Free Essays on Philosophy My View

â€Å"What is Philosophy?† - My View- This semester I have discovered that way of thinking is numerous things to numerous individuals. From a methods for impacting thought and conduct, to a mirror into the spirit, reasoning is a control of basic reasoning, human association, and hypothesis. Scholars endeavor to respond to age old human inquiries, for example, â€Å"Where did we come from?† and â€Å"Where are we going?† However, a reasoning humankind longs for something other than history clarified and solid expectations of future, we need to recognize what makes a â€Å"good† life, what is excellence, what is equity, and by what method may we live our lives in a most fulfilling manner. Furthermore, since the responses to such inquiries are situated in context, one must be happy to look at the establishments of point of view so as to arrive at an unprejudiced, genuine answer. This is the place the field of reasoning comes in to its own. Most would concur that excellence is entirely subjective, however what separates one eye from another? Basically, we consider things to be we realize that they generally will be, regardless of whether we simply think we know them naturally, as the youngster Socrates met outside the town hall knew devotion, or we have committed extensive idea to, for example, Descartes’ â€Å"I think, in this way I am.† theory causes us to legitimize the knowing about all things, and by knowing everything we know the one thing we have genuine control over, our lifestyle. Our lifestyle consistently appears to come down to the choices we settle on, and the choices we make consistently appear to descend to our point of view. Where do we get our viewpoints? Our points of view are our way of thinking, we have learned encounters that shape our viewpoint, and thus what we look like at and manage life itself. The eyes we observe with can just observe things we center around, how and why we center around things is the grain for the ! philosopher’s gun. This semester we have considered a wide range of logicians, with the same number of various methods of reasoning, yet one normal th... Free Essays on Philosophy My View Free Essays on Philosophy My View â€Å"What is Philosophy?† - My View- This semester I have discovered that way of thinking is numerous things to numerous individuals. From a methods for impacting thought and conduct, to a mirror into the spirit, theory is a control of basic reasoning, human association, and hypothesis. Savants endeavor to address age old human inquiries, for example, â€Å"Where did we come from?† and â€Å"Where are we going?† However, a reasoning humankind longs for something beyond history clarified and dependable expectations of future, we need to comprehend what makes a â€Å"good† life, what is excellence, what is equity, and by what means may we live our lives in a most fulfilling manner. Furthermore, since the responses to such inquiries are situated in context, one must be eager to analyze the establishments of point of view so as to arrive at a fair, genuine answer. This is the place the field of theory comes in to its own. Most would concur that magnificence is subjective depending on each person's preferences, however what separates one eye from another? Basically, we consider things to be we realize that they will generally be, regardless of whether we simply think we know them inherently, as the youngster Socrates met outside the town hall knew devotion, or we have dedicated extensive idea to, for example, Descartes’ â€Å"I think, in this way I am.† reasoning encourages us to legitimize the knowing about all things, and by knowing everything we know the one thing we have genuine control over, our lifestyle. Our lifestyle consistently appears to come down to the choices we settle on, and the choices we make consistently appear to descend to our viewpoint. Where do we get our points of view? Our points of view are our way of thinking, we have learned encounters that shape our viewpoint, and thusly what we look like at and manage life itself. The eyes we view with can just observe things we center around, how and why we center around things is the feed for the ! philosopher’s gun. This semester we have considered various savants, with the same number of various methods of reasoning, however one normal th...

Free Essays on Memory And Me

There are just a couple of methods that help my memory. More often than not I want to read over material for a specific measure of time with a companion. Different occasions, I will use cheat sheets so as to retain the word, expression or definition required. Perusing material more than once likewise encourages me. These things prove to be useful when I am attempting to read for any subject. I once in a while find that I will utilize certain techniques for remembering that help me more for that particular subject. At the point when I concentrate over material with companions, it is so the two of us can profit. As it's been said, â€Å"you learn while attempting to instruct it to somebody else†, so that is the specific philosophy we attempt to follow. I would peruse the material, and afterward test my companion with irregular inquiries regarding it. At that point, he/she would do likewise. The procedure takes some time since we both need to peruse the material at that point test each other on it, yet over the long haul it causes us both in remembering the information. My preferred type of retention is utilizing streak cards. The reason for utilizing streak cards is the redundancy of the procedure. At the point when I study utilizing streak cards I read the meanings of the terms or expressions that I am attempting to retain, and afterward I attempt to recall the term or expression that they go with. I rehash this framework again and again until at long last I can experience the entirety of the terms and react with the best possible definition. This type of remembrance is my most loved in light of the fact that I can either do only it, or have an accomplice to help me. Regardless of how frequently I’ve utilized different strategies to assist me with retaining or study, streak cards have consistently worked. Another strategy that I don't rehearse time after time is perusing materials over again so as to let them hit home. This isn't equivalent to the reiteration of the blaze cards, since this one has to do with longer materials, for example, books or long model papers. Time gave I would go over the book or long model article more than once, yet more often than not it can b... Free Essays on Memory And Me Free Essays on Memory And Me There are just a couple of strategies that help my memory. More often than not I like to read over material for a specific measure of time with a companion. Different occasions, I will use cheat sheets so as to remember the word, expression or definition required. Perusing material more than once likewise causes me. These things prove to be useful when I am attempting to read for any subject. I once in a while find that I will utilize certain techniques for retaining that help me more for that particular subject. At the point when I concentrate over material with companions, it is so the two of us can profit. As it's been said, â€Å"you learn while attempting to instruct it to somebody else†, so that is the specific strategy we attempt to follow. I would peruse the material, and afterward test my companion with arbitrary inquiries concerning it. At that point, he/she would do likewise. The procedure takes some time since we both need to peruse the material at that point test each other on it, however over the long haul it encourages us both in remembering the information. My preferred type of retention is utilizing streak cards. The motivation behind utilizing streak cards is the redundancy of the procedure. At the point when I study utilizing streak cards I read the meanings of the terms or expressions that I am attempting to retain, and afterward I attempt to recall the term or expression that they go with. I rehash this framework again and again until at long last I can experience the entirety of the terms and react with the correct definition. This type of remembrance is my most loved in light of the fact that I can either do only it, or have an accomplice to help me. Regardless of how often I’ve utilized different strategies to assist me with remembering or study, streak cards have consistently worked. Another technique that I don't rehearse time after time is perusing materials over again so as to let them hit home. This isn't equivalent to the reiteration of the glimmer cards, since this one has to do with longer materials, for example, books or long model expositions. Time gave I would go over the book or long model exposition more than once, yet more often than not it can b...

