Annotated Bibliography Final Draft

NOTE: AMA Formatting has the sources within the Bibliography listed in the order they were presented in the paper/work, so this will not follow typical alphabetical formatting. Also, I modified this image below to represent me after finishing this QRG, please enjoy. (Google said it could be modified. :-))

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:141100_-_Athletics_track_Patricia_Flavel_finish_line_-_3b_-_2000_Sydney_race_photo.jpg


Annotated Bibliography

Ismail A. Stem Cell Research and Ethics: An Update. Oman Medical Journal [serial online]. January 2015:1, 2. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed September 5, 2015.

In her scholarly article, Ismail attempts to convey the ethical concerns of individuals that are against stem cell research. Her primary audience includes other scholars, researchers, and academic individuals interested in the ethics involved with stem cells. The purpose of the article is to reveal why many individuals raise issues with the concept of such research, which involves pathos and individual values/beliefs. She discusses how most of the controversy begins at the question “When does life begin?” This question ties both political and religious ideology, and is thus why it has become such a controversial topic. This relates to my topic by arguing the opposing viewpoint and showing that the reason some people do not support the research is because of ethics. I plan to use this article for quotes in my analysis when quickly introducing the general field of stem cells.

Fox D. GOP Confusion Over Stem Cell Research. The Huffington Post. 2015. Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dov-fox/gop-confusion-over-stem-c_b_7958424.html. Accessed September 12, 2015.

This article written by a writer at the Huffington Post addresses a general public audience that is interested in what issues republican presidential candidates are discussing. This piece was written in order to show that one of the few topics they all agreed on was stem cell research and how it must be stopped. The author of the article seeks to both explain why the candidates are against the research, and why other individuals feel stem cell research is a major scientific advancement. When discussing why there is an argument for stem cell research, he addresses the facts that stem cell research has saved lives, helped to create vaccines, is being used to cure illnesses, and in general has allowed for healthier lives to be carried out. However, as the article goes on, the author breaks up the argument of republican candidates into sections: Fetal Welfare, Child Welfare, Slippery Slopes, and Respect for Life. Since this article has no specific stance on the controversy and is not specific to sports medicine, I am planning on using it to link to further information on the general field of stem cells.  

Phillips T. Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research. Aboutcom Money. Available at: http://biotech.about.com/od/bioethics/i/issuestemcells_2.htm. Accessed September 4, 2015.

Theresa Phillips wrote this article in order to give a general overview on stem cell research as well as to provide readers with a sense of the arguments for and against the controversy. Her primary audience is the general public, as it is written in a very informative yet casual style. Phillips describes the controversy of stem cells, how it is now changing, and how stem cells have impacted the lives of many individuals. The purpose of the article is to argue both sides of the debate- it shows the positives and the negatives. She writes more arguments under the “Pros” heading, but the arguments under the “Cons” heading weigh heavier on an individual’s values and morals. She shows how this type of research can be extremely beneficial, yet difficult for many to accept. I plan to use this article in my analysis when I first introduce the topic of stem cell research and when I discuss what stem cells in general have the ability to do.

NPR. Can "Stem Cell" Treatments Help Athletes?.  2011. Available at: http://www.npr.org/2011/06/17/137250823/can-stem-cell-treatments-help-athletes. Accessed September 11, 2015.

This podcast was broadcasted by NPR, and addresses those interested in stem cells and the sports world such as athletes and physicians. The purpose of the podcast was to address the situation in which Yankees pitcher Bartolo Colon had received a stem cell treatment to his shoulder and elbow, as well as to analyze the controversy on stem cell treatments. According to the Podcast, the Yankees pitcher was on track to have one of his best seasons, but his procedure technically was not legal, so the MLB was looking into it as to ensure that no banned substances were used in the process. Throughout the podcast, various individuals, including sports medicine doctors and orthopedic surgeons share their input on the treatments, while also addressing why people are having problems with using these untested treatments on pro-athletes. I plan to use this source when discussing different rhetorical strategies and purposes in the controversy.

YouTube. Sports Medicine And Stem Cells.; 2014. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMZ6o2jpMV0. Accessed September 12, 2015.

This YouTube video was created and published by Dr. Dennis Lox in order to inform athletes that there are two other types of treatments for injuries that are less invasive than surgery. His purpose is to inform, while also gain customers for these treatment procedures. The two therapies the Doctor discusses include Platelet Rich Plasma Treatment and Adult Stem Cell Therapy; platelet rich plasma isolates platelets from the blood of the athlete being extracted, and then is re-injected to the injury site, while the stem cells are taken from fat or bone marrow and injected into the injury site. The platelets help encourage cell growth, and the stem cells allow for new tissue to be built. I plan to use this source when discussing the process of these therapies and more specifically the rhetoric behind this video. 

Dr. Lox. A Stem Cell Therapy Center of Excellence.  2015. Available at: http://www.drlox.com. Accessed September 28, 2015.

