A lesson Before Dying :: essays research papers

Sentenced to death for a crime he may or may not have committed, a young black man named Jefferson now struggles to find the meaning of life. With the help of Grant Wiggins, a man who is unsure of his own worth, perhaps he can succeed in doing so in the story A Lesson Before Dying. It is the exciting tale of two men’s quest to find peace in life as well as in death. It is during this journey, however, that an underlying question arises on how man-kind has faith in religion and a god they can not see. It is believed that, because there are so many uncertainties in life, man had to conceive something greater than himself to believe in. It is likely that religion may be this something. These theological ideas were simply a way to suppress the fears that man has in his insignificance in the universe. It seems that society has been inventing explanations for the mysteries of life since the beginning of time. Survival often requires that an individual be able to react to change. Ideally, the subject should be able to reason and then logically react to change. It seems simple enough, but thinking things out often has its drawbacks. These drawbacks are usually from a lack of time and information available from which to base a conclusion from. Thus, Man developed emotions to provide a mechanism to work around the limitations of reasoning. These reactions are simply a reflection of man’s inner emotions. Emotions help living things to adapt to its environment. The better suited a creature is to adapt, the longer it will live. Hence there is definitely an advantage for survival that emotions offer. Human emotion, however, is the downfall of man. Although it allows him to have feelings, it defeats the rational thought process. When rational thinking has ceased to exist, society gets thrown into disarray. It is as if man fails to see the truth simply because he does not want to see it. Thi s could be where the need for a higher presence first began. Man may have created religion only as an adaptation for survival. The existence of religion may be due to man’s psychological need to understand the world around him. When man seeks out answers to questions but is incapable of finding them, he gets frightened. This fear weakens human qualities and causes distortion between the individual and reality.

Interaction Relationship in the Airport

Airports are said to be one of the busiest workplaces in the world.   Big or small, airports play a special role as take-off and landing places for air transportations such as airplanes, helicopters and other aircrafts.More often than not, all the people in the airport whether one is a passenger or an employee, are moving at a fast pace and time is a very important element for travelers and airport personnel.As I was entering the airport, I already noticed passengers hurrying in or out of the waiting area. People from different races ranging from Asians, Caucasians, Africans, and Europeans among others were present everywhere.Some were talking, walking and running, making calls and carrying babies, some were standing still while some others were sitting. Some were falling in line to buy tickets, rescheduled their trips and raised their own concerns.Some were falling in line to proceed with their respective flights. Some were busy with their baggage and personal belongings. Some wer e too occupied with their appointments that they barely noticed what’s going on around them. The swiftness of the works made me dizzy as I continue watching each and every person within the premises. It was such an amazing sight!The ages of the passengers ranged from very young ages to older ages that are adequate and healthy enough to travel by air. Women, men, gays and lesbians — all sorts of genders were present at that moment as demonstrated by their physical appearances. Practically all types of personalities were there as depicted in their being sociable, shy, liberated, loud, soft spoken, noisy, angry, hostile, and gentle.Most gays were noisy and too advanced to be recognized while lesbians were quite silent and reserved. These factors revealed their particular identities even if I only heard their voices, without really listening to what they were conversing about.In terms of dresses, some wore casual outfits, some formal attire while others had on ragged appar els. Some were chic and stylish, some were simple.Some looked like they just got out from Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, GQ and other fashion magazines. Most women enhanced their clothing with accessories such as watches, jewelry, handbags, hats and caps, belts, scarves, sunglasses and other decorative items.Their foot wears varied from sneakers to sandals to clogs to wedges to pumps to loafers to boots and slippers. Some put on make-up while others stayed plain. As to hairstyles, I bet some dropped by the parlor to have their hair done while others remained uncomplicated.Business-looking and model-like passengers had good, commanding postures and kept a superior stance. Just by noting their body language, one could tell the kind of occupations these people have. Those who were smooth and well-kept have executive jobs as they monitored their organizers and laptops.Most of them did not hang up their mobile phones for the time being. They brought along with them suitcases and lap top cases. Their facial expressions also shared a bit about what they were going through — whether