To what extent are women and development approaches counterproductive Essay

What exactly degree are ladies and improvement approaches counterproductive in tending to the issues looked by ladies in the worldwide south - Essay Example As indicated by Williams (1999), the term â€Å"development† is to be taken in its broadest implying that incorporates the monetary sense as well as each social movement attempted by people to effectively utilize the skilled assets of nature towards their thriving and prosperity. It has really been confirmed in the examinations by a few creators that ladies assume a predominant job in the improvement of a family, nation, and a country all in all. Studies led by Hanson and Pratt (1995) and Kobayashi (1994) propose that ladies are more productive and accomplish more untiring occupations than men in both country and urban territories. Truth be told their jobs and capacities are end up being multidimensional in all social statuses going from home, childcare and household obligations to social, financial and working environment duties. Gringeri (1994) states that ladies are progressively deciding to do out-of-home occupations with the need of supporting their financial independency . Regardless of that, they appear to be reliant on men for their social and monetary development wherever around the globe. As an outcome of annihilating and destroying regular standards against ladies in a few areas of the world most explicitly the less evolved ones drove the attentive world to the advancement of a few panoptical thoughts and approaches pertinent to ladies and their commitment to the financial improvement of nation named as â€Å"women and development† approaches. Overholt et al. (1984) delineate that these methodologies incredibly added to extend ladies as a financial asset that could be used further towards the development of economy. The first of these was the all-popular methodology called â€Å"women-in-development† that was stimulated and progressed in the mid 1970s that effectively enlightened the world with respect to the job that was and that could be played by ladies in the monetary advancement of nations around

The Symbolism in Look Back in Anger - Literature Essay Samples

John Osborne’s technique in Look Back in Anger reveals his indebtedness to Henrik Ibsen and his contemporary Samuel Beckett in naturalistic plays. He uses images and symbols, both verbal and non verbal for the sake of objectification. These symbols not only include the structure of the play and the location of action, but also stage props, acting postures, sounds (both on stage and off), dialogues, character movements, and the human beings themselves. In fact, Osborne drew inspiration from his personal life and failing marriage with Pamela Lane while writing Look Back in Anger. Osborne’s use of elaborate stage direction to situate his plays is a special milieu. The specific mention of the hero, Jimmy Porter â€Å"wearing a very warm tweed jacket and flannels† signifies his belonging to a very specific time period, particularly the 1950s and to a certain social order, i.e. the non moneyed middle class. His wife, Alison wearing a â€Å"cherry red shirt of Jimmy’s† and Helena too being clothed in Jimmy’s old shirt symbolize both of them as Jimmy’s women, a sign of his personal possessions. The act of ironing of a pile of â€Å"erased clothes† also suggests a number of troubles that are infesting their lives that need to be sorted. Along with the background images of stagnation, washing, and the cistern, the symbolic analogy of dirt and squalor that need to be cleansed is highly interesting. One is reminded of the rottenness of the state of Denmark in Shakespeare’s Hamlet that needed the protagonistâ€℠¢s intervention. Both Alison and Helena seem to be occupied with ironing clothes throughout the evening on Sundays. Mary McCarthy points out the stagnant boredom of Sundays in a provisional term when the newspapers and book reviews also appear to be the same. The newspaper itself assumes the symbol of Jimmy’s intellect and he complains at all times that nobody in his family treats it with respect except him. Jimmy Porter’s anger against the earlier generation is one of the most important aspects of the play and it is to be noted that such exasperation and frustration was the most common feature of the post war cohort. The social complacency of the Edwardian era that Jimmy thinks to be responsible for his present plight is the â€Å"Edwardian twilight† that Jimmy refers to. It stands for everything that his world lacks. Colonel Redfern, Nigel, Alison’s mother, and Miss Drury are all people who are privileged in comparison to Jimmy and hence the subject of his ire. He resents these people and fills and instinctive antipathy for the upper class including Alison and Helena. Likewise he feels a strong empathy for the poor and suffering like Hugh Tanner, his mother, Mrs. Tanner, and Jimmy’s own father whose death is still poignant in his mind. He admires his former lover Madeline in whom he sees an example of the â€Å"enthusiasm† that is lacking in Alison; s he is vivacious while the latter is almost somnolent. Alison is not only his class enemy but also his sexual antagonist. Her toilet is conceived by Osborne in symbolic terms as weapons in a battlefield, almost like Belinda’s toilet in The Rape of the Lock. The church exemplifies a cultural value that Jimmy detests. Thus, when the church bells begin to ring, he expresses his abhorrence: â€Å"I don’t want to hear them!†. The church bell serves as a reminder of his failure to transform the world and bring out harmony in his personal life. He associates a radical orthodox facet of society with the churches, both of which irritates and annoy him to no end. Another auditory image, the sound of his own trumpet becomes very important. It is his way to protest against what is bothering and annoying him all the time and also channeling out his anger through the monotonous tone. The bear and the squirrel symbolism is one of the most important in the play: â€Å"a tattered toy teddy bear† and a â€Å"soft wooly squirrel† initially appeared on stage props in the first stage directions. This animal symbolism occur with other brute references such as pig (Jimmy), bitch and rhinoceros (Alison’s mother), and cat (Alison). Jimmy and Alison’s bear and squirrel game is their own way to access a simple affection for each other that they otherwise cannot achieve in their real life. The bear is associated with Jimmy, while his wife embodies the squirrel. It expresses their desire for an imaginative release from the pain of their human existence. As animals depend on their instincts, whose only concerns are food, shelter, cleanliness, and sex, in the same way the couple’s game signifies a nullification of the rational lifestyle. They can forget their conflict and feel a simpler version of love for one another. â€Å"We could become lit tle furry creatures with little furry brains. Full of dumb, uncomplicated affection for each other†¦And now, even they are dead, poor little silly animals. They were all love, and no brains.† (Act 2 scene 1). Thus, symbolism has always been an innate part of literature and a large number of authors have used this device for different cultures, for traditional stories, fables, legends, religious context. It is not only important for providing the writers with a freedom to give different interpretations but has also given universality to the characters as well as to the themes in the world of literature. It is through this extensive use of images and symbols that the audience/readers are able to empathize with Jimmy and understand the reason of his extreme anger and frustration. They also serve the purpose of bringing out the dynamics of the different types of relationships that the characters have with one another. Therefore, the elaborate pattern of symbols that John Osborne uses enriches the realism and provides a structural coherence to the play. The symbols do not disrupt the verisimilitude but strive to provide a deeper understanding of the richness and depth of the text.

