Abstract This paper focuses on the representations of women's body image in the media and asks how these representations affect women's self-image and behavior.
From the Paper "The images of the media surround us constantly. According to Peach (1998): "We are exposed to over 2,000 ads a day, constituting perhaps the most powerful educational force in society. The average adult will spend one and a half years of his/her life watching television commercials". (p. 128). Leafing through the morning paper we unconsciously take in adverts and photographs. Going to work we pass billboards, signs on bus stations and busses, company logo's on clothing and merchandise. At home relaxing in front of the television we are bombarded by images. What are the main messages that are conveyed by this unstoppable deluge of the media?"
Abstract This paper offers a number of reasons why a woman should be able to decide whether or not to terminate a pregnancy, including the prevention of further problems in the future. It looks at the impact having a baby can have on a woman's life and a woman's right to choose what happens to her life and body.
From the Paper "The issue of abortion causes discussions about human interactions where ethics, emotions and law come together. There are many reasons why women decide to have abortions. Whatever the reasons a woman decides to have an abortion, it seems only justified that she should be able to make decisions in regards to her life and body. The decisions that she makes will be beneficial to both the woman and the foetus because it will prevent many problems from occurring in the future. If a woman were to have an unwanted baby, she may neglect or even abuse the child causing the child to go into the care of the government. The government has no valid reason in bringing an unwanted life into the world. Bringing an unwanted child into the world is not helpful to the parents, the child and the government, because if the parents cannot take care of the child, eventually, the government will be responsible for the child."
Abstract This paper is an argument in favor of the death penalty. It uses several different sources to support the author's argument that the death penalty saves lives, and does not unjustly take the life of someone who has committed a violent crime.
From the paper:
"Execution is forever. So is murder. Therefore, execution is the appropriate punishment for the murder of an innocent victim. If we apply the "Golden Rule" to the situation (do unto others, as you wish done to yourself), we see that execution is inevitably the correct step for us to make (Shell, 120). A person's right to live is lost when one intentionally takes an innocent life, everyone has the right to one life, his own. If he unlawfully takes the life of another he, eo ipso, loses his own right to life. Every person who can understand the nature and effects of his acts is responsible for them, and should be blamed and punished accordingly, if he could know that what he did was wrong."
Abstract This paper examines the book "Who Moved My Cheese" by Spencer Johnson, which uses the metaphor of mice in a maze to discuss ways of handling change. The author writes that the book focuses on how people can get where and what they want simply by changing their perspective and their approach. The paper explains that the books teaches self-actualization and is critical of the simplicity of the metaphor of mice and cheese to demonstrate how to handle the struggle with change in our society.
From the Paper "The story revolves around two mice, Sniff and Scurry, and two littlepeople, Hem and Haw. They live in a maze and spend their time running around, looking for, finding, and eating Cheese. Cheese, as is stated in the foreword by Kenneth Blanchard, is "a metaphor for what we want to have in life ", such as a job, a relationship, money, a big house, or an insulting yet best selling business book. Within the 94 pages of this self-help book is found an approximate 45-minute serving of information aimed at helping us to insert change in our lives."
A comparison between Homer's epic novel the 'Odyssey' and the adapted screenplay version of the epic film,"O Brother Where Art Thou?", directed and produced by Joel and Ethan Coen .
Abstract The following paper draws parallels between Homer's "Odyssey" and the Coen Brother's "O Brother Where Art Thou?". In the year 2000, the inventive and provocative filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen reworked the Odyssey in a liberal way, changing scenes, settings and characters. The writer compares the original epic and the original screenplay and discusses dozens of small but meaningful comparisons. For instance, Odysseus and his men descend into Hades where they encounter several ghosts from Odysseus's past; in the film the boys meet a fellow inmate who they thought was dead. Odysseus from the original epic and Ulysses from the film (played by George Clooney) both have to prove to their wives that they are true: Ulysses must bring Penny the ring to redeem himself. In the Odyssey, Book 23, Penelope declares that ?there are tokens with which we two alone are acquainted,? (Butler trans.). Although it was written millennia ago in ancient Greece, the parables of the Odyssey remain extant for a reason: Its themes are universal and accessible and adaptable for all time. The Coen brothers' movie "O Brother Where Art Thou?" exemplifies Homer's timelessness, as well as their own versatility.
From the Paper "Homer's Odyssey is more than an epic tale of a man ?who wandered far and wide,? across the sea; it is an archetypal journey with universal and enduring import. It is not difficult to find parallels between Odysseus's adventures and modern ones, for ultimately the Odyssey transcends its details. Homer erected a narrative structure that lends itself to adaptation and reconstruction. Most notable to modern reinterpretations of Homer's Odyssey is James Joyce's Ulysses, which focuses on and develops the relationship between father (Odysseus/Leopold Bloom) and son (Telemachus/Stephen Dedalus). In the year 2000, the inventive and provocative filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen reworked the Odyssey in an equally liberal way, changing scenes, settings, and characters. But whereas Joyce's version of the Odyssey is microcosmic, its journey more psychological than physical, the Coen brothers? O Brother Where Art Thou? rambles through a decidedly physical and farcical tale. At first glance the film resembles Homer's epic little: only certain elements are obvious like George Clooney's character's name (Ulysses) and the three sirens by the river. A deeper investigation of the film and the original text reveals numerous, if more subtle, references."
