Essays Disciplinary Awareness|My homework aider

Posted: February 26th, 2023

Essay Reflection Task: Choose one of your formal papers, either the Six-Source Essay or the Multi-Source Essay/Literature Review, and write a reflection on the essay in terms of both process and product. Length: 500 words (2 double-spaced pages) Format: APA 7 Point of view: The essay reflection will be written in the first person point of view The reflective essay is an opportunity for writers to critically assess the progress they have made in thinking, researching, and writing about a chosen topic. Writing a reflective essay allows a writer to tell the unique story of how a topic idea, cultivated through research, grew into a paper. It is a chance to think in a sustained way about the context, objectives, and process of a writing project. Here are some questions that will help you prepare for a reflective paper: Context: • What was the purpose of the essay? Do I think I achieved that purpose? • What do research sources say about my chosen topic? Did the research say different things than I expected it to say? • How did the readers react to the paper? What was interesting, surprising, or difficult about the reactions to the paper? Objectives: • What are my learning goals for the course? How did researching and writing the essay help me to further those goals? What obstacles presented themselves that hindered my progress towards those goals? • What ideas did I have about my topic when I began? How did the research sources affect those ideas? Did my ideas change as a result of the thinking, researching, and writing process? • Did researchers from different fields report different findings on the topic? • What information did I want readers to have as a result of reading the paper? What information do I want readers to have now? Process: • What was my experience of researching the topic? • What was my experience of writing the paper? • What challenges did I face as I did the work? What successes did I achieve?How did I respond to these challenges and successes? • How did responses from other readers and writers change my process? Addtional labor asks you to incorporate APA quotes and citations from your research into this reflection. Helpful Resources: “How to write a reflection paper.” (2021). How to guide. Trent University. https://www.trentu.ca/academicskills/how-guides/how-write-university/how-approach-any-assignment/how-write-reflection-paper “Examples from Reflection Essays.” (n.d.) Texas Undergraduate Studies. University of Texas. https://ugs.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/Reflection Essay Examples.pdf

Introduction

A recent increase in ADHD diagnoses has led to dangerous medication dependencies and a culture where getting an ADHD diagnosis and taking ADHD medication is more valued than changing undesirable behaviors through exercise and alternative treatments. Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Although it is known as adult ADHD, early childhood is when symptoms first appear and frequently persist into adulthood. There is much research literature examining the cause(s) of and risk factors for ADHD to improve management and lower the likelihood that someone will develop it, but there are still no known causes of ADHD or risk factors. Depending on which symptoms are present in a person the most, there are three ways that ADHD can manifest: Predominantly Inattentive, Hyperactive-Impulsive, and Combined. Adult ADHD symptoms might not be as apparent as those in children; however, adult ADHD treatment is like childhood ADHD treatment. Since ADHD symptoms usually last into adulthood, and there is no exact cure for the disorder, people tend to seek early diagnosis so that they can get the help they need to bear the symptoms. At the same time, professionals overly diagnose patients to prevent incorrect diagnoses and hasty treatment. As a result, the impact of ADHD on the lives of individuals with the disorder can be difficult for themselves, their families, and the surroundings in which they end up. So, getting treatment for the disorder is highly recommended and advised, but aside from making things worse, ADHD medications can have very adverse side effects. Moreover, for this very reason, various research into seeking effective alternate treatment for the disorder will be highly beneficial in relieving ADHD symptoms and cause little to no severe side effects. This paper examines the process of potential causes and risks of ADHD during early childhood, the impact it has in an academic environment, the effects caused by its medication, and some alternative treatments for the disorder.

What is Some Potential Cause(s) or Risk Factor(s) of ADHD?

The topic of ADHD has generated a lot of discussion and controversy. A growing group of people, including professionals and the general audience, have been diagnosed with ADHD. Furthermore, since the disorder starts in early childhood, there is an amass of research literature completed to find the underlying causes and risk factors of ADHD during early childhood; a case-control study aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with ADHD. Soheilipour et al. make conclusions in their article “risk factors for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a case-control study in 5 to 12 years old children” that many different fields can cause ADHD, like other psychiatric disorders, biological and psychosocial causes, social factors, and even genetic predisposition (2014).