This website is the website of the Doctor mentioned in the above source. His purpose is to advertise his practice and to attract potential clientele. There are various videos, links, and success stories throughout the website. While all the information present builds his credibility as a physician and shows how knowledgeable he is in the field, it is also slightly overwhelming. There is just so much that he is presenting on stem cells and his practice that the website is really crowded. While he obviously has the credentials, his ethos also dwindles in the sense that all he is doing on his website is advertising. I am only using this source as a link to more information on Dr. Lox and his business/practice.

Ajibade D, Vance D, Hare J, Kaplan L, Lesniak B. Emerging Applications of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine to Sports Injuries. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2014;2(2). doi:10.1177/2325967113519935. 

The authors in this scholarly journal wrote the article in the attempt to address that stem cells and regenerative medicine are new ways in which athletes are going about treating their injuries; they also discuss the safety concerns that come along with these therapies. The primary audience for this journal is orthopedic doctors and surgeons, other scholars, and individuals researching the effect of stem cell transplants/injections/etc. on the human body. The scholars' purpose was to stress that while these new therapies offer new alternatives and stronger recoveries, caution must be taken as more studies need to be done before the therapies will be considered safe to practice. The authors split up the article into sections where they discussed what stem cells where, where they could be extracted from, current clinical applications, and controversies these therapies have brought up in the sports world. I will use this source in my analysis when discussing the rhetoric behind the statements made within this journal.

Schrotenboer B. Companies offer athletes hope with questionable stem cell treatments. USA TODAY. 2015. Available at: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2015/09/01/stem-cells-fda-athletes-joseph-purita-rolando-mcclain/71504998/. Accessed September 6, 2015.

This lengthy article was provided in a link by a Biomedical Ethicist at Stanford University over Twitter. The piece was written in order to reveal how athletes might have different treatment options other than surgery when they develop injuries. The intended audience for this article is athletes along with the general public that is interested in stem cells and their benefits. The purpose of the source was to discuss how a new company has developed a mixture of human cells derived from one’s own fat called “The Soup” in order to treat athletes' injuries. The article even lists off a few athletes that had released their names and gone through the treatment before. They all claimed that the treatment was faster than surgery and rehab, and left them feeling wonderful shortly after the treatment. The popularity for such treatments was so immense that it led to an FDA shutdown (of a different company) and had created problems for the industry ever since; however, the company that manufactures the “soup” believes it can make the market. I will be using this source in my analysis when discussing the success story of Merril Hoge while also explaining the rhetoric behind the work. Furthermore, it will be helpful when I discuss the significance of these treatments in the world of science.

Pennington B. For Athletes, the Next Fountain of Youth? - New York Times. Nytimescom. 2007. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/sports/29stem.html?_r=0. Accessed September 12, 2015.

This NY Times article addresses athletes and other medical professionals that are interested in stem cell therapies. The purpose of the article was to inform these individuals that different options for injury treatment might be available soon. Since this article is actually from 2007, I thought it would be useful to include in my sources to show how far the therapies have actually come. The article also states that many athletes are saving the cord blood from their offspring so that when the technology and means become available, their children can have alternative healing options. Furthermore, it addresses that this type of stem cell therapy deals with an individual’s own stem cells- not the politically controversial embryonic stem cells. Lastly, while the piece discusses the benefits, it also addresses the concerns of those that feel the therapies will not be as useful as some claim. Since this article is older, I am primarily planning on using it to discuss the rhetoric behind the fears of certain physicians when it comes to these types of treatments.

Porucznik M. Forum Examines Stem Cells in Orthopaedics. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2014. Available at: http://www.aaos.org/news/aaosnow/apr14/cover3.asp. Accessed September 4, 2015.

Porucznik wrote this article in order to create a better understanding of the use of stem cells in orthopedics today. Her primary audience is other academics and people interested in how stem cells are being used in the orthopedic world today. She reveals that there are many types of stem cells, that bone marrow stem cell transplants have been happening for years, and that there are some problems when determining how to deliver and manage the stem cells safely. Due to the lack of research in the field, it is difficult for physicians and researchers to know exactly how much this type of therapy would work on different injuries. Until more research can be done to learn how to control the pathways of the growth of stem cells, it makes it impossible for diseases such as osteoarthritis to be treated. I plan to use this article when describing why certain physicians and scientists believe these stem cell to be important.

EurekAlert!. UH Case Medical Center investigating adult stem cells for sports injuries.  2015. Available at: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-08/uhcm-ucm082015.php. Accessed September 6, 2015.

The UH Case Medical Center released this article in order to announce that the use of stem cells to treat sports injuries might be allowed in the United States sooner than anticipated. The audience of this article is various physicians and individuals that were looking into the procedure that had to rely on leaving the country to have it done because of FDA regulations. The purpose of the article is to highlight the study involving mesenchymal stem cells going on in the MSC conference in 2015; the pilot trial will involve using an individuals own MSC cells (types of stem cells) to treat their own injuries. If it is successful, athletes may no longer have to travel outside the U.S. to have the procedure done. I will use this social media source in my analysis when discussing where I see this controversy going in the future.

