides a specific example, which would grealy strengthen my paper.

The Dickey-Wicker amendment of 1996 states that tax dollars cannot be used to create human embryos that are meant to be "destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk of injury."

• I mixed the quotes here because I didn't want the whole passage to be a quote, but I wanted the actual definition of the amendment to be clear and correct. I can further draw off this information and discuss legislation that came later.

President George W. Bush was extremely conservative when it came to stem cell resarch. He allowed only minimal research and placed many strict restrictions on this research. He even vetoed a bill that would have reduced some of these limitations. When President Obama took office he made it very obvious that the Democrats would support stem cell research. Due to the Dickey-Wicker amendment, however, research can only be conducted on existing colonies of cells taken from embryos previous to the passage of the law. A recent court battle decided that the government can research on these cells but cannot create new embryos for further studies.

• This is a lengthy paraphrase, but it ccaptures the main essence of the article and will be very useful in my legislation paragraph. Because the article was written in a no-nonsense, purely factual manner and contained no bias, it did not have any quotes I would like to use.

The embryos used in stem cell research are only about five days old. Embryos are not even considered to be fetuses until an entire eight weeks after conception.

• Thsi is important information because it helps people understand exactly how "young" the embryos used in stem cell research are. I took this information from two different parts of the same article.

Thousands of leftover embryos are unceremoniously discarded each year and hundreds of thousands more reamin frozen indefinitely. Why should these otherwise "useless" embryos not be used to improve the lives of many?

• These sentences cannot be quoted because I did not find them directly in any article. I mostly inferred them for myself based on the articles, and I feel like they would go well in a conclusion. Still, there is always the "but" that comes afterwards.

Bare Outline

Intro
BP1: What stem cell research is
BP2: Why it's important
BP3: Why it's controversial
BP4: Opposition's arguments, other options
BP5: Supporter's arguments, why other options won't work
BP6: Legislation, continuing national concern
Conclusion

Research Paper Thesis

For my research paper I am planning to write about stem cell research. There is a lot of information available on this subject, and there would be plenty for me to discuss in the 7-11 pages.
My thesis for this paper will be, "Stem cell research is a rapidly expanding scientific technology with the potential to save an infinite number of lives, but many people wonder if the price paid to save these lives is morally acceptable."

In the rest of my paper I will describe stem cell research in-depth: what it is, how it works, what it has the potential to do, etc. I will also include the stem cell controversey: why people think it's immoral, legislation surrounding the immorality of stem cell research, etc.

Behind the Stem Cell Controversey

Reaves, Jessica. "The Great Debate over Stem Cell Research." TIME Magazine. TIME 
              Inc., 11 July 2001. Web. 25 October 2011.

In this article, author Jessica Reaves discusses the different controversies surrounding stem cell research. She explains the basics before highlighting both scientific and political debates concerning the topic. She also demonstrates different methods that could be used in place of stem cell research to light and discusses the pros and cons.

Reaves' intended audience is anyone who wishes to learn more about stem cell research and the debates surrounding it in particular. Her main intent is to show out both sides of the story and highlight that stem cell research is a difficult subject to form an opinion on due to the undeniable points that can be made from both supporters and non-supporters.

The article begins by telling why stem cell research is controversial in the first place. It then moves on to political and scientific debates surrounding stem cell research to show that both the government AND scientists are concerned about the subject. Reaves uses supports from both supporters and non-supporters to strengthen her writing.

At the end of the article, Reaves discusses possible alternatives to using embryos in stem cell research. However, she notes that these methods (using adult stem cells instead, for example) do not work as well. Adult cells do not grow as fast or replicate as easily as young stem cells.

Reaves shows no bias in her writing. She shows the sides and supports of both pro-life advocates AND scientists and makes valid points for each.

This article has many good, almost haunting quotes that could be used in support of stem cell research. One of the best is, "... to turn back now, researchers say, would be... turning our backs on a bright, sustaining light because we are terrified of the shadows it creates." This could be very useful in research paper supporting stem cell research.

This article could be extremely helpful in my research paper. It does a great job of showing both sides of the controversey in a condensed manner, and it has also opened my eyes to the fact that there are other methods that could be used. For my next article, I will most likely explore these methods more in-depth.

Hardcore Stem Cell Research Facts

“Stem Cell Research.”University of Michigan. Regents of the University of Michigan, n.d. 
               Web. 8 October 2011.

This is article is a large collection of information concerning all aspects of stem cell research. It provides everything from the basics to the very most intricate details and covers everything from the benefits of stem cell research to the legislation surrounding it. It is set up in a very easy-to-read, informative way.

The author’s intended audience is anyone who wishes to learn more about stem cell research. Their intent, obviously, is to educate these people on the many aspects of stem cell research.

It is very difficult to write a summary of this article simply because it provides so much information. It covers recent stem cell legislation, the different types of stem cells, the benefits of stem cell research, public views and ethics on stem cell research, myths surrounding stem cell research, and even more specific information. This information is organized very neatly in an easy-to-read format.

The article contains no bias. It is presented in a strict fact-only format and leaves out any opinions the author may have had. For this reason, it would work perfectly for a research paper.

This article will undoubtedly be an invaluable resource as I write my research paper because it presents its information in a straightforward, no-nonsense way. It explains the basics AND the details of stem cell research and is not corrupted by bias, so I will be able to base my opinions strictly off of fact.

Stem Cell Legislation

Gardiner, Harris. "Court Lets U.S. Resume Paying for Embryo Study." The New York Times.
            The New York Times Company, 29 April 2011. Web. 11 October 2011.

In "Court Lets U.S. Resume Paying for Embryo Study," author Harris Gardiner elaborates on the battle that is being waged between stem cell research supporters and naysayers. He provides many details on the most recent court debates concerning the many controversies stem cell research entails.

Gardiner's intended audience was most likely people who already understand the fundamentals of stem cell research and have formed an opinion on it. Without any background knowledge on stem cell research it would be difficult to follow this article. His intent is to tell these people exactly how the national government is dealing with this "issue."

Last August, a court made the decision that the Obama administration's support of stem cell research was illegal because of a law that bans spending federal money on research that destroys human embryos. This is the Dickey-Wicker law I read about in my other blog article. This ruling, made by Chief Judge Lamberth of the Federal District Court, disappointed many people because it halted research that could have led to treatments for many diseases.

Just recently, a higher court appealed this decision. Stem cell research can once again be funded by federal monies, which allows many families to hope once more. There are many different sides to this controversey, and the article shows the viewpoints of scientists and court members from both.

This article is not biased. It includes the views and the support of both people who support and people who do not support stem cell research. It simply tells the story and allows the reader to make their own judgments.

This article could greatly help me in writing my research paper. It is very detailed and makes it easy to understand how stem cell research has become a national concern. It also shows the differing viewpoints of many people. It also demonstrates that stem cell research is a growing, current concern. I will definitely be able to use this information to support my paper.

The Bare Bones of Stem Cell Research

"Stem Cells." The New York Times. The New York Times Company, 2 May 2011. Web. 11  
            October 2011.

In "Stem Cells," the New York Times explains the basics of stem cell research and addresses a few of the controversies that have surrounded it. It also mentions legislation that has been passed to either ban or encourage stem cell research.

The author's intended audience is simply anyone who wants to know more about stem cell research. This article is mostly informative, so its main intent is to explain the background information on stem cell research.

Even though this article is short, it does a great job of covering a lot of ground. It discusses three different main points - what stem cell research is, why it is controversial, and the things people have done to either prevent or promote it.

The article explains that stem cells are cells that have the capability of developing into any other kinds of cells. It builds off this information by explaining that stem cells can be used to "replace or repair damaged cells, and have the potential to drastically change the treatment of conditions like cancer, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease..."

The topic then shifts to the controversey surrounding the use of fertility clinic embryos for research. This is seen as immoral because many people see the destruction of embryos as murder.

The article draws off this information by talking about legislature that has been passed concerning stem cell research. It begins with the Dickey-Wicker amendment of 1996. This amendment states that tax money cannot be used to create embryos for the sole purpose of destruction. It then moves to the restrictive semi-support stem cell research received from the Bush administration and the full-on support shown by the Obama administration. It goes on to describe various court battles that are still being fought and debated.

The author of "Stem Cells" shows absolutely no bias. This article does a great job of representing both sides without forming any kind of opinion. For example, it states, "Few quarrel with predictions of the awesome potential stem cell research holds." But it also says that some people see this research as inhumane. These are two conflicting viewpoints, but the author does not agree with either of them. It is simply stated.

This article could really help me on my research paper because there are no biases and it does a good job of supplying solid background information that I will be able to draw off of. For example, thanks to this article I will know to look for more articles concerning legislation related to stem cell research. It provides a good "skeleton" of sorts for me to elaborate on.

Blog Reflection

I have enjoyed our blogging experiences so far. It has been interesting to delve deeper into popular issues and search for both sides of stories that are often featured on the news or in the classroom.

The purpose of these blog articles was to find articles to use for both an argumentative paper and, later, a research paper. I was successful in doing this. I was able to find pertinent articles that I will be able to use for both essays.

The first article I blogged about was on stem cell research. It was extremely biased, but it still stated lots of great facts and showed me that there is a lot of information out there on stem cell research. Because of these reasons, I think I am going to use stem cell research as my research paper topic. I will be able to further explore the pros and cons of stem cell research, and there will be plenty to write about. I can research the different diseases stem cell research might help cure, how it is being conducted, the progress it is making, and its future. I can also mention the debates that have surrounded it from the beginning.

The second article I used was on wind energy. I am going to use this topic for my argumentative essay because I feel very strongly about it and would like to see some things changed. Using this article and others, I will be able to morph my individual source paper into an essay supported with solid facts. This is a great topic to use because it personally affects me and there is a lot of information available that back up my views.

I blogged about four other articles concerning gun laws, freedom of religion, undergraduate acceptance into colleges, and misleading labels. I feel like any of these would be a good topic for other people to consider. The gun laws and freedom of religion could be combined in a research paper on American freedoms, and there is a lot of information on acceptance requirements and considerations in colleges. Misleading labels would also be good because it is very easy to find the loopholes and draw on them. I would highly recommend any of these topics to people looking for solid topics to use.

Blogging really helped me find a good topic by forcing me to research more than one topic. Otherwise, I might not have realized that some issues have more information available than others.