Also, their research suggests there is no conclusive link between maternal diseases and ADHD, pre- and post-term delivery was linked to an increased risk of ADHD (Soheilipour et al., 2014). Moreover, conditions that affect newborns, including hypoglycemia, severe hyperbilirubinemia, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, and immune disorders, present the onset of ADHD as another risk factor (Soheilipour et al., 2014). Similarly, Rajendran et al., in their research, consider how pre- and post-term delivery carries the risk of ADHD (2013). They add that additional factors, such as prenatal and postnatal environments, can affect brain development and result in the ADHD phenotype in children, and can contribute to the development of ADHD (Rajendran et al., 2013). This suggests that such potential risk factors and causes for ADHD starting early make it harder to create than prevent even earlier than the diagnosis age.

Research by Doulou & Drigas (2022) revealed that potential factors causing ADHD are genetic, psychosocial, environmental, and neurobiological. However, the researcher emphasized that neurobiological and genetic factors drive the disorder. Genetic factors mean hereditary predisposition to ADHD. Doulou & Drigas (2022) study established that about fifty percent of children whose parents have ADHD are prone to developing the disorder. Thus, these children possess a high risk of the disorder. Likewise, Doulou & Drigas (2022) show that neurobiological factors cause ADHD due to brain infections or frontal lobe injuries resulting from damage. This damage to the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex leads to cognitive challenges that contribute to impaired attention, working memory, and emotional self-regulation.

Similarly to Rajendran et al., another research by Doulou & Drigas (2022) found that environmental factors of ADHD risk are postnatal, perinatal, and prenatal. According to Doulou & Drigas (2022), kids born to pregnant smokers remain vulnerable to ADHD. About twenty-two percent of them get diagnosed with the disorder, especially children born to mothers who used to smoke cigarettes during their pregnancy excessively. Therefore, the findings by these researchers revealed that a fetus’ exposure to tobacco is a significant predictor of ADHD symptoms’ onset. Also, exposure of a fetus to alcohol and lead makes the newborn prone to ADHD. In addition, the research established that nutritional factors cause the disorder. Food dye and additives trigger children’s central nervous system, causing the disorder; eggs, corn, milk, and sugar also lead to sensory impairments (Doulou & Drigas. 2022).

Furthermore, Doulou & Drigas (2022) identified psychosocial factors as other potential causes of ADHD. This supports the findings from Soheilipour et al. case study, which suggested that psychosocial factors and genetic predisposition contribute to ADHD (2004). According to this researcher, these factors can potentially increase the intensity of ADHD signs and symptoms. The nature of the relationship of children with the disorder with their parents, specifically their mother, displays a reciprocal impact on genetic factors. As a result, parents negatively view children because of their inability to handle kids symptoms. This handling challenge leads to problematic behavior, implying a psychopathological disorder that influences the outcome of symptoms of ADHD among children. In addition, parental behaviors such as strict control and psychological deprivation towards children with ADHD contribute to conflicts. These disputes make children develop significant problems in addition to ADHD.

What is the Impact of ADHD in an Academic Environment?

With ADHD mainly persisting from childhood to adulthood, it can stress the individual and their surroundings. However, Firmin, M. W., and Phillips, A., in their qualitative study of families and children possessing diagnoses of ADHD, suggested that due to the severity of the symptoms at an early age sometimes and the hope to limit it during adulthood for more effortless daily functioning, some parents find themselves being proactive in adapting and intervening when necessary to achieve family goals, showing that they are aware of their children’s needs (2009). Likewise, Ainsworth Rachel, in her article “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Excuse or Epidemic?” considers that with how much work comes with dealing with ADHD, due to the strain ADHD puts on families and caretakers, parents prefer early diagnosis to receive early medication to keep symptoms manageable and perks earlier for ADHD since the disorder can be hard to deal with (2015).

Subsequently, a study conducted by Vitulano et al. analyzing the underlying causes of the association between childhood ADHD symptoms and the risk of early substance use claims that from fourth to ninth grade, substance use, such as marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco, can be influenced by the development of ADHD symptoms, which can be affected by peer rejection, school companionship attitudes, and internalizing issues (2014). Similarly, Ainsworth (2015) mentions that regarding ADHD individuals in educational contexts, heavy reliance on medication strains students, forcing them to apply for similar living arrangements for the condition even after they start university. Which indeed produces unfair learning environments due to the excessive use and reliance on accommodations (Ainsworth, 2015). Biased ADHD diagnoses, and medications for misbehavior or inattention in students, are harmful to both diagnosed and not diagnosed. At such early learning of managing ADHD symptoms, heavy reliance on medication now poses a threat of developing substance abuse disorder when they become adults. This calls for strict monitoring and alternate options to just using medicine to manage the disorder (Ainsworth, 2015; Vitulano et al.).

