Supporting Detail in Composition and Speech

Supporting Detail in Composition and Speech In a composition or speech, a supporting detail is a fact, description, example, quotation, anecdote, or other item of information used to back up a claim, illustrate a point, explain an idea, or otherwise support a thesis or topic sentence. Depending on a number of factors (including topic, purpose, and audience), supporting details may be drawn from research or the personal experience of the writer or speaker. Even the smallest detail, says Barry Lane, can  open up a new way of seeing the subject (Writing as a Road to Self-Discovery). ​Examples of Supporting Details in Paragraphs Descriptive Details in Stegners Town DumpHot Hands, by Stephen Jay GouldPoes New York in the 1840sStatus Details in Tom Wolfes Descriptions Examples and Observations Good writers provide sufficient details such as examples, facts, quotations, and definitions to support their ideas. Writers use this information, known as supporting detail, to explain, clarify, or illustrate their main points. Without such specific material, a writers ideas remain abstract and unconvincing. Experienced writers try, whenever possible, to show rather than simply tell their readers what their ideas mean.(Peter S. Gardner, New Directions: Reading, Writing, and Critical Thinking, 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, 2005) Supporting Details in a Paragraph on Solitary Prison Cells Supermax prisons are exactingly designed to kill souls. A solitary cell (referred to as the hole or the box) is typically between seventy and eighty square feet, and prisoners are kept alone in them for twenty-three hours a day, with one hour alone in a yard barely twice the size of the cell and a shower perhaps three times a week. Practically all human contact is mediated by bars, mesh or manacles, and many cells are windowless, with an inmate’s exposure to the world outside the cell limited to the door slots through which food is passed by the gloved hands of jailers, often in the form of the loaf, a disgusting pressed amalgam of pulverized food. Cells are, in most cases, deliberately colorless (any aesthetic ingredient is considered an inappropriate privilege in an environment that seeks to level all distinctions to the basest level) and are builtbunks and allfrom bare concrete; the only furnishing is a stainless steel toilet-and-sink combo positioned to deny privacy. The l ighting is never turned off.(Michael Sorkin, Drawing the Line. The Nation, September 16, 2013) Supporting Details in a Paragraph on Baby Boomers The truth is our generation was spoiled rotten from the start. We spent the entire 1950s on our butts in front of the television while Mom fed us Twinkies and Ring Dings through strawberry Flavor Straws and Dad ransacked the toy stores looking for hundred-mile-an-hour streamlined Schwinns, Daisy air howitzers, Lionel train sets larger than the New York Central system, and other novelties to keep us amused during the few hours when Pinky Lee and My Friend Flicka werent on the air.(P.J. ORourke, The 1987 Stock Market Crash. Age and Guile, Beat Youth, Innocence, and a Bad Haircut. Atlantic Monthly Press, 1995) Supporting Details in a Paragraph on Segregation In practice, of course, the separate but equal doctrine perpetuated an oppressive and humiliating reality. To express the judgment that African Americans were inferior and that white people needed to be protected from their contaminating presence, black people were consigned to the back of the bus, directed to use distinct drinking fountains and telephone booths, excluded altogether from white schools and hospitals, permitted to visit zoos and museums only on certain days, confined to designated areas in courtrooms, and sworn in as witnesses using racially differentiated Bibles. Under segregation, white people routinely declined to bestow courtesy titles such as Mr. or Mrs. on black people, referring to them simply as boy or girl, regardless of age. Stores prohibited African Americans from trying on clothes before purchase. Telephone directories marked black residents by placing col (for colored) in parentheses next to their names. Newspapers refused to carry notices for black weddin gs.(Randall Kennedy, The Civil Rights Acts Unsung Victory.  Harpers, June 2014) Rachel Carson's Use of Supporting Details For the first time in the history of the world, every human being is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the moment of conception until death. In the less than two decades of their use, the synthetic pesticides have been so thoroughly distributed throughout the animate and inanimate world that they occur virtually everywhere. They have been recovered from most of the major river systems and even from streams of groundwater flowing unseen through the earth. Residues of these chemicals linger in soil to which they may have been applied a dozen years before. They have entered and lodged in the bodies of fish, birds, reptiles, and domestic and wild animals so universally that scientists carrying on animal experiments find it almost impossible to locate subjects free from such contamination. They have been found in fish in remote mountain lakes, in earthworms burrowing in soil, in the eggs of birdsand in man himself. For these chemicals are now stored in the bodies of the vast majority of human beings, regardless. of age. They occur in the mothers milk, and probably in the tissues of the unborn child.