Reflective statement

Reflective statement : LSC 2103

 

In the following essay I will provide a reflection on my experience of the course LSC 2103, Academic Reading and Writing 2. In this semester I learned many things about academic reading and writing thanks to my teacher Mr.Gregory Vrhovnik.

 This course improved my skills in reading and writing, and I knew new concepts about summarization, citation, referencing, and correct APA style. There were two topics to summarize, in the first one I did well but the second one was better because I learned new summarization skills from first one. I benefited from the writing assignments, as we did two assignments. In the first one, the teacher gave us many topics to choose from, and write a report about it. The teacher explained to us the steps should we follow to write correctly. There were many steps and I learned to write report. First choose the topic and sources such as books, magazine articles and websites. Second, you should collect the information from sources and re- formulated them in your own words. I learned from my mistakes in first assignment as I didn’t write the citation and wrote the bibliography in the wrong style. However, in second assignment I corrected all my mistakes and I wrote the bibliography in correct APA style.

In conclusion, I would to say this semester, pushed me to change some of my actions and I learned a lot of new ideas in this course from my helpful, teacher Mr.Gregory Vrhovnik. He was very cooperative with us.

Research project: Fossil Fuels (China)

Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels refer to materials formed by decomposition of biological materials. They are formed in span of several years through decomposition of ancient animals and prehistoric plants. Various processes initiate fossil fuel formation; these include anaerobic decomposition of buried remains of organisms.

According to Global Britannica (2013), fossil fuel formation occurs in the earth crust. They were formed 3 billion years ago due to the impact of geologic process that acted on the organic remains of the organisms. They occur in several forms, which include coal, natural gas, tar, bitumen, heavy oils, petroleum and oil shale among other occurrences.  Exposure of fossilized remains of plants in the earth crust can also result in the formation of fossil fuels. In life, the importance of fossil fuels cannot at any time be overemphasized. Fossil fuels can in reality be viewed as an engine used to propel life activities of the human beings in the universe. Fossil fuels are a major source of energy in the universe. They have a wide application in the entire human life. All the daily life activities such as transport and communication all depend on fossil fuels. These activities cannot be initiated without energy. For example, a vehicle or an aeroplane used for transport can only move once the engine is propelled by energy. This energy originates from fossil fuels, e.g., coal. It is necessary to note that most forms of media communication require energy. For example, telephones, televisions and computers require energy. This energy should otherwise be initiated by fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are also entirely used in production of other sources of energy such as electricity. Therefore, their significance in human life cannot be overstated. Nevertheless, fossil fuels in the world are faced with a major crisis.

Fossil fuels have several impacts in our environment. They have been blamed to be the source of carbon dioxide that has predisposed the world to global warming. Global warming is believed to be a major concern in affecting the climate change. According to Clifford (2013), climate change could results in change of weather patterns such as wind and cause extreme rise in temperatures in the globe hence endangering human life. Fossil fuels have also been blamed for environmental pollution. Pollution of environment is dangerous to both human and plant life.  Through spillage of oils in water bodies such as ocean, lakes and even rivers, water life is put at risk. Pollution of air through burning of fossil fuels has also been a major concern. Pollution of air has been blamed for increased cases of respiratory ills among the people and animals in the world. Burning of fossil fuels also releases carbon monoxide that is believed to form acid rain that endangers the life of world plants in their natural ecosystem.

Nevertheless, despite this negative impact of fossil fuels in our environment and human health, they have a greater and broad positive impact in our economy. According to the Environmental Centre (2013), fossil fuels are the developing blocks of industrial and modern society.  The very many comforts and luxuries we enjoy in our lives such as a plastics, electricity and heat are primary sources of fossil fuels. The use and application of these fossil fuel products has promoted the development of transport and enhanced the labour sector. Through the energy produced by fossil fuels, mechanical innovation has resulted to decrease in use of slave labour. International travel has also been enhanced by use of aircraft. International trade has been a major boost to the economy of many countries. Through international trade, countries can export and import various product. This has supplemented the economic growth of these countries to a greater level.  However, fossil fuels as non renewable sources of energy are facing crisis due to their finite reserves (Dulabab, 2013). With increased fossil fuel use and consequent rise in extraction, there is a risk of exhaustion of deposits. Therefore, there is need to focus on renewable energy sources, e.g., geothermal energy, hydro-electric and solar energy.