Juvenile Delinquents Sit At A Table Sporting Jumpsuits

A group of seven juvenile delinquents sit at a table sporting jumpsuits that’s draped over their street clothes, not knowing what’s expected to happen next during their jail visit at the Douglas County prison in Georgia. The cameras, that are rolling for Beyond Scared Straight, a reality television series that takes at risk teenagers to different state run prisons across the United States to give them a glance of where they ll end up if they continue making wrong choices, show the confused look on the delinquents’ faces when they see the next prisoner walking through the door. Instead of a pair of six foot, 300 pounder monsters that were charged for two counts of aggravated assault and attempted murder like some of the inmates that the†¦show more content†¦Derron is also part of the estimated 250,000 juveniles who are tired, sentenced and incarcerated each year by the American Justice System, a practice that’s occurred in the United States for the past couple centuries, where children and teenagers are tried in court as adults and later sent to maximum security prisons with murderers, rapists and other violent criminals. The thrill of performing dangerous actions and the unwillingness of the consequences, a void of adult influence in the home has facilitated to an increase probability in suicide, sexual assault and the likelihood to commit another crime after release. The ineptness to hold a juvenile accountable in a safe manner can change but it’ll require the realization of the state and federal government to choose a rehabilitation recovery rather than throwing adolescents in with violent adults . The three million people behind bars is an assumption based on the statistic that more than one in every 100 Americans are prisoners controlled by the state or federal government. In 2008, the prison population grew by 25,000 last year, bringing it to almost 1.6 million, while an additional 723,000 are locked up in small er jails. At the time, there were 230 million adults in the United

Peer Pressure And Media Cause Eating Disorders - 1743 Words

Peer Pressure and Media Cause Eating Disorders A USA Today article reported, â€Å"According to a 2011 study in Archives of General Psychiatry about 6% of youths suffer from eating disorders. The report went on to say the 55% of high school girls and 30% of boys had eating disorder symptoms. They used diet pills, vomiting, laxatives, fasting and binge-eating to help them lose weight (Healy). Going along with the previous statistic, The Random House Dictionary defines peer pressure as a social pressure by members of one’s peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted (â€Å"Peer Pressure†). The aftermath of being constantly pressured by fellow peers can lead to various health conditions for both children and teens. This pressure doesn’t just have to be from unfriendly peers, it can also be friends or even family members. Children and teens want to be accepted and they often feel pressured to fit in. They often want to be one of the more popular student s in their class. By being thin, they feel that they can achieve this. When someone thinks that they are not thin enough it can lead to serious health conditions. Also, when someone is continually being told that they are fat, they may end up believing that it is true. However, these health conditions are not only caused by peer pressure. In the end it is peer pressure and the media can ultimately lead someone into having serious eating disorders just to stay thin. Young AmericanShow MoreRelatedPeer Pressure And Media Cause Eating Disorders1759 Words   |  8 PagesJanuary 2015 Peer Pressure and Media Cause Eating Disorders A USA Today article reported, â€Å"According to a 2011 study in Archives of General Psychiatry about 6% of youths suffer from eating disorders. The report went on to say the 55% of high school girls and 30% of boys had eating disorder symptoms. They used diet pills, vomiting, laxatives, fasting and binge-eating to help them lose weight.† (Healy). Going along with the previous statistic, The Random House Dictionary defines peer pressure as â€Å"a socialRead MoreEating Abnormalities: A Disease or Disorder?1087 Words   |  4 PagesEating Abnormalities: A Disease or Disorder? Did you know millions of people are affected by eating disorders? Well if you did not know, eating disorders are a mental illness and a physical illness in one. There are many young people struggling in the world with these disorders. â€Å"Statistics show that twenty-four million people of all ages and gender are suffering from eating disorders; 47% of girls want to lose weight because of media, but they fail to consider the number of eating disorders thatRead MoreThink Of A Beautiful, Ten-Year-Old Girl Standing In The1281 Words   |  6 Pagesthe other girls in her class. She looks at the models on TV and envies their skinniness. She wants to look just like them. At ten years old, she starts running after dinner and not eating as much as she use to eat. That beautiful little girl is just like every woman all over the world; she is pressured to by the media to have a â€Å"perfect body.’ Women all over the world are coerced by society to change the way they look. These wo men are beautiful just the way God made them, but society is trying toRead MoreSociocultural Factors that Lead to Eating Disorders in Young Women1604 Words   |  7 PagesSociocultural Factors that Lead to Eating Disorders in Young Women According to the DSM-5, anorexia nervosa is characterized by â€Å"distorted body image and excessive dieting that leads to severe weight loss with a pathological fear of becoming fat† while bulimia nervosa is characterized by â€Å"frequent episodes of binge eating followed by inappropriate behaviors such as self-induced vomiting to avoid weight gain† (DSM-5, American Psychiatric Association, 2013). These two disorders most often affect adolescentRead MoreEating Disorder Reflection Paper1341 Words   |  6 Pagesimage and eating disorder. Nah! you are not skinny enough, no one wants a fat guy or a girl, do not eat that you will never get skinny, sadly but truly we are consistently being reminded with phrases like these to pursue a socially accepted thin and trimmed figure. Eating disorders are chronic and serious illness that engages a person into severe irregular eating behaviors to satisfy their distress about maintaining a thin figure and low body weight. The widely known types of eating disorders are AnorexiaRead MoreEating Disorders are a Mental Illness1431 Words   |  6 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Eating disorders are mental illnesses that involve an obsession with food, extremely unhealthy eating behaviors and a distorted body image. They are complicated, serious disorders. The group that eating disorders affects the most are typically girls through the ages of sixteen and twenty years old. Although teenage eating disorders are typically believed to be caused by depression or genetic fa ctors, social media has worsened the problem by the huge increase in peer pressure girls endureRead MoreEssay about Socio-Cultural Influences on Eating Disorders 1073 Words   |  5 Pagesadvertisements go a long way in influencing our choices† (Bagley). The media is highly affective to everyone, although they promote an improper image of living. Research proved says those with low self-esteem are most influenced by media. Media is not the only culprit behind eating disorders. However, that does not mean that they have no part in eating disorders. Media is omnipresent and challenging it can halt the constant pressure on people to be perfect (Bagley). Socio-cultural influences, like theRead MoreEating Disorder : South Carolina Department Of Mental Health862 Words   |  4 PagesMental Health Eating disorder according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary is a â€Å"psychological disorder affected by serious disturbances of eating.† [2]. It Primarily affects females, especially from ages twelve to twenty-five years old. According to Anad, â€Å"Women are more likely to develop a eating disorder than men.† In America, eating disorder has been increasing since the 1950’s. [3] Trauma Trauma is defined as â€Å"A deeply distressing or disturbing experience.† [2] Trauma and eating disorder relate toRead MoreEssay on The Unrealistic Concepts of Female Beauty858 Words   |  4 Pagescarbon copies of these sex symbols. The media presents society with unrealistic body types promoting people, especially women, to look like them. In this day and age there have been an increasingly high rate of eating disorders. The trend of turning to these eating disorders to maintain that perfect, â€Å"accepted† body type are now very common amongst women of all ages.The trends that influence these women include entertainment industry in our society, the peers and friends of women whom are all includedRead MoreBody Image : Breaking The Stereotypes And Standards947 Words   |  4 Pagesamount of pressure put on mostly young women to match the â€Å"ideal† body type. What I want to know is, how can we overcome the stereotypes and standards set by the society we live in today? It is known that all throughout history there has been a set of standards regarding the way we should look. It is true that the standards have changed over the decades, but one thing remains and that is the pressure put upon us to fit the standards. Women especially feel this pressure, and this pressure can come

