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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Knight Templar on June 02, 2004, 10:21:19 pm

Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Knight Templar on June 02, 2004, 10:21:19 pm
Here's the deal: I have a project in my Chemistry class about Nuclear Sweetness (Bombs, Power, Radiation, etc.) Out of the topics, I've chosen "Did America really need to fear the Soviet Union's nuclear might?" as one I want. Bassically that means I'm doing my project on the Cold War, and whether it was "serious" or not.

As for my assignment:
"You assignment is to explore a facet of this topic and draw some conclusions about its use and/or ramifications on our planet. Is it worth the risk? Go into this with an open mind, much of what you think may be from someone else's bias or propoganda. What you find could suprise you."

With the 'essential question' I am looking to answer in the whole presentation: IS the benefity worth the risk?

Down to the details I need in the project:
1. Support answer with facts, not opinions. Bibliography.
2. Project may be in form of a newspaper, letters to a colleague or government agency, or whatever form you chose to use. Be creative and pick a medium that is best suited to you.
3. Written work must be accompanied by visuals that portray and help explain the topic you have chosen.
4. Visials need to be included in written component.
5. Presentation of Topic: Present your topic to the class. The presentation may take the form of a formal presentation or may follow a format of your choice. The goal is to convince the class of your point of view based on the facts you uncovered. You will be evaluated on how well you defend your position.
____


So, I chose the Cold War because that seemed the most 'fun'. My only problem is, I'm not quite sure what to do with my project, or even what to do for it. Obviously, I'd say America did need to fear the USSR's nuclear arsenal, and I can go into detail about the Cold War and what was so scary about it, how it effected the world, etc. But since this is a chemistry class, not a history one, I need to get into some detail about nuclear weaponry available I'd imagine. So then I'm thinking that maybe a more 'statistical analysis' approach to the various nuclear capabilities of each side and how they could basically screw over parts of the world would be a better idea then a general look at the cold war.

But then, I need a medium to convey this on...

My best idea so far, is a 'dossier' style analysis of nuclear capabilities, perhaps supplemented with power point presentation of some sort, and a nice big colourful poster. Problem is, the project is more of a presentation, so I guess my powerpoint and poster would have to be just as strong as my dossier, and I could have that circulate the class while I talk. I could more or less put the contents of the dossier onto powerpoint as well, so people are essentially getting the same info, just that the dossier would be the fancy version for the teacher and for show, while the presentation is to get the info to the class. Downside to that is I have less diversity in my product which could lead to a reduction of grade.

Which leads me to another thing- I need the grade. Badly. I'll leave it at that. Less than an A isn't doable for me.

Did I mention that I need to have this done by Friday? Well, Friday if I want an extra 20 points (worth a homework assignment bassically). But if I can't get it done by then reasonably well, then it's due Monday with no extra 20 points.
---

So any ideas/suggestions/rants/cookies?
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Thorn on June 02, 2004, 10:29:55 pm
I dont think we would have had the Cuban Missile Crisis if they didnt fear them.
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Rictor on June 02, 2004, 10:38:07 pm
Look up the Tzar Bomba, the largest nuke in existance. The Soviets even had to reduce the power, since in its original design it was to powerful to be of any use.

For your dossier and powerpoint, I propose you do a slick visual presentation that looks like an actual dossier, complete with "typewriter looking" font (Courier should do nicely) and big red stamp that says "classified" in Russian. For me, that was always the funnest part of such projects, making it look really cool so as to blow the other people and their default Powerpoint blue background out of the water. You could even black out certain words, to make it look really cool.
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: DragonClaw on June 02, 2004, 10:39:54 pm
NOT FOR CHILDREN:
Spoiler:
Have a russian pr0n pic with the chick sayin "I fear no nuclear missiles!" and about 50 nuclear warheads rammed up her coochie...  Not exactly a good grade, but I would give money to see a class reaction to that


Now, for real, you picked a horrible topic.

You could always try and do something about how Russia's nuclear arsenal could have handed America their ass, and vice-versa(basic geothermal changes to the environment, mass death, etc), though that hasn't much to do with chemistry :p
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Rictor on June 02, 2004, 10:46:20 pm
here are some useful linkies

http://www.nuclearfiles.org/kinuclearweapons/anwindex.html
http://www.cold-war.info/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutual_assured_destruction
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapon
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Knight Templar on June 02, 2004, 10:48:52 pm
Thorn: Yep. I'll be sure to include that.

Rictor: Yeah, deffinitely gotta go for a classy look. Making it seem of the era and all. I'm thinking I could make the Powerpoint more.. 'dramatic' with some nice Cold War-ish music (Red Alert anyone?) but would have to keep it quite enough to not drown out my own voice...

DC: Well, nobody else picked the topic, I've already done a project on the Manhattan Project earlier this year, and the Cold War is fun. (:p) Not to mention, we're studying the Cold War somewhat in my History class as well, so I *might* be able to turn this in as extra credit for that class.. a copy of the dossier at least.
---

So yeah, I'm thinking then I should keep the dossier highly technical in terms of statistics and facts that would apply to chemistry (and also worldly statistics, such as predicted effects/damage/casualties of a war, etc.) and have the Powerpoint do a bit of this, but more of the dramatic historical side of things, like how fear of the Soviet Arsenal on the US part afflicted the rest of the world.
---

Ric: Thanks. :)
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Falcon on June 02, 2004, 10:57:58 pm
It would have been horrible if it ever progressed further I could imaging both powers flinging missles at each other which in effect cause massive devastation.   *Takes a stroll in a radiated park hey look mom a mutated pigeon! :D *    Russia would definately win against America in a nuclear fight.
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Knight Templar on June 02, 2004, 11:00:12 pm
Well I think the idea is that both sides would be so ****ed beyond recognition by the time any exchange ended, there would be no winner.
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: DragonClaw on June 02, 2004, 11:00:36 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Falcon
Russia would definately win against America in a nuclear fight.