Revised Paragraph

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If you want to be able to master a skill, you need to be able to learn the basics of talent; for instance, most people learn to ride a bike with training wheels before they learn to ride with just two wheels (if you skipped the training wheels- kudos to you). The same concept follows for editing a paper, or in this case, the Quick Reference Guide. Our first round of revisions consisted of mastering the topics and ideas that need to be addressed in the QRG. (I.e. What needs more development? Should there be more examples?) However, as the deadline for this assignment begins to loom over us, we must transition our focus into making our papers coherent. By that I mean we must focus on the three things we discussed in class on Monday- passive versus active voice, nominalizations, and writing paragraphs in which the subject of the sentences match the topic of the paragraph. To illustrate the change that should be made, I will first share a paragraph of my QRG before this in-class discussion:

"As with any controversy, there are individuals that have conflicting opinions on the subject; for example, while athletes feel these treatments are beneficial, physicians are torn on that same point, and on whether or not they are even safe. To illustrate, in a YouTube video presented by Dr. Lox [who is an expert physician in sports and regenerative medicine- see his website here], the topic of stem cell therapies are discussed. This video is a hybrid as it is both informational and commercial; he states, “There are case examples of athletes who aren’t able to return to their sports and after using stem cell therapy for failed knee surgery have returned to their sports” 5 and at the bottom of the description of the video, there is a phone number with a statement that encourages individuals to call and inquire about treatment for their therapies. So in a sense, his rhetorical situation is a mixture of two situations. While he provides the general public information on this treatment- he is also advertising his business, so he does not necessarily address any potential negative information on the subject."

My revised paragraph is as follows:

"Where there is a controversy, there are individuals that have conflicting opinions on the subject; for example, while athletes feel these treatments are beneficial, physicians are torn on that same point, and on whether or not they are even ethical. To illustrate, in a YouTube video, Dr. Lox [who is an expert physician in sports and regenerative medicine- see his website here], discusses stem cell therapies. This video is a hybrid in the sense that is both informational and commercial; he states, “There are case examples of athletes who aren’t able to return to their sports and after using stem cell therapy for failed knee surgery have returned to their sports” and at the bottom of the description of the video, there is a phone number with a statement that encourages individuals to call and inquire about treatment options. While his information is very useful for an individual looking into the procedure and suggests that these treatments are indeed beneficial, it also slightly diminishes his credibility as a person might end up wondering whether his true purpose was to persuade or inform. So, his rhetorical situation is a mixture of two situations, because while he provides the general public information on this treatment, he is also advertising his business."

The revised paragraph is an improvement as I removed the passive voice from sentences like:

• OLD: To illustrate, in a YouTube video presented by Dr. Lox [who is an expert physician in sports and regenerative medicine- see his website here], the topic of stem cell therapies are discussed.
• REVISED: To illustrate, in a YouTube video, Dr. Lox [who is an expert physician in sports and regenerative medicine- see his website here], discusses stem cell therapies.

Furthermore, I added a link to the actual video so that people may verify the rhetoric and our information that was presented within the source. The removing of nominalizations and passive voice, improves the clarity and coherence of the paragraph, as using an active voice allowed me to remove some of the wordiness from my statement and clearly present the information I needed to. Thus there is no "fluff" or unnecessary/unclear information.

Revised QRG

https://pixabay.com/en/edit-pencil-school-write-author-153612/

Here is the link to my revised QRG. It still needs some work of course, so feel free to leave suggestions. :)

Peer Review and Revised Thesis Statement

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Keep-calm-and-click-edit.svg

In my opinion, peer revision is an extremely helpful strategy for editing work; however, it can also be a somewhat frightening and discouraging experience. While I got to learn new things from my peers' work, I also got to hear their feedback as well. While the feedback received wasn't cynical or critical (and in fact, was very helpful), it can be frustrating to see the mistakes you made without realizing you did so. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the process, because it helps me become a better writer.

While reading the QRG's of my fellow classmates, I learned how I could improve on my introduction. For example, as I was reading Gabi's opening remarks, she had a grabber that truly did "grab" my attention. It was an intriguing question that made the reader want to respond to and interact with the text. It reminded me that in order to keep individuals interested enough to read the rest of my work, the introduction must able to draw in and retain an audience's attention.

I know that my draft could have ended up much better, and so could my thesis statement, but after all, the revising process is where we learn to improve our writing, so that is what I plan to do. For example, my previous thesis statement was "There are immense amounts of public discourse being presented on the controversy; most of it comes from physicians and athletes that are constantly aware of their rhetorical situations and platforms, and want to argue their points to the public. " With the help of others and their suggestions though, I have managed to revise my thesis. It now reads, "Due to the immense popularity of stem cell treatment and its ability to heal an injury faster than conventional medical care can, physicians and athletes are taking to various rhetorical platforms to voice their opinions on if the therapy is truly safe and/or helpful." While I do feel that this thesis statement is an immense improvement because it is more organized and specific, I will more than likely continue to adjust it as I see fit for my QRG. After all, there is always more work that can be done to a creation- even after it is turned in or published!

I commented on Cati's and Alaina's blog posts.

