English 219 Final Reflection

Ms. Amanda Amstutz

The purpose of this document is to reflect on the methods I used to
accomplish the instructional set, recommendation report, and a proposal. This
document will also provide details of how solar energy works. The main three points
that will be discussed in this document, efficiency of solar panels, how much they
cost, and are students willing to welcome and use the Solar tree.
Renewable energy is a form of energy that can be obtained from natural
resources and can be constantly replenished. To name a few, wind, hydropower,
geothermal, and solar energy. In this document we mainly focus on solar energy.
Similarly, as mentioned in the introduction section of the feasible report solar energy is
a type of power or heat that comes from the sun. On the solar tree however, there
are panels that absorb radiation from the sun and turns into current which is then
directed to battery (storage), that provides direct current to the power outlet and
any unused energy/power is still stored in the battery. I used the above theoretical
explanation to formulate a research question on Solar trees.

First, during the sequence of conducting this research I learned that it is

important to gather information on different topics of interest and based on how fun
and important the topic is, this enables one to select a topic. Brainstorming as
mentioned in the textbook/reading (Chapter 8, 10, and 11) becomes the next step.
In my case, I had to follow the IMRaD pattern which consists of the introduction,
methodology, results, and discussion. It was in the method section where I labeled
the steps I was going to follow in order to have reach the ultimate goal of building a
solar tree on campus. Through visiting a few websites and reading scholarly articles,
I noticed that schools like the University of California (Davis), and Cambridge had
already embarked on the solar energy journey, and not only were/are they saving
money on electricity costs but also helping minimize climate change.
Taking this into perspective, I looked into different types of solar panels and
settled on the Photovoltaics which occupy less space, have a longer lifespan, and
for the most part contain the highest efficiency. Even though they are the most
expensive on the market, Dr. Mammoli (a Mechanical Engineering professor)
convinced me that, they will produce more charge since we live in the desert
(excess sunlight). By implementing the above steps, I followed the required student
learning outcomes, by describing the purpose of the feasible report, whom it
targets, the type of sources I used to prove my claim. Also, I tried using graphs,
tables, and pictures to explain, the theory behind choosing the most efficient, costeffective, and stylish solar panel. For instance, I presented a picture of a prototype
solar tree that my group and I worked on last summer, 2015. I wanted to show my
fellow students that this project can be implemented given the resources. In the
results section, I proved why its important to use the Photovoltaics with such little
area (550 square feet), the total price of a system, varies tremendously based on
the size of your roof and your electricity needs. And this too serves as a conclusion.
Finally, I enjoyed reading my peers reviews and giving feedback. For example,
Michelle wrote her report on ICE, which I had never heard of and knowing what they
do was a bit shocking to me.

English 219 Final Reflection

Ms. Amanda Amstutz
Upon submitting my final draft for project 1, 2, and 3, I had to correct a few
grammatical and have it revised by CAPS writing center tutor. In the end,
completing this project was a challenge but with the explanations from chapter 10
in the textbook and peer reviews was helpful.