Virtue Ethics Vs. Sentimentalist Virtue - 1858 Words

Virtue Ethics vs. Sentimentalist Virtue Ethics Virtue Ethics is defined as â€Å"any character-based approach to normative ethics that emphasizes some conception virtues and vices; often including a universal conception of human flourishing† (Blakley, Christopher). Aristotle and David Hume developed accounts of ethics that remained true to their own empirical philosophies; both of which stray away from the more traditional accounts. Their opposing theories contain the overall theme of how a virtuous person would live their life. In contrast, David Hue developed his own account of sentimentalist virtue ethics that challenges, or pushes back on, the virtue ethics Aristotle. According to Aristotle, we should be virtuous people, and therefore perform virtuous acts. Instead of talking about particular actions and the rules according to which they are undertaken, then, Aristotle requires us to look at virtues, or qualities of character. Aristotle’s teachings emphasize more on character traits rather than rules or obligations. â€Å"Moral agency is not merely a matter of which rules to follow, but a whole way of life. It requires a unity of thought and feeling, which is characteristic of what Aristotle, called ‘virtue’† (Boetzkes and Waluchow, p. 23). What is a virtue, and what is the virtuous life? Aristotle’s definition is cited as â€Å"a state of character concerned with choice, lying in a mean, i.e., the mean relative to us, this being determined by rational principle, that principle by

Consequences of China’s One Child Policy Free Essays

HIST HP 264-002| Consequences of China’s One-Child Policy| | | In the mid 1950’s, China’s population grew rapidly under Mao Zedong. He felt that the only way for China to get back on its feet was to become industrialized and that China would need manpower for this industrialization. â€Å"Even if China’s population multiplies many times, she is fully capable of finding a solution; the solution is production,† Mao Zedong proclaimed in 1949. We will write a custom essay sample on Consequences of China’s One Child Policy or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"Of all things in the world, people are the most precious. † The population grew so dramatically that the country’s resources were becoming scarce. In 1979, just three years after Mao’s death, the â€Å"One-Child Policy† took effect. This law was implemented by Deng Xiaoping to curb the population growth. The original intent for this policy was economically based. There had been a great famine, in which many people lost their lives, and China wanted to prevent this from happening again. There was not enough suitable farmland to provide food for the entire population nor was there enough water. They wanted to reduce the demand for natural resources, maintain a steady labor rate, and reduce unemployment caused by surplus labor. China’s justification for this policy was based on their support of the Marxist theory of population growth. This policy has been called the largest population control effort in history. The policy is very controversial mainly due to the way enforcement has been carried out. While the policy itself has achieved its main goal, by preventing over 400 million births from 1979-2010, the long-term consequences for China will be great. The one-child policy has many regulations. China maintains that this a voluntary policy but the enforcement of the policy has proven otherwise. I will touch briefly on a few of the most important points of the policy. The policy states that both the husband and wife must both practice birth planning. Birth outside of marriage is not allowed. Couples are permitted to have one child. Late marriage and late births are encouraged. Couples who follow the policy and have only one child will be given a certificate to receive rewards and preferential treatment. Those who refuse to follow the policy and give birth to a second child will be fined from the month that the child is born. The wages or annual income of both husband and wife will be decreased by ten to twenty percent for seven years. Regarding pregnancy not adherent to the plan, both husband and wife will be imposed a fine monthly during the period of pregnancy. If the pregnancy is terminated, the fine imposed will be returned. China’s system in caring for the elderly after retirement is simple. The eldest son is generally responsible. In earlier days, this was not such a terrible burden. However, with China’s one-child policy, many families find themselves in quite a predicament when their one child is a girl. A girl is traditionally groomed to be married. When the time comes for her to marry, she leaves her family and becomes a part of her husband’s family. She then becomes responsible for helping her husband care for his aging parents. Thus, her own family will be left without support and care. Even in cases where the family’s only child is a son, the â€Å"4-2-1 Problem† is often created. There is an increased burden on the one child to provide for his aging parents and grandparents, in addition to his immediate family. (The 4-2-1 policy refers to 4 grandparents, 2 parents, and 1 child. If personal savings, pensions or state welfare fail and the single child cannot care for the older adult relatives, the older generations would face a lack of resources and necessities. This is just one possible consequence to China’s one-child policy. When mothers become pregnant for the first time, some manage to have an ultrasound to determine the sex of the baby. This is i llegal in China but still happen none-the-less. If the parents learn that this first child is a girl, it is sometimes aborted. This is due to China’s preference of boys. There are many reasons that Chinese families prefer boys. One reason is an old religious link to Confucianism that prefers sons over daughters. Another reason is that a son is believed to be stronger and better able to help the family with farm work. Also, as I stated earlier, a son will support his parents in retirement and take care of them. A daughter would leave her family and become a part of her husband’s family. Sex-selective abortions are leading to a decline in the female population, which will also have long-term consequences as well. In China, boys are considered to be so important culturally, that a family is looked down on if they do not produce a boy. Therefore, having a boy is a source of great pride for a family. As if they can control their baby’s