Thoughts on Drafting

https://www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/3183174451

If there is one thing I learned from this draft, it is that writing in a format or genre that you are not used to is difficult. In high school, I wrote many essays that analyzed the rhetoric used by an author in a novel, and I even wrote research papers, but I had never written a Quick Reference Guide before. So while I know my rough draft was nowhere near perfect, I do believe that finishing it was an accomplishment in itself. In an attempt to better understand this drafting process though, it is important to analyze whether or not The Student's Guide's suggestions were helpful for this genre of writing.

Helpful

• Drafting a Thesis Statement- No matter the situation or rhetorical situation, it is always important to state the purpose of the text, argument, post, etc. If one does not inform the audience as to what they will be reading about, what is the purpose of the audience trying to bother to decipher the work?
• Writing Paragraphs in PIE Format (to an extent)- This type of organization is very useful when trying to represent certain points in the controversy, or argue certain points as well. If the information was not presented in a logical flow of events like the PIE format, then it would be harder for audiences to follow the QRG. However, while points, illustrations, and explanations are important in a QRG, I think the way the format was originally set up was more for research papers. See the "Not Helpful" section below for more details.
• Writing Introductions- Again, this is another key section in any genre. While the section in the Student's Guide was not tailored specifically towards QRG's, it gives a basic yet detailed overview of what is expected in an introduction for any genre. Typically, they follow the same format, so as long as one can right with determination and purpose, an introduction should come fairly easily.

Not so helpful

• Writing Paragraphs in PIE Format (to an extent)- As stated earlier, this format typically follows a more formal paper, and so it might be a little out of place if used in a QRG. However, the format is still helpful, as one can modify it to better fit their given rhetorical situations.
• Organizing Information- Since organization is extremely important in a QRG, I would have originally put this in the helpful section; however, after a closer analysis, I came to the conclusion that it does not really teach us how to organize a QRG. Thus, this tip would be more useful under conventional english papers as opposed to this type of internet genre. 
• Writing Conclusions- While conclusions are important in a QRG as well, the guide did not really instruct us on how to write one in QRG form. Many of these drafting techniques are for traditional essays; however, they still serve a purpose because their teachings can be adjusted to fit the rhetorical situation.

To conclude, the drafting process was difficult, but not impossible. While the process is arduous, the reflection afterwards is actually very educational; for example, I have decided that while I will be using the general PIE format, I will alter it to better accommodate my rhetorical audience. So even though I barely put together a first draft, I feel more confident about my writing now, and believe that my second draft will be much more organized and well thought-out than my first one was.

Practice Quoting

Quoting sources is extremely important in any type of analysis, paper, or even QRG. In order to be able to present information, sometimes it is necessary to use the exact wording of the author that presented the knowledge. This is done by using quotation marks, and following the style guide of the field one is writing within. For instance, I am using AMA formatting, and thus, the in text citations follow the guide. After each quote there is a superscript that corresponds to the source it came from, and each time that source is mentioned, the same number is used. Below is an example in paragraph form of how to use in text citations/quotations in AMA format. 

LEGEND

Blue-Signal phrases used to transition from my words into a quotation.

Green- Credentials/authority of author and/or speakers.

Yellow- Given context of the source and quote.

Purple- My words or breaks in the texts that allow the quotations to be read smoothly.

Red Text- The actual quotation used.

QRG's: The Genre

QRG'S: What They're All About

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What IS a quick reference guide? Well, it is just what it sounds like- a reference guide that quickly summarizes and gives key information about a specific controversy, topic, or issue. Quick References Guides are very useful in the sense that they combine all (or most of) the information you need to know about a subject, and put it into one document that is easy to follow. As expected with any type of writing genre, there are certain conventions that one must follow in order to effectively produce the work. They are as follows:

Conventions & Designs Used To Implement Them

• Typically, They Have Headings One of the first things I noticed about Quick Reference Guides was how they were broken up into sections. Headings tend to allow individuals to quickly find the specific information they need, or to follow a stream-of-consciousness format that begins as an overview and works its way into more detailed information.

• Each Section Is Kept Short In Quick References Guides, the information presented is, well, quickly. Each section has detailed information, but it is kept concise in order to keep its audience's attention. Lengthy, super-detailed paragraphs typically discourage readers, as many, including myself, have short attention spans. Information that is extremely verbose, no matter how important or useful, tends to just seem extraneous. For example, would you want to read a "Quick" guide to something with only one paragraph that was two whole pages?

• Plenty of Hyperlinks and References to Other Sources These guides are typically detailed overviews of topics, so finding links to further readings is pretty common. Say a certain aspect of the controversy sparks your interest, but the section did not provide all the information you wanted, you could probably find a link at the end to help further educate you on the issue.

• Images, Diagrams, Charts See the Pictures! Pictures Everywhere! section below.

The Purpose of A Quick Reference Guide
The purpose of QRG's is to inform individuals that are unfamiliar with a subject as to what that subject is all about. It serves as the guide of all guides in the sense that it takes multiple in depth sources and provides the key information needed in order to understand the subject being discussed. Furthermore, the conventions and basic design mentioned earlier help to sort of smoothly give the audience what they are looking for- an overview on the topic.