they were in a rush or they only have pleasure trips. Most belonged to the middle class while some were upper class passengers.Within the field site, most people were arranged in groups — families, friends or work groups. Families usually were crowded especially with children around and most of them, there’s too many of them in the company. Those travelling with friends somehow gave the impression that they were off for a good time or vacation.The work groups had serious appearances like they were about to attend meetings, conferences or important gatherings. Thus, they came out to be highly educated with white collar jobs.However, there were some who travelled alone and entertained themselves by listening to their iPods or mp4 players, browsing their laptops or reading newspapers or books to pass the time away.The airport employees wore their uniforms with corresp onding identification cards and pins. They looked and acted smart and they entertained the passengers’ concerns. The crew had a variety of responsibilities to make airport accommodations readily available.There were those responsible with the ticket desks, supervisors, maintenance, operations, food service and other functions. Airport security was also tight and they guarded the airport building quite firmly. They had sniffing dogs roaming around to catch possible terrorist plots as bombings.The airport environment is one interesting workplace to observe. People are always on-the-go, active and alert. It is good to know that people who work at the airport are efficient with their jobs since they take responsibility for thousands of lives who depend on the competence of their services. For projects applying participant observation, the airport is such an excellent subject.Works Citedâ€Å"Developing Your Observation Skills.† 05 September 2008. 05 September 2008 â€Å"P articipant Observation.† 14 November 2004. 05 September 2008 â€Å"Qualitative Research Methods: Participant Observation.† n.d. 05 September 2008 revision-notes.co.uk. n.d. Participant observation. 05 September 5, 2008 â€Å"What is Ethnography?† n.d. 05 September 2008

Guide to Writing Argumentative Essays in Astronomy Easier Than You May Think

Guide to Writing Argumentative Essays in Astronomy Easier Than You May Think What is an Argumentative Essay in Astronomy? The main purpose of an argumentative essay lies in searching for articles and investigations concerning the chosen topic. The student should conduct his or her own research in order to collect detailed information and review the facts. Since the essay is argumentative, you should carefully explore literature and surveys with the opposing points of view or different theories in terms of the subject. Such a precise gathering of information is essential for the student to form an opinion and choose a viewpoint while reinforcing it with evidence provided by the research. Moreover, the essay should include an explicit thesis statement and rational argumentation. Speaking about peculiarities of the argumentative essays in astronomy, the main tip lies in selecting academic sources that deal with the recent astronomical news for the sake of receiving credible data. The student may choose reputable journals such as BBC News, The New York Times, and Nature or web sites of scientific organizations such as NASA, the American Astronomical Society, or the European Southern Observatory. What is more, the level of complexity in the articles may be high, meaning in both the selected subject and specific terminology. In order to embrace as much information as possible, the student may search for additional data published by scientists such as A Brief History of Time written by Steven Hawking. Such actions will result in a better understanding of the topic while demonstrating your knowledge to the professor. Since the student should provide logical reasoning, you will succeed in the former by describing data in his or her own words. For the sake of presen ting the argument, the student should paraphrase it in one or two sentences and provide a detailed explanation. Topics for Argumentative Essays in Astronomy Although astronomy seems to be complicated if the subject of the research concerns modern inventions and progress such as the launches of Space X spacecrafts, or simple if the investigations address well-known facts such as synchronous rotation of the Moon, there are several themes that are investigated on a regular basis. Therefore, such research always add recent information and attract the attention of scientific organizations. The First Image of the Black Hole; The Death of the Universe: Big Rip, Big Crunch, and Big Freeze; What is a Pulsar? What Is the Difference between a Pulsar and a Star? The Hubble, VLT, and FAST Telescopes; The Landing of Insight on Mars; Space X Launches of the Dragon Spacecraft. However, astronomy may also include some entertaining subject areas, for instance, theoretical reflections on the fascinating subjects: What if the Earth Stopped Rotating? The Giant Impact Hypothesis; Colonization of Asteroids; The Panspermia Theory. For example, if you choose the first topic Nature of the Black Holes, read the articles posted on the official NASA web site. First of all, you may introduce the subject starting with the main characteristics of a black hole. Secondly, you can choose the recent news about the first picture of the black hole and provide the facts such as a telescope, which was used to conduct investigation, the