gender, wives are often threatened to be sent back home to their own families if they cannot produce a boy. When a woman is sent back to her own family, it is considered to be very shameful for both she and her family. Also, she would now be seen as a burden to her own family. They would have another mouth to feed and would have to support her as well. This would create further hardships for her family. Another consequence is the danger associated with enforcing the policy. In the early years of the policy, there were drastic measures taken to ensure that the policy was enforced. Population control workers were hired to enforce the policy strictly. Forced abortions were common amongst these enforcement procedures. Portable ultrasound devices were used to identify candidates who were carrying second children in remote villages. Some mothers who were eight and a half months pregnant were forced to abort their babies. This was often carried out by injecting a saline solution directly into the mother’s stomach. If mothers did not go to the clinic willingly to have the abortions, they were dragged there by force. There have even been reports of mothers who were already nine months pregnant, and in labor, having their babies killed while they were still in the birth canal. This not only harms the unborn child but also puts the mother’s health at risk with the possibility of hemorrhaging, infection, or even death. After these forced abortions, these mothers were subjected to forced sterilization as well. This means that if the government ever changes their mind and retracts the policy, these mothers will have no chance of having another child. Often, a mother becomes pregnant with a second child and manages to keep it a secret from the authorities for fear of forced abortions. If the family is wealthy, they are sometimes allowed to keep the baby if they pay large monetary fines to the government. The amounts of the fines are based on the statistics of the particular area where they are located. They can also have their houses and land taken away as a penalty. They can be denied bonuses at work or may lose their jobs altogether. Parents with more than one child are not given the same benefits as parents of only one child. They must pay for both children to go to school and pay for the entire family’s healthcare. Most families are not able to pay these fines nor are they able to survive without the significant benefits that are normally provided. This leads to families living in poverty and even death due to starvation or lack of proper healthcare. Another consequence of China’s one-child policy is the rate of female infanticide. Parents often panic when their baby is a girl and either kill the baby themselves or abandon the baby. Babies are abandoned in many ways. Sometimes they are taken to remote places and left to die. Other times they are left in public places, with or without notes, so that they can be found and taken to an orphanage. If the child is not found immediately, they can often be malnourished or in poor health when arriving at an orphanage. When this is the case, and a baby is beyond help, some Chinese orphanages have what are called â€Å"dying rooms†. These rooms are horrific. Babies are strapped to a chair with a hole in the seat that collects the baby’s waste. The babies in these rooms are left there, with no nourishment or care, to die. In the cases where the babies are abandoned and someone finds them rather quickly, they are taken to an orphanage to be cared for or are sent to a foster family. The lucky children are adopted internationally. Others can spend their whole lives in the orphanage. In China there are around 1,000 orphanages. Only 250 of those will send children out of the country to be adopted. Officially registered adoptions increased from 2,000 in 1992 to 55,000 in 2001. Many more were adopted informally without registration. In 2005, around 7,900 children were adopted into the United States. In reality, only about 5% of children in Chinese orphanages are adopted at all. Many babies put up for adoption have not been abandoned by their parents but confiscated by family planning officials. The one-child policy has also had a negative effect on the children legally born to couples. Parents tend to over indulge these children. This epidemic has created the name â€Å"little emperors† for these children and the condition created is being called â€Å"little emperor syndrome†. These children are spoiled. Because there was once a great famine in China, the parents want to give these children what they were deprived of. They want to ensure that they have plenty to eat and overindulge them. The children have become fat. There is now an initiative in China to stop obesity in children. There are clinics where parents and children are educated about healthy eating and exercise. Some children are even receiving acupuncture to curb their appetites. The fact that children are becoming overweight is not the only problem with the â€Å"little emperors†. They also suffer from poor social communication, poor cooperation skills and lack of self-discipline. They often struggle with strong personality disorders. In March 2007, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) called on the Chinese government to abolish the one-child rule. Ye Tingfang, a sponsor of the proposal, argues that â€Å"It is not healthy for children to play only with their parents and be spoiled by them. The one-child limit is too extreme. Children in our country may not even be blessed to have cousins which is a serious handicap to their nature and may lead to personality flaws. It violates nature’s law and in the long run, this will lead to Mother Nature’s revenge. Because of the one-child policy, families who desperately want to have a second child often take on a foster child. This can temporarily fill a void of desire for more children. These families become very attached to the babies that they care for and love them just as if they were their own. When these babies are adopted, the foster parents are devastated and become deeply depressed and are forced to cope with the los s. This emotional strain is equally felt by the birth parents, who were forced to either abandon the baby or surrender it by force, as well as the foster parents who have cared for the infant. The one-child policy has affected the population significantly. In some areas, there has been a negative population growth. This means that the deaths of a region have outweighed the