A study by Arnold et al. (2020) revealed that ADHD is a significant psychiatric condition with a long-term effect; it severely influences academic performance. A dominant problem in ADHD is academic difficulties. These challenges prompt the initial referral of children for clinical evaluation. Primarily, learners with ADHD record poor grades and fail most of their tests since they experience impaired memory, concentration, attention, reasoning, and thinking. As a result, their cognitive skills remain impaired by ADHD symptoms. Likewise, Arnold et al. (2020) showed that attention challenges would undermine future reading and school performance in general since inattention does not allow a sufficient understanding of reading concepts. As a result, excellent test scores and school success remain unachievable, especially when most learners have ADHD. Finally, Arnold et al. (2020) revealed that significant ADHD comorbidities include learning disorders, especially in language, reading, and math. These disorders undermine good academic results or outcomes. For instance, a learner with ADHD scores below average on all tests, unlike a healthy counterpart. This low-performance issue persists into adolescence.

Alternative Treatment Options

In a review article on non-pharmacologic management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents by Shrestha et al. claim that according to the 2016–2017 National Survey of Children’s Health, there were 5.3 million children in the US with an ADHD diagnosis or 8.8% of the population between the ages of 3 and 17 years. 3.9 million of them are currently taking medication (2020). This is consistent with Ainsworth’s claim that more children receiving ADHD diagnoses and receiving ADHD medication from their parents and teachers rather than being disciplined t

Examples from Reflection Essays Disciplinary Awareness “The research I did this summer focused on sorption of cesium and strontium by soils. These two chemicals are commonly found in chemical contaminants… My research also focused on the distribution coefficient which is a measurement of how much of a solvent is [absorbed] by a geologic medium.” “I found that many of the readings I came across regarding abortion seemed to convey a strong belief in human rights, which was demonstrated by the dichotomy of “pro-choice” versus “pro-life” beliefs. Both of these stances entail issues surrounding a woman’s right to choose when to give birth as well as a fetus’s right to live, which fall under the realm of reproductive rights.” “The Attorney General can have an impact on public policy when he issues opinions on the legality or constitutionality of proposed or enacted laws. Attorney General Abbott discussed how he established a Cyber Crimes Unit, a Fugitive Unit, and expanded the Medical Fraud Control Unit. He also discussed how he appeared before the Supreme Court in order to defend the constitutionality of the 10 Commandments display on the Texas Capital grounds… The Attorney General can become involved with high-profile public policy, which can leave the office in the public eye.”

Interdisciplinary Awareness “To understand how a contaminant moves through the soil, you have to understand geology, mineralogy, environmental engineering, and a little bit of nuclear chemistry. If I did not research the mineralogy of my soil sample, I would not have understood what was absorbing the cesium and strontium ions. If I didn’t know some about nuclear chemistry, I would have not understood radioactive liquid tracers that are used to measure distribution coefficients. The engineering work comes in to play in designing and implicating experiments with the implementation of a solution method after.” “While I was reading about abortion policies, I was able to apply a government and international perspective to my research. I also visited health clinics which allowed me to view this issue from a healthcare perspective as well as a social work perspective by witnessing the effects and implementation of governmental policies. Finally, in reflecting about my experience, I was able to apply a women’s studies perspective that reflected patriarchal ideals which makes accessing healthcare difficult for some women.” “Journalism played a role in my research, because I had to go through many news articles finding relevant materials for my research… Social Justice is a very important part of my research, and I found out through this connecting experience that there are many organizations dedicated to the cause of Social Justice and they employ the same scientific methods in seeking out the truth… I learned that most things involve multiple disciplines like my research. For example, for politics to reach the people, the media has to first organize the information in ways that the people can understand.”