matter that was absorbed by the hole, information about the event horizon, and the processing of the image. The student should add precise information since the essay is argumentative. Speaking about the topic that considers Mars observations, the recent news provides the audience with data about marsquakes. You may use the web site Science Daily in order to extract detailed information about the above-mentioned phenomena. Moreover, the author compares earthquakes and marsquakes, which fills the article with sound argumentation and supporting facts. If the student chooses the topic about the Moon formation, he or she may consider the giant-impact theory that is described by the NASA scientists and the web site Space.com. In order to learn more about astronomy and make writing easier in the future, the student may read about the most frequently used recent terms such as EHT (Event Horizon Telescope), gravitational lens, marsquake, SEIS (Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure), and heat probe. Prewriting Tips Even if you have an interesting topic, the students may often face such an obstacle as how to start writing the essay. First of all, in order to write a sound argumentative essay, you should decide which point of view you prefer to support. Confident position results in structured, sequential, and knowledgeable paper that demonstrates meticulous work. Moreover, professors appreciate it when students express their opinion while reinforcing it with scientific evidence. Conduct considerable investigation that involves contrary perspectives to be able to introduce persuasive facts for the supported point of view, along with the main points stated in the opposite opinion. The student should thoroughly read the articles and restate the main ideas in a subsequent manner. The third tip lies in gathering information about the topic from credible sources. What is more, the student should look through more than one scientific article as it will assist in choosing sound facts and broaden the com prehension of the subject. Sometimes, the person may face difficulties while reading and processing an immense amount of information. Therefore, some points may seem overly complicated, and the person starts to feel anxious. In order to avoid tension if you are not strong in the topic, choose an easier one. Furthermore, while reviewing the same text more than once, the student increases his or her understanding as it may be troublesome to notice every detail at the first attempt. If you have already chosen the standpoint in which you are convinced, but the ideas and words do not appear in your mind, you may start with making a list of the key points you need to cover in your essay. Writing the thoughts on the paper helps to concentrate and structure the arguments you want to mention. While looking at your written ideas, you can build the sequence in which your essay will provide the most reasonable objectives. For example, while writing about the marsquakes, the student may use the following list: Why detecting marsquakes is important to scientists? How does a marsquake differ from an earthquake? Which robot detected the first marsquake? Title/Thesis Statement/Body Paragraphs Since the title influences the decision of the reader whether he or she wants to read the essay or skip it, the student should pay a lot of attention to this issue. An outstanding title for an essay catches attention while summarizing the main subject of the paper. Moreover, it should be distinct from the plenty of other titles among which the reader would search for the fascinating one. The title should be brief but solid while transferring the sense of the essay. Right: ‘The First Image of the Black Hole’ Wrong: ‘Scientist Presented the First Image of the Black Hole’ A thesis statement is the crucial part of the essay as it summarizes its main points. While defining the primary aim of the paper, the thesis describes the topic concisely and generalizes its central issues. First of all, you should remember that the position of the statement is important as well. While reading the essay, the audience focuses on the introduction as it defines the topic of the research. Therefore, you should explain your purposes and arguments in the preface. The best position for a considerable thesis statement is the last sentence of the introduction. Therefore, the reader will get a general notion of the topic and its details and decide whether he or she is interested in the essay. You may structure the statement using the following words: although, therefore, because, and. Another advice for writing an outstanding thesis consists in combining two main points of the paper in one sentence. Right: ‘Therefore, the first picture of the black hole confirmed Einstein’s theory about the shadow cast by the abyss and well-known â€Å"event horizon† that encircled the hole.’ Wrong: ‘The Black Hole picture presented the â€Å"event horizon† – the circle of fire around the hole.’ In order to write consistent and argumentative body paragraphs, the argumentative essay should include a minimum of two arguments stated in the main body. The best way to write reasonable and detailed essay is to describe every argument in a separate paragraph. Such structure simplifies reading, and the audience will obtain a better understanding of the subject. Moreover, the paragraphs in the main body should be logically related to the thesis statement in the introduction. For example, the first paragraph of the body concerning the black hole should provide information about the shadow. The student may also briefly state the core idea of Einstein’s theory to support the evidence. The second paragraph should contain information about the â€Å"event horizon† – its form, matter, and interaction with the light. While indicating some numbers, such as the speed of light, the student makes the essay look more solid. One more advice lies in starting the paragraphs wit h the short summarized argument that is represented and uncovered in the main body. For example, the first paragraph of the body about the black hole may start the following way: ‘The shadow of the black hole was predicted by Albert Einstein in his famous theory of relativity.’ Outline The outline is the short plan of the essay where the student demonstrates the basis of his work. Such a scheme comprises the following parts: I. Introduction. In order to write a persuasive introduction, meaning the one which impresses the reader and catches his or her attention, you should explore the most fascinating matters in the topic. The reader will be interested in your investigation if you provide the reason that is essential and engaging enough to attract him or her to the topic of your essay. What is more, you should describe how your essay will assist in searching for the solution of the problem. The reader wants to know if the paper he or she considers provides needed information. For instance, if you are writing about the first image of the black hole, you may explain why this natural phenomenon interests scientists. After that, you may introduce the importance of the research and efforts of the scientific community as the reader should understand the significance of such an achievement as the picture of the black hole). II. Main body. You should start every new paragraph with the topic sentence that introduces the evidence or fact, which you want to develop in the particular passage. First argument (The shadow of the black hole was predicted by Albert Einstein in his famous theory of relativity). Further development of the topic. III. Main body. Second argument (The ring of light around the shadow is composed of fire, the matter that surrounds the black hole, and serves as a proof for space-time contortion). Further development of the topic. For example, you may refute the assertion that the image depicts the black hole itself, and add that in order to be more precise, the person should say that it is the image of the black hole’s shadow. VI. Conclusion (restate the thesis statement and core arguments). Post-writing Tips After the most fundamental part of the work had been finished, the student should always proofread the paper. Sometimes, he or she may gain inspiration and write the essay in one breath. However, you cannot control consistency, correctness, and relevance of the sentences perfectly all the time. Everybody makes mistakes, and you may reduce the number of errors by analyzing and proofreading your paper. Therefore, while scrutinizing the essay, the student would correct some inconsistencies and enhance the quality of the paper. The person should check the relevance of the information and its accuracy. The best way to review the essay lies in analyzing if it makes sense for the person who reads the paper for the first time. For example, in topics on astronomy, unfamiliar terminology may seem complicated to the reader. Therefore, the student should explain some notions in his or her own words or paraphrase definitions from the articles. Considering referencing, the student should know the format of the paper, for example, MLA, and read information about updates in formatting. However, the process may be time-consuming, especially if he or she writes about astronomy. Since the number of sources may be enormous, and the formatting differs for books, journals, and videos, the student may use such sites as BibMe.com or CiteThisForMe.com. He or she should remember that citations must be listed in the alphabetical order. In conclusion, the student should check the linkage between all the parts of the essay. Since the mistakes have been corrected, and the references have been written on the last page, the student may reread the essay after a short break. Such a pause will assist in refreshing the focus and reviewing the paper from a different perspective. â€Æ' References Castelvecchi, D. (2019). Black Hole Pictured for First Time - in Spectacular Detail. Nature. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-01155-0. NASAs InSight Detects First Likely Quake on Mars. (2019). Science Daily. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190424095148.htm. National Science Foundation Announces New Diamond Achievement Award. (2019). National Science Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=298500org=NSFfrom=news. Redd, N. (2017). How Was the Moon Formed. Space.com. Retrieved from https://www.space.com/19275-moon-formation.html. Smith, H. (2018). What Is a Black Hole? NASA. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/what-is-a-black-hole-k4.html. Soderman. (n.d.). NASA Scientist Jen Heldmann Describes How the Earth’s Moon Was Formed. NASA. Retrieved from https://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/nasa-scientist-jen-heldmann-describes-how-the-earths-moon-was-formed/. Witze, A. (2019). First ‘Marsquake’ Detected on Red Planet. Nature. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-01330-3.

