Internet Communities and Social Networks

Introduction The global technological advancement has led to many changes in the ways of interaction among people. The advancement in information technology, which led to the development of social networking websites, clearly evidences this fact. There has been a gradual yet significant development of social networking sites. The development of these sites started with ‘Friendster’ established in 2002 followed by ‘LinkedIn’ and ‘Bebo’.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Internet Communities and Social Networks specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More ‘Facebook’ and ‘MySpace’ invention took place in 2004 and 2005 respectively. It is important to mention that majority of the people in the world use Facebook. As a result, it is the social networking with the largest number of users in the world. For a social network to function effectively there is a need for a s ystem that controls the flow of information from one member of the internet community to the other. Social networks have led to an increased flow of information globally as well as building of relationships among different entities. Communities and Web 2.0 Web 2.0 allows members of internet community to exchange information as well as ideas interactively. Social networking sites are examples of Web 2.0 (Fraser, Dutta, 2008, p.27). Other examples of Web 2.0 include video sharing sites, wikis, blogs and mashups among others. All these enhance the formation of internet communities. Of much concern are the social sites that have been instrumental in bringing people from different geographical locations as well as races come together for a common goal.  Several factors enhance the success of internet communities. The social interactions of internet communities require great support, which should include a means to enhance grounding and social presence among members. Members should hav e access to information concerning their joining, trusting, participating and leaving an online community (Kim, 2000, p.12). Owing to the fact that internet communities are greatly involved in solving social dilemma, some strategies help members achieve this goal (Kollock, 1996, p. 41). These strategies include community attraction, rules and regulations, governance on group information as well as infrastructure. In addition, members should be able to find answers to their questions easily.  However, internet communities face some challenges. For instance, there have been cases of internet bullying whereby a member is psychologically tortured making such members quit the society (Boyd, 2007, p.12). This usually occurs among teenagers. There have also been cases of tolling or rather inflicting emotional stress among some members of an internet community. These instances lead to lose of members from the community. There has been a concern about the safety of children due to their ex posure to crude information in these sites. Such information may include pornographic materials and vulgar language (Moreno, Fost, Christakis, 2008, p. 159).Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Social networks Social networks originate from social networking sites. This helps to connect people who share the same interests, activities, political ambitions as well as economical views. The networking sites require the users to create user-profiles Boyd Ellison, 2007, p.27). This involves providing their personal information to the sites. Other sites allow users who have common interests to create groups and thus enhance more interaction. Most internet users are members of one or more groups. It is also important to mention that most people acquire scientific knowledge through social networks (Lieberskind, Porter, 1996, p.430). Students and teachers use social networks as a com munication tool in colleges because of their high speed as well as their ability to reach a large number of the members at once (Mazer, Murphy, Simonds, 2007, p.15). Activists have employed social networks to mobilize people at the grass-root level. As a networking tool, college students use it to contact professionals for internships and job applications (Arabie, Yoram, 1994, p. 266). It is also important to mention that most companies nowadays use Facebook and Twitter to build their brand image. They also use social networks in recruiting new staff as well as learning new technologies from their competitors. This helps to build healthy business growth within companies. Governments also use social networks as a tool to get the people’s opinion on different state issues before making major decisions.  Too much of everything is dangerous. A number of social network users have grown into addicts (Boyd, 2006, p.62). They spent too much time on these social networks to the ex tent that they overlook other important aspects of their life. Addiction is prevalent among Facebook users. It is important for members of any internet community to use these social networks wisely. The impact of online networks on the community As earlier mentioned online networks lead to increased flow of information in our communities. Online networks have been of much help to people with ill health especially those with chronic diseases (Battles, Wienner, 2002, p. 52). On social networking interaction, these people are able to help each other to manage their ill conditions. It is important to mention that they get to know people who they can identify with and helps to build a sense of acceptance. Online networks have also helped people to participate adequately in community activities by mobilizing people to attend activities leading to improved civic participation. The large numbers of people who join internet communities help to facilitate the mobilization.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Internet Communities and Social Networks specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For instance, according to a study carried out by The Centre of the Digital future, three quarters of Americans have internet access and spend 8.9 hours online weekly (Carvin, 2006).College students mostly practice this.  Social networks also lead to formation of relationships between members of a given internet community. The issue of online dating came in from well-established ties between two members of a given online community (Romm, Setzekon, 2008, p. 271). They also help to increase communication between friends and family. According to Nielsen (2000), over 70% of online communities interact with their geographical communities on regular basis (p. 52). It is therefore evident that online communities enhance cohesion between members of geographical communities as well. Online gaming is a feature of most social network s. Parents have had a difficult time in controlling their sons and daughters when it comes to computer games especially those who are still schooling (Knapp, 2006, p. 6). They believe that their children will perform poorly due to dedication of much of their time on these games. This therefore calls for parents to monitor the levels of their children’s involvement in online gaming. However, when well managed it is a good leisure activity. Conclusion Since invention of social networks in the late 1990s, online communities have both shown an increasing trend and wide acceptability. Social networks connect people sharing the same interests in life. For these networks to succeed there has to be a strong team supporting the networking sites. In addition, members of a given online community have to relate well in order to attract more people to these social networks. Consequently, social networks will exhibit tremendous growth. Reference List Arabie, P., Yoram, W. (1994). Marketin g and Social Networks. California:  Sage Publications. Battles, B., Wienner, L. (2002). Star bright World: Effects of Electronic Network on  The Social Environment of Children with Life-threatening Illnesses. Children’s Health Care, 31(1), 47-68. Boyd, D. (2006). Friends, Friendsters and MySpace Top 8. Writing Community into Bery  on Social Network sites, 11 (12), 60-67.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Boyd, D. (2007). Why Youth (Heart) Social Networking Sites. The Role of Networked  Publics in Teenage Social Life, 2(4), 9-12. Boyd, D., Ellison, N. (2007). Social Network Sites: Definition, History and Scholarship.  Journal of Computer-mediated Communication, 13 (1), 23-30. Carvin, A. (2006). Understanding the Impact of Online Communities on Civic  Engagement. Retrieved from https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/ Fraser, M., Dutta, S. (2008).Throw Sheep in the Boardroom. How Online Social  Networking will Transform your Life, Work and World. New York: Wiley. Kim, A. (2000). Community Building on the Web. Berkeley: Peachpit Press. Knapp, E. (2006).A Parent’s Guide to my space. New York: Day Dream Publishers. Kollock, P. (1996). Design Principles for Online Communities. Harvard. Lieberskind, K., Porter. J. (1996). Social Networks, Learning and Flexibility. Sourcing  Scientific Knowledge in New Biotechnology Firms. Organization Science, 7(4), 428-443. Mazer, J., Murphy, R., Simonds, J. (2007). I’ll see you on Facebook: The effects and  Classroom Climate. Communication Education, 56 (1), 1-17. Moreno, A., Fost, C., Christakis, A. (2008). Research Ethics in the MySpace  Era.Pediatrics, 121(1), 157-161. Nielsen, J. (2000). Designing Web Usability. The Practice of Simplicity. Indianapolis:  New Riders Publishing. Romm, L., Setzekorn, K. (2008). Social Networking Communications and E.Dating  Services: Concepts and Implications. New York: Information Science Technology. This essay on Internet Communities and Social Networks was written and submitted by user Elvis Hodges to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Albert Gallatin Inspired the Age of Canals in America