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the views of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X and their approach to the civil rights struggle. Their means, philosophies and principles are looked at as well.
From the Paper "The 1950's and 1960's were periods of major disjunction and turmoil between races in the United States, especially in the South. The civil rights battle was one that was fought on many different fronts with many different means and methods. Two of the more prominent leaders of the civil rights struggle were Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Although the leaders had the same end results in mind, their means, philosophies, and principles differed. Their main doctrinal differences fixate on their willingness to employ violence to achieve their end goals. While Dr. King employs a passive resistance or civilly disobedient approach, Malcolm X articulated his view of the "ballot or the bullet". In this paper I intend to compare and contrast Dr. King and Malcolm X's views in regard to the justification of violence in achieving civil rights success to those of John Rawls."
Abstract This paper takes a look at a slave uprising as documented in Stephen Oat's book Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion. It analyzes the main character of the book, Nat Turner and how his seemingly small scale revolution set the wheels in motion for the eventual abolishment of slavery.
From the paper:
"Stephen Oates, in his book Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion, crafts a compelling story. The story of this slave rebellion is indeed so compelling a one that it would be hard to imagine a telling of it that was not fascinating. But in the end Oates, despite his credentials, does a disservice both to Turner and to the larger forces at work in the decades before the Civil War. In order to assess Oates's treatment of Turner, it would be useful to examine what is generally known and agreed to about Turner. He was born on a plantation in Southampton County, Virginia, in 1800 and was from a very early age a popular religious leader among his fellow slaves. In part due no doubt to whatever had motivated him to become interested in preaching and in part because he was so popular with other slaves who came to listen to him talk about God, Turner became convinced that he had been chosen by God to lead his people to freedom."
Abstract This paper deals with the issue of affirmative action policies, looking at how these policies were installed within the social system and discussing their pros and cons.
From the Paper "Affirmative Action policies are used in the United States to increase opportunities for minorities by favoring them in hiring, promotion, contracting and school admissions. Minorities are defined by race, ethnicity, or gender. Affirmative action has been accepted by governments, businesses, and educational institutions to remedy the effects of past discrimination against a group. It has been widely criticized for creating reverse discrimination in the workplace and at schools."
A research paper that gives a detailed overview on the legalization of marijuana, an analysis of its medical uses and an insight into laws surrounding the controversy.
Abstract This paper is an in-depth look at why marijuana's use for medical application is a purpose important enough to legalize the substance with pharmaceutical control by the government. The author examines scientific and historical background of marijuana, and the lack of public information on marijuana.
Outline
Medical marijuana use.
Ancient use of marijuana
Marijuana used for religion and other things.
Facts about marijuana.
Research on marijuana's potential abuse.
Lack of public information on marijuana
"Legal" drugs abuse
Media hype of marijuana
Ethnic tendency towards abuse
Marijuana and cancer chemotherapy
Marijuana and AIDS
Other medical uses of marijuana
Enough medical research.
Cannabis research
AIDS patients and marijuana.
Medical marijuana activists
Voters in favor of legalizing marijuana in many states.
Positive medical applications of cannabis.
Many countries have legalized medicinal marijuana.
From the Paper "Marijuana has been known for centuries and played a significant role in human history, being used for religious ceremonies, rope, medicine and recreation, among other registered uses. An enormous amount of hypothesis has been developed concerning other uses, or consequences of using dope. Mythologies from many countries speak of numberless gods and deids. It is possible many of these gods were imagined or seen by shaman or oracles that were under the influences of drugs. Cannabis use was mentioned in the fours Vedas (from India), one of the oldest religious manuscripts (Harrison, 70). Such Reginald Campbell and R Everett offer a general overview of marijuana in Substance Abuse in Workplace: ? The most common form of marijuana found in the U.S. is Cannabis Sativa... There are about 421 known chemicals in the plant... but the active chemical is believed to be the tetrahydro-cannabinols (THC), oils possessing physiological activity... Some symptoms of marijuana intoxication include confusion, euphoria, hallucinations, hunger, red eyes, ego-inflation, dry mouth, excessive laughing and coma? (42-43). Marijuana intoxication is said to last two to three hours, but the ingredient delta-9-tetrahydro -cannabinol can accumulate in brain and testes tissues (Hubbard, Franco, Onaivi, 1999). Marijuana, pot or weed, among other names, has a variety of practical uses. Hemp is used to built cords and even clothing. There are a number of websites on the Internet that offer a variety of products made out of hemp. Sadly, it is to blame that such a helpful herb be considered illegal due to the bad nature and unconsciousness of humans."