Anti-Everything free essay sample

Discusses Joseph Hellers satire of the military, medical establishment and big business in Catch-22. This paper discusses Joseph Hellers satire of the institutions that run and support the war (i.e.: the military establishment, the medical institution, and big business) in Catch-22. The author looks at the bureaucracy and absurd tactics of military hierarchy during World War II. Pogo once said: we have met the enemy and it is us. This sums up Joseph Hellers entire message, in his novel, Catch-22. He satirizes entire American ideologies and values. The most targeted was the military institution, during World War II. Heller also criticized Capitalist big business, and portrayed it as a leech that profits off of the hardships of the war. Finally, the medical establishment is severely satirized, against the traditional view of doctors, for acting presumptuous and lacking compassion for the ill. There was only one catch;and that was catch-22. We will write a custom essay sample on Anti-Everything or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page

The Meaning of Life free essay sample

I believe the meaning of life is to give life a meaning. Throughout my entire life, I have wondered what the purpose is. Why am I and every other human being even on this planet in the first place? That brings me to my next question. Is there a God? If there is, why did he put us here? Any Christian asked will say our sole purpose is to serve God. First of all, what does that even mean? And second, I must ask why? Why would a supernatural being place us strategically on this planet strictly to serve him? That sounds pretty selfish to me. There has to be something more. Something concrete. Something greater. How could there not be? All my life I have worked hard to succeed. I have challenged myself and fought to do better than my best. Why? I asked myself. Why stress so much when I’m only going to die in the end? Pessimistic, I know. We will write a custom essay sample on The Meaning of Life or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Finally, I thought, maybe the meaning of life doesn’t have to be so complex. Maybe the meaning of life is whatever we want it to be. Maybe the meaning of life is to give life a meaning. I do what I do because I want to do it. It’s that simple. I do it because it means something to me. Everyone adds their own meaning to life. The meaning of life is never universal. The meaning of life is never complex. The meaning of life is actually quite simple to think about. Many people help the needy. Others play sports. Both activities add meaning to those lives involved. Purposes change, but the overall meaning of life will always stay the same. The meaning of life is simply to give life a meaning. This I believe. The Meaning Of Life free essay sample â€Å"The Meaning of Life† is an excerpt from Richard Taylor’s book Good and Evil: A New Direction, with this book Mr. Taylor was thought to have adopted a radical subjectivist view of ethics. In this excerpt he explains why existence and life is meaningless and he sheds light into the meaning of life. Throughout his explanations Richard uses an example from an ancient Greek myth. The myth is about Sisyphus a Greek man who offended the gods and was sentenced to roll a large stone up a hill for all of eternity. We will write a custom essay sample on The Meaning of Life or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Richard starts his explanation of the â€Å"Meaningless of Existence† with the toils of Sisyphus. Sisyphus is forced to roll a stone up a hill, when it is near the top the stone will roll back down and he is forced to roll it up again, only to have it fall once more to be rolled up again and again for all of eternity. It is Sisyphus’ punishment that we will focus on. Sisyphus is the picture of a â€Å"meaningless, pointless toil of a meaningless existence that is absolutely never redeemed†(Taylor, Richard). He has lost all purpose in life except to roll a stone; it is a never ending nightmare that he will never awaken from. Taylor gives other examples of meaningless tasks, a relay styles race with a precious gem transported back and forth in a never ending cycle, and a digging hole only to be refilled with the same earth. The points to all this is that all these tasks are pointless and without meaning. The story could be different and Sisyphus can have meaning if he circumstance were different, if Sisyphus rolled stone to the top and all the stone accumulated into a wonderful and enduring temple, he would have some meaning to his labors. If the gods as an after thought made it so that Sisyphus’ only will and desire was to roll stone, then Sisyphus would perhaps take enjoyment in his task. This change in his perception does not change his task at hand; it only changes his perspective. His is still condemned to an eternity of meaningless and pointless labor. Therefore the existence of Sisyphus is meaningless, the labor that he performs leads him nowhere, and everything that he does is in vain. The world would be the same with or without his presence. The next section deals with the meaningless of life, he begins this section by explaining what meaningless and meaningfulness is: â€Å"Meaningless is essentially endless pointless and meaningfulness is therefore the opposite. †(Taylor, Richard) for this section he cites ugly blind worms in a New Zealand cave. These worms have the soul purpose of waiting, feeding, transforming into winged adults only living a day or two, mating, laying eggs and finally dying. This example shows us the meaning of life, an endless cycle that accumulates to nothing, and the â€Å"point of living is evidently nothing but life itself. † (Taylor, Richard) We as humans differ form this only a little. We have goals that we work for; once they are completed we set off after another goal, all this work goes to family and home, only to beget others who will follow in the same foot steps in a cycle. Even though we are stuck in a cycle of endless meaningless toil we look to religion, universal justice, brotherhood or any sort of ever lasting good that we may aim for. The last part of this excerpt is the â€Å"meaning of life† we return to the story of Sisyphus who in this example has completed his beautiful tower and is now faced with eternal boredom, before he was faced with the nightmare of pointless activity now he is faced with the hell of eternal absence and boredom. This leads into his explanation that the meaning to our lives is â€Å"our own wills, our deep interest is what we find ourselves doing†(Taylor, Richard). Even though our existence is short and our toils fade we can hold memories of the past. The point of living is to continue what we are doing because giving up and doing nothing would be no salvation. The resolution to this excerpt is that we live life because our will is to live and build castles for our children so they can build castles for theirs. This question of living has puzzled philosophers for centuries, I have also come across this question, with my reasoning I could not figure it out, for if, great philosophers couldn’t then how could I? Mr. Taylor’s views are interesting and some of what he says does make sense. The myth of Sisyphus is the focal point of Richard Taylor’s reasoning the meaning of life; he explains Sisyphus eternal punishment in detail. Richard also gives other scenarios of Sisyphus’ task, if his labors accumulated into a beautiful tower or if he was some how made to enjoy rolling stones. I agree that in a way all ours lives are like that of Sisyphus’ toil. A cycle of endless toil, we work towards our little goals and glimpse of happiness, which are sure to fade over time. The meaningless of life is explained in the second section; Richard uses two insects to show the meaningless of life, the glow worms and the cicadas. Richard states that there is no meaning to life because it is an endless cycle of pointless and meaningless events. At the moment our goals may seem a great deal of importance in our lives but in the end all our toils are pointless and meaningless in the end. I understand this point in his explanation but I disagree, I think a person can find meaning in every ting they do. It is true that this meaning doesn’t last forever but the pleasure we take from everyday life and experience is well worth it. I don’t believe that everything is meaningless in life just because we all die in the end. I believe that it’s not the end of ones life that is important; it’s the journey that one takes through life. It is the accumulation of everyday happiness that makes our lives worthwhile. There is an old saying that the end of a journey is not important, it is the lessons we learn along the journey that counts. In the last section of the excerpt is the meaning of life, Richards explains that we live life because of our own will. I also agree with this, living life with a purpose and a will is much better compared to living a life of doing nothing and boredom because we know it eventually ends. I have very optimistic views of human life; I believe that everyone’s life has a meaning and a purpose. If a person is dying of cancer and has only a few months left, but a doctor performs an operation and saves him, he will have meaning to live again and he will cherish the rest of his life, sure he will die eventually but presently he will be grateful to live and he will give the doctor a reason to continue what he is doing. In my opinion the reason we live is for experience, we live to learn and experience new things. Like that old saying about the journey and the end, it is the process of the journey that is important. We live life not thinking about our deaths, we live it for the experiences that each day brings.

