Abstract
This paper begins with a description of what the author believes defines an outstanding accomplishment and then goes on to tell why her personal achievement, that of becoming the field commander of her high school marching band, fits the definition she has presented of an outstanding accomplishment.

From the Paper
"Everyone has achieved something. For some people an achievement is playing sports; for others it is receiving good grades. Webster's dictionary defines achievement as a "great or heroic deed" or "something accomplished by valor, boldness or praiseworthy exertion." Achievement is also defined as accomplishing a task successfully. Throughout the course of our lives we all have ample opportunities to achieve something, whether it be great or something relatively minor. Today and every day, I am concerned with realizing not just an achievement, but an outstanding achievement."

Tags:pride, confidence, satiety, adversity, challenge, hard, work, journey, dream, leader, goal

Abstract
This paper argues that the Brown vs. Board of Education, a Supreme Court decision mandating the integration of public schools with the purpose of promoting equality in education, and ultimately in society, has not yet achieved this ideal. The first part of this paper details how the achievement gap between different races can be seen in all levels of education, from primary to college levels. This section also looks at how this gap can be discerned in various areas from academic subjects like mathematics to extra curricular activities like SAT preparations. The next part of the paper then looks at the reasons why this achievement gap persists. Finally, the paper looks at various programs that are geared towards narrowing this gap. Though their successes remain limited, this paper argues that programs such as these are the only long-term solution to a problem as ingrained as the achievement gap in education.

From the Paper
"The scholastic achievement gap starts as early as pre-school. Data from the U.S. Department of Labor (cited in Jacobson 2001) shows that by kindergarten and first grade, children of African American, American Indian and Latino heritage exhibit lower levels of school awareness compared to white and Asian children of the same age. These tests measure factors such as the mastery of oral language, pre-mathematics and pre-reading skills. In addition, African American, American Indian and Latino children also who lower levels of general knowledge."

Tags:elementary, grades, vocabulary, knowledge, reading, skills

Abstract
This paper examines how during his reign, the medieval emperor Charlemagne came to dominate Europe and create an empire of a scale not seen since classical times. It looks at how he created a renaissance of learning, the arts and culture in Europe. It analyzes how the empire was achieved through a number of important military victories and how after the death of Charlemagne it became quickly divided and fragmented. It puts forward the argument that his educational and cultural achievements were greater and more durable than his military and political achievements even though his educational and cultural achievements were often fundamentally dependent on or instrumental in his military and political coups.

From the Paper
"Charlemagne instilled a great deal of importance in historical texts. He realized the importance of annals and other historical texts in creating a sense of history and of collective national identity. It was very important to build up texts of the history of the Carolingians as part of the empire's pursuit of legitimacy. An example of an historical text which had a clear political impact and related strongly to Charlemagne's military achievements was Paul the Deacon's "Hisotira Langobardorum". This was a history of Lombardy. According to Mckitterick this history was "an active contribution to the shaping of Frankish and Lombard relations." This work actively portrayed the Carolingians as natural heirs to Lombardy."

Tags:arts, christendom, conquest, emperor, king, medieval

Abstract
This paper discusses how the ancient Egyptians have given us a colorful and descriptive insight into their lives and culture and how, over a period of 3,000 years, they recorded and documented their incredible achievements. The paper also examines how, from the immense construction projects, such as the pyramids, to their two dimensional artwork, we have been able to discover and learn about this fascinating and innovative civilization. The paper concludes that Ancient Egypt, through incredible architecture, elegant art and sculpture, and medical and mathematical advances, truly achieved its divine goal of immortality.

From the Paper
"The mastering of irrigation was the key to life. Each summer, rains from Africa caused the waters of the Nile to rise and temporarily flood the land, depositing a new layer of rich silt - ideal for growing crops. The Egyptians hoped the waters would rise high enough to ensure irrigation (Ana Ruiz, 8). Irrigation canals, ditches, and back breaking labor were required to bring the life-giving water into the desert (Matthews and Platt, 17). The Egyptians learned to control the flood waters of the Nile, draining swamps and harvesting crops (Professor Weber, The Western Tradition, "The Ancient Egyptians).
"A system of water control explains the early degree of social organization. They followed the rules or were denied water (Professor Weber, The Western Tradition, "The Ancient Egyptians). As stated by John A. Wilson, "large scale irrigation requires a common effort, binding together different communities, and is a factor promoting the growth of a state (John A. Wilson, 10).
"

Tags:pyramids, Nile, irrigation, agricultural, village

Abstract
This paper takes a look at human justice and the ideal of equality between the sexes, races, class and religions. The paper focuses primarily on the issue of women's rights.