The Audience of A QRG

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The audience of a quick reference guide is typically the general public or a person that's interest has been sparked by the issue at hand. (Typically people experienced in the field already know the information listed in the guide, so it is targeted at individuals curious on learning more information). For instance, one of the examples Dr. Bell provided us with of QRG's is the one concerning the Sochi Olympics. If someone watched the opening ceremony and was confused on all the symbolism within it, they could easily open up the link and become enlightened.

However, not every Reference Guide has the same general audience. To illustrate this statement, take the same Sochi Olympic QRG for example, some individuals understood the ceremony, and some didn't even watch the ceremony, so the guide targeted individuals that needed the explanation. People that carry no interest in stem cells will most likely not be opening a QRG on them. So in this sense, QRG's are open to the general public, but are also designed for certain interested audiences.

Pictures! Pictures Everywhere!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gdsteam/12203588865

Earlier, I mentioned how one of the conventions of a QRG was the length of each designated section of information; I went on to state that it was to keep the audience's attention. This further applies with pictures. Again, lengthy passages with no breaks and only words are just what they sounds like; b-o-r-i-n-g. To keep the attention of readers, pictures, diagrams, images, and more are inserted into the post. This way, people are not only reading about a topic, but are seeing the argued points visually. Moreover, images help to solidify arguments and provide more knowledge on topics.

QRG's All Summed Up
Quick Reference Guides are very important in terms of the information they present and how they present them. The convenience of having almost all the information you need to know on one topic in one place is phenomenal. These guides allow for a more informed general public without overwhelming them with sources that are difficult to understand. Personally, I think QRG's are one of the most useful genres I have come to learn about. They manage to be remarkably informative, yet very succinct; it is truly spectacular.

Reflection

I learned that most of my classmates (if not all) agree on the conventions on the QRG genre. There are headings, a set organization, short sections, images, links to other sources, and simple language. The whole point of these guides are to summarize everything you need to know; not to get in depth. For example, I feel that both Spencer's and Massimo's posts accurately reflected what a QRG was. They made their posts simple and said what needed to be said- just like a quick reference guide would. Michael's blog went a little more in depth as to the whole meaning behind a QRG, but it was quite interesting to read his opinion, and I found that I even agreed with his statements. In general, I feel that I have a better understanding of what a Quick Reference Guide is, and I feel that while it may not have a larger meaning behind it, it definitely isn't just some basic source to disregard. It is its own internet genre, has its own conventions, and is extremely informative to anyone that is reading it.

QRG Rough Draft: https://docs.google.com/a/email.arizona.edu/document/d/1PAzA7GA1krkEDLVxa6qgk2kjZ2-DR8LIZjL27WLiZmI/edit?usp=sharing

Cluster of Stem Cells in Sports Medicine Controversy

After sitting at this laptop for an insanely long amount of time, I finally managed to organize ten different sources into a very simplified cluster map. Most of my sources discussed information on the topic rather than specific individuals, so only a few names are represented here. Furthermore, this a very basic simplification of such an intense controversy, but it helped to organize my thoughts a little more.

In this cluster map, there are various colors to represent different categories.

• White- Represents the main controversy 
• Light Blue- Represents the groups involved in the controversy.
• Dark Blue- Represents the values or ideology of the groups.
• Green- Represents the various individuals from each group involved in the controversy.
• Purple- Represents the media that people are using to state their remarks on the controversy.
• Red- Represents various things the people are saying about the controversy.

In general, I tried to keep the map in a similar flow so it wouldn't be hard to follow, but I could not do any better than this. Since I used google drawing, there was only so much room, and I had to cut down on the information I could include. I found that I don't really like using a cluster map, and would prefer more of a table organization, but this was an interesting learning experience. Even though I could not include all my sources, this map still helped me organize my main ideas.

Reflection

After looking at Arrick's and Davis' cluster maps, I learned that though we all used the same tool to make the clusters, we did them differently. Arrick used squares/rectangles, Davis used more details, and I tried to keep mine as concise as possible because I feared how "clustered" the cluster would be. Davis' cluster made me feel like I could have put in more information and still have had it be legible, but I struggled with formatting. Arrick's made me feel like I could have tried different shapes and line techniques in order to make it clearer. There are benefits to using these kinds of tools in the planning stages of writing projects, but you have to be sure that the tool you are using works for you. For example, cluster maps frustrate me; however, I find tables and outlines very useful. In general, the planning process of writing is very important, as it makes writing your first draft much, much easier.

Draft #2 Annotated Bibliography in AMA Style

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Annotated Bibliography

Ajibade D, Vance D, Hare J, Kaplan L, Lesniak B. Emerging Applications of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine to Sports Injuries. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2014;2(2). doi:10.1177/2325967113519935. 