births. Also, the Chinese population is aging. This is when the median age of a country or region rises. The elders are now becoming greater than the younger generation. This will surely pose a tough strain on the younger generation to care for their older family members with no help from siblings. Another potential problem will arise as the preferred boys reach the age to marry and procreate. There will be a major shortage of women to fulfill the need. In recent studies, the ratio of men to women is 117:100. It is estimated that in the year 2020, there will be 40 million more men than women. This will have extreme consequences. These consequences include social instability, courtship motivated emigration, and forced marriages. Another tragic consequence is prostitution which can also lead to a rise in human immunodeficiency virus infection and other sexually transmitted diseases. Already there has been a problem with abduction of women. Women are being kidnapped and sold to men in other provinces. They are being raped and treated badly. If they try to scape, they are beaten severely. This are all consequences of the gender imbalance created as a result of China’s one-child policy. There have been a few exceptions made to the policy over the years. In rural areas, parents can apply to have a second child if the first is a girl. Other circumstances that would allow consideration for a second child would be if the first child s uffers from a physical disability, mental illness or mental retardation. When this special permission is granted, the parents are subject to birth spacing. This means that the parents must wait a specific amount of time before having the second child. This time period is generally from three to five years. Exceptions have also been made if both parents are only children. This would relieve the burden of the â€Å"4-2-1 problem† on just one child. Special considerations have also been made when the father is a disabled serviceman who will not be able to care for his own aging parents. Official permission is sometimes granted in cases such as the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, where children perished and in other cases where the child is deceased. Finally, there are exceptions made in affirmative action cases such as with Han Chinese who are considered to be minorities. Although the one child policy seems like an extremely harsh and controversial method of controlling the population, it isn’t as harsh as it may seem at first. It depends on which area of the country you live in as to how much it affects you. In some areas which have a low population, the policy is somewhat lenient, whereas in Sichuan, the policy is strictly adhered to in both rural and urban areas because it is overpopulated. As nearly 50% of China’s population live in the countryside, many are permitted to have two children because for the majority of places, the policy is more strictly enforced in urban areas. Typically, the power of enforcement is given at the provincial level. In March of 2011, the policy was reviewed by the Chinese government. Some officials expressed the need for consideration to allow couples to have a second child. The government announced that the policy will remain unchanged through at least 2015. China’s one-child policy has had many benefits. It has greatly reduced the severity of some major problems that come with overpopulation such as epidemics and slums. It has also helped out the issues with overwhelmed social services such as healthcare, education and law enforcement. The policy has helped reduce China’s ecological footprint by decreasing the abuse of fertile land and reduced the production of high volumes of waste. It has, in recent years, provided better health service for women. There has been a reduction in the risks of death and injury in pregnancy and women receive free contraception and prenatal classes. China in recent years, for the most part, has maintained a steady labor rate with reduced unemployment. With families having to spend less money on multiple children, they have more to invest for retirement. Finally, with fewer children, women can invest more time in their careers, increasing their personal income. With all of the benefits that have come from the policy, sometimes all the money and material possessions in the world cannot compare to the love of a child and the freedom to choose how large your family can be. In conclusion, China’s one-child policy was a drastic measure taken over thirty years ago to control a growing population problem. While it has succeeded in lowering the population and improving the economic situation, the long-term emotional and physical effects felt by families will continue to be unbearable for generations. Losing a child due to natural causes is hard enough but being forced into abortion, sterilization and abandonment has to be so much worse. BIBLIOGRAPHY Fitzpatrick, Laura. â€Å"China’s One-Child Policy,† Time, posted July 27, 2009, http://www. time. com/time/world/article (accessed April 9, 2011). Buckley Ebrey, Patricia. Chinese Civilization: A Sourcebook. 2nd ed. (New York: The Free Press, 1993), 478-481. Hesketh, Therese, Ph. D. â€Å"The Effect of China’s One-Child Policy after 25 Years,† The New England Journal of Medicine 353, no. 11 (2005): 1171-1176. Lost Girls. DVD, directed by David Royle (2005; Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2005). Phillips, Michelle. â€Å"Women forced to abort under China’s one-child policy,† The Washington Times, posted June 2, 2010, http://www. washingtontimes. com/news/2010/jun/2 (accessed April 9, 2011). Mosher, Steven W. â€Å"A Mother’s Ordeal: One Woman’s Fight Against China’s One Child Policy,† (MN: Park Press, Inc. , 1993), 56-60. Hays, Jeffrey. â€Å"One-Child Policy in China,† http://factsanddetails. com/china. php (accessed April 9, 2011). Scott, Joan. â€Å"Child Adoption in Contemporary Rural China,† Journal of Family Issues, March 27, 2006: 301-340. Consultative Conference: â€Å"The government must end the one-child rule,† AsiaNewsit. com, March 16, 2007 (accessed April 9, 2011). Sina English, â€Å"Advisors say it’s time to change one-child policy,† Shanghai Daily, March 15, 2007. http://english. sina. com/china/1/2007/0315/ (accessed April 9, 2011). ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Laura Fitzpatrick, â€Å"China’s One-Child Policy,† Time, posted July 27, 2009, http://www. time. com/time/world/article (accessed April 9, 2011). [ 2 ]. Patricia Buckley Ebrey, Chinese Civilization: A Sourcebook. 