Abstract
This paper examines Elijah Anderson's "The Code of the Streets" which introduces the idea that violence, aggression, stealing and other socially deviant behaviors are not perceived as infractions of rules, but rather conforming to a different standard, a different set of rules. Anderson does an adequate job of setting forth his ideas, along with providing sufficient evidence to support them. It criticizes Anderson's perspective of street families and decent families when he describes inner city life and his portrayal of abusive mothers who beat their children and let them run riot.

From the Paper
"The contrasts between street families, and decent families are not always easily observed. As Anderson points out, most street families appear on the surface to be decent families. (Anderson, p. 157) The appearance of having "calm, respectful children" is often what the mother wants most, more than happy children. (Anderson, p. 157) Her desire for such a family is often so strong that she is "quick to beat her children if they defy her law." (Anderson, p. 157) Anderson concludes that this abusive behavior is often perceived as acceptable behavior within the inner city the disapproval from the wider society as a whole. (Anderson, p. 157)"

Tags:families, children, mothers, violence, aggression

Abstract
This paper reviews Christopher R. Browning's "Ordinary Men," and its analysis of Nazi soldiers that murdered innocent civilians in the holocaust. The paper shows the methods used by the soldiers to rationalize their actions even though many of them were morally opposed to what they were ordered to do.

From the paper:

"It is understandably commonplace to refer to Hitler as a monster, as inhuman. It is also, by extension, equally commonplace to refer to the Nazis who obeyed him as monsters as well. Yet before the implementation of the madness that was the "Final Solution" in Germany and Eastern Europe, these Nazi soldiers were human beings like ourselves, individuals who lived in a world only a half-century or so before ours. They made ethical decisions on a day-to-day basis. They were ordinary men, according to Christopher R. Browning, who committed acts of extraordinary cruelty. The thesis of his book, appropriately titled 'Ordinary Men,' provides a less comforting view of the foot soldiers of the Holocaust than is tempting to take. But it is ultimately more ethically illuminating these men were not monsters, Browning suggests, they were ordinary men who provide an example for us all how low we can sink if we are not vigilant in resisting the evil that exists around us."

Tags:Nazi, Germany, Jew, holocaust, World War II

From the Paper
"Until 1925, many states combined juveniles and adults into one criminal court. But by 1925, almost every state had created some type of separate court specifically for juveniles (ACLU 1 of 3). Now, despite the fact that federal statistics indicate a decrease in violent crimes committed by juveniles, most states have made it easier to try juveniles in adult criminal courts (Should 2 of 4). This recent change in law has sparked a large debate. Should children be tried as adults in criminal courts? The answer lies in the question. No, children should not be tried as adults. First of all, there are too many circumstances that should be taken into consideration before determining in which court a juvenile should stand trial and there is no definite, concrete method for doing so. Secondly, children should not be tried as adults for the simple fact that they do not have the same reasoning abilities as adults. And thirdly, the idea that the children deserve to be punished for their actions is absurd. Children are young and impressionable and therefore deserve the opportunity to be rehabilitated, not jailed for life. However, the present statutory laws disagree with those opinions. Currently, all 50 states allow juveniles to be tried in criminal courts under some type of situation (Griffin 1)."

Tags:crime, trial, delinquency

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."

Tags:death, penalty, capital, punishment, execution, murderer, lives, convict

Abstract
This paper is an argumentative essay promoting the legalization of same-sex marriages. The author focuses on the legal aspects of same sex marriages arguing for the legal rights such as insurance and parental status that need to be enforced.

From the Paper
"The proposed legalization of same-sex marriages is one of the most significant, yet controversial issues facing America today. Same-sex marriages, also known as Civil Unions, should be legalized in every state in the United States. Right now, in the United States, same-sex couples do not receive the same benefits and legal rights that married couples take for granted. These benefits include cheaper health insurance rates, life insurance benefits, funeral leave of absence from work, legal parental status with a partner's child, and significant tax reductions."