Spanish culture Essays

Spanish culture Essays Spanish culture Paper Spanish culture Paper Essay Topic: Aint I a Woman Black Women and Feminism In general, it is always very advantageous to speak the countrys language you intend to do business with, and particularly if you intend to live there on a permanent basis. This is true for every culture but even more for Spain, as the Spaniards do not, on average, speak English as well as a Northern European. Many companies in Spain have staff with good English language skills, but an initial approach in Spanish is more effective and it is inevitable on a non-corporate level. However, to succeed in Spain or any other culture in general, good language skills alone are in most cases simply not sufficient. Cultural differences and customs can cause more difficulties and stress than one might expect. As a consequence, it is always wise to enquire about the cultural particularities and the way one is expected to respond to them beforehand. Those soft skills might not decide upon success or failure, but what is quite certain is that they create comfort, be it in the business environment or in your private life in Spain. The cross-cultural competence comprises aspects related to verbal and non-verbal communication, social behaviour and appearance. In order to prevent culture shock and not to drop a clanger you should be aware of the following: GREETING and ADDRESSING a PERSON In Spain there are distinct differences in the greeting customs between males and females or in a formal or informal meeting. When introduced expect to shake hands; do so again when leaving. Many Spaniards will meet each other with a kiss on both cheeks, mostly close female friends. However, this is not common in business relationships where it is wisest to offer just a handshake. Once a relationship is established, men may exchange a hug and pat each other on the shoulder. Spaniards have two first names and two surnames, constituted of their fathers first surname and their mothers first surname. People are often referred to as Don or Dona and their first name when in formal occasion, or use Sei or or Sei ora as you would Mr. or Mrs. COMMUNICATION Spaniards are very talkative and are very energetic while talking. This energy becomes apparent in the pace of their speech, the tone of their voice as well as in their body language. So if several people speak at once dont be surprised and be prepared that your Spanish counterparts could, and he/she usually will, interrupt you. This is not a sign of disrespect but the way to show how interested they are in what you are saying. Vice versa you feel free do it, too. Spaniards also speak a lot with their hands; you should not mistake it for anger and what is also very important, never mimic them. Generally, people stand very close when talking, what might be intimidating or uncomfortable for you but stepping back from them will likely be seen as offensive. Even though Spaniards require less personal/physical space while communicating you should never touch, hug or back slap a Spaniard you do not know well, unless a friendly Spaniard touches you first. As far as the conversation topics are concerned you might talk about sports, your home country, Spanish traditions and history and your family but you should avoid discussing religion, feminism, Civil War and World War II. You should be polite at all times in Spain. On entering a shop or a bar a general buenos dias (good morning) or buenas tardes (good afternoon), and adios (good buy) on leaving is expected. A popular trap for foreigners is the similarity between the words services and servicios; so if you commend someone for his good servicios, you are basically praising his toilet. Also be aware of your body language which might lead to misunderstandings and offence. While crossing your fingers has several meanings, usually things such as protection or good luck, and is a nice gesture to be friendly, the forming of a circle using your thumb and index finger (American symbol for ok) constitutes a deep insult in Spain as it refers to certain body parts. You should also refrain from yawning or stretching in public as it is considered vulgar. If you want to indicate that you are alert you could pull down on your eyelid. If you are a woman be prepared for lengthy gazes from admiring males and whistles, although it is now considered to be rude doing so. MEETINGS and NEGOTIATIONS Spaniards prefer doing business with people they know and trust. As a consequence, it is important for your success to spend sufficient time with your potential business partners and let them to get to know you. This will usually happen during meetings, as face-to-face communication is the preferred way to establish business relationships and doing business in general. Meetings are often held over lunches and dinners. Nevertheless, they are yet formal and follow rules of protocol but those are not always too strict. Furthermore, you should ensure that your partner knows about your intention to talk about business. The first meeting is usually all about getting to know each other, so do not be surprised if it does not lead to a conclusion of the contract. In general, meetings are for discussion and exchanging ideas rather than making decisions. In addition, most Spaniards do not give their opinions at meetings, therefore you are advised to watch their non-verbal communication. Doing so will also help you to ensure your partners understand you, as Spaniards do not like to lose their face and try to avoid looking foolish at all times they will rarely admit that they do not understand something. This is more the case if you are not speaking Spanish. In Spain it is of crucial importance how you present yourself. Along your immaculate outward appearance your character and personality will play a big role. It is best for you to display modesty, e. g. when describing your achievements and accomplishments. Furthermore, play safe avoiding confrontations and particularly avoid insulting the Spanish ego at all costs. Honour and personal pride mean everything in Spanish culture and Spaniards do not like to publicly admit that they are wrong thus, it is better to agree that you disagree rather than maintaining your ground. In addition, always try to build rapport with your colleagues as feelings are as important as evidence in making a decision to the Spanish. Appointments are binding and should be made in advance, preferably by telephone or fax and reconfirmed the week before. Even though Spain is one of the least punctual countries in the whole Europe make sure you arrive on time and be prepared to keep waiting for some 15-30 minutes on your business colleagues rather than keep them waiting for you. Present your business card, best if it is two-sided, to your partner upon arriving, handing it with the Spanish side facing the recipient. Although, many Spanish business people speak English, not all do so. Thus, it is wise to check it beforehand and if needed to hire an interpreter. It is recommended to bring plenty of literature about your company, samples of your products or demonstrations of your services. Moreover, it is a very good idea to have all of your materials printed in two languages, Spanish and your own. Hand out a paper summary of your presentation in Spanish to make sure that your audience understands what you are saying. Negotiations are normally extremely long and arduous but if succeed they will usually result in a long-term relationship for your company and particularly for you as a person. Even if you switch companies your Spanish colleagues allegiances will be to you rather than the company you represent. So remaining patient in business transactions can be very rewarding. During business negotiations, rules and systems are only used as a last resort to solving a problem, and you should be prepared for a chaotic atmosphere. Often several people will be talking simultaneously and interrupting you. In the Spanish business culture, at the conclusion of a successful negotiation it is common to offer gifts . You should ensure that it is a high-quality item and that it is finely wrapped. If you are offered a gift, you should open it immediately and in front of the giver to show him respect. DINING ETIQUETTE and ENTERTAINMENT In the south of Spain it is acceptable to be late by 30 minutes for social meetings. If you are invited to a Spanish persons house you can bring chocolates, or cake; wine, liqueur, or brandy; flowers for the hostess, or a small gift for the children, which is always appreciated. Meals in Spain are a great opportunity for establishing personal relationships and developing trust, even with the business partners. Business colleagues often dine together, but different ranks within a company do not mix. Spanish men normally accept a meal invitation form a businesswoman although she must remain purely professional at all times. Generally meal time in Spain is considered as time for relaxation. Unless an arrangement was made for discussing business in a restaurant, deals are normally closed in the office. However, after a successful negotiation you all go to a restaurant to celebrate. Attempt to give a toast in Spanish (toast from females also acceptable) but let the host do the first toast. You are only to bring a spouse, if you know that the others are bringing their spouses, too. Also smoking during dinners is much more acceptable in Spain than in other countries. It is better to decline food rather than not finishing it, as in Spain it is considered rude to waste food. Tipping everybody is very common in Spanish culture; a tip of 5% in restaurants will be appreciated. DRESS ETIQUETTE Appearance is extremely important to Spaniards. They place greater value on formal dressing than many other Europeans. In Spain it is necessary to project good taste in apparel. If you want to leave a lasting impression, look fashionable and smart; dress conservatively and try to avoid bright or flashy colours, for it is not favoured to stand out. Business attire includes suits and ties, even in warm weather, as shorts are rarely worn in public. However, the jacket can be taken off during a meeting, if the senior person may do so. Female business travellers are best off in well-cut suits, dresses, blouses and skirts, and they should accentuate their femininity through impeccable hair. Elegant accessories are significant for both male and female. If you get a formal invitation to a party, you should wear a black tuxedo for men and a cocktail dress for women, always in conservative colours. Business casual usually means a clean and fashionable designer cotton shirt and good pants, and of course, no tie.