2nd ed. (New York: The Free Press, 1993), 478-481. 3 ]. Therese Hesketh, Ph. D, â€Å"The Effect of China’s One-Child Policy after 25 Years,† The New England Journal of Medicine 353, no. 11 (2005): 1171-1176. [ 4 ]. Steven W. Mosher, â€Å"A Mother’s Ordeal: One Woman’s Fight Agains t China’s One Child Policy,† (MN: Park Press, Inc. , 1993), 56-60. [ 5 ]. Lost Girls. DVD, directed by David Royle (2005; Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2005). [ 6 ]. Michelle Phillips, â€Å"Women forced to abort under China’s one-child policy,† The Washington Times, posted June 2, 2010, http://www. washingtontimes. com/news/2010/jun/2 (accessed April 9, 2011). 7 ]. Jeffrey Hays, â€Å"One-Child Policy in China,† http://factsanddetails. com/china. php (accessed April 9, 2011). [ 8 ]. Patricia Buckley Ebrey, Chinese Civilization: A Sourcebook. 2nd ed. (New York: The Free Press, 1993), 478-481. [ 9 ]. Lost Girls. DVD, directed by David Royle (2005; Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2005). [ 10 ]. Joan Scott, â€Å"Child Adoption in Contemporary Rural China,† Journal of Family Issues, March 27, 2006: 301-340. [ 11 ]. Consultative Conference: â€Å"The government must end the one-child rule,† AsiaNewsit. com, March 16, 2007 (acce ssed April 9, 2011). [ 12 ]. Sina English, â€Å"Advisors say it’s time to change one-child policy,† Shanghai Daily, March 15, 2007. http://english. sina. com/china/1/2007/0315/ (accessed April 9, 2011). [ 13 ]. Lost Girls. DVD, directed by David Royle (2005; Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2005). [ 14 ]. Therese Hesketh, Ph. D, â€Å"The Effect of China’s One-Child Policy after 25 Years,† The New England Journal of Medicine 353, no. 11 (2005): 1171-1176. [ 15 ]. Lost Girls. DVD, directed by David Royle (2005; Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2005). [ 16 ]. Patricia Buckley Ebrey, Chinese Civilization: A Sourcebook. 2nd ed. (New York: The Free Press, 1993), 478-481. How to cite Consequences of China’s One Child Policy, Papers

Jackie Robinson was the first baseball player to b Essay Example For Students

Jackie Robinson was the first baseball player to b Essay reak Major League Baseballs color barrier that segregated major league baseball for more than 50 years. On October 23, 1945, Jackie Robinson signed a contract with the Montreal Royals that would eventually bring him to the Brooklyn Dodgers in the spring of 1947. This made him the first African American in modern organized baseball. Jackie Robinson went to UCLA where he became an All-American in football and basketball. He also played baseball and ran track. In 1947, when Robinson finally put on a Brooklyn Dodger uniform, he started the integration of professional athletics in America. He strongly challenged the deep-rooted custom of racial segregation in both the North and South. Players in MLB actually considered going on strike instead of playing against a black person. However, they were told that anyone who did not play would be banned from baseball. Eventhough the players were told this, it didnt stop them and the fans from threatening Jackie Robinson. From this, Jackie unintentionally set a record for being hit by more pitches in one season then anyone else in history. Being the strong-minded person he was, it was very hard for Jackie to just sit there and not retaliate. He had promised Branch Ricky he would never fight back, because if he did Ricky would have terminated Jackies contract. Jackie Robinson had become a great leader for the African American community and essentially passed the torch for other black players. Teams saw how successful other teams were with black players so they picked up the pace and started to sign black players. There were still some teams, including the New York Yankees that passed up on black players. The Yankees wanted an all white team and because of that, they passed up players that became hall of famers. Between 1947 and 1951, there was an influx of black players into the league. Once these players got into the league, they began to fight for the right to integrate spring training in order for the players families to attend. The second half of Jackie Robinsons career was all for the Civil Rights movement. A main goal for him was to improve the African American status in society. Part of this started when he refused to accept segregation at white-only hotels and restaurants in his playing days. This started integration. In 1944, he had been a lieutenant in the Army and was court-martialed for refusing to vacate a seat in an army bus. He was acquitted and given an honorable discharge. After he retired from baseball in 1956, Jackie became very active in the NAACP and the civil rights movement. He founded the first black owned bank in New York City and leaders like Martin Luther King and Jesse Jackson looked to him for guidance. Robinson had also worked with Malcolm X. Jackie Robinson was definitely one of the most important athletes of the 20th century. Jackie not only had an impact on baseball, but on other sports and American society as well. Besides being a great athlete, he was also a civil rights champion and community activist. Jackie Robinson had the courage to stand alone in a very tough situation where a lot of other people would most likely need help. Jackie certainly revolutionized the way the game was played and great athletes like Arthur Ashe and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have praised Jackie for impacting their lives. Many say that if Robinson hadnt broken the color barrier, someone else would have. That is true but nobody would have done it the way Jackie did it. .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d , .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d .postImageUrl , .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d , .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d:hover , .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d:visited , .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d:active { border:0!important; } .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d:active , .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u7deef9a5e2591780c6600ad638f65a3d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: A Lesson Before Dying Essay Not too many players even these days have the kind of talent he had. Jackie Robinson touched many lives. He said it best when he said, A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives. Number 42 did just that. .