The authors in this scholarly journal wrote the article in the attempt to address that stem cells and regenerative medicine are new ways in which athletes are going about treating their injuries; they also discuss the safety concerns that come along with these therapies. The primary audience for this journal is orthopedic doctors and surgeons, other scholars, and individuals researching the effect of stem cell transplants/injections/etc. on the human body. The scholars' purpose was to stress that while these new therapies offer new alternatives and stronger recoveries, caution must be taken as more studies need to be done before the therapies will be considered safe to practice. The authors split up the article into sections where they discussed what stem cells where, where they could be extracted from, current clinical applications, and controversies these therapies have brought up in the sports world. I will use this source in my analysis when discussing how stem cell treatments can impact athletes.

EurekAlert!. UH Case Medical Center investigating adult stem cells for sports injuries.  2015. Available at: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-08/uhcm-ucm082015.php. Accessed September 6, 2015.

The UH Case Medical Center released this article in order to announce that the use of stem cells to treat sports injuries might be allowed in the United States sooner than anticipated. The audience of this article is various physicians and individuals that were looking into the procedure that had to rely on leaving the country to have it done because of FDA regulations. The purpose of the article is to highlight the study involving mesenchymal stem cells going on in the MSC conference in 2015; the pilot trial will involve using an individuals own MSC cells (types of stem cells) to treat their own injuries. If it is successful, athletes may no longer have to travel outside the U.S. to hsve the procedure done. I will use this social media source in my analysis when discussing how little official research has been done to help determine the efficacy of stem cells transplants in accordance with injuries.

Fox D. GOP Confusion Over Stem Cell Research. The Huffington Post. 2015. Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dov-fox/gop-confusion-over-stem-c_b_7958424.html. Accessed September 12, 2015.

This article written by a writer at the Huffington Post addresses a general public audience that is interested in what issues republican presidential candidates are discussing. This piece was written in order to show that one of the few topics they all agreed on was stem cell research and how it must be stopped. The author of the article seeks to both explain why the candidates are against the research, and why other individuals feel stem cell research is a major scientific advancement. When discussing why there is an argument for stem cell research, he addresses the facts that stem cell research has saved lives, helped to create vaccines, is being used to cure illnesses, and in general has allowed for healthier lives to be carried out. However, as the article goes on, the author breaks up the argument of republican candidates into sections: Fetal Welfare, Child Welfare, Slippery Slopes, and Respect for Life. Since this article has no specific stance on the controversy, I am planning on using it when stating why people are against stem cell research. 

Ismail A. Stem Cell Research and Ethics: An Update. Oman Medical Journal [serial online]. January 2015:1, 2. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed September 5, 2015.

In her scholarly article, Ismail attempts to convey the ethical concerns of individuals that are against stem cell research. Her primary audience includes other scholars, researchers, and academic individuals interested in the ethics involved with stem cells. The purpose of the article is to reveal why many individuals raise issues with the concept of such research, which involves pathos and individual values/beliefs. She discusses how most of the controversy begins at the question “When does life begin?” This question ties both political and religious ideology, and is thus why it has become such a controversial topic. This relates to my topic by arguing the opposing viewpoint and showing that the reason some people do not support the research is because of ethics. I plan to use this article for quotes in my analysis when stating why individuals disapprove of the use of stem cells.

NPR. Can "Stem Cell" Treatments Help Athletes?.  2011. Available at: http://www.npr.org/2011/06/17/137250823/can-stem-cell-treatments-help-athletes. Accessed September 11, 2015.

This podcast was broadcasted by NPR, and addresses those interested in stem cells and the sports world such as athletes and physicians. The purpose of the podcast was to address the situation in which Yankees pitcher Bartolo Colon had received a stem cell treatment to his shoulder and elbow, as well as to analyze the controversy on stem cell treatments. According to the Podcast, the Yankees pitcher was on track to have one of his best seasons, but his procedure technically was not legal, so the MLB was looking into it as to ensure that no banned substances were used in the process. Throughout the podcast, various individuals, including sports medicine doctors and orthopedic surgeons share their input on the treatments, while also addressing why people are having problems with using these untested treatments on pro-athletes. I plan to use this source when discussing different success stories with stem cell treatments in athletes, as well as when addressing safety concerns over these types of treatments.

Pennington B. For Athletes, the Next Fountain of Youth? - New York Times. Nytimescom. 2007. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/sports/29stem.html?_r=0. Accessed September 12, 2015.

This NY Times article addresses athletes and other medical professionals that are interested in stem cell therapies. The purpose of the article was to inform these individuals that different options for injury treatment might be available soon. Since this article is actually from 2007, I thought it would be useful to include in my sources to show how far the therapies have actually come. The article also states that many athletes are saving the cord blood from their offspring so that when the technology and means become available, their children can have alternative healing options. Furthermore, it addresses that this type of stem cell therapy deals with an individual’s own stem cells- not the politically controversial embryonic stem cells. Lastly, while the piece discusses the benefits, it also addresses the concerns of those that feel the therapies will not be as useful as some claim. Since this article is older, I am primarily planning on using it when introducing stem cell therapies (particularly the types of stem cells they use) and their place in sports medicine.

Phillips T. Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research. Aboutcom Money. Available at: http://biotech.about.com/od/bioethics/i/issuestemcells_2.htm. Accessed September 4, 2015.