Albert Gallatin Inspired the Age of Canals in America An era of canal building in the United States began in the early 1800s, helped along to a considerable degree by a report written by Thomas Jefferson’s secretary of the treasury, Albert Gallatin. The young country was hobbled by a horrendous transportation system which made it difficult, or even impossible, for farmers and small manufacturers to move goods to market. American roads at the time were rough and unreliable, often little more than obstacle courses hacked out of the wilderness. And reliable transportation by water was often out of the question due to rivers that were impassable at points of waterfalls and rapids. In 1807 the U.S. Senate passed a resolution calling upon the treasury department to compile a report proposing ways that the federal government could address the transportation problems in the nation. The report by Gallatin drew upon the experience of Europeans, and helped inspire Americans to begin building canals. Ultimately the railroads made canals less useful, if not entirely obsolete. But Americans canals were successful enough that when the Marquis de Lafayette returned to America  in 1824, one of the sights Americans wanted to show him were new canals that made commerce possible. Gallatin Was Assigned to Study Transportation Albert Gallatin, a brilliant man serving in Thomas Jefferson’s cabinet, was thus handed a task he apparently approached with great eagerness. Gallatin, who was born in Switzerland in 1761, had held a variety of governmental posts. And before entering the political world, he had a varied career, at one point running a rural trading post and later teaching French at Harvard. With his experience in commerce, not to mention his European background, Gallatin fully understood that for the United States to become a major nation, it needed to have efficient transportation arteries. Gallatin was familiar with the canal systems which had been built in Europe in the late 1600s and 1700s. France had built canals which made it possible to transport wine, lumber, farm goods, lumber, and other essential products throughout the country. The British had followed Frances lead, and by 1800 English entrepreneurs were busy constructing what would become a thriving network of canals. Gallatins Report Was Startling His 1808 landmark Report on Roads, Canals, Harbors, and Rivers was astounding in its scope. In more than 100 pages, Gallatin detailed a vast array of what today would be called infrastructure projects. Some of the projects Gallatin proposed were: A series of canals parallel to the Atlantic coast from New York City to South CarolinaA major turnpike from Maine to GeorgiaA series of inland canals heading to OhioA canal crossing New York stateImprovements to make rivers, including the Potomac, Susquehanna, James, and Santee, passable to major river navigation The entire projected expense for all the construction work proposed by Gallatin was $20 million, an astronomical sum at the time. Gallatin suggested spending $2 million a year for ten years, and also selling stock in the various turnpikes and canals to finance their eventual upkeep and improvements. Gallatins Report Was Far Ahead of Its Time Gallatin’s plan was a marvel, but very little of it was actually implemented. In fact, Gallatins plan was widely criticized as folly, as it would require a vast outlay of government funds. Thomas Jefferson, although an admirer of Gallatins intellect, thought his treasury secretarys plan might be unconstitutional. In Jeffersons view, such vast spending by the federal government on public works would only be possible after amending the Constitution to allow for it. While Gallatins plan was seen as wildly impractical when it was submitted in 1808, it became the inspiration for many later projects. For instance, the Erie Canal was eventually built across New York state and opened in 1825, but it was built with state, not federal funds. Gallatins idea of a series of canals running along the Atlantic coast was never implemented, but the eventual creation of the intra-coastal waterway essentially made Gallatins idea a reality. The Father of The National Road Albert Gallatin’s vision of a great national turnpike running from Maine to Georgia may have seem utopian in 1808, but it was an early vision of the interstate highway system. And Gallatin did get to implement one major road building project, the National Road which was started in 1811. Work began in western Maryland, at the town of Cumberland, with construction crews moving both eastward, toward Washington, DC, and westward, toward Indiana. The National Road, which was also called the Cumberland Road, was finished, and became a major artery. Wagons of farm products could be brought east. And many settlers and emigrants headed west along its route. The National Road lives on today. It is now the route of US 40 (which was eventually extended to reach the west coast). Later Career and Legacy of Albert Gallatin After serving as treasury secretary for Thomas Jefferson, Gallatin held ambassadorial posts under presidents Madison and Monroe. He was instrumental in negotiating the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812. Following decades of government service, Gallatin moved to New York City where he became a banker and also served as president of the the New York Historical Society. He died in 1849, having lived long enough to see some of his visionary ideas become reality. Albert Gallatin is regarded as one of the most influential treasury secretaries in American history. A statue of Gallatin stands today in Washington, D.C., before the U.S. Treasury building.