Informative speech on the differences in mile stones between a normal Essay

Informative speech on the differences in mile stones between a normal person and a person with developmental disabilities - Essay Example Childhood is a period marked by incredible growth rate and every parent is excited about the future prospects of their children. Despite our differences that we show once we are on this earth, we develop along a certain route but at different rates. While some are slow in developing, others are fast. Yet others need wheelchairs to move around. Meyerhoff (6) believe that children are always surrounded by eager caretakers who follow every step of the kid’s growth, always enquiring why the child next door is developing fast than theirs. Many beg to ask if normal development has a range. Although, people develop at different rate, normal development has a range that is used to show the differences in milestones between a normal person and a person with developmental disabilities. According to Meyerhoff (6), developmental milestones are crucial in assessing the development of a child. It is good to note that the milestones are not static as different individuals either exhibit skills earlier while other individuals are late in exhibiting the skills. The milestones are also used to diagnose children with developmental disorders. These milestones are often associated with development of language capabilities, motor and social development. The milestones are divided into age categories and a normal child should show the skills and abilities of one age category before they enter into the next age category. It is also important to note that children develop differently in the different areas. Further, children who develop fast in one area may be slow in other areas. For example, a child who learns to use verbal language may struggle with spoken language. Another factor to note in developmental milestones is cultural differences. The development of an individual may be influenced by cultural and environmental differences. It is common knowledge that cultures perceive things differently. For example, making eye contact, speaking to adults and

Health and Human Services Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Health and Human Services - Assignment Example The following denotes factual data on the racial and ethnic disparities in the US health and human services sector: †¢ Prior to 1994, the medical enrollment database only enlisted existing races as white, black, and other or unknown (Academic Journal, Sequist and Schneider 2006, pp. 1455). †¢ Over 50% of African Americans don’t receive appropriate key medical procedures relative to whites (Report, Committee on Understanding and Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care 2009, pp. 2) †¢ Between the years of 200 and 2008, the percentage of dialysis patients increased overall, but blacks and Hispanics were less likely to be registered on waiting lists relative to whites (Government, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2012). †¢ Over the years, health services providers have both intentionally and unintentionally communicated lower expectations for patients in disadvantaged racial and ethnic positions (Academic Journal, Sequist and Schneider 2006, pp. 1456). †¢ In 2009, Blacks and Hispanics were the least likely to receive to receive medical attention on diabetes relative to whites (Government, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2012). †¢ 66% of young non-Hispanic white adults aged between the ages of 20 – 29 are twice as likely to get private health insurance coverage as Hispanics, who stand at only 33% (Report, Cohen and Bloom 2011). †¢ In 2007, Blacks made up almost half of the patients suffering from HIV/AIDS, despite being just 13% of the US population (Government, 2010).