(Rachel Carson, Silent Spring. Houghton Mifflin, 1962) The Purpose of Supporting Details Once you have constructed a topic sentence made up of the topic and its controlling idea, you are ready to support your statement with details. The quality and number of these details will largely determine the effectiveness of the writing. . . .As you choose your supporting details, keep in mind that the readers do not necessarily have to agree with your point of view. However, your supporting details must be good enough to make your readers at least respect your attitude. Your goal should be to educate your readers. Try to give them some understanding of your subject. Dont assume they know about your topic or are interested in it. If you provide enough specific details your readers will feel they have learned something new about the subject, and this alone is a satisfying experience for most people. Effective supporting details will encourage readers to keep on reading.(Sandra Scarry and John Scarry, The Writers Workplace With Readings: Building College Writing Skills, 7th ed. Wads worth, 2011) Organizing Supporting Details in a Paragraph Each body paragraph should contain only one main idea, and no detail or example should be in a paragraph if it doesnt support the topic sentence or help to transition from one paragraph to another. . . .[H]eres the way to organize a paragraph:Topic sentenceFirst supporting detail or exampleSecond supporting detail or exampleThird supporting detail or exampleConcluding or transitional sentenceYou should have several details to support each topic sentence. If you find that you have little to say after writing the topic sentence, ask yourself what details or examples will make your reader believe that the topic sentence is true for you.(Paige L. Wilson and Teresa Ferster Glazier, ​The Least You Should Know about English, Form B, 10th ed. Wadsworth, 2009) Selective Supporting Details Select details carefully. Good storytelling requires the purposeful selection of details. Some beginning writers include either the wrong details or more details than the effective relating of the event requires. In your narrative writing, you should select details that help you to convey to your readers the point of your essay. This is what [George] Orwell did in the passage from A Hanging [paragraphs 9 and 10]. The detail of the condemned man avoiding the puddle of water related to Orwells purpose in telling the story and to the meaning he saw in it.(Morton A. Miller, Reading and Writing Short Essays. Random House, 1980)

Using Spanish Infinitives After Conjugated Verbs

Using Spanish Infinitives After Conjugated Verbs The Spanish infinitive is used quite frequently after conjugated verbs, and sometimes in a way that has no direct equivalent in English. Although the Spanish infinitive is sometimes translated as an infinitive in English, it isnt always, as the following examples show: Quiero salir. (I want to leave.)Èl evita estudiar. (He avoids studying.)Necesito comprar dos huevos. (I need to buy two eggs.)El que teme pensar es esclavo de la supersticià ³n. (The one who fears thinking is a slave to superstition.)Intentà ³ ganar el control. (He tried to gain control.) Note that in the above examples, both verbs (the conjugated verb and the infinitive that follows) refer to action by the same subject. This is usually the case when infinitives follow other verbs; the main exceptions are detailed in our lesson on using infinitives with a change of subject. Thus a sentence such as Dice ser catà ³lica (She says she herself is Catholic) doesnt have the same ambiguity that a sentence such as Dice que es catà ³lica would have (it could mean that the Catholic person is someone other than the subject of the sentence). Using Infinitives As discussed in our lesson on infinitives as nouns, the infinitive has characteristics of both a verb and a noun. Thus, when an infinitive is used after a verb, some grammarians view the infinitive as an object of the conjugated verb, while others see it as a dependent verb. It doesnt matter much how you classify it - just note that in either case both the conjugated verb and the infinitive normally refer to action taken by the same subject. If another person is performing the action, the sentence needs to be recast, usually by using que. For example, Marà ­a me asegurà ³ no saber nada (Marà ­a assured me she knows nothing), but Marà ­a me asegurà ³ que Roberto no sabe nada (Marà ­a assured me that Roberto knows nothing). In many cases, either the infinitive or a sentence using que can be used when the person is performing the action of both verbs. Thus sà © tener razà ³n (I know Im right) is basically the equivalent of sà © que tengo razà ³n, although the second sentence construction is less formal and more common in everyday speech. Common Verbs Followed by Infinitives Following is a list of some of the verbs that most commonly are followed directly by an infinitive, along with sample sentences. It is not intended to be a complete list. aceptar (to accept) - Nunca aceptar ir a los Estados Unidos. (He