SAT Essay Tips 15 Ways to Improve Your Score

SAT Essay Tips 15 Ways to Improve Your Score SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Whether you've never written an SAT Essay or didn't get the score you wanted on your last test, you can benefit from knowing more: both about the essay itself, and what really matters when the graders are reading your essay. To introduce you to what you'll have to do, we've gathered up these 15 tips to master the SAT essay. If you can reliably follow all these points, you'll be able to get at least a 6/6/6 on the SAT essay- guaranteed. The Challenge The SAT Essay is a very short assignment. You only get 50 minutes to read a 650-750 word passage, analyze the devices the author uses to structure her/his argument, and write a full-fledged essay- and it can pass in a flash if you don't have a method for attacking it. Writing an SAT essay requires a very specific approach that's unlike the essays you've been writing for English class in school. The goal of this strategy is to cram in as many as possible of the desired components in the 50 minutes you've got. In this article, we give you 15 key tips for the SAT essay. The first five tips in this article relate to what the College Board tells us about what's a good essay. The next five are truths that the College Board doesn't want you to know (or doesn’t make explicit). And the last five tips for SAT essay writing show you how to build an SAT essay, step by step. What the College Board Does Tell You: 5 Tips The College Board explains the main components of the successful SAT Essay in its scoring criteria. Here they are, condensed: #1: Give a Clear Thesis The SAT essay rubric states: "The response includes a precise central claim.† What this means is that your essay needs to make a clear argument that the reader can easily identify.All you have to do to create your "precise central claim" is to identify the main idea of the passage andlistthe methods the author uses to support it. Fortunately, the SAT provides you with the passage’s main idea, so you don’t have to go hunting for it yourself. I've bolded the claim in this (fake) sample prompt so you can see this for yourself: Write an essay in which you explain how Sam Lindsay builds an argument to persuade her audience that more works of art should feature monsters. In your essay, analyze how Lindsay uses one or more of the features listed in the box above (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of her argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage. Your essay should not explain whether you agree with Lindsay’s claims, but rather explain how Lindsay builds an argument to persuade her audience. Now, here's an example of a thesis statement for an essay responding to this prompt: In the article â€Å"Monsters Monsters Everywhere,† Sam Lindsay uses personal anecdotes, vivid language, and appeals to emotion to persuade her audience that more works of art should feature monsters. It's fine to copy the exact words describing the author’s central claim from the prompt into your thesis statement- in fact, this guarantees that the graders will see that your thesis is there and on-topic. #2: Include Both an Introduction and a Conclusion The SAT essay rubric states: "The response includes a skillful introduction and conclusion.† Including an introduction paragraph in your essay is absolutely essential to getting a Writing score above a 4 (out of 8). The introduction paragraph introduces the reader to what you’ll be talking about and allows you to set up the structure for the rest of the essay. Plus, an introduction can be a pretty good indicator of the quality for the rest of the essay- a poorly constructed introduction is often a warning that the essay that follows will be equally discombobulated. It's best to have both an introduction and a conclusion, but if you’re running short on time and can only have one, definitely pick the introduction. The main reason for this is that a good introduction includes your thesis statement. For the SAT essay, your thesis (or your "precise central claim") should be a statement about what devices the author uses to build her/his argument. Introductions can be tricky to write, because whatever you write in that paragraph can then make you feel like you’re locked into writing just about that. If you’re struggling with the introduction paragraph, leave yourself 10 blank lines at the beginning of the essay and jump into writing your body paragraphs. Just make sure you remember to go back and write in your introduction before time’s up! #3: Use Effective Language and Word Choice There are a couple of parts of the Writing score section on the SAT essay rubric that pertain directly to style. The SAT essay rubric states this about a perfect-Writing-score essay: "The response is cohesive and demonstrates a highly effective use and command of language." For most of us, "command of language" is an area that takes a long time to develop, so unless your language skills are really rough or you're prepping at least a year ahead of time (or both), you'll probably get more out of focusing on the other components of the essay. The SAT essay rubric also states: â€Å"The response has a wide variety in sentence structures. The response demonstrates a consistent use of precise word choice. The response maintains a formal style and objective tone.† This basically boils down to: don't be repetitive and don't make grammar mistakes. In addition, you should avoid using first person statements like "I" or "My" in the essay, along with any other informality. You're writing the equivalent of a school paper, not an opinion piece. Bad (Too informal): â€Å"I think that Sam’s super persuasive in this article causeshe’s just so passionate. It made me feel kinda bad that I don’t really monster it up in my everyday life.† Good (Formal): â€Å"Lindsay’s passionate defense of how drawing monsters 'allows us to laugh at our personal foibles' causes her audience to put themselves in her shoes and empathize with her position.† Finally, try to use different words to describe the same idea- don't use "shows" 15 times. Take the chance to show off your vocabulary (if, and only if, the vocabulary is appropriate and makes sense). This component is the biggest reason why revising your SAT Essay is essential- it's fast and easy to change repeated words to other ones after you're finished, but it can slow you down during writing to worry about your word choice. If you're aiming for a top score, using advanced vocabulary appropriately is vital. #4: Only Use Information From the Passage All the relevant information is in the passage, so avoid getting drawn into the topic and using your outside knowledge- you want to be sure to show that you’ve read the passage. In real life, there are many ways to support a thesis, depending on the topic. But on the SAT, there's one kind of correct support: specific details drawn from the passage you’re asked to analyze. We'll show you more below. #5: Focus Your Essay on Relevant Details You don’t have to mention every single detail that makes the argument effective. In fact, your essay will be more coherent and more likely to score higher in Analysis if you focus your discussion on just a few points. It's more important to show that you're able to pick out the most important parts of the argument and explain their function that it is to be able to identify every single persuasive device the author used. Think about it as if you were asked to write a 50-minute essay describing the human face and what each part does. A clear essay would just focus on major features- eyes, nose, and mouth. A less effective essay might also try to discuss cheekbones, eyebrows, eyelashes, skin pores, chin clefts, and dimples as well. While all of these things are part of the face, it would be hard to get into detail about each of the parts in just 50 minutes. "The New Dance Craze."  ©2015-2016 by Samantha Lindsay. Used with permission. And this is the eye, and this is the other eye, and this is the...other eye...and the other eye...and the other...wait...what's going on here? What the College Board Doesn’t Tell You: 5 Secrets Even though the SAT essay has clearly stated, publicly-available guidelines, there are a few secrets to writing the essay that most students don't know and that can give you a major advantage on the test. #1: Read the Prompt Before the Passage Why? Because the prompt includes the description of the author’s claim. Knowing what the author’s claim is going into the article can help keep you focused on the argument, rather than getting caught up in reading the passage (especially if the topic is one you're interested in). #2: Your Facts Must Be Accurate†¦But Your Interpretation Doesn’t Have to Be A big part of the Analysis score for the SAT essay is not just identifying the devices the author uses to build her argument, but explaining the effect that the use of these devices has on the reader. You don’t have to be completely, 100% accurate about the effect the passage has on the reader, because there is no one right answer. As long as you are convincing in your explanation and cite specific examples, you’ll be good. Here's an example of an interpretation about what effect a persuasive device has on the reader (backed by evidence from the passage): Lindsay appeals to the emotions of her readers by describing the forlorn, many-eyed creatures that stare reproachfully at her from old school notebook margins. The sympathy the readers feel for these forgotten doodles is expertly transferred to Lindsay herself when she draws the connection between the drawn monsters and her own life: â€Å"Often, I feel like one of these monsters- hidden away in my studio, brushes yearning to create what no one else cares to see.