Total Separation of Church and State Essay Example for Free

Total Separation of Church and State Essay Total Separation of Church and State â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The first Amendment of the Bill of Rights within the Constitution and an amendment that comes with support, rejection, and controversy. The amendment was made because the forefathers didn’t want a bloodbath that had plagued most of the world. Since 1618, at least 23 million people have been killed during a war revolving around religion issues. The wars have been fought over land, where separate countries claim a spot of land was promised to them, which is similar to the hostility that is going on between Israel and Palestine, and beliefs, like the Taliban and Syrian rebels attacking the United States Embassy’s because of a movie showing the face of the Islamic prophet Allah, and portraying him as a foolish, sexist pig. Many wars were fought â€Å"in the name of God†, which caused many men, women, and children to parish. When the forefathers came to North America, they didn’t want a repeat of the hostility. Thomas Jefferson coined the phrase â€Å"separation of church and state† in a letter to a political friend, and the phrase stuck, with James Madison saying, â€Å"The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe for centuries. † Because of the senseless fighting in Europe, separation was widely celebrated. But for separation to work, it needs to be enforced and to be strict. Strict separation is desirable for several reasons. First, it is a way of ensuring that we can all, as Americans, feel that it is â€Å"our† government, whatever our religion or lack of. If government becomes aligned with a particular religion or religions, those of other beliefs are made to feel like outsiders. The total separation of Church and State would benefit all citizens because it would end the persecution of non-religious persons. But, in the end, it comes down to one question: Can anyone prove that religion is a benefit to everyday life if it’s included in government? Since the founding of our country, the United States of America has been, mostly, Christian country with over two-thirds of the people belonging to Christianity, but that number is dropping. With the religious population dwindling down in the United States, the government should erect a wall of separation that James Madison and Thomas Jefferson envisioned. Erwin Chemerinsky wrote in the book Why Church and State Should Be Separate, â€Å"It seem s to me that if we want our citizens to feel that the government is open for everyone – that it is their government – we need our government to be strictly secular. With the total separation of the church from all federal affairs, it would benefit the citizens of the United States of America from persecution on individual’s personal beliefs and ideals. Our forefathers came over to the Americas to escape the religious oppression of the King of England, and the Church. While holding onto their Christian beliefs, the forefathers decided that the land that would become the United States of America would be of religious freedom, so as not to repeat the atrocity of England during this time period. Even though they tried, the oppression found itself on our shores, coming with a vengeance. In the past 50 years, the government has been adding religion into our country. On June 14th, 1954, president Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law a change to the Pledge of Allegiance by adding ‘Under God’. Two years later, Eisenhower signed a law officially declaring â€Å"In God We Trust† as our nation’s official motto, which also mandated the phrase be printed on all American paper currency. Eisenhower’s choices to add these religious statements showed that the government has ahold of the ideals that once plagued England. This issue has been fought in many unsuccessful lawsuits trying to undo the damage done by Eisenhower. The biggest issue is a government cannot be premised on the belief that all persons are created equal when it asserts that God prefers some. This belief counter acts everything that the country had worked to accomplish. According to the principle of the constitution regarding the separation of church and state, religion is a private matter, which has no place in the presence of government. As in every argument, there are two sides. In this case, people say that we don’t need a wall of separation, that the church and state should become one, and that the United States should officially become a God fearing country, and that anyone who is not a Christian shouldn’t hold political offices. There’s a growing movement in which nonreligious persons are becoming more and more abundant, beginning to compare with the number of the Christians in the country, leading to a conflict that resembles the Crusades without all the violence. All religion should be kept out of government buildings and any and every government acknowledgements of a God should be thrown out, respecting the citizens that are not religious. Throwing out the mention of religion could lead to some major changes within the government, which could benefit the country. The first reason to make this change is that it protects the nonreligious from unfair persecution. Besides the danger of a direct mixture of religion and government, there is an evil which ought to be guarded against in the indefinite accumulation of property from the capacity of holding it in perpetuity by ecclesiastical corporations. Many Americans misunderstand the words â€Å"separation of church and state†, assuming that the law requires that public life must have nothing whatsoever to do with religion. The founders, by and large, were very much supportive of the role of religion in society, but they separated the ideas of society and government, leaving religion to play a role in society, not government. The separation of church and state is not meant to hinder religion, or to deny the role of religion in society or in our history. The concept of â€Å"separation of church and state† applies to the actions of the government only. The second reason to make a change is that we will be able to tax the churches. In 1986, an estimate showed that all religious income for that year was approximately $100 billion, or about five times the income of the five largest corporations in the United States. All tax free. With the money that is made from churches, the country would be bringing in billions of dollars a year that we can use to help pay off the deficit, build more roads, make more jobs, and build more schools. The third reason is that it’ll take the pressure off of public offices. When John F. Kennedy was elected president in 1961, the public was scared that the Catholic Church would take over the country. President Kennedy quickly made public that he supported separation of church and state and that â€Å"no catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be catholic) how to act†¦Ã¢â‚¬  As President Kennedy believed in, the greatest way for our nation to flourish is without religion involved in politics. Many politicians can’t be elected and lose to individuals that are not as qualified as they may have been. Religion is a very powerful tool, which we need to be careful on how we use it. Taking it out of government and federal affairs would greatly benefit the nation. The future of the United States of America is strong and prosperous as long as it adheres to the wishes of the forefathers and past presidents. Without religion, we shall strive. With religion, we will fall. In 1773, a Rev. Isaac Backus, a prominent Baptist minister in New England, studied amongst his people that when â€Å"church and state are separate, the effects are happy, and they do not interfere with each other: but where they have been confounded together, no tongue nor pen can fully describe the mischiefs that have ensued. † Looking at the ministers studies, it comes down to one final question: what will you choose; happy and separate, or mischievous and confounded together? With the non-religious growing in more and more numbers and their beliefs coming out, the world is noticing a change, a change for the better.  The change is bringing down the level of hostility toward non-religious individuals, and with separation of the church and state becoming an even bigger issue in today’s world; it has become a topic which cannot be ignored any longer.

Iacocca :: Essays Papers

Iacocca The book Iacocca is an autobiography of Mr. Lee Iacocca. The first couple of sections of his book were about family. Starting with his mother and father, coming over from Italy and his childhood. His father always taught him something that when he was going to do something that he had to be the best. Which is to be believed, where he got his strength in competition later in his business career. Then after his parents came his wife and children, whom he loved. The next few sections were about his job and how it was changed through out the years. Even when his job was still with the same company his position is that company changed many times in his career before he even traded companies. Mr. Iacocca had a very loving and understanding family as told in this book. His parents were always a major part in his life even after he got married and they were a large part of his life up until their deaths. His father was always interested in cars and so in a way Mr. Iacocca grew up around cars and the knowledge of them. His father taught him many valuable lessons about how to deal with himself and others which also may have helped him in his future career in the business world. When he married, his parents were proud but in a small way they were pushed to the side to make room for his new wife, Mary. After Mary and He were married they had some children. These children became his pride and joy. When this family grew, they all grew together in turn and they also grew closer together. This family was extremely close. Even though the family was close, his job did seem to have a slight impact on them. When Mr. Iacocca first started working for Ford, he was a low ranking engineer, fresh out of college like many of his co-workers. He tried the engineering job for a few months until he decided that he didn’t want to work in that department but he wanted to work in the sales department. After this major change in his life, he took control and went to his boss and said â€Å"there is no point in me finishing the training course and that my masters degree from Princeton was equivalent to the second nine-months of training.