American History essays

Automotive/American History essays How the Automobile Both Paralleled History As Well As Shaped Society As American Culture has evolved, inventions have paralleled its alterations. From the automobiles humble beginnings as a horseless carriage in the late 1800s, Henry Ford made the coach for the everyday man (Tshimanga). Because of this invention, the generations in the 20th century were put into motion, literally. Through the years, the automobile has evolved to become what we know today. From designing the Model T, to the Thunderbird and the Tiburon, the automobile industry has responded to meet cultural trends as well as to meet cutting edge technologies. Some examples of the trends that the industry paralleled are: the Art Deco movement during the American Great Depression, Americas space program in the 1960s, the gas crisis in the 1970s, and the growing computer world in the present day. The car also has shaped society through associations such as NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing), NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) drag racing, and the loyal following of car collectors and enthusiasts. For the more popular music has used cars as a symbol, and marketers have fueled the influence cars have on pop culture. Cars define the character of an American more than that of any other country in the world. From the massive tail-wings of the Cadillacs, borrowed from the space program, to the massive size and intimidation of the SUVs of today, cars also lend in the development of Americans personalities. A person who wants to display power or to intimidate may drive a Ford Excursion or a Suburban because of its grandeur. The automobile reflects fame, fortune, power, and who we are. The automobile plays a prominent role in American media; the automobile is on TV in races, in movies, in advertisements, and in general programming. Many celebrities are defined or recognized by the cars they d...

Political parties in the United States Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Political parties in the United States - Essay Example People are either in favor of the Democrats or the Republicans. Recently though, new movements are arising from the grassroots which seek to distance themselves from the influence of either parties but nevertheless carry some of intrinsic liberal or conservative political standpoints of the Democratic and Republican parties respectively. This may be attributed to the fact that satisfaction with how both parties have run the past and present administrations is very low. Whether this phenomenon would lead to the rise of new political parties that would present themselves as viable alternatives to the dominant ones as well as the minor groups in existence is a possibility that remains to be seen. One way of determining this possibility is by taking a look at the history of the establishment of the Democratic and the Republican parties. A study on their respective evolution as the country’s top political forces, which did not only shape opinions but national and international poli cies as well, would provide ideas on the future of American politics as well. At a glance the contradictions of the two parties may seem to have stalled the country in its efforts to advance further or to maintain its status as a world power. However, this brief study would also prove that is the said contradictions that served as factors in the changes that the country continues to experience. A review on the US Constitution would tell that that the nation’s Founding Fathers did not wish to see the country’s political system to be partisan in any way. Such an attitude against partisan politics however may well be considered as a natural reaction to the conditions of the times. Apparently, the nation was still young and unstable. While it had yet to strengthen itself internally, it was already facing threats from external forces. There were other countries in Europe that were interested in certain parts of its territory and there was also the danger of the British tryi ng to regain what pride and power it lost as a result of the American independence. The Federalist Papers No. 9 and 10 pointed out that factionalism and the emergence of opposing political groups would not be advantageous to the country. In Federalist Paper No. 10, however, James Madison explicitly wrote about what he perceived as the great disadvantage of a democracy. His assertion is that â€Å"a large republic is superior to a democracy because a large republic will have more qualified people whose talent will be pooled together, and it will be more conspicuous, thus reducing the chance for corruption.† (Scaros 41) Obviously, even as there were still no political parties at the time because these were basically discouraged, the ideas that would differentiate the basic principles of the Democrats and the Republicans had begun to emerge. In the last decade of the 1700s, the first two political parties emerged. In the study of political history, this was a period that was cal led the First Party System. The Federalist Part and the Democratic-Republican Party main line of contention was about the role of the national and federal government. The former strongly believed in a strong central government, emphasizing that this would result in administrative and fiscal efficiency. The latter, on the other hand considers a