Theresa Phillips wrote this article in order to give a general overview on stem cell research as well as to provide readers with a sense of the arguments for and against the controversy. Her primary audience is the general public, as it is written in a very informative yet casual style. Phillips describes the controversy of stem cells, how it is now changing, and how stem cells have impacted the lives of many individuals. The purpose of the article is to argue both sides of the debate- it shows the positives and the negatives. She writes more arguments under the “Pros” heading, but the arguments under the “Cons” heading weigh heavier on an individual’s values and morals. She shows how this type of research can be extremely beneficial, yet difficult for many to accept. I plan to use this article in my analysis when I first introduce the topic of stem cell research and when I discuss the various reasons for support/opposition on the topic.

Porucznik M. Forum Examines Stem Cells in Orthopaedics. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2014. Available at: http://www.aaos.org/news/aaosnow/apr14/cover3.asp. Accessed September 4, 2015.

Porucznik wrote this article in order to create a better understanding of the use of stem cells in orthopedics today. Her primary audience is other academics and people interested in how stem cells are being used in the orthopedic world today. She reveals that there are many types of stem cells, that bone marrow stem cell transplants have been happening for years, and that there are some problems when determining how to deliver and manage the stem cells safely. Due to the lack of research in the field, it is difficult for physicians and researchers to know exactly how much this type of therapy would work on different injuries. Until more research can be done to learn how to control the pathways of the growth of stem cells, it makes it impossible for diseases such as osteoarthritis to be treated. I plan to use this article when defending my claim that research should be allowed on stem cells in order to determine their effectiveness.

Schrotenboer B. Companies offer athletes hope with questionable stem cell treatments. USA TODAY. 2015. Available at: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2015/09/01/stem-cells-fda-athletes-joseph-purita-rolando-mcclain/71504998/. Accessed September 6, 2015.

This lengthy article was provided in a link by a Biomedical Ethicist at Stanford University over Twitter. The piece was written in order to reveal how athletes might have different treatment options other than surgery when they develop injuries. The intended audience for this article is athletes along with the general public that is interested in stem cells and their benefits. The purpose of the source was to discuss how a new company has developed a mixture of human cells derived from one’s own fat called “The Soup” in order to treat athletes' injuries. The article even lists off a few athletes that had released their names and gone through the treatment before. They all claimed that the treatment was faster than surgery and rehab, and left them feeling wonderful shortly after the treatment. The popularity for such treatments was so immense that it led to an FDA shutdown (of a different company) and had created problems for the industry ever since; however, the company that manufactures the “soup” believes it can make the market. I will be using this source in my analysis when discussing how stem cell treatments are being severely restricted in America even though it seems to have helped many individuals.

YouTube. Sports Medicine And Stem Cells.; 2014. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMZ6o2jpMV0. Accessed September 12, 2015.

This YouTube video was created and published by Dr. Dennis Lox in order to inform athletes that there are two other types of treatments for injuries that are less invasive than surgery. His purpose is to inform, while also gain customers for these treatment procedures. The two therapies the Doctor discusses include Platelet Rich Plasma Treatment and Adult Stem Cell Therapy; platelet rich plasma isolates platelets from the blood of the athlete being extracted, and then is re-injected to the injury site, while the stem cells are taken from fat or bone marrow and injected into the injury site. The platelets help encourage cell growth, and the stem cells allow for new tissue to be built. I plan to use this source when discussing the process of these therapies and what they help the injury site do in order to help explain how the therapies can treat athletes.

Annotated Bibliography

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdgovpics/8473088509

Seeing as my controversy was a medical topic, I will be using the AMA style for the citations below.

Annotated Bibliography

Ajibade D, Vance D, Hare J, Kaplan L, Lesniak B. Emerging Applications of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine to Sports Injuries. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2014;2(2). doi:10.1177/2325967113519935. 

The authors in this scholarly journal wrote the article in the attempt to address that stem cells and regenerative medicine are new ways in which athletes are going about treating their injuries; they also discuss the safety concerns that come along with these therapies. The primary audience for this journal is orthopedic doctors and surgeons, other scholars, and individuals researching the effect of stem cell transplants/injections/etc. on the human body. The scholars' purpose was to stress that while these new therapies offer new alternatives and stronger recoveries, caution must be taken as more studies need to be done before the therapies will be considered safe to practice. The authors split up the article into sections where they discussed what stem cells where, where they could be extracted from, current clinical applications, and controversies these therapies have brought up in the sports world. I will use this source in my analysis when discussing how stem cell treatments can impact athletes.

EurekAlert!. UH Case Medical Center investigating adult stem cells for sports injuries.  2015. Available at: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-08/uhcm-ucm082015.php. Accessed September 6, 2015.