will never accept going to the United States.)acordar (to agree) - Acordamos darle dos dà ³lares. (We agreed to give him two dollars.)afirmar (to affirm, to state, to say) - El 20% de los mexicanos entrevistados afirmà ³ no hablar de polà ­tica. (Twenty percent of the Mexicans interviewed said they dont talk about politics.)amenazar (to threaten) - Amenazà ³ destruir la casa. (He threatened to destroy the house.)anhelar (to yearn, to long for) - Anhela comprar el coche. (She yearns to buy the car.)asegurar (to assure, to affirm) - Aseguro no saber nada. (I affirm I know nothing.)buscar (to seek, to look for) - Busco ganar experiencia en este campo. (I am looking to gain experience in this field.)creer (to believe) - No creo estar exagerando. (I do not believe I am exaggerating.)deber (ought to, should) - Para aprender, debes salir de tu zona de comodidad. (In order to learn, you ought to leave your comfort zone.)decidir (to decide) - Decidià ³ nadar hasta la otra orilla. (She decided to swim to the other shore.) demostrar (to demonstrate, to show) - Roberto demostrà ³ saber manejar. (Roberto showed he knows how to drive.)desear, querer (to want, to desire) - Quiero/deseo escribir un libro. (I want to write a book.)esperar (to wait for, to hope for, to expect) - Yo no esperaba tener el coche. (I was not expecting to have the car.)fingir (to pretend) - Dorothy finge dormir. (Dorothy is pretending to be sleeping.)intentar (to try) - Siempre intento jugar lo mejor posible.) (I always try to play my best possible.)lamentar, sentir (to regret) - Lamento haber comido. (I regret having eaten.)lograr (to succeed in) - No logra estudiar bien. (He does not succeed in studying well.)negar (to deny) - No niego haber tenido suerte. (I do not deny having been lucky.)pensar (to think, to plan) - Pienso hacerlo. (I plan to do it.)poder (to be able, can) - No puedo dormir. (I cant sleep.)preferir (to prefer) - Prefiero no estudiar. (I prefer not to study.)reconocer (to acknowledge) - Reconozco ha ber mentido. (I admit having lied.) recordar (to remember) - No recuerda haber bebido. (He doesnt remember having drunk.)soler (to be habitually) - Pedro solà ­a mentir. (Pedro would habitually lie.)temer (to fear) - Tema nadar. (She is afraid of swimming.) As you can see from some of the above examples, the infinitive haber followed by the past participle is frequently used to refer to action in the past.

Global warming Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Global warming - Research Paper Example As a result, there are diverse ways through which these effects manifest on the surfaces of oceans. Some ways through which global warming affects the oceans include; rise of sea level, formation of strong and destructive ocean current, ocean acidification and rise in ocean water temperature. These effects of global warming on oceans have led to destabilization of the ecosystem because it triggers imbalance in very many systems of the environment the course of its continuity (Cheel, 2007). Rise in see level which result from the increase in ocean water result from global warming that melts the glacier in temperate areas, expansion of the ocean water due to increase in temperature rise and human changes to underground storage of water. Change in temperature of the ocean water at different points of the ocean influence formation of ocean currents and, the intensity of any current is determined by the temperature different between the source and destination. Global warming causes some p oints on the surface of the ocean, especially those within the tropics, rise in temperature and, therefore, becomes areas of low pressure leading to the flow of water towards them (Fournier, 2011). Ocean acidification results from the increase in carbon (IV) oxides that mix with water to formal carbonic acids that have a high pH value. This happens when the rise in atmospheric carbon (IV) oxide destabilizes the equilibrium between the carbon (IV) oxide in water, and that one in the air and, therefore, it dissolves in water to cause acidic substances. Rise in temperature in the atmosphere causes an obvious increase in temperature of the ocean water because when a wave of warm air flows over the water, it radiates some heat energy to the water causing it to be warm (Weart, 2008). Research Findings In the development of the research, the research question that guided the study indirectly related to the topic of how global warming affects oceans. The study focused on production and the effects of greenhouse gases which contributed too much of the global warming on earth’s surface. The questions focused on the methods that people can use to reduce the production of green house, the forms of energy that contribute to low pollution of the atmosphere with greenhouse gases and the methods that could reduce the already present greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Out of the analysis of the analysis of the findings, the research identified some ways of controlling greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which included; use of few and efficient machines, use of renewable sources of energy and planting trees to absorb the excess the excess carbon (IV) oxide gas in the atmosphere. Rationale Choice of the research question is involving two aspects of the environment which may not be closely related and therefore, it will look at the environment of each of them, to find out the ways through which regulation of one can affect the other. The result of the analysis of the cause s of global warming will offer different means through which implementation of well selected means to reduce global warming, to cause a reduction in effect on the ocean water. When the research has a good coverage of the background of the issue of global warming, it will be possible to explain the effects it has on oceans, and it will be possible to recommend ways to curb it. Research recommendations I. We can use fewer machines to reduce greenhouse gas