Interdisciplinary Comparison “A difference that can be observed of different disciplines is their purpose. The environment side is trying to keep the planet clean and sustainable. The purpose of economics (there are many depending on which side one looks from) can be seen as the study of the human behavior and their consumer habits with respect to monetary values. Despite the differences between the two subjects they intersect since policies tend to depend on the economics. A common underlying similarity between disciplines is the expansive nature of things. No discipline is one sided, there is always more to what it seems. They all analyze concepts and come to a conclusion, which can be influenced by their moral purpose.” “The most striking realization I came to was that sociology and psychology relate to each other in more complex ways than I had thought. Previously, I built on the analogy of the natural sciences to think of sociology as the emergent outcome of psychology, like biology arises from chemistry, which itself comes from physics. However, in Spain I realized this is an oversimplification. Psychology, identity, and (therefore) action, are constructed through relationships with existing social structures. Since we are born into societies with existing power and normative relationships, sociology influences psychology very strongly.” “Through this research, I saw the connection these three topics had with each other. One aspect of politics is the process of making laws, and laws can be made to ensure Social Justice. In the case of my research, one of the bills I was researching was about putting regulations on the payday industry and the industry was giving a lot of campaign contributions to stop this bill.” Transfer of Knowledge and Skills “I have some basic coursework in geology which gave me a broad introduction to some of the mineralogy work I performed. My chemical engineering coursework in transport phenomena also gave me some background information in liquid and solid movement.” “I found that I was also well versed in women’s reproductive health issues, such as pregnancy, contraceptives, and pregnancy because I had just taken a Women’s Reproductive Health course the previous semester that focused on the sociological and biological perspective of these issues. Because I had this background, I felt that I had a strong foundation regarding these issues as I began my research which allowed for a further understanding of these subjects.” “Knowledge I have gained in previous experiences and courses affected the way I understood my connecting experience with Consumer Protection Division. Previously, I interned with city government and a majority of my work involved Internet research. I learned how to summarize the research, pull out the important points, and present it to my supervisor. All of these skills transferred to my experience with CPD and were further developed with my research on Children’s Online Privacy Protection (COPPA).”

Self-Reflection “Before my internship I knew I wanted to attend grad school, but I always said I want to work two years then figure it out. My coworkers pushed and poked my brain to really determine what I want to do now. They made me realize how hard it is to start working and go back to grad school. I have now figured out that I want to start my master’s degree the following fall. I have also decided that not only do I want to get my Master’s in Environmental Engineering but I also want to get my Master’s in Business Administration.” “I discovered that as I continued to learn about the area of reproductive rights, I was drawn to the social work perspective because of my interest in a “hands-on” approach to aiding women accessing these services. I also learned that I am much more interested in the practical application of this research, such as social work practice, rather than performing the actual research. I feel that this experience has furthered my knowledge in women’s reproductive health issues and will be beneficial for me when I apply to intern at a local women’s health clinic in the fall.” “I have discovered many different aspects of myself through my connecting experience. While working with Children’s Online Privacy Protection (COPPA) I realized that I do have an interest in the laws that regulate the Internet. I enjoyed my assignment and would like to see how the act develops and how it is enforced in the future… Through my connecting experience, I have been able to refine my professional goal of becoming a lawyer. The experience has allowed me to observe the public service career path and now I believe it is a path that I want to take… The experience taught me that I can do both and I do not have to rule out one or the other. The experience also taught me that I want to go into an area of law that allows me to prepare and present cases in court.” Understanding of Subject “The whole idea of conservation and sustainability is important to the field of environmentalism. At Environment Texas their mission is to have clean air, clean water and open spaces… There were various bills that Environment Texas was supporting such as an extension to the Clean Water Act that would apply to intermittent water ways, support for a limit on mercury emissions, a push for more electric cars and better building codes. All the campaigns had a common goal of bettering the environment through different means such as more stringent codes and regulation or using more environmental resources.” “I learned that a social justice view explores the conventions of how local policies reflect issues of morality rather than medical facts about women’s health, and how these policies negatively affect women seeking these services. I observed that these perspectives of human rights and social justice remain relevant within the realm of women’s reproductive health as local policies reflect, or fail to reflect these ideals.” “Social Justice, Politics, and Law are all relevant disciplinary perspectives to my connecting experience. By interning with the Consumer Protection Division, I actively participated in social justice by aiding the CPD lawyers in protecting Texas consumers and the business community. I quickly learned that consumer complaints formed the basis of many investigations and legal actions that brought companies performing deceptive business practices to justice. One of the activities I participated in included consumer complaint review and analysis.”

SOLUTION

Context:
The purpose of my multi-source essay was to explore the impact of social media on mental health. Through my research, I aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the potential harm social media can have on mental health and explore possible solutions to mitigate these negative effects. Overall, I believe I achieved my purpose in writing the essay. During my research, I found that the sources I read had varying opinions on the impact of social media on mental health. Some argued that social media has a detrimental effect, while others argued that it can have positive effects as well. This complexity was unexpected but made the essay more interesting to write.