EARTH SCIENCE

TYPES OF VARIABLES

Unit 9 SC250 Writing Assignment

Science in the Media

There is nothing like reading a good book or watching a great movie for a little escapism and entertainment. With all of the television channels available and easy access to the internet, you can watch just about anything you want at any time. Earlier in the course you discussed the science involved with technology, but in this Assignment, you will turn the tables and delve into how the media portrays science.

How does a pop culture portrayal of science and scientists impact the average person’s view of what science is and how research is conducted? Can what is presented by the media affect how the general populace views a particular research field? What might the long-term impacts of such a depiction be? These are just a few questions that you will reflect upon in this Assignment.

For the Unit 9 Assignment, you will complete a reflective essay to address the following questions:

1. When you hear the word “scientist” what do you envision?
   1. Discuss at least three characteristics of your vision of a scientist.
   2. Which famous people or characters from the media come into your mind?
   3. What characteristics do they have in common?
2. Has your image of what a scientist does and how they look changed over time? If so, how has this changed and what influenced you?
3. Are fictional scientists usually the heroes, villains, or a combination of the two? Provide at least two detailed examples to support your position.
4. How is science portrayed in fictional media (i.e., television shows, movies, music, books, etc.)? Is it seen as a positive, negative, or neutral force in the world? Give specific examples supporting your position.
5. Do you think the portrayal of scientists in the various forms of media influences how society views people in this profession? Why, or why not?
6. Can the portrayal of science in media influence how certain research and technology is viewed and accepted by the general public (e.g., cloning)?

Read this resource from the Writing Center on how to write a reflective essay:

https://campus2.purdueglobal.edu/article/reflective-writing

You are expected to use outside resources for this essay. Cite outside sources in proper APA format. You can find numerous APA resources in the Writing Center Writing Reference Library on the Research, Citation, and Plagiarism page.

https://campus2.purdueglobal.edu/page/using-sources

Your essay should include a highly-developed purpose and viewpoint; it should also be written in Standard American English and demonstrate exceptional content, organization, style, grammar, and mechanics. There should be no evidence of plagiarism. If you are unsure about what constitutes plagiarism, please review the plagiarism policy.

Basic Writing Expectations:

1. A minimum of 1,500 words not including the title or reference pages.
2. At least three reliable academic resources utilized.
3. Per APA include a title page, double space, font size 10 or 12.
4. Include a highly-developed viewpoint/thesis, purpose, and exceptional content.
5. Demonstrate superior organization: use logic.
6. Free of grammar and spelling errors.
7. No evidence of plagiarism. Note: no more than 10% of your paper should be direct quotes.
8. Use APA style for all in-text citations, references, and body of paper.

MSAF 616 – OIL AND GAS ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE

Question 1 Production from the Blue Ocean Sea Field X, the field asset for which you are the Asset Accountant, has started in the current year 2018. You have been asked to recommend the basis on which the charge for Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (DD & A) for your field asset should be calculated. You have been asked to consider three different methods for calculating the DD&A and to calculate the results of the various methods for the accounting period just ended. To assist you in your calculations, you have gathered the following data: Details of Pre-development cost are as follows Number Type of Expenses Cost ($) 1 Prospecting 6,500,000 2 Acquisition 72,000,000 3 Geological and Geophysical 21,200,000 4 Exploratory Dry hole 32,000,000 5 Exploratory Successful hole 36,500,000 6 Non-drilling Exploratory 10,500,000 7 Appraisal 12,800,000 Total 191,500,000 The following additional information relating to pre-development were made available 1. The company applies the successful efforts principles in deciding whether to capitalize or expense pre-development costs. 2. The total acquisition cost incurred is $216 million which covers three explorations and producing fields including the Blue Ocean Sea Field X. The cost is shared equally among the three fields. 3. The company considers 45% of the non-drilling exploratory cost as meeting its policy regarding capitalization 4. The expected decommissioning costs in present value terms is estimated to be $450 million 5. The company owns a building that houses the corporate headquarters. The operations conducted in the building are general in nature and are not directly attributable to any specific exploration, development, or production activity. Since the building is not related to exploration, development, or production, the building is depreciated using straight line method. The depreciation is charged to general and administrative overhead and not to the field. The cost of the building was $15.8 million. The building has an estimated life of 40 years and could be resold for $4.6 million after end of the useful life.

Kerri and Kevin are so excited. They just signed a one year lease on their first apartment together. Kerri has been dating Kevin ever since they met at a church youth retreat two years ago. Both Kerri and Kevin will graduate from college this June; Kerri as an elementary school teacher and Kevin with a political science degree. Kerri is already interviewing for teaching positions in the area. Kevin has been accepted at the University of Washington and will be studying for his law degree. Now Kerri is faced with the problem of how to tell her parents about their decision.

Kerri already knows that her parents will be deeply disappointed. Kerri was raised to live a moral lifestyle based on biblical principles as interpreted by their local congregation. Kerri’s mother, Barbara, home schooled her to help shield Kerri from some aspects of the larger society, including the more left-leaning views of abortion (murder), same-sex marriage (ridiculous), and co-habitation (immoral).

Kerri’s father, Dan, has only one viewpoint on the subject. He would be livid if Kerri ever moved in with a young man prior to their marriage. Living together before marriage is immoral, and he would absolutely forbid Kerri to live this sinful lifestyle. If a couple loves each other so much, then get married. Commit to one another. Live in monogamy and the security of marriage, and never “play house.” Barbara would also be very disappointed in her daughter’s decision and is continually worried that Kerri may become pregnant out of wedlock.

Several years ago another family in their church experienced a similar situation. The couple’s oldest daughter went to college out of state and only came home at the quarter breaks. One weekend this couple decided to surprise their daughter unexpectedly and it almost broke their hearts. Their daughter had moved in with a young man. They had rented a small, one bedroom apartment just off campus where they were living as husband and wife, but the daughter never told her parents about it.

Her dad was furious with both of them and as he turned all his wrath onto the young man, her mom excused herself to use the bathroom and discretely scoured the medicine cabinet and under the sink for tampon boxes and home pregnancy kits. If her daughter were pregnant it would be the end of her world. This wasn’t supposed to happen in their family. As it turned out, the mother’s worst suspicions were true. Her daughter was pregnant. The young man became their son-in-law and five months later Barbara’s acquaintance from church became a grandmother.

Kerri remembered how her parents had pitied this couple and condemned their daughter. The realization of her mom and dad’s judgmental attitude made Kerri even more anxious over how they will receive the news of her decision.

Kerri wants to talk with Barbara but doesn’t know how to approach her. She wants to call so they can go out for lunch together, just the two of them, and talk this through. Kerri loves her mother with all her heart and wants to explain how living with Kevin is leading up to their marriage, and will save them lots of money for the wedding. Hopefully Kerri will be able to convince her mother why she and Kevin are moving in together.

• What Eriksonian developmental issue is Kerri working through?
• Why do you think Kerri is postponing marriage rather than following her parents’ guidance?
• How would you advise Kerri to talk with her mother if the two of them meet for lunch?