Learning Styles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Learning Styles - Essay Example c) move around a lot, fiddle with pens and pencils and touch things 14. I choose household furnishings because I like: a) their colours and how they look b) the descriptions the sales-people give me c) their textures and what it feels like to touch them 15. My first memory is of: a) looking at something b) being spoken to c) doing something 16. When I am anxious, I: a) visualise the worst-case scenarios b) talk over in my head what worries me most c) can't sit still, fiddle and move around constantly 17. I feel especially connected to other people because of: a) how they look b) what they say to me c) how they make me feel 18. When I have to revise for an exam, I generally: a) write lots of revision notes and diagrams b) talk over my notes, alone or with other people c) imagine making the movement or creating the formula 19. If I am explaining to someone I tend to: a) show them what I mean b) explain to them in different ways until they understand c) encourage them to try and talk them through my idea as they do it 20. I really love: a) watching films, photography, looking at art or people watching b) listening to music, the radio or talking to friends c) taking part in sporting activities, eating fine foods and wines or dancing 21. Most of my free time is spent: a) watching television b) talking to friends c) doing physical activity or making things 22. When I first contact a new person, I usually: a) arrange a face to face meeting b) talk to them on the telephone c) try to get together whilst doing something else, such as an activity or a meal 23. I first notice how people: a) look and dress b) sound and speak c) stand and move 24. If I am angry, I tend to: a) keep replaying in my mind what it is that has upset me b)... Someone with an Auditory learning style has a preference for the transfer of information through listening: to the spoken word, of self or others, of sounds and noises. These people will use phrases such as 'tell me', 'let's talk it over' and will be best able to perform a new task after listening to instructions from an expert. These are the people who are happy being given spoken instructions over the telephone, and can remember all the words to songs that they hear! Someone with a Kinaesthetic learning style has a preference for physical experience - touching, feeling, holding, doing, practical hands-on experiences. These people will use phrases such as 'let me try', 'how do you feel' and will be best able to perform a new task by going ahead and trying it out, learning as they go. These are the people who like to experiment, hands-on, and never look at the instructions first! People commonly have a main preferred learning style, but this will be part of a blend of all three. Some people have a very strong preference; other people have a more even mixture of two or less commonly, three styles.

The movie was made in 1997 Essay Example for Free

The movie was made in 1997 Essay During this essay I will look and analyse the opening scene from the movie Romeo and Juliet, the movie was made directed by Baz Lurhmann. The movie was made in 1997. I will discuss the camera usage, music, lights, events, settings and costume. The movie is cultural representation of the time with extensive special effects and expensive budgeting being used. Baz Lurhmann produced Romeo and Juliet in a never seen way of representing Shakespeare, he uses a very clear, modern day Hollywood film and he conquers modern day issues such as age and gender (newsreader being black female with coloured people being discriminated against in Shakespeares time) to show a representation of the time, he develops Shakespeare in a way that could never be imagined. The events of the opening scene show the cultural objective, first the movie starts with a television coming closer towards the viewers, the newsreader is a black female, when the TV switches on the newsreader reads the prologue. Once the prologue has been read there are quick flash shots of Verona including the Montague and Capulet buildings, then the prologue is herd again. After this the prologue is in newspaper form in the form of headlines, following this we meet the main characters of the movie this is done to remind us that the characters play roles and are not real. After we meet the characters the prologue flashes for the final time and finally at the end of the prologue the title of Romeo and Juliet comes on screen. After the opening prologue has been said the camera takes us to the first