Tags:civil, gay, homosexual, marriages, rights, unions, sex

Abstract
This paper takes a look at the benefits and requirements of recycling. The author argues that recycling is a necessity for the preservation of resources. The paper include an analysis of recycling in different countries and the advantages that are provided.

From the Paper
"For almost 30 years the United States has been actively recycling. We recycle 27 percent of our solid waste. A figure doubling the effort made in 1988. The space we have here on earth is unvarying. The earth will never get larger and the air we breathe is not going to become unnecessary anytime soon. For the sake of our grand children we must preserve our resources. We can no longer ignore the voice telling us to find a special bin for that soda can. The only thing we can hope for is that the World will all participate as one. Recycling is a lifestyle and many may need to change so we can all reap its benefits. Recycling is vital to the future. It will insure that our great grandchildren have an earth that is inhabitable."

Tags:recycle, recycling, research, survival, future, resources, earth, destroy

Abstract
The following paper discusses the reasons why smoking should not be allowed in public places. The writer expresses his strong views against smoking and proposes that laws be passed to protect non-smokers from smokers.

From the Paper
"Smoking vs. nonsmoking in a public area; should people be allowed a choice? I think smoking in public places should not be allowed. Imagine sitting in a public place, unable to enjoy the air you are breathing due to the cloud of smoke coming from the person sitting near you. The fact that smoking is allowed has put the smoker and the nonsmoker in an uncomfortable situation. Being uncomfortable for the smoker is by choice, but the nonsmoker has no choice and this is why it shouldn t be allowed. We weren t made for smoking and neither was our environment."

Tags:safety, laws, killing, public, prevent, choice, pollution, lung, cancer, secondhand, heart, death

From the Paper
"Each year millions of animals are killed due to animal laboratory testing. We take for granted that our medicine, shampoos, soaps, and cosmetics will not poison or blind us, cause our hair to fall out, or skin to blister. The rats, rabbits, dogs, and other animals, however, do have to undergo these symptoms. Experimenting on animals is very popular in medical labs where they are trying out new drugs. Many people feel that animal testing is necessary to ensure safe medicines, cosmetics, and other products. Most people believe that a lab animal would have the same reaction that a human would have to a chemical; however, this is where people are wrong."

Tags:ethics, vivisection

From the Paper
"Capital punishment is one of the most controversial topics among Americans today. Since every person has their own opinion on the topic, either for or against, the question always raised is "Is it morally right?" However, to many death penalty abolitionists, the answer is very clear -- capital punishment is morally and ethically wrong. Not only do human beings not have the right to take a life of another individual, but innocent people are being executed, and the race of the accused clearly plays a factor in whether or not the death penalty is sought. The only solution to protect the innocent and minorities from an extremely flawed system is to issue a moratorium on executions, even for the most heinous and despicable of crimes. In a judicial system where prejudices, hate, and political pressure play a large role, deciding whether a person should live or die cannot not be left up to other individuals who are as human and as fallible as those they are sentencing. "

Tags:government, murder, punishment, ethics, pros, cons

From the Paper
"Five and a half million children in schools today can be categorized as disabled. This counts for 11-12% of the school population. Additionally, the US Department of Education spends at least thirty billion dollars annually on special education, which accounts for 22% of total education spending (Staples 64). Inclusion, though not defined by law, is commonly known as the process by which young people and adults with disabilities and/or handicaps are mainstreamed into society. It is an attitude/belief system rather than an action or set of actions. As defined in Richard A. Villa and Jacqueline S. Thousand's book, Creating An Inclusive School, inclusion is "a way of life, a way of living together, based on a belief that each individual is valued and does belong" (6). Inclusion has provoked strong and often differing opinions within both general and special education. Critics disagree with the expected success of inclusive practices. However, inclusive education creates a sense of community, promotes equality in the classroom, and provides strategies to include learning disabled students successfully. Therefore, inclusion is beneficial to all students and must be recognized as educational reform that will result in a successful organizational change toward inclusion."

Tags:children, classroom, collaborative, disability, equal, exclusion, inclusion, learning, normalization, opportunities, peers, school, special, students, teaching