Writing a Great Statement of Purpose for Grad School

Writing a Great Statement of Purpose (SOP) for Grad School Ready to start the new chapter in your life by enrolling the grad school you’ve always wanted? That’s amazing! In order to fulfill your dream and start the program that will help you achieve academic and career goals, you need to submit an application first. The admission materials can vary from one school to another, but one thing is certain – you’ll have to write a statement of purpose. What is that? How to write it? Scroll down to find out. Definition Statement of purpose (SOP), also called an application essay, is the most important component of your application to a graduate or postgraduate program. The primary idea of the essay is to inform the admissions committee about a candidate’s personality, motivations, inspiration, previous accomplishments, among other things. The statement of purpose shows whether an applicant is a good candidate for some program. Throughout the SOP, applicants write about who they are, what has influenced their career or academic path so far, professional and educational interests. The paper is written in a form of an essay wherein an applicant tells the story to introduce oneself to the admissions committee, it is not a mere list of facts. The admissions committee receives hundreds of SOPs and they usually find them almost identical. The best way to increase the likelihood of enrolling in the desired program is to write a statement of purpose that will stand out from all others. Since the application essay is crucial, there is no need to hurry. Take some time to make sure the paper meets all requirements regarding the organization, writing style, word count, and other factors. The nervousness that naturally comes when you understand the importance of SOP can prevent you from doing your best. Don’t worry, that’s not uncommon! In order to focus on other parts of application material, you can use online platforms to improve quality of your paper. You can also get ’s writers to write a sample that you’ll use to create your own SOP. With this, you can save $20 on editing. Guidelines Statement of purpose usually comes with a certain format and list of requirements you should follow. The criteria vary from one academic institution to another. Always strive to adhere to the instructions as they keep you focused, on the right track. Writing a demanding paper such as SOP becomes easier when you follow simple guidelines listed below. Rules Name professional aspirations – while graduate students are usually asked to write about their personality, motivations, or to answer some question, feel free to mention your professional goals too Be specific – stay away from vague expressions or jumping from one subject to another. Instead, be precise and finish one thought before moving on to another Convey information that cannot be found elsewhere in your application – this gives admission committee an in-depth insight into your abilities Always follow instructions that were provided in the application material Consider your audience- the admissions committee reads hundreds of SOPs and it’s always a good idea to think of a way to make your paper stand out Be genuine – never exaggerate anything, admissions committee can always notice when a student tries to alter some information to make it seem more important Write a draft first – write down everything that comes across your mind, reread later and see how you can polish it Requirements Write in a straightforward manner i.e. don’t beat around the bush Explain how did you become interested in a specific field of education or program Describe why did you choose that college Talk about experiences that shaped up your understanding of the world and contributed to choosing the direction of your education and career Describe how the program can help you achieve career goals Explain what makes you a perfect candidate Give examples for information you provide Quantify results, achievements, and other information (no vague expressions) Ensure the admissions committee knows you are prepared for the program and challenges it brings Format 500 words (rarely up to 800) One-page or two-page limit (if no word count is given) 12 font size, justified Readable font: Georgia, Arial, Bookman, Times New Roman Single space, skip a line between paragraphs Structure Introduction – catch a reader’s attention with a hook that demonstrates passion for the field and a strong thesis statement that shows direction of your SOP Personal background or a list of reasons for interest in the area Academic background in the field (classes you’ve taken and their names, teachers you’ve had) – for graduate programs you can briefly mention some high school subjects that influenced your desire to continue your education in a specific area of interest Extracurricular activities Work or professional experience (if any) Achievements or publications Explanation of why you have chosen the specific grad school Common App Essay Prompts (Topics) and Questions 2012 A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that .illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you. Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence. Describe your academic interests and how you plan to pursue them at USC. Please feel free to address your first and second choice major selections. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence. The topic of your choice. 2013 Choose the moment that best resonates with you and tell us why. Describe a personal experience and how it has influenced who you are today. This essay should have a personal rather than a professional focus. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn? Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again? What is your immediate post-college professional goal? 2014 How do you define yourself? If you were to write the story of your life until now, what would you title it and why? Pick one woman in history or fiction to converse with for an hour and explain your choice. Tell us about an unjust law, written or unwritten, that you believe should be broken. What do you see as the biggest threat to civility? What one invention would you uninvent if you could, and why? 2015 Briefly discuss your academic background. Did you utilize any additional support at your high school, such as tutoring? Do your grades in high school and/or college reflect your academic ability or potential? Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you? Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family. Please tell us more about yourself. Is there any additional information you would like our acommittee to consider in determining your admission to the program? Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are? 2016 Although you may not yet know what you want to major in, which department or program at our grad school appeals to you and why? At our educational institution, we bring people together to better the lives of others. Our students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way in which you have contributed to your community, whether in your family, the classroom, your neighborhood, etc. Describe the world you come from; for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations? Tell us about the most significant challenge you’ve faced or something important that didn’t go according to plan. How did you manage the situation? We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it. 2017 At (name of the college), we believe that leadership is more than position. Describe at least one quality of leadership that you have learned in high school either through direct experience or by observation of another leader? Describe a personal accomplishment of which you are particularly proud and explain why. Explain your reasons for wanting to attend our grad school? Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. What does it mean to you to be or to become a global citizen, and how do you see the education and opportunities at our grad school advancing your understanding of this concept? What global issue can you imagine yourself addressing during your time at our grad school? What’s your favorite book you have read outside the classroom (not assigned reading) and why? 2018 Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one youve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. Describe a problem youve solved or a problem youd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? Common App Essay Examples While title ideas can vary each year, some of them remain standard, such as: Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again? Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

How to Compare and Contrast Stories

How to Compare and Contrast StoriesIn the recent past, students have been challenged with the problem of comparing and contrasting different versions of a single story. It is true that students are often presented with a single version of a story and are asked to determine if the story is factually true or not. Sometimes, there is also the need to judge if the story line matches or does not match the student's understanding of what the story is about. A story sample essay for this purpose is meant to be used as a guide in teaching students how to compare and contrast.In order to make an effective and valid comparison and contrast between different versions of a story, students need to create a list of three main points. The first point should be the main theme of the story line, the second should be the main idea of the story, and the third point should be the message the story conveys. In this way, the students will be able to easily recognize the relevant elements and themes of eac h story, as well as the parts of the story that they relate to.Students who are good at making comparisons and contrasts will make a convincing argument by pointing out the corresponding parts and the situations that the characters face in the story. In this way, students will also be able to better understand the meaning of the story line and will be able to identify if the story line fits with their own understanding of the story. There are different ways in which this can be accomplished.The first method in comparing and contrasting is by identifying the most significant parts of the story line that are present in each version. If you look at the stories in chronological order, the most important scenes and events are usually represented by the first few lines of the stories. In order to make this comparison and contrast work for you, you can use a story sample essay template for the part that is represented by the first few lines.The second method in making a comparison and cont rast is by identifying the differences between the two stories and the different parts that are represented by the story samples. If you read the stories in a chronological order, the most significant part is usually the first few lines, as well as the title. In the case of the stories sample essay template, it is very important to identify the title and the story title before doing the comparison and contrast. You should keep in mind that you are only comparing the two stories, not the same stories that you are comparing.The third method of comparing and contrasting is by identifying the parts that seem to stand out from the various character in the story. If you read the stories in chronological order, the characters that appear the most are usually the most important ones. The title or introduction is another place where you can place your focus and you should pay attention to the manner in which the characters present their introduction. When you have identified these parts of t he story, you will be able to make a meaningful comparison and contrast of the different stories.By identifying the similar parts and themes of the different stories, students will find it easier to make a meaningful comparison and contrast of the stories that they are reading. However, students who are not good at making comparisons and contrasts will need to develop a lot of individual strategies when identifying the similarities and differences between the different stories. They can make use of story sample essay templates to teach them how to do this.