scene it starts with the Montague boys in a car joking and laughing about the Capulets, we see the car with the number plate of the Montague family. They go into a petrol station and a short time later the Capulets enter the petrol station, then the two families notice each other and a after some teasing a fight breaks out with guns. The scene is largely over exaggerated using special effects and camera trickery. At the end of the fight the petrol ignites and the whole petrol station is on fire. After the fight and unrest the Chief police officer describes the fight as a civil brawl and ends with a threat that next time the peace is broken the cost will be their lives. The opening scene end with Romeo reminiscing about his life and realising from a news broadcast there was another brawl between the Montagues and Capulets. The music used in the opening scenes is largely diverse and this helps to create a deeper effect of the scene and another effective dimension to the pictures. The music used in the opening prologue is fast operatic, dramatic, loud and orchestral as it combines many instruments. The effect of this is to enhance effect of the prologue and attract the attention of the viewer, also the fast music is used to combine with the quick flashes of Verona that are used in the opening prologue. The first noticeable point in the movie is that the families are swoped round with the viewers being introduced to the Montagues first, this is done because the families are better suited in this way which enhances effect. When we meet the Montagues the music changes and being played is rock music giving an image of hard boys this is shown by the main line of the music being the boys, which signifies the character of the boys as we are introduced to them. The rock music used is modern popular music and gives an image that the Montague boys are childish and nai ve. When we meet the Capulets the music played is a cowboy and western style and this implies they are bad, powerful, sophisticated and quick. These two diverse music styles highlight the difference in styles and deepen the meaning to the viewer. When the fighting starts the music changes again and becomes fast again which indicates the quickness of the shooting and gunshots, also to enhance the power of each gunshot. After the fighting scene is over when the Prince is talking to the two fathers of each family there is no music to highlight the serious mood and consequences of the brawl. When we meet the Romeos parents the music is by Radiohead and is softer and thought provoking. Another very diverse factor between the two families is the costume, when we are introduced to the Montagues they are wearing colourful and vibrant clothes. They are wearing beach style modern clothes, which are popular and common. The Capulets are wearing much darker and smart clothes with cowboy style shoes the clothes are of a Mediterranean, shark look and the Montagues is a casual American style. Also another noticeable change is the Prince changing costume to a police officer this sis because a police officer has more control and authority in modern times and also shows another modern adaptation that the prince becomes a police officer. The lighting used in the opening scenes is bright as it is during the day and is sunny. This makes the light natural and more effective and realistic, this shows another change as Shakespeare implies theatrics but Baz Lurhmann wanted to use a Hollywood style movie instead of a play in theatre. The use of natural light makes the audience forget that the film is a Shakespeare play. The camera usage and angles in the film are used to great effect and are used to enhance effect and meaning of the opening scenes. There are many quick edits in the opening scenes these are used when there are quick flashes of Verona. Also the camera uses zoom to go closer to the characters and further out and this enhances effect and the image and power of the character. Also the character speeds up and slows down this coordinated with speed of the scene, during gunshot battle the camera speeds up as the firing is quick. Close ups of the camera are used to enhance the image of the character. The close-ups are used on a Capulets boots, to characters faces, to buildings and to the petrol station. Also there are many close-ups of a sign in the petrol station, which said add more fuel to fire which highlights the meaning of the brawl as more hatred was added between the two families. Other camera devices used are freezes for characters, which is used to remind us they are characters. Another way the camera is used is the camera panning; this is used to pan over characters, the city of Verona and the petrol station. This is used to focus different things on the same scene. Another camera usage device used is low angles and this is done to show the viewers where the power is this is highlighted when the camera first shows the Capulets boot first and this shows the Capulets are powerful. Also another very revolutionary camera trick as the viewer is put in the eyes of different characters. The quick edits in the play coincides with the quick music and the camera panning coincides with softer music. The effect of different camera shots is it draws in the viewer and seeks their attention.