The UH Case Medical Center released this article in order to announce that the use of stem cells to treat sports injuries might be allowed in the United States sooner than anticipated. The audience of this article is various physicians and individuals that were looking into the procedure that had to rely on leaving the country to have it done because of FDA regulations. The purpose of the article is to highlight the study involving mesenchymal stem cells going on in the MSC conference in 2015; the pilot trial will involve using an individuals own MSC cells (types of stem cells) to treat their own injuries. If it is successful, athletes may no longer have to travel outside the U.S. to hsve the procedure done. I will use this social media source in my analysis when discussing how little official research has been done to help determine the efficacy of stem cells transplants in accordance with injuries.

Ismail A. Stem Cell Research and Ethics: An Update. Oman Medical Journal [serial online]. January 2015:1, 2. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed September 5, 2015.

In her scholarly article, Ismail attempts to convey the ethical concerns of individuals that are against stem cell research. Her primary audience includes other scholars, researchers, and academic individuals interested in the ethics involved with stem cells. The purpose of the article is to reveal why many individuals raise issues with the concept of such research, which involves pathos and individual values/beliefs. She discusses how most of the controversy begins at the question “When does life begin?” This question ties both political and religious ideology, and is thus why it has become such a controversial topic. This relates to my topic by arguing the opposing viewpoint and showing that the reason some people do not support the research is because of ethics. I plan to use this article for quotes in my analysis when stating why individuals disapprove of the use of stem cells.

Phillips T. Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research. Aboutcom Money. Available at: http://biotech.about.com/od/bioethics/i/issuestemcells_2.htm. Accessed September 4, 2015.

Theresa Phillips wrote this article in order to give a general overview on stem cell research as well as to provide readers with a sense of the arguments for and against the controversy. Her primary audience is the general public, as it is written in a very informative yet casual style. Phillips describes the controversy of stem cells, how it is now changing, and how stem cells have impacted the lives of many individuals. The purpose of the article is to argue both sides of the debate- it shows the positives and the negatives. She writes more arguments under the “Pros” heading, but the arguments under the “Cons” heading weigh heavier on an individual’s values and morals. She shows how this type of research can be extremely beneficial, yet difficult for many to accept. I plan to use this article in my analysis when I first introduce the topic of stem cell research and when I discuss the various reasons for support/opposition on the topic.

Porucznik M. Forum Examines Stem Cells in Orthopaedics. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2014. Available at: http://www.aaos.org/news/aaosnow/apr14/cover3.asp. Accessed September 4, 2015.

Porucznik wrote this article in order to create a better understanding of the use of stem cells in orthopedics today. Her primary audience is other academics and people interested in how stem cells are being used in the orthopedic world today. She reveals that there are many types of stem cells, that bone marrow stem cell transplants have been happening for years, and that there are some problems when determining how to deliver and manage the stem cells safely. Due to the lack of research in the field, it is difficult for physicians and researchers to know exactly how much this type of therapy would work on different injuries. Until more research can be done to learn how to control the pathways of the growth of stem cells, it makes it impossible for diseases such as osteoarthritis to be treated. I plan to use this article when defending my claim that research should be allowed on stem cells in order to determine their effectiveness.

Schrotenboer B. Companies offer athletes hope with questionable stem cell treatments. USA TODAY. 2015. Available at: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2015/09/01/stem-cells-fda-athletes-joseph-purita-rolando-mcclain/71504998/. Accessed September 6, 2015.

This lengthy article was provided in a link by a Biomedical Ethicist at Stanford University over Twitter. The piece was written in order to reveal how athletes might have different treatment options other than surgery when they develop injuries. The intended audience for this article is athletes along with the general public that is interested in stem cells and their benefits. The purpose of the source was to discuss how a new company has developed a mixture of human cells derived from one’s own fat called “The Soup” in order to treat athletes' injuries. The article even lists off a few athletes that had released their names and gone through the treatment before. They all claimed that the treatment was faster than surgery and rehab, and left them feeling wonderful shortly after the treatment. The popularity for such treatments was so immense that it led to an FDA shutdown (of a different company) and had created problems for the industry ever since; however, the company that manufactures the “soup” believes it can make the market. I will be using this source in my analysis when discussing how stem cell treatments are being severely restricted in America even though it seems to have helped many individuals.

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Reflection

While reading my classmates' blogs, I was able to determine that I was on the right track with my annotations and citation styles. For example, I read and commented on Davis' bibliography (who also used AMA formatting for his citations) and determined we were both on the same track with formatting. His annotations helped show me that mine weren't too over-the-top, and had an appropriate amount of detail. 

Furthermore, when I read and commented on Laura's annotated bibliography, I was able to see her annotations were similar in length and planning. Her annotations also provided enough information to actually learn about her topic, which has inspired me to take a second look at my annotations to ensure that others gain interest in my topic when they read about my sources and what not. While her citations were in MLA format, they helped me understand a little more about what different fields focus on when citing a source. 

All in all, the reflection process helped me learn more about how I would like to approach my audience, alter my annotations, and whether or not I was properly formatting my citations. I want to attempt to make my annotations a little more engaging, this way the rhetoric can help attract people that might not otherwise be interested in my topic. Lastly, I think commenting and reflecting on other posts is a very important part of the writing process; it gives you a better understanding of what you are doing right, and what you are doing wrong.