The Pyramid essays

The Pyramid essays To the northwest of the river basin of Mexico the valley of Teotihuacn delimited to the north by the Fat Hill is opened before us, to the south by Patlachique, the east by the level ones of Apam and it extends towards the west on the same river basin. The formation of the valley, like the rest of the river basin, is of volcanic origin, reason for which the lava outcrops are common. Although today the valley is deforested in its totality, exists information on an atmosphere of forests that in addition were rich in fauna. The climate, is considered, was warm humid. Teotihuacn influences and participates in very important way in all the regions of Mesoamrica and at the same time incorporates important characteristics of its architecture; it is by that the teptihuacano style will extend, as it is observed later in Tula, Xochicalco, the Tajà ­n, Cholula, Cacaxtla and Mexico-Tenochtitlan. The religion that reigned in Teotihuacan era of politeà ­sta type, and their main Gods were Tlaloc and Quetzalcatl. Tlaloc was the God of rain, according to the mexica culture, but in Teotihuacan, the possibility that exists it had had greater attributes. In some studies, it is speculated on that Tlaloc could have been not only one deity related to rain, but also with the Earth, because both elements have to do with agriculture, that it was the base of all sedentary town; these hypotheses are based on the following thing: Tlaloc is a Nahuatl word that probably derives from the word tlatoa, that means "to run" and for that reason its relation with water torrents, but the expert Thalma Sullivan explains that Tlaloc has more affinity with the term tlalli, that means "earth". The representation that for of Tlaloc has been the one of being with anthropomorphous characteristics and animals, of great eyes and bulging, adorned with a hairdo of pens, with the superior part of its face in fo rm of bird and eyeteeth in the mouth, a...

Battle of Corregidor, 1942 - World War II

Battle of Corregidor, 1942 - World War II The Battle of Corregidor was fought May 5-6, 1942, during World War II (1939-1945) and was the last major engagement of the Japanese conquest of the Philippines. A fortress island, Corregidor commanded access to Manila Bay and housed a multitude of batteries. With the Japanese invasion in 1941, American and Filipino forces withdrew to the Bataan Peninsula and Corregidor to await assistance from abroad. While fighting raged along the Bataan line in early 1942, Corregidor served as the headquarters for General Douglas MacArthur until he was ordered to leave for Australia in March. With the peninsulas fall in April, the Japanese shifted their attention to capturing Corregidor. Landing on May 5, Japanese forces overcame fierce resistance before compelling the garrison to capitulate. As part of the Japanese terms, Lieutenant General Jonathan Wainwright was made to surrender all American forces in the Philippines. Fast Facts: Battle of Corregidor (1942) Conflict: World War II (1939-1945)Dates: May 5-6, 1942Armies Commanders:AlliesLieutenant General Jonathan WainwrightBrigadier General Charles F. MooreColonel Samuel Howard13,000 menJapanLieutenant General Masaharu HommaMajor General Kureo TanaguchiMajor General Kizon Mikami75,000 menCasualties:Allies: 800 killed, 1,000 wounded, and 11,000 capturedJapanese: 900 killed, 1,200 wounded Background Located in Manila Bay, just south of the Bataan Peninsula, Corregidor served as a key element in the Allied defensive plans for the Philippines in the years after World War I. Officially designated Fort Mills, the small island was shaped like a tadpole and was heavily fortified with numerous coastal batteries which mounted 56 guns of various sizes. The wide western end of the island, known as Topside, contained most of the islands guns, while barracks and support facilities were located on a plateau to the east known as Middleside. Further east was Bottomside which contained the town of San Jose as well as dock facilities (Map). Looming over this area was Malinta Hill which housed an array of fortified tunnels. The main shaft ran east-west for 826 feet and possessed 25 lateral tunnels. These housed the offices for General Douglas MacArthurs headquarters as well as storage areas. Connected to this system was a second set of tunnels to the north which contained a 1,000-bed hospital and medical facilities for the garrison (Map). General Douglas MacArthur, 1945. Library of Congress Further to the east, the island tapered to a point where an airfield was located. Due the perceived strength of Corregidors defenses, it was dubbed the Gibraltar of the East. Supporting Corregidor, were three other facilities around Manila Bay: Fort Drum, Fort Frank, and Fort Hughes. With the beginning of the Philippines Campaign in December 1941, these defenses were led by Major General George F. Moore. The Japanese Land Following smaller landings earlier in the month, Japanese forces came ashore in force at Luzons Lingayen Gulf on December 22. Though attempts were made to hold the enemy on the beaches, these efforts failed and by nightfall the Japanese were safely ashore. Recognizing that the enemy could not be pushed back, MacArthur implemented War Plan Orange 3 on December 24. This called for some American and Filipino forces to assume blocking positions while the remainder withdrew to a defensive line on the Bataan Peninsula to the west of Manila. To oversee operations, MacArthur shifted his headquarters to the Malinta Tunnel on Corregidor. For this, he was derisively nicknamed Dugout Doug by the troops fighting on Bataan. Allied anti-aircraft gunners on Corregidor, 1941/2. Photograph Courtesy of the US Army Over the next several days, efforts were made to shift supplies and resources to the peninsula with