† Now, you don't necessarily know for sure if "sympathy for the doodles" is what the author was going for in her passage. The SAT essay graders probably don't know either (unless one of them wrote the passage). But as long as you can make a solid case for your interpretation, using facts and quotes from the passage to back it up, you'll be good. #3: You Should Write More Than One Page This has always been true for the SAT essay, but for the first time ever, the College Board actually came out in The Official SAT Study Guide and explicitly said that length really does matter. Here's the description of a one-paragraph, 120-word-long student response that received a Writing score of 2/8 (bolding mine). â€Å"Due to the brief nature of the response, there is not enough evidence of writing ability to merit a score higher than 1. Overall, this response demonstrates inadequate writing.† (source: The Official SAT Study Guide, p. 176) You’ll have one page for (ungraded) scrap paper that you can use to plan out your essay, and four pages of writing paper for the essay- plan on writing at least two pages for your essay. #4: Be Objective When Reading the Passage Being able to stay detached while reading the passage you'll be writing the essay about can be tricky. This task might be especially difficult for students who were used to the old SAT essay (which pretty much made it mandatory for you to choose one side or the other). You’ll have to practice reading persuasive essays and gaining objectivity (so that you are able to write about how the argument is constructed, not whether it’s good or bad). A good way to practice this is to read news articles on topics you care deeply about by people who hold the opposite view that you do. For instance, as a composer and violist/violinist, I might read articles about how children should not be encouraged to play musical instruments, since it holds no practical value later on in life (a view I disagree with vehemently). I would then work on my objectivity by jotting down the central ideas, most important details, and how these details relate to the central ideas of the article. Being able to understand the central ideas in the passage and details without being sidetracked by rage (or other emotions) is key to writing an effective SAT essay. "Always Wear a Helmet."  ©2015-2016 by Samantha Lindsay. Used with permission. Don't let the monster of rage distract you from your purpose. #5: Memorize and Identify Specific Persuasive Techniques Once you’re able to read articles objectively (as discussed in point #4 above), the next step is to be able to break down the essay passage's argument. To do this successfully, you'll need to be aware of some of the techniques that are frequently used to build arguments. The SAT essay prompt does mention a few of these techniques (bolding mine): As you read the passage below, consider how Lindsay uses evidence, such as facts or examples, to support claims. reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence. stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion, to add power to the ideas expressed. It’s certainly possible to wing it and go into the test without knowing specific names of particular persuasive devices and just organically build up your essay from features you notice in the article. However, it's way easier to go into the essay knowing certain techniques that you can then scan the passage for. For instance, after noting the central ideas and important details in the article about how more works of art should feature monsters, I would then work on analyzing the way the author built her argument. Does she use statistics in the article? Personal anecdotes? Appeal to emotion? I discuss the top persuasive devices you should know in more detail in the article "6 SAT Essay Examples to Answer Every Prompt". How to Get All the Necessary Components in 50 Minutes: 5 Step-By-Step Strategies When you write an SAT essay, you only have 50 minutes to read, analyze, and write an essay, which means that you need a game plan going in. Here's a short step-by-step guide on how to write an effective SAT essay. #1: Answer the Prompt Don’t just summarize the passage in your essay, or identify persuasive devices used by the author- instead, be sure to actually analyze the way the author of the passage builds her argument. AsThe Official SAT Study Guide states, "[Y]our discussion should focus on what the author does, why he or she does it, and what effect this is likely to have on readers." College Board makes a point of specifying this very point in its grading rubric as well- an essay that scores a 2 (out of 4) or below in Analysis "merely asserts, rather than explains [the persuasive devices'] importance." If you want to get at least a 3/4 (or a 6/8) in Analysis, you need to heed this warning and stay on task. #2: Support Your Points With Concrete Evidence From the Passage The best way to get a high Reading score for your essay is to quote from the passage appropriately to support your points. This shows not only that you’ve read the passage (without your having to summarize the passage at all), but also that you understand what the author is saying and the way the author constructed her argument. As an alternative to using direct quotations from the passage, it’s also okay to paraphrase some of what you discuss. If you are explaining the author's argument in your own words, however, you need to be extra careful to make sure that the facts you're stating are accurate- in contrast to scoring on the old SAT essay, scoring on the new SAT essay takes into account factual inaccuracies and penalizes you for them. #3: Keep Your Essay Organized The SAT essay rubric states: â€Å"The response demonstrates a deliberate and highly effective progression of ideas both within paragraphs and throughout the essay.† The main point to take away from this is that you should follow the standard structure for an SAT essay (introduction-body-body-conclusion). Using a basic four- to five-paragraph essay structure will both keep you organized and make it easier for the essay graders to follow your reasoning- a win-win situation! Furthermore, you should connect each paragraph to each other through effective transitions. We'll give you ways to improve your performance in this area in the articles linked at the end of this article. #4: Make Time to Read, Analyze, Plan, Write, and Revise Make sure you allocate appropriate amounts of time for each of the steps you’ll need to take to write the essay- 50 minutes may seem like a long time, but it goes by awfully quick with all the things you need to do. Reading the passage, analyzing the argument, planning your essay, writing your essay, and revising are all important components for writing an 8/8/8 essay. For a breakdown of how much time to spend on each of these steps, be sure to check out our article on how to write an SAT essay, step-by-step. "Watch Yourself."  ©2015-2016 by Samantha Lindsay. Used with permission. #5: Practice The more you practice analysis and writing, the better you’ll get at the task of writing an SAT essay (as you work up to it a little at a time). It's especially important to practice the analysis and writing components of the essay if you are a slow reader (since reading speed can be difficult to change). Being able to analyze and write quickly can help balance out the extra time you take to read and comprehend the material. Plus, the time you put into working on analysis and writing will yield greater rewards than time spent trying to increase your reading speed. But don't forget: while it’s okay to break up the practice at first, you also really do need to get practice buckling down and doing the whole task in one sitting. What’s Next? This is just the beginning of improving your SAT essay score. Next, you actually need to put this into practice with a real SAT essay. Looking to get even deeper into the essay prompt? Read our complete list of SAT essay prompts and our detailed explanation of the SAT essay prompt. Hone your SAT essay writing skills with our articles about how to write a high-scoring essay, step by step and how to get a 8/8/8 on the SAT essay. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by SAT experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you'll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Try it risk-free today:

Thins Fall Apart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Thins Fall Apart - Essay Example The level of detachment achieved by the author in describing the life before colonialism is commendable. The theme of the book and the author’s attitude towards the theme both evoke curiosity. Without giving too much room for sentimentalism, he details the state of affairs in the country, and is not interested in creating a rosy picture out of love for his country. He states the facts, and describes the shortcomings of his people, mentions about fierce tribal wars, day to day violence and the resultant suffering. He also mentions that the uniting factor amongst the people is social coherence, deep-rooted faith in ritualism and extraordinary traditions, the importance of which is difficult to quantify but highly respected and followed by the people. What is the importance of the customs and traditions of Igbo society and how they are reflected in the day to day life and dispositions of the Nigerian tribal community? The importance of various segments of culture has a deep impac t on the Nigerian society and their inner world responds to its richness and beauty. Referring to the role of music Chinua Achebe(1994, p.4) writes, â€Å"The total effect was gay and brisk, but if one picked out the flute as it went up and down and then broke up into short snatches, one saw that there was sorrow and grief there.†Through this observation, the author states in his own style and reveal about the societal conditions and its impact on the common man, meaningfully. How the traditional families functioned—study Okonkwo’s life for example! He was a self-made man, but he was unhappy affected much by the poor image his father had in the Igbo society. He tried to overcome that inferiority complex with great efforts, achieved matchless prosperity, and enjoyed great reputation in the village. His physical assets added to his popularity and the awe and esteem in which the people held him. About his physical prowess the author( p.3) writes, â€Å"â€Å"It w as this man Okonkwo threw in a fight which the old men agreed was one of the fiercest since the founder of their town engaged a spirit of the wild for seven days and seven nights.† His anger seized his personality and he lost control over his normal speech and donned a violent mood. The role of the superstitions in the life of people touched great heights. Whether the personal traits dominated the superstitions, or the superstitions contributed to the formation of the personal traits was a difficult question to answer. Both co-existed and exerted mutual influence. As for Okonkwo, it was rooted in his ancestry. The author observes that he suffered from a sort of inferiority complex, about resemblance to his father, which he thought was a sign of backwardness. Each section of the society, men women and children had some superstition or the other to hang on, and their origin was difficult to trace. The basis of their continuance was faith, with no convincing logical explanations. The author cites one such example, amongst the womenfolk. Worshipping the trees was common with them and they believed that the tree was the abode of good children waiting to be born and they sat under the shades of the trees. Colonialism impacted the cultural traditions of Igbo tribe in a big way and it was a well-planned

A research topic related to religion and the environment Paper

A topic related to religion and the environment - Research Paper Example Indeed the Bible does not directly tell anything about how man should interact with the environment; but concept of ‘nature’ occupies an important part of Christian faith. A devout Christian necessarily believes that the ‘nature’ or in a broader term, the ‘universe’ is the creation of God and man is merely God’s tenant in it. Depending on this doctrinal premise, scholars further build up the Christian environmentalism. Man as the tenant of God on earth should not perturb God’s house. Thus Christianity advocates for an intimate, harmonious and friendly relationship with nature. But the debates on Christianity-and-Environment relationship evolve from the claim that man has been created in the ‘image of God’ which necessarily entails that man is entitled with the ownership of this world. The Christian belief about the ‘ownership status’ of man is supported by the Bible as following: â€Å"Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground† (Genesis 1:26 and 28). During the industrial era, the Christian belief persists that since the world is God’s and man is His true representative on earth, the world belongs to man. Such doctrinal reasoning inspired the industrial society to use the environmental resources ruthlessly and recklessly, as Hansberry notes in this regard: â€Å"Some Christians have interpreted this story as giving people the right to exploit the environment.† (1) Behind this ruthless use of earthly resources there is another belief that God is generous and that He has created everything for man’s consumption. But as the concern about man’s harmful impact over nature began to grow, a group of scholars began to emerge under the banner of ‘green Christian environmentalist’ with a view to purporting the harmonious