Music history term paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Music history - Term Paper Example The technical aspect of rock music is not without social consequences. The intricacies of rock music are predominantly considered as genre for the male, and this has been reflected in the practice of rock music with the electric guitar in stage and studio. According to studies conducted by the music industry, even women who are adept at using computers and musical instruments are not skilled in using music software. Use of particular kinds of musical instruments in rock music has always been a subject of controversy. While on the one hand the instrument reflects a musician’s concept of self-expression, on the other hand it causes doubt in the minds of the listeners regarding the authenticity of music. However, since the origin of rock music, electric guitar has been inseparable part of this genre of music in terms of its sound and the loud body performances of rock performers (Frith et al., 13). Rock music is a popular genre of light music that has its origin in America in the 1950s. Today, rock music is known for its variations in styles, lyrics and soul. One of the most well-known figure in rock music is Bob Dylan who was born on May 24, 1941. He played a big role in popularizing rock music for more than five decades. In his long career, if there is one thing that has remained constant then that is change. Indeed, it is said that Bob Dylan gets into his car as one person and emerges from the car as another person. His life and style almost reflect the lyrics of his song â€Å"I’m not here, I’m gone†. It is the ability of Bob Dylan to maintain a constant change in his career is what makes him most adorable among his fans. When one visits his concert, it is likely that Bob will meet the expectations of the audience by playing fifteen songs and two or three encores, but there is also high possibility that the audience will be treated with one or two new songs (Yaffe, 18). Highway 61 Revisited is Bob Dylan’s sixth album that

The last lecture by Randy pausch Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The last lecture by Randy pausch - Movie Review Example First, he started by telling that he was to talk about other things but not cancer, his wife and so forth. These are the things he was known to talk about in his speeches. Therefore, by doing this, he shows his audience that he can venture into other issues of a common good. This way also, he changed his audiences’ attitude towards life by tracing his childhood dreams and encouraging young people to dream. He also narrated to his audience his experiences when enabling dreams of others by impacting knowledge and skills to them. Pausch uses jokes, audience engagement and life experience episodes, anecdotes and dramatic pauses to relate to his objectives of changing people’s attitudes and acknowledging his contribution to the world. To connect with his audience in hundreds, Pausch makes sure he engages his audience and clears tensions by resorting to; for instance series of push-ups on stage (Pausch 3 -5). Some of the techniques he uses like humor are natural to him, but some techniques like performing push-ups and constant microphone adjustment are intentional and meant to make the show lively. Yes, I was moved when he mentioned about his cancer issue and demonstrated his hope when he acquired a new home for his family to stay in, when he dies. With the freedom of speech, any person is justified to share his or her experiences provided doing this does not interfere with rights of others. There are no dangers as far as one is within the guidelines. Most portions of the program were on top of me especially the parts where he made compelling comparisons, humor and dramatic pauses. According to Pausch, a â€Å"head fake† is a method of teaching where learners is taught something by making them assume they are learning something else. For example, teaching students programming and making them assume they are making movies and games. The two â€Å"head fakes† that Pausch talks about in his lecture are indirect learning and