the goal of holding out until reinforcements could arrive from the United States. As the campaign progressed, Corregidor first came under attack on December 29 when Japanese aircraft began a bombing campaign against the island. Lasting for several days, these raids destroyed many of the buildings on the island including the Topside and Bottomside barracks as well as the US Navys fuel depot (Map). Preparing Corregidor In January, the air raids diminished and efforts commenced to enhance the islands defenses. While fighting raged on Bataan, the defenders of Corregidor, consisting largely of Colonel Samuel L. Howards 4th Marines and elements of several other units, endured siege conditions as food supplies slowly dwindled. As the situation on Bataan deteriorated, MacArthur received orders from President Franklin Roosevelt to leave the Philippines and escape to Australia. Initially refusing, MacArthur was convinced by his chief of staff to go. Departing on the night of March 12, 1942, he turned over command in the Philippines to Lieutenant General Jonathan Wainwright. Traveling by PT boat to Mindanao, MacArthur and his party then flew to Australia on a B-17 Flying Fortress. Back in the Philippines, efforts to resupply Corregidor largely failed as ships were intercepted by the Japanese. Prior to its fall, only one vessel, the MV Princessa, successfully eluded the Japanese and reached the island with provisions. As the position on Bataan neared collapse, around 1,200 men were shifted to Corregidor from the peninsula. With no alternatives remaining, Major General Edward King was forced to surrender Bataan on April 9. Having secured Bataan, Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma turned his attention to capturing Corregidor and eliminating enemy resistance around Manila. On April 28, Major General Kizon Mikamis 22nd Air Brigade began an aerial offensive against the island. A Desperate Defense Shifting artillery to the southern part of Bataan, Homma began a relentless bombardment of the island on May 1. This continued until May 5 when Japanese troops under Major General Kureo Tanaguchi boarded landing craft to assault Corregidor. Just before midnight, an intense artillery barrage hammered the area between North and Cavalry Points near the islands tail. Storming the beach, the initial wave of 790 Japanese infantry met fierce resistance and was hampered by oil which had washed ashore on Corregidors beaches from the numerous ships sunk in the area. Hospital in the Malinta Tunnel, Corregidor. US Army Though American artillery exacted a heavy toll on the landing fleet, the troops on the beach succeeded in gaining a foothold after making effective use of Type 89 grenade dischargers known as knee mortars. Fighting heavy currents, the second Japanese attack attempted to land further east. Hit hard as they came ashore, the assaulting forces lost most of their officers early in the fighting was largely repulsed by the 4th Marines. The survivors then shifted west to join with the first wave. Struggling inland, the Japanese began to make some gains and by 1:30 AM on May 6 had captured Battery Denver. Becoming a focal point of the battle, the 4th Marines quickly moved to recover the battery. Heavy fighting ensued which became hand-to-hand but ultimately saw the Japanese slowly overwhelm the Marines as reinforcements arrived from the mainland. The Island Falls With the situation desperate, Howard committed his reserves around 4:00 AM. Moving forward, approximately 500 Marines were slowed by Japanese snipers which had infiltrated through the lines. Though suffering from ammunition shortages, the Japanese took advantage of their superior numbers and continued to press the defenders. Around 5:30 AM, approximately 880 reinforcements landed in the island and moved to support the initial assault waves. Four hours later, the Japanese succeeded in landing three tanks on the island. These proved key in driving the defenders back to concrete trenches near the entrance to the Malinta Tunnel. With over 1,000 helpless wounded in the Tunnels hospital and expecting additional Japanese forces to land on the island, Wainwright began to contemplate surrender. Surrender of American troops at Corregidor, Philippine Islands, May 1942. Photograph Courtesy of the National Archives Records Administration Aftermath Meeting with his commanders, Wainwright saw no other option but to capitulate. Radioing Roosevelt, Wainwright stated, There is a limit of human endurance, and that point has long been passed. While Howard burned the 4th Marines colors to prevent capture, Wainwright sent emissaries to discuss terms with Homma. Though Wainwright only wished to surrender the men on Corregidor, Homma insisted that he surrender all remaining US and Filipino forces in the Philippines. Concerned about those US forces that had already been captured as well as those on Corregidor, Wainwright saw little choice but comply with this order. As a result, large formations such as Major General William Sharps Visayan-Mindanao Force were forced to surrender without having played a role in the campaign. Though Sharp complied with the surrender order, many of his men continued to battle the Japanese as guerillas. The fighting for Corregidor saw Wainwright lose around 800 killed, 1,000 wounded, and 11,000 captured. Japanese losses numbered 900 killed and 1,200 wounded. While Wainwright was imprisoned in Formosa and Manchuria for the remainder of the war, his men were taken to prison camps around the Philippines as well as used for slave labor in other parts of the Japanese Empire. Corregidor remained under Japanese control until Allied forces liberated the island in February 1945. USS Claxton provides fire support during the Battle of Corregidor (1945). Photograph Courtesy of the US Government