Abstract This paper looks at the rise of the modern department store as depicted in Emile Zola's novel, "The Ladies Paradise." Zola uses the story to comment on the stereotyping of women. He demonstrates that stereotyping just leads to more of the same. The author comments on women's position in society in 19th century France, in order to illustrate how money cannot buy love and to show how shopping was one of the few ways that women could express their own individuality.
From the Paper "We should remember that this book ? with its concluding message that while money can?t buy love true love itself does remain a possibility. Zola's analysis of how women (and we must assume to some extent men) are drawn into a consumer culture that will in many ways steal their souls) by the very same marketing and merchandizing techniques that remain popular today, including product placement, loss leaders, incentives for impulse buying. Zola also demonstrates to us how these selling techniques are more and more tightly bound to stereotypical definitions of femininity that the store owner has collected in the previous volume of the series ? stereotypes that produce stereotypical behavior that produce stronger stereotypes that produce more stereotypical behavior, etc."
Abstract This paper looks at the three major arguments of gun-control advocates and disproves them one by one. The major arguments are - more guns, more crimes; possible accidental deaths and criminal access to guns.
Thesis: Despite the good intentions of gun control advocates, their means in attaining what they want are entirely misguided and misinformed.
Table of Contents
Accidental Death
Child killed by ownership of firearm
Suicide in relation to ownership of firearms
More Guns More Crime
Gun ownership as a crime prevention
Gun ownership for self-defense is most common
Gun ownership as a deterrent to tyranny
Criminal Acquisitions of Guns
Limiting the attainability legally of guns only limits law-abiding citizens
Criminals acquire guns on black market
Brady Laws do nothing to deter criminal misuse
From the Paper "Gun Control has been a center issue in American Politics for quite some time. Advocates of Gun Control often state the hazards of owning guns and their constant use in criminal activity. The ultimate solution for these people is to completely eliminate the right of an individual to own a gun. On the other hand, the Anti-Gun Control advocates state that people are responsible for their own actions and that the existence of the gun is not what causes crime, or accidental death. So despite the good intentions of Gun Control advocates, their means in attaining what they want are entirely misguided and misinformed."
Abstract In Gwendolyn Brooks? poem, "The Mother", the narrator expresses a reluctant regret and a desire for the children to which she did not give birth as a result of abortion. The paper analyzes the poem and its use of tone, diction, and imagery. It finds that the speaker is alternately regretful, self-recriminating, and motherly in her reactions to her unborn children. Taken together, Brooks? powerful shifts in tone, diction, and imagery all serve to highlight the narrator's longing, and tentative regrets over children that were never born.
From the Paper "Taken together, the changing tone throughout "The Mother" helps to expresses the narrator's reluctant regret over abortion, and a desire for the children she did not give birth to. It is her very changes in tone and emotion throughout the poem that help to highlight her confusion and regret. She is by turns apologetic, regretful, reproachful and frustrated in her attempts to explain herself."
From the Paper "Anne Fadiman's book The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1998) is an intelligent and moving ? and unsettling story ? about the costs that individuals must sometimes have to pay for living in a multicultural society and the challenges that immigrants face in the United States, even after they think that they have made it to the promised land. Fadiman also shows how the American mainstream cultural establishment ? in this case represented mostly by the doctors and other medical personnel that work with one particular immigrant family ? sometimes finds itself unable to help newcomers to make the leap into the often perilous new world of their dreams.
Lia Lee was born in 1981 to a family of recent Hmong immigrants to California, and soon developed symptoms of .."
Abstract By looking at how guns continue to cause increased incidents of homicide, suicide and injury to children, this paper argues for the need to strengthen, not weaken, current gun control laws. Presents classic arguments such as children's exposure to violence, increased crime statistics and family accidental shootings.
From the Paper "Gun advocates generally play down the link between firearm access and violence. As the NRA likes to say, guns don?t kill people, people kill people. They view the laws restricting gun ownership through the lens of self-defense and civil rights. This position, however, fails to address a very real link between the ownership of guns and violence. Even with measures such as the Brady Law and the five-day waiting period in place, firearms continue to play a major role in instances of both criminal and accidental violence."
Tags: violence, brady, death, firearm, shooting, law
Abstract This paper examines how the short story, "A & P" by John Updike, chronicles contemporary American society and how it treats issues of social stratification among members of the society. It looks at how, written in the 1960s, "A & P" provides an insightful look at the dynamics of gender and socio-economic differences of people in American society. It also explores how it discusses issues on social stratification from the viewpoint of Sammy, a young man who works at the store, "A & P". In particular, it shows how Sammy's character is an interesting and essential factor for the issue of social stratification because he serves as Updike's "commentator" on sensitive issues, such as gender discrimination on women and the snobbish and oppressive nature of the elite class in the society.
From the Paper "The first theme discussed in the short story is the issue of gender discrimination among women. In the story, Sammy serves as the "male chauvinist" character, providing an explicit description of the three young women he encounters in the convenience store. Initially, audiences would react at the seemingly sexist comments of Sammy, wherein he looks at the young women's physical attributes only and making unpleasant remarks at them (through his narration to the reader)."