From the Paper
"Take, for example, a healthcare provider treating an aboriginal couple. Because of past historical injustices, today, even indigenous persons who have endeavored to become integrated into Australian society have higher rates of single parenthood, incarceration rates, and unemployment, and fall short of every possible Westernized measurement of success in contemporary life. (Calma, 2006, p.1) The instance of domestic abuse might seem to simply pose the question--did the indigenous husband commit the crime to which he or she was accused? If so, the person should be incarcerated. But previous inequitable social conditions may drive the roots of the difficulties between the couple, making the issue of reporting more difficult. Also, biased judges and juries may make the person's punishment, however unconsciously, harsher because of the defendant's race. To report an abusive man from a racial minority may be just, but it also may exacerbate an age-old historical injustice."

Tags:shylock, society, equal, opportunity, justice, portia, venice

Abstract
This insightful and well-researched paper examines how one's impression of an individual's social class molds the way in which we interact with that particular individual. This paper focuses on how the initial impressions of our fellow human beings can impact and even determine our expectations of other individuals. From a small number of visual and audio clues, we can guess at whether an individual is successful or not. These same clues tell us whether that particular person is worthy of respect, or revulsion. The writer of this paper details how the status of people, organizations, places and ideas differs depending upon the context. One group may possess a generally negative status, while others may present a negative status only in relation to certain others. This paper also explores the impact of the media on our perception of others. Newspapers and television stations are always bombarding the viewer with images of crime and criminals. They like to show photographs of the alleged victim dressed neatly in a suit and tie, or wearing the robes of an altar boy. Much stronger than these examples of individual cases of a person's status or condition, are those in which the media stereotypes a whole group of people. This paper also discusses how ethnic and minority groups are lumped together in such an easily recognized fashion.

From the Paper
"Among the other discoveries of this look at "status," was the uncovering of a still-more insidious method of reporting events. In many of the pieces at which we looked, the "judgment" that the reader is invited to make is conceived of as something that happens almost automatically. For example, Mayor Daley's defense of vocational schools does not, in reality, contain anything positive or negative about such a school. Instead, it is the mere offering of the comment that is significant. People have a certain idea about "vocational schools," and the Mayor, as well the Tribune's readers are fully cognizant of the nature of that point-of-view. A more positive way of handling the story might have been for the article to have listed all that the vocational schools would do, rather than introducing at once the idea that "You'll live with it!" Too many times, even the most objective people let slip small comments or phrases that indicate a prejudice one way or the other. Particular words become "code words."

Tags:sociology, perception, media, theory, class, minority, ethnic, stereotype

Abstract
The paper addresses school climate and achievement in relation to an inductive small sample study conducted in the Keele-Eglinton area. The paper relates that students conveyed concerns towards what would improve their achievement, but these did not match established bodies of research on school climate, ecological views, and what promotes school achievement or completion. The paper includes a reflective section and calls for student-focused and reductive as oppposed to theory-based further studies.

From the Paper
"This study refers to 20 surveyed high school students of the Keele & Eglinton area of Toronto, a neighbourhood associated with varied school results, middle class households found as often as youth gang activity and students living in low-income public housing environments. As a research project it has been intended to gather student impressions of their school, its climate, and ideas towards improving achievement outcomes. It is an inductive enterprise that may offer clues to improving school..."

Tags:sch climate, achievement, induction

Abstract
This paper looks at different theories of education to see which best explains the achievement gap. The paper decides that cultural discontinuity is the main theory explaining the achievement gap and explains why the other theories are not as good.

From the Paper
"The theory which best explains the achievement gap in education is cultural discontinuity. Cultural discontinuity argues that we cannot assign value judgements or measure different modes of communication against an Anglo middle class norm, because this is not representative of the student population as a whole anymore. We need to look at different modes of communication as culturally relative. There are differences in communication styles between students of color and the Anglo culture which are culturally based and just, presenting the Anglo culture in the schools leads to conflicts..."

Tags:education, achievement gap

Abstract
This paper presents an overview of memory and the different types of memory and then takes a look at the relationship between memory and academic achievement. The paper also describes tests used to measure memory and learning.

From the Paper
"This literature review, concerning the topic of the relationship between memory and academic achievement, addresses the following areas relevant to this study: history and overview of memory, different types of memory, memory and academic achievement, tests to measure memory and learning and a conclusion. Baddeley reported that whether memory needs to be regarded as a single system or two or more subsystems was a major controversy during the..."

Tags:memory, and, academic, achievement

Abstract
The writer of this paper explores the conflicting research which argues that high self-esteem in children does not necessary lead to higher achievements. This paper details the signs of low self-esteem in young children as well as tips and suggestions for improving a child's self-esteem. Also discussed in this paper is the correlation between children with low self-esteem problems and the rising incidents of school violence and the important role both parents and teachers must play in instilling a high level of self-confidence in young children from the start.

From the Paper
"Increasing your children's self-esteem is very important. We can see that now more than ever with all the killings in schools. Evidently these children are angry with someone or something. Listening to your children and teaching them how to control their anger is a very important technique that all parents need to learn before our children end up becoming extinct. When self-esteem is promotion in relation to achievement please make sure it fits that achievement."

Tags:child, development, self, esteem, confidence, goals, education, achievement, research