I really hope you're smoking something. No one would win. Even countries not involved would get devastated, economically if not physically.
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Falcon on June 02, 2004, 11:23:14 pm
Thats some good weed
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Reez on June 02, 2004, 11:25:38 pm
if you know how to do flash comics, you can make one at the end. Just make sure you do a little LSD before you make it, so you get the creative juices flowing
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Knight Templar on June 02, 2004, 11:29:13 pm
I don't, but I thought about it. You know, something like those "End of the world" or middle east games or whatever.

That would require... effort, though. At least, much more than I can give, considering I'd have to learn how to draw and use flash.
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Reez on June 02, 2004, 11:36:54 pm
there's a load of em on the net, if you take the time to look. i remember seeing one a few months back that was awesome. And flash isn't really difficult... it's actually paint if you use MX flash player, which im sure you can get off suprnova.
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Knight Templar on June 02, 2004, 11:38:27 pm
Could I learn how to use it reaspnably well within two hours?
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Singh on June 02, 2004, 11:40:24 pm
I could help, if I had the time :P

Seriously though; one point you can raise is the long-term ramifications of the Cold-war. Their are several of these: Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, India-Pakistan-China, etc.

You can also show how the cold war was totally useless by quoting the example of the Berlin Wall. It was created not to keep westeners out; but rather to pen the east berliners IN. The fighting and stand-offs did nothing towards the end; the fall of the soviet empire came not from outside, but from within, as the economy fell and people suffered.....
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Reez on June 02, 2004, 11:41:55 pm
most likely... but designing a good one would probably take you at least an hour to 2.5, depending on how long you want it.
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Rictor on June 02, 2004, 11:46:11 pm
cha-ching

http://www.nrdc.org/nuclear/nudb/datainx.asp

I don't want to spam, so I'll just update this post as I find more useful stuff.

edit: and also, this http://www.atomicarchive.com/Effects/index.shtml

edit 2: and this: http://www.brook.edu/FP/PROJECTS/NUCWCOST/WEAPONS.HTM
check the "Charts" section, about midway down the page, as the rest of the website seems to be focused on policy and not science.

edit3: and this http://www.atomicarchive.com/almanacmenu.shtml

_______

ok, I'll stop now, since I fear that I may be overwhelming you with sources, and thus not really helping at all.
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Knight Templar on June 02, 2004, 11:50:34 pm
Ahh, I remember comming across that site when I did my Manhattan Project dealie.

Statistics rock.

Excellence. :drevil:

---

[q]Originally posted by Rictor
ok, I'll stop now, since I fear that I may be overwhelming you with sources, and thus not really helping at all.[/q]

Not at all. The wealth of info is great, although I should have enough for now. Thanks :)
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Lightspeed on June 03, 2004, 02:29:57 am
Quote
Originally posted by Reez
if you know how to do flash comics, you can make one at the end. Just make sure you do a little LSD before you make it, so you get the creative juices flowing


LSD makes you go LightSpeeD, hmm?
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Knight Templar on June 03, 2004, 10:36:57 am
Yeaaaaahh...

Anyway, we'll leave the spamming of my topic to me for now. :p
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Knight Templar on June 03, 2004, 07:57:32 pm
Blargh...

How does one 'start' a dossier?
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Anaz on June 03, 2004, 10:29:28 pm
For Eyes Only? :p

Just launch right into the body of the dossier, and try to think of a beginning later. If it doesn't come, then it obviously didn't need to be there in the first place...
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Knight Templar on June 03, 2004, 10:33:17 pm
I like you're thinking.

You're hired.
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Rictor on June 03, 2004, 10:43:16 pm
I found a bunch of actual dossier names during my search yesterday, dunno if that would be useful or what? be sure to put the "logo" of either the US or USSR up at the top of every page, to give it a legitimate look. I suggest you go with the US, cause that would spare your from having to use Cyrilic.
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Knight Templar on June 03, 2004, 11:03:14 pm
Yeah. I'm going to do the stamp part last. But for now, I'm trying to do a good beggining. I guess dossiers are just fact books, so you don't need pretext.
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Rictor on June 03, 2004, 11:33:20 pm
I have entirely too much time on my hands.

(http://home.cogeco.ca/~dlebl/BLA1221.gif)

needless to say, its a 5 minute throw-together job in PS, not really quality stuff...
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Knight Templar on June 03, 2004, 11:59:27 pm
:lol: nice.

> I should have mine done by now, but as you can see, I'm distracted quite easily lately.
Title: KT's Homework Extravangza
Post by: Knight Templar on June 11, 2004, 03:51:41 am
Well, did the presentation today, the last day of the class, at the last five minutes of class...

I would have had a nice presentation, except that the laptop didn't like my cd and locked up. After waiting four minutes, my teacher told me just to wing it without it... which was crap because I wasn't really going to read my dossier for my presentation, just pass it around as a supplmental. I ended up just reading some stuff from the dossier, then with two or so minutes left of class, the laptop decided to restart, so I loaded up the power point presentation just long enough to say that Germany lost, we had bombs, so did the Soviet Union, and they kill lots of things. *bzzzt* No more chemistry for KT.

I ended up making a large, colourful poster, a brief, 20 slide powerpoint presentation, and a dossier. My teacher was impressed from the looks of my project somewhere along the line, and said that it was okay that my presentation didn't go as planned, and she'll take that into account when grading, which rocks. Yay!