Religion and Education Essay Example for Free

Religion and Education Essay In this aper, I will discuss and explain the influence of religion and education on societies since the beginning of mankind. 1) Religion deals with almost all aspects of human life. 2) History cannot be taught in education without the mention of religious influences on civilizations. 3) The role of religion in public education is not limited to America alone, since the beginning of mankind every civilization has shown some type of evolution within their religious and educational institutions. There are several examples from different parts of the world to prove how widespread the problem is. ) All societies and civilizations are made up of individuals that belong to families. Families are the core of all societies and the religious choices of each family will society as a whole. 1) It may have influence in education, marriage, work, and even food. American religious education, as a kind of spiritual support, has been playing a supportive role in Americans outlook on life, the realization of life value, the shaping of personality, ethic concepts and national spirit. Its important role is manifested in the economic and political fields. (MENG Xianxia/Cross-cultural Communication Vol. No. 2 1001, p. 231) Religion influence many aspects of day to day issues such as life choices, dress, and education. As shown in the article, Religious Experience and Progressive Education, published in the American Educational History Journal by Jared R. Stallones, A recent survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life revealed that fully eighty-four percent of Americans identify themselves as adherents ofa specific religion. Eighty-eight percent are absolutely or fairly certain of the existence of God or a universal spirit, including fifteen percent of self-identified atheists. Eighty-two percent of the population considers religion to be very or somewhat important in their lives, and seventy-five percent of Americans, including ten percent of atheists, prayed at least once per week. (p33) This demonstrates how religion is an important entity in the daily lives of many. This is because religions deal with the human life as a whole. For centuries people have searched for the meaning and truth of their own nature and the nature of the universe, religions are the result. We view religions as communities of people who share practices and beliefs, who gather together in special buildings to worship, and ho have a special way of living. More than three-quarters of the worlds population consider themselves members of some kind of religion. Religion influences almost all aspects of human life. It may have influence in education, marriage, work, and even food. ) The United States was founded on the principles of religion, the citizens of this country can practice whatever religion they like without being persecuted. The liberties provided under the Constitution allow individuals to practice their religious beliets openly and without Judgment. These beliets provide guidance and structure in the lives of these individuals. After the founding of the United States, although the Constitution clearly regulates secularism, rel igions in America are always closely intertwined with the process of American history, and play a huge impact on the political, economic, legal and cultural fields. American sociologist Richard Newhouse said, A basic fact about the United States is that Americans themselves claim that most of them are Christian and the moral foundations of American society are Jewish-Christian morality Just as non-Christian believe. (Zhang, 2007, p. 13) (MENG Xianxia/Cross-cultural Communication Vol. 7. No. 2, 2011). There are thousands of religions and thousand more subdivisions of those. Religions are divided mainly into ancient and modern religions. Not to say that the modern religions Just originated in the past couple years, Just they are still practiced in present times. Some of the ancient religions include Egyptian, Zoroastria, Greek, Norse, and Celtic. (Source and Cite) 3) People have been shunned, ostracized, sacrificed, and killed because of their religious beliefs. These acts take place because individuals have different views. There are several examples from different parts of the world to prove how idespread the problem is. American society is a blend of secularized and religious elements. Anderson (2004) noted that these two elements have always posed a dilemma for public education. The struggle is how to accommodate both of these societal characteristics. He pointed out that the secular nature of American public culture and its underlying pluralistic character are important aspects of the context for our system of education. The role of religion in public education is not limited to America alone. There are several examples from different parts of the world to prove how widespread the problem is. Thomas (2006) reported a case in France in which a Muslim girl was expelled for wearing a traditional Islamic headscarf. The President supported the move saying that religion should not be permitted in public schools. Islamic leaders protested that the ban was prejudicial, singling out Muslims for discriminatory practices. Hinsliff (2004) reported an interesting controversy in which Christian evangelists in England wanted to have the strengthening of faith teaching in schools. They dropped the idea when 4) Families are the core of all societies and the religious choices of each family will affect society as a whole. The religious choices of a family will influence an individuals decisions that will in turn affect society as a whole. What in individual puts out into society will come back as their decision and actions affect society as a whole. Religion is an important entity in the lives of many. According to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, Religious freedom includes the right to assemble for private and public worship, determine the conditions of membership, give religious instructions, preach its message publicly, and publish and circulate religious material (International Religious Freedom, Sec. (3) Article 18). The United States is one of the nations with most fantastic religious background, and in reality religion and religious education permeates all aspects of American life. Religion lies in American family education, school education, political activities and social life, playing a role that cannot be ignored. (MENG Abstract p. l) Conclusion: Although religion has been and is a heated topic at times and since the beginning of mankind, we cannot deny the fact, the influence it has had in educational institutions through the development of all civilizations, I teel that this is a great thing. ou will not get very tar into any educational issues without somehow bumping into religious themes. Marty goes on to explains in Christianity and its legacy in education that We Americans are taught to think of American society as a secular one in which religion does not count for much, and our educational system is organized in such a way that religious concerns often receive little attention. But if you think for a moment, you may realize that a better question is, where does religion not come into all this? (Burke and Segal p. 631). To have religion thwarting together with education is what gives us history. It is what takes us to the next point in life. It gives us guidance and even sometimes warnings. As a young boy that has been brought up in the ministry and to see how religion has played a key role in my life and education applaud this. It is known that religion and education has been around for thousands of years and I believe it will continue for many more. From teaching your grandson to assemble a tomahawk to worshipping the Greek god of war, people show religion and education in many different ways. As, David P. Setran referenced in the Teachers College Record article More Religion in Education and More Education in Religion: Liberal Progressivism and the Educational Common Faith, 1917-1940, The Kingdom of God proved to be a powerful image of the ideal democracy and a powerful representation of religion and education working together to build a better world. It is recommended that future scholars continue to look in other parts of the country and among other individuals to trace these powerful cooperative relation, thus restoring the place of religion as an important source and ally of progressive education. (p. l, abstract) (Teachers College Record, vl 14 nl 2012. 29pp. Religion and education have been wedded in western culture for as long as schools have existed, and as long as religious diversity and democratic decision-making endure in American society, then struggles between and about religion and education will continue in American schools (Religious Experience and Progressive Education, published in the American Educational History Journal by Jared R. Stallones, p33. ) Religion and education has been around for thousands of years and it will continue for many more.

Cause and Effect Essay - Money Causes Unhappiness -- Cause and Effect E

Although it has been said that money is the root of all evil, many people actually believe that they would be happier if they were wealthier. Could this be correct? This essay will support the thesis that not only does the pursuit of wealth not lead to happiness; it may actually make us unhappy. Tim Kasser has written an excellent short book describing the scientific evidence relating to materialism and happiness. Kasser gives one striking quotation concerning Jim Clark, the founder of Netscape and other computer companies: "Before Silicon Graphics, Clark said a fortune of $10 million would make him happy; before Netscape, $100 million; before Healtheon, a billion; now, he told Lewis, 'Once I have more money than Larry Ellison, I'll be satisfied.' Ellison, the founder of the software company Oracle, is worth $13 billion." Kasser first shows that people who are rich are not necessarily happier than those who are not rich, provided ba... ...ut on the effects of materialism. Regardless of its origins, in America materialism works against happiness. This is a thought-provoking book about the pursuit of material goods. Kasser is not a preacher, but a scientist. He presents his evidence carefully, and concludes that materialism is a game not worth playing even on its own terms of promoting human happiness. Work Cited Kasser, Tim. The High Price of Materialism. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2002. 149 Pages.

Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus Among African Americans

Type II Diabetes Mellitus among African Americans Type II Diabetes Mellitus is an adult-onset diabetes that affects 90% of the diabetes patients. It is when the body does not recognize the insulin being produced by the pancreas, or not enough is produced. Insulin is a hormone that causes different cells to take up glucose for energy. Resistance to insulin causes the build up of glucose in the blood, which causes improper functions of cells and blood circulation, damage to nerves and blood vessels. The prevalence of type II diabetes is highest in African Americans among ethnic and racial groups. African American type II diabetic populations have tripled in 1993 when compared to 1963. Type II diabetes is mostly developed after age 40, but the age is getting younger due to high rates of obese populations among African Americans. Major causes for such high rates include, hereditary traits, hyperinsulinemia, poor diet, obesity, smoking habits and lack of physical activity. Some symptoms to notice are frequent urination, increased thirst and hunger, dry mouth, blurred vision, skin irritation and fatigue. Medical doctor diagnoses it after a confirmatory test called fasting plasma glucose test (FPG). Blood is drawn while fasting and analyzed for blood glucose levels. Normal is considered to be between 70 to 100 milligrams per deciliter, and if it greater than or equal to 126 milligrams per deciliter, one is said to have diabetes. Although oral medications are available, type II diabetes can be controlled by proper diet and exercise. Frequent self-testing for glucose levels using a glucometer can provide information on how well you are doing managing the levels. Frequent doctor visits for glucose tests are recommended. If left uncontrolled, it can cause eye diseases such as retinopathy, which is more prevalent in African Americans than Caucasian Americans. It can also lead to kidney failure, amputation and the worst-case scenario, diabetic coma. Prevention is important to decrease these chances and avoid serious health consequences. Bibliography Search: 1. Tuomilehto, Jaakko, Lindstrom, Jaana, Eriksson, Johan G. , Valle, Timo T. , Hamalainen, Helena, Ilanne-Parikka, Pirjo, Keinanen-Kiukaanniemi, Sirkka, Laakso, Mauri, Louheranta, Anne, Rastas, Merja, Salminen, Virpi, Aunola, Sirkka, Cepaitis, Zygimantas, Moltchanov, Vladislav, Hakumaki, Martti, Mannelin, Marjo, Martikkala, Vesa, Sundvall, Jouko, Uusitupa, Matti, the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study Group. Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Changes in Lifestyle among Subjects with Impaired Glucose Tolerance. New England Journal of Medicine. 344 (2001): 1343-1350. 2. Brancati, FL. â€Å"Incident type 2 diabetes mellitus in African American and white adults – The atherosclerosis risk in communities study. † Journal of the American Medical Association 283. 17 (2000): 2253-2259. 3. Robbins, JM, Vaccarino, V, Zhang, H, Kasl, SV. Socioeconomic status and type 2 diabetes in African American and non-Hispanic white women and men: evidence from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. † American Journal of Public Health 91. 1 (2001): 76-83. 4. Signorello, Lisa B. , Schlundt, David G. , Cohen, Sarah S. , Steinwandel, Mark D. , Buchowski, Maciej S. , McLaughlin, Joseph K . , Hargreaves, Margaret K. , Blot, William J. â€Å"Comparing Diabetes Prevalence Between African Americans and Whites of Similar Socioeconomic Status. † American Journal of Public Health 97 (2007): 2260-2267. 5. Bell RA, Summerson JH, Konen JC: Dietary intakes by levels of glycemic control for black and white adults with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). J Am Coll Nutr 14 (1995):144–154. 6. Weatherspoon LJ, Kumanyika SK, Ludlow R, Schatz D: Glycemic control in a sample of black and white clinic patients with NIDDM. Diabetes Care 17(1994):1148–1153. 7. Wisdom K, Fryzek JP, Havstad SL, Anderson RM, Dreiling MC, Tilley BC: Comparison of laboratory test frequency and test results between African-Americans and Caucasians with diabetes: opportunity for improvement. Diabetes Care 20 (1997):971–977. 8. Fagot-Campagna, A. â€Å"Emergence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in children: epidemiological evidence. † Journal of Pediatric Endocrinol Metab. 13. 6 (2000). 9. Osei K, Rhinesmith S, Gaillard T, Schuster D P. â€Å"Impaired Insulin Sensitivity, Insulin Secretion, and Glucose Effectiveness Predict Future Development of Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Type 2 Diabetes in Pre-Diabetic African Americans: Implications for primary diabetes prevention. † Diabetes Care 27 (2004):1439-1446. 10. Osei K, Gaillard T, Schuster D P. Pathogenetic mechanisms of impaired glucose tolerance and type II diabetes in African-Americans. The significance of insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, and glucose effectiveness. Diabetes Care 20 (1997):396-404 11. Danadian K, Balasekaran G, Lewy V, Meza M P, Robertson R, Arslanian S A. â€Å"Insulin sensitivity in African-American children with and without family history of type 2 diabetes. † Diabetes Care August 22 (1995):1325-1329. 12. National Institutes of Health–NIDDK: Diabetes in African Americans. In Diabetes in America. 2nd ed. No. 95–1468 ed. , 1995,p. 613–629

A Logger’s Lament

The article talks about the life of our loggers and how they should be seen in a larger picture.Loggers are always considered as people who cut trees, leaving them bare and causing discomfort for other species in the forest.But looking into it more closely, loggers do not have any difference from the endangered species that most of the environmentalist groups are rallying for protection.They are just like the farmers that we all know, gathering produce when wheat and other crops are all ready to be picked, the only difference is that loggers are harvesting large products compared to wheat, but the concept are all the same. These loggers are cutting trees and planting trees for replacement.They spend more than thirty years taking care of their trees, keeping in mind that eventually they will be able to yield what they have been spending their time with. If one could analyze it, they are spending almost half of their lifetime for just one tree to be harvested in the end. Yet, these log gers are losing in numbers, because they are not being provided with the right market for them to progress.Tree-cutting is not awful against the environment if only you replace what you have removed. Every tree being cut should be replaced with another tree to keep everything in balance, and that is what our loggers our doing. Yet, some groups restrict this cutting of trees because they are to take care of animals in the forests that might lose their natural habitats.We need our loggers for our wood products such as paper and furniture. We need them for the preservation of the forests out there. But what are we doing to preserve these people?Work CitedKysar, Leila L. â€Å"A Logger’s lament.† Newsweek. 22 October 1990.

How to Make Blue Fire with the Easy Method

How to Make Blue Fire with the Easy Method Making blue fire is an easy DIY project, and theres more than one way to do it. Here are a couple of pointers for making it yourself. Natural Blue Fire The easiest way to make blue fire is to burn a chemical that naturally produces a blue flame. Most types of alcohol burn as blue fire:Â   Ethanol (e.g., rum, vodka)Methanol (wood alcohol, Heet fuel treatment)Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) Natural gas also burns with a blue flame. Easy Method of Making Blue Fire Several metal salts burn with a blue flame, such as certain copper, arsenic, and lead compounds. Antimony and lead are toxic, but you can use copper(I) chloride to produce blue fire. Add a small amount of water to copper(I) chloride to dissolve the salt. If you cannot find copper(I) chloride, it is possible to make this chemical yourself. Copper(II) chloride is more widely available, but it will burn with a blue-green flame.Soak a flammable material with the copper chloride solution. Good choices include sawdust or pine cones.Allow the material to dry.When you light it or add it to a normal fire you will get blue fire.

The Weaving Contest Between Athena and Arachne

The Weaving Contest Between Athena and Arachne While Athena was a friend to Greek heroes, she wasnt so helpful to women. The story of the weaving contest between Arachne and Athena is one of the most familiar myths about Athena, and its central theme is also popular. Greek mythology repeatedly hammers home the danger of comparing oneself with a goddess. The theme appears in the story of Cupid and Psyche, where Aphrodite is offended. While ultimately there is a happy ending, to avert Aphrodites wrath, Psyches family abandons her to death. In the mythological story of Niobe, Artemis punishes the mortal mother for boasting that she is a more fortunate mother than Artemis mother, Leto: Artemis destroys all Niobes children. The punishment Athena inflicts on her capable, but the merely mortal victim is more direct. If Arachne wants to claim to be a better weaver than Athena, so be it. Thats all shell ever be good for. Arachne Suffers a Metamorphosis The Roman poet Ovid writes about the metamorphosis Arachne suffers in his work on transformations (Metamorphoses): One at the loom so excellently skilld,That to the Goddess she refusd to yield, ( Ovid, Metamorphoses VI) In the myth, Athena challenges Arachne to a weaving contest in order to prove herself. The expert crafts goddess Athena is favorably impressed with Arachnes weaving of divine debaucheries: This the bright Goddess passionately movd,With envy saw, yet inwardly approvd.The scene of heavnly guilt with haste she tore,Nor longer the affront with patience bore;A boxen shuttle in her hand she took,And more than once Arachnes forehead struck. Athena cant tolerate the affront to her pride, though, so she turns Arachne into a spider doomed to weave forever. From the unfortunate spider-woman comes the name for the 8-legged creatures arachnids. Bulfinch on Athena (and Arachne)

Viewing the Globe Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Viewing the Globe - Research Paper Example I’m primarily a subsistence farmer, which involves growing enough crops and rearing livestock for my family to live off. I also work 8 hours a day on a local cocoa plantation, but pay is poor, and I only earn $3 per day. In the evening, my wife prepares our family meal. My favorite dishes include stews and fufu, which is a dough-like combination of plantains and cassava or yams, sometimes accompanied by freshly made soup if we have enough food. Vegetables and rice are other important staples of my family’s diet because they are cheap, easy to grow and high in energy. My family rarely buys groceries in shops because we can’t afford them. However, we trade items to get household goods we need. For example, my youngest daughter caught a virus last month, and I traded 8 pints of milk with the local chemist for the medication she needed. The weather is a big challenge and threat to our subsistence farming. The dry season occurs from November-March, with temperatures e xceeding 30Â °c. Last year, an extended draught destroyed half of my crops, which sadly resulted in our youngest child dying of malnutrition.