Bless Me Ultima Book Report Essay -- essays research papers

Book Report: Bless Me, Ultima Title of Work: Bless Me Ultima Author & Date Written: Rudolfo Anaya 1972 Country of Author: New Mexico, USA Characters: Ultima- An old Curandera who comes to spend her last days with Antonio and his family. She is Tony’s mentor and helps him to find the right path for his life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Antonio Marez- A young boy who is torn between his parents: a Marez and a Luna. But with the help of Ultima, he discovers his own destiny. He thirsts for knowledge: he is a curios boy, an outstanding student, and a questioning worshiper.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Maria Luna - Antonio’s mother. A kind woman who’s one dream is to see her youngest son become a priest. She is obsessed with his education and pushes him to learn about the culture of her family, the Lunas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Gabriel Marez- Antonio’s father. A proud man, a carefree rancher on the plains who tends to push his son away from his mother’s protective arms. He is often depressed because he gave up his lifestyle for his wife. His dream in to move to California.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lupito- A man turned mad by the happenings of the war who kills the sherriff of the town in cold blood. It is his blood that first defiles the river. The memory of his death stays with Tony throughout the novel and causes him to think about the difference between good and evil and forgiveness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Narciso- An honorable man who tries to protect Ultima from harm. Because of the loss of his young wife, Narciso begins to drink and is known as the town drunk. Through his garden, Narciso makes magic by growing beautiful flowers and plants. He is later killed by Tenorio in cold blood while trying to warn Ultima of harm and is buried as the town drunk instead of the hero that he is.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Leon, Andrew, and Eugene- Tony’s brothers. The giants in his dream. They go off to fight the War and come back grown men with their own dreams and beliefs. The inevitably break the heart of their proud father by going out on their own and not helping him fulfill his dream of moving to California.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  &n... ...ment in which the story takes place. His ellaborate description of the llano shows you the beauty of Spanish America and helps you to understand the restless culture of the vaqueros who wander across it. Also, Anaya gives you a detailed description of El Puerto. The village in which the Lunas reside. The imagery in this description also helps you to understand the culture of the farmers, the calm and quiet people who plant their crops by the light of the moon and live in peace. Imagery plays and important role in this novel because without it, certain aspects such as the point of views of both the Lunas and the Marez faimy, would never be understood . Significance of Title of Work: The title of the novel: Bless Me, Ultima shows the power and knowledge of Ultima. At the end of the story, Antonio says, â€Å"Bless me, Ultima† (260). With these words you find the meaning of the title. Author’s Techniques: Rudolfo Anaya uses many Spanish terms in this book. The reason for this is to show the culture of the characters in the novel. Also he uses imagery to explain the beauty of the llano the Spanish America. By using both these techniques in his writing, Anaya bring s the true culture of

Childhood Obesity In America Essay

More and more American children are becoming overweight or obese. Years ago an elementary classroom may have one kid who was overweight but today that has drastically changed. We have a whole new generation of kids who are consuming much more â€Å"junk food† and eating fast food 3 or 4 nights a week and they are not as active as kids used to be. These kids are consuming things like Monster energy drinks, Starbucks coffee, Mountain Dew, chips, candy bars and more on a daily basis. Many of them are coach potatoes, video gamers, social networkers, texters, etc. We need to get this new generation of children to become more active. They also need to be educated on how to be aware of what they are eating and teach them to eat the so called â€Å"junk food† in moderation and incorporate more nutritious foods in his or her diet as well as maintain an active lifestyle. Childhood obesity is on the rise due to the many changes in our society and we need to do something to prevent it before it gets out of hand. Keywords: obesity, children, overweight Childhood Obesity in America Childhood obesity is becoming a problem across the globe and has been declared an epidemic in America. Children are consuming more calories than ever and many are not as active as earlier generations. For the first time in the history of this country, young people are less healthy and less prepared to take their places in society than were their parents. Diabetes is on the rise, American kids are getting sicker, becoming sadder and getting fatter. (W. Sears, M.D., M. Sears, R.N., J. Sears, M.D., R. Sears, M.D., 2006) Many of you probably remember running around the neighborhood when you were younger playing things like tag, hide and seek, capture the flag and many other outdoor games. Then you would get called in to eat, only to go right back out to play until it was time to come in for the  night. Now days you are more likely to find children indoors in front of the television, on the computer, texting a friend or playing a video game, not to mention they may be eating an unhealthy snack, such as a cookie or a bag of chips. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12.5 million children and adolescents between the ages of 2 and 19 are obese. Obesity is a good indicator of unhealthy lifestyles, characterized by over-eating and lack of physical activity. Who is responsible for this you might ask. Is it the parents, the schools, fast food restaurants, technology, a down economy or even the food industry? We cannot single out and put the blame on any one of these. However, each one can be a contributing factor and the combination of them certainly could be part of the cause. Let’s take a look at how each of them impacts our children’s health. Let’s start with the parents. As I stated earlier, years ago children were outside playing much of the day. However, now parents are not letting the children out to play until they are much older because they worry about their safety. Part of the reason for this is that the world has changed. Ever hear the phrase â€Å"It takes a village†? Well years ago neighbors looked out for each other and their children. Now everyone minds their own business and keeps to him or herself. Even the cars going through the residential neighborhoods do not seem to be as cautious about watching for children. Maybe this has to do with the fact that children are not as often outside playing as they used to be. Families seem to be so much busier today than in the past. Most families are living on two incomes instead of one, which means there is not a stay at home parent making home cooked meals everyday. Not to mention families are having less and less meals together at the table. Instead parents are tired and are relying on quicker meals like frozen pizza’s, banquet chicken, corndogs, fries, hotdogs, macaroni and cheese, microwaveable meals, and even fast food. Many families are a single parent household and may be on a tight budget and may be purchasing the cheaper convenience foods that are typically less nutritious and have more additives and preservatives. Parents are not intentionally trying to make their children fat and/or sick. Most are trying to do the best they can and don’t realize the long-term effects of all the processed foods, especially combined with a less active lifestyle. What about the school’s role in all this? Kids spend a big part of their day at school and some eat breakfast and lunch at school. As a Licensed Family Child Care Provider, each year I have to take nutrition training through the USDA food program. After taking it one year and learning about high fat foods that are commonly served to children, I was looking at my son’s monthly lunch menu for the elementary school and noticed they were serving too many of these high fat foods in one week at lunch. In the same week the kids would be served chicken nuggets, pizza, and a breaded chicken sandwich. These foods are not bad if eaten on occasion and in moderation. However, what I learned in the nutrition training was that we should limit the amount of high fat foods served in one week. My daughter, who attends the high school, told me that everyday if the students don’t like the main option for lunch they could go and get a hamburger or hotdog with french fries as an alternative choice. Middle schools, junior highs, and high schools often have an a la carte line or snack bar at lunch, which consists of ice cream, cookies, juice, and other foods that are not very nutritious for a lunch. Some schools even have soda machines and snack machines. There have even been some schools that are cutting their physical education and sports programs. Technology plays a big role in the children not being as active as they used to be. There are no longer just Saturday morning cartoons. Now with channels like the Disney Channel and Cartoon Network kids can watch cartoons twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Today our children spend many hours on media devices, such as cell phones, Ipads, Kindles, and hand held video games as well as the television, computer, or other game systems such as Xbox. Many kids today would rather be inside on the computer or playing video games than out with a friend or being active. This morning I was at the doctor’s office to have my cholesterol checked. In the waiting room at my clinic they now have a TV up on the wall that is always playing something educational about staying healthy. Today as I was  watching it they were talking about how people who sit more than three hours at a time shave time off of their life. They said after three hours of sitting you should get up and move around for a while before sitting back down. According to this program we have enzymes in our body that help break down fat. However, when we are sedentary or sitting these enzymes are not able to break down the fat in our body. If that is true than these children who are spending hours on the computer, watching TV or playing video games are not burning as much fat as they could be if they took a break every now and then and got up and moved around for a bit before sitting back down. Another contributing factor to childhood obesity is the food industry. Why the food industry? I’ll tell you why. The food industry is packing more and more preservatives, dyes, fat, sodium, sugar and other stuff into our food to make it last longer and taste better, but what are these added ingredients doing to our children? They are literally turning our children into sugar and carb addicts. Products such as chips, cookies, candy and other junk food are being targeted towards our children. Watch a cartoon with your child sometime and pay attention to how many of these commercials you will see. You will be amazed. Something many of you might not think of is the down economy as another contributing factor. Many families are struggling and have had to make plenty of cutbacks on their spending. Yes, that sometimes includes cutbacks on food. It can get expensive feeding a family of four for a week. It is actually cheaper sometimes to buy processed foods and junk food than it is to buy natural and healthy foods. For example, it is much cheaper to buy a box of Little Debbie snacks than it is to buy a small bag of apples or carrots. During my own families rough financial times we discovered that feeding a family of four from McDonald’s $1 menu was not only more convenient but cheaper than cooking many meals as well. If everyone got 2 to 3 items it was less than $15 for the whole family. However, in the long run eating lots of the unhealthy foods and snacks is going to cost you more in healthcare and prescription medications from the consequences of eating an abundance of these foods. â€Å"A family with an obese child spends 30% more in health costs and 77% more in medication costs.† (Parekh, 2012, Prevention is Better than Cure, para 1). Also obesity in childhood often follows into adulthood, which further supports the importance of preventing childhood obesity. (Wang, 2011) Fast food is another big factor for some people. I am not saying you should never