Tomb of Shihuangdi

Tomb of Shihuangdi Professor Carney Hum 111 Joanna Davis January 23, 2012 Qin Shihuangdi, born Ying Zheng was one of the most influential rulers of all China. It is believed that Shihuangdi was father by one of two men, Zichu a son of the king of Qin at the time. Zichu was sent as a hostage to the state of Zhao during a dispute between the two kingdoms (Lindesay p. 4). Eventually Zichu was allowed to live freely in Zhao. There he became acquainted with a rich, but conniving merchant named Lu Buwei, who had a concubine. When Zichu became interested in the concubine, Lu Buwei stepped aside and eventually helped them escaped to Qin where Zichu shortly became king (Lindesay p. 4). Shortly after arriving in Qin, Ying Zheng (later to become Shihaungdi) was born. It was never revealed whether Zichu or Lu Buwei was his father. At only thirteen Shihuangdi took control of the Qin Dynasty, which was a start of a great rule for the young emperor. Many accomplishments were accredited to his rule, The Great Wall, a road system throught the kingdom, a written script that unified all of China, and of course his mystifying tomb that contain life-sized soldiers of the Terra Cotta Army. Many theories surround his tomb. Probably one of the most fascinating archaeological discoveries was his tomb with over 6,000 life-size soldiers buried with the emperor. One theory that could be believable was that he feared death, therefore he was always in search of immortality. In seeking immortality Shihaungdi made at least three pilgrimages to Zhifu Island seeking immortality. In one case of he sent Xu Fu, a Zhifu islander, with ships carrying hundreds of men and women in search of the mystical Penglai mountain (Wintle p. 61, p. 71). Penglai mountain was said to be the home for the Eight immortals and the 1,000 year old magician Anqi Sheng who Shihaungdi supposedly met while traveling, invited him to seek him there (Pregadio p. 199). The people that was sent on the voyage never returned with any evidence of the immortal, or the magician, perhaps in fear of returning without any news they would be executed. Legend states they reached Japan and colonized it (Cavendish p. 17). Many of the Emperor’s best scholars were also executed for not being able to produce any evidence of supernatural powers. Since Shihaungdi was afraid of death he had workers build tunnels and passage ways to each of his palace, thinking this would protect him from the evil spirits, as he traveled unseen. Death In 211 BC a large meteor is said to have fallen in the lower reaches of the Yellow River. On it was the words inscribed â€Å"The First Emperor will die and his land will be divided (Liang p. 5). When he heard of this, he sent an imperial secretary to investigate this prophecy. When no one would confess, everybody living nearby was put to death. On September 10, 210 BC (Julian Calendar),while on one of his tours to Eastern China the Emperor died. Reportedly, he died from ingesting mercury pills, made by his court scientists and doctors (Wright p. 49). Ironically Shihaungdi ingested the pills thinking they would make him immortal (Wright p. 49). Perhaps there maybe some truth to this theory surrounding his death due to the fact high levels of mercury was found in his tomb. References Cavendish, M. (2006). China Condensed: 5000 Years of History & Culture. Liang, Y. (2007). The Leitimation of New orders: Case Studies in World History. Chinese University Press. Lindesay, W. (2008). The Terracotta Army of the First Emperor of China. Airphoto International Ltd. Man, J. (2008). The Terra Cotta Army. Da Capo Press, Cambridge, MA Wintle, J. (2002) China. Rough Guides Publishing. Wright, D. (2001). The History of China. Greenwood Publishing Group.

How to Write a Persuasive Essay

When writing a persuasive essay, the authors goal is to sway the reader to share his or her opinion. It can be more difficult than  making an argument, which involves using facts to prove a point. A successful persuasive essay will reach the reader on an emotional level, much the way a well-spoken politician does. Persuasive speakers arent necessarily trying to convert the reader or listener to completely change their minds, but rather to consider an idea or a focus in a different way. While its important to use credible arguments supported by facts, the persuasive writer wants to convince the reader or listener that his or her argument is not simply correct, but convincing as well. The are several different ways to choose a topic for your persuasive essay. Your teacher may give you a prompt or a choice of several prompts. Or you may have to come up with a topic, based on your own experience or the texts youve been studying. If you do have some choice in the topic selection, its helpful if you select one that interests you and about which you already feel strongly. Another key factor to consider before you begin writing is the audience. If youre trying to persuade a roomful of teachers that homework is bad, for instance, youll use a different set of arguments than you would if the audience was made up of high school students or parents. Once you have the topic and have considered the audience, there are a few steps to prepare yourself before you begin writing your persuasive essay: Brainstorm.  Use whatever method of brainstorming works best for you. Write down your thoughts about the topic. Make sure you know where you stand on the issue. You can even try asking yourself some questions. Ideally, youll try to ask yourself questions that could be used to refute your argument, or that could convince a reader of the opposite point of view. If you dont think of the opposing point of view, chances are your instructor or a member of your audience will.Investigate.  Talk to classmates, friends, and teachers about the topic. What do they think about it? The responses that you get from these people will give you a preview of how they would respond to your opinion. Talking out your ideas, and testing your opinions, is a good way to collect evidence. Try making your arguments out loud. Do you sound shrill and angry, or determined and self-assured? What you say is as important as how you say it.Think.  It may seem obvious, but you really have to think about how you a re going to persuade your audience. Use a calm, reasoning tone. While persuasive essay writing is at its most basic an exercise in emotion, try not to choose words that are belittling to the opposing viewpoint, or that rely on insults. Explain to your reader why, despite the other side of the argument, your viewpoint is the right, most logical one.Find examples.  There are many writers and speakers who offer compelling, persuasive arguments. Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have a Dream speech is widely cited as one of the most persuasive arguments in American rhetoric. Eleanor Roosevelts The Struggle for Human Rights is another example of a skilled writer trying to persuade an audience. But be careful: While you can emulate a certain writers style, be careful not to stray too far into imitation. Be sure the words youre choosing are your own, not words that sound like theyve come from a thesaurus (or worse, that theyre someone elses words entirely).Organize.  In any paper that you writ e you should make sure that your points are well-organized and that your supporting ideas are clear, concise, and to the point. In persuasive writing, though, it is especially important that you use specific examples to illustrate your main points. Dont give your reader the impression that you are not educated on the issues related to your topic. Choose your words carefully.Stick to the script.  The best essays follow a simple set of rules: First, tell your reader what youre going to tell them. Then, tell them. Then, tell them what youve told them. Have a strong, concise thesis statement before you get past the second paragraph, because this is the clue to the reader or listener to sit up and pay attention.Review and revise.  If you know youre going to have more than one opportunity to present your essay, learn from the audience or reader feedback, and continue to try to improve your work. A good argument can become a great one if properly fine-tuned.