 

Possible Energy Solutions

There exist fears that fossil fuels deposits are running out and therefore, some other alternative forms of energy should be put in place prior to exhaustion of the fossil fuel deposits. However, this has raised concerns and controversy concerning which alternative forms of energy should be embraced. Fossil fuels being non renewable sources of energy, there is demand to focus on other sources of energy such as nuclear energy and renewable sources of energy such as hydro-electric power, solar energy and geothermal energy.

 

According to EPA (2013), nuclear energy refers to energy created when uranium is split into atoms in a process known as fission. Energy released is employed in making of steam used in generation of electricity. Nevertheless, just like fossil fuels, uranium is a non-renewable source of energy extracted through mining or chemical leaching. Upon mining, uranium is concentrated into uranium oxide pellets and then is transported to energy production plants where nuclear fission is employed in creation of heat used in generation of steam. The steam obtained is employed in turning of turbines in extensive production of electricity. Despite nuclear energy being an untapped energy resource, it has raised several concerns about its impact on the environment and human health at large. Fossil fuels associated with uranium mining are linked to generation of radioactive waste, sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide which are health hazardous. Nuclear is also linked to heavy water use for steam production and cooling for example from lakes. This is deemed to affect aquatic life. Also, heavy metals and salts build up in water bodies as well discharge of extreme hot water to water bodies endangers aquatic life.

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Energy Sources in China: Case study

According to Business Insider (2013), China reports 21 percent of world energy consumption. This is driven by the fast growing economy. Although the country has invested heavily on renewable sources of energy such as thermal power, hydro-electricity and solar energy, coal remains the largest energy source due to its abundant. However, china’s energy consumption is expected to grow immensely. The increased use of fossil fuel energy in china has highly resulted to environmental pollution. Nevertheless, according to a Chinese Organization (2013), in 2011, there was a slight decline in fossil fuel consumption. This was an 8 percent decline.

China has plans of increasing use of renewable sources of energy to increase its electricity source to about 2o gigawatts. This is through use of hydropower and solar energy. The country also plans to launch renewable portfolio standard that ensure that all electricity producers produce minimum level of energy from renewable energy sources. The china government is focusing on sources of energy such as solar, biomass and wind through adoption of more policies that will ensure development of renewable sources of energy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

Business Insider(2013). China energy use. Retrieved on 20^th May from

www.businessinsider.com/china-energy-use-2012-8?op=1

 

China Organization (2013). Use of fossil fuels to decline. Retrieved on 20^th May from

http://www.china.org.cn/business/2012-02/10/content_24601666.htm

 

Clifford, S. (2013). Environmental Effects of Burning Fossil Fuels. Retrieved

on 20^th May from http://courses.engr.illinois.edu/npre201/coursematerial/environmental_effects/lecture19.html

Dulabab (2013). Fossil fuels. Retrieved on 20^th May from http://www.dulabab.com/energy-transportation/fossil-fuels/

 

Environmental centre (2013). Fossil fuels. Retrieved on 20^th May from

http://ecenter.colorado.edu/energy-climate/energy-101/fossil-fuels

EPA (2013). Nuclear energy. Retrieved on 20^th May from

http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/nuclear.html

 

Global Britannica. (2013). Fossil fuels. Retrieved on 20^th May from

http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/214545/fossil-fuel

 

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Research project: Stonehenge

Introduction:

Stonehenge is one of the ancient structures in the world. It has been accorded the status of a world heritage owing to its complexity and age of existence (Stonehenge, 2011). The following paper will give an insight into this prehistoric site in England.

The following figure shows the Stonehenge.

Stonehenge (Google Images, 2013)

There are no written records about Stonehenge; which explains the reason as to why it is not yet clear as to who built it and the reason as to why it was built. Stonehenge is a masterpiece of great engineering and architectural skills, which makes it a major landmark for the country. There are many theories which try to explain who built the henge.  One of the theories attributes the construction of the Stonehenge to the Druids. However, the fact that the Druids who are connected to the Stonehenge via a Celtic priesthood were in dominance 200- years after the henge was erected. The most convincing of the theories is the one which attributes the construction of the henge to the Neolithic period peoples (Fagan, 2001). The theory of King Arthur as told by Geoffrey of Manmouth depicts that Merlin, a man gifted with magic brought the stones to its present day location from Ireland. After the massacre of some 300 Nobel men, the king ordered  the construction of a great monument, Stonehenge, to honour the men. It is believed that Stonehenge was constructed about 5000 years ago. The purpose of Stonehenge is still uncertain, with some people claiming that it was a burial site, others saying that it was used as a temple and also a shrine for offering sacrifices (English Heritage, 2013). Other theories claim that the place was used as a temple for sun worship and also a calendar. The main question which arises when looking at the henge was how its builders were able to construct a structure of such magnitude with such precision; how were the giant stones carried? Stonehenge was constructed in the Wiltshire County near Salisbury.  The construction of the henge was done in a period of 1500 years in three phases. The cost of constructing Stonehenge is still unclear, owing to the different theories held with regard to the purposes of its constructions, the people behind its constructions and the methods which they used to construct it. Stonehenge still remains firmly rooted on its foundations, 5000 years since it was laid on its foundations (English Heritage, 2013). It is a symbol of mystery, endurance and power to United Kingdom.

 

Building:

Stonehenge is made of pure stones, to be precise giant stones. In the first phase of its construction, Stonehenge was a vast earthwork which was comprised of a bank and a ditch; referred to as a henge. The tools used in this phase were made from bones and wood.  The second phase of the construction of Stonehenge aimed at constructing the inner circle. This phase used bluestones. The third phase of the construction of the Stonehenge used enormous Sarsen stones, approximated to be weighing 50 tonnes. (Ashe, 2013) The bluestones are believed to have been sourced from the Precisely Mountains. On the other hand, the Sarsen rocks are believed to have been got from Marlborough Downs. Owing to the great distances which the rocks had to be moved through, there was a big transportation problem (Freeman, 2008). The bluestones are believed to have been transported by the use of a roller and sledge mechanism from the mountains to the Milford Haven waters where they were transported by the use of rafts, boats and barges to the site. The Sarsen stones were transported by the use of rollers and sledges and also manual power from people (Freeman, 2008). Owing to the ambiguity of the builders of Stonehenge, it is still unclear where the labour came from. However, it is believed that the labour was sourced from local populations either on voluntary of forced basis. The major problem which was experienced was the transportation of the heavy rocks from their sources to the site. Material handling and shape forming was also a problem, which explains the reason as to why the construction took 1500 years (Fagan, 2001).

 

Conclusion:

As of today, Stonehenge is one of the famous prehistoric sites in United Kingdom and the world at large. The magnitude of the construction is enormous, which necessitated the need for great engineering skills. Although the constructors and the purpose of the construction remains unclear, one think which can be deduced from the henge is that it was meant for a very important purpose. The world heritage remains dear to the United Kingdom and is a symbol for power, endurance and mystery (Ashe, 2013).

 

 

 

 

References

Ashe, G., (2013). Stonehenge,  Britannia History, Retrieved on 20^th April from http://www.britannia.com/history/h7.html

 

English Heritage, 2013. Stonehenge, English Heritage, Retrieved on 20^th April from http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/

 

Fagan, B. M. (2001). The seventy great mysteries of the ancient world: unlocking the secrets of past civilizations. New York: Thames & Hudson.

 

Freeman, M., (2008). New Light on Stonehenge, Smithsonia, Retrieved on 20^th April from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/light-on-stonehenge.html

 

Google, (2013). Stonehedge(picture), Google, Retrieved on 20^th April from https://www.google.com/search?q=stonehenge+pictures&sa=X&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=pUhyUeL5JIHHPOKTgcAC&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=933

 

StoneHenge, (2011). Stonehenge is the UK’s Unmissable Wonder, Stonehenge, Retrieved on 20^th April from http://www.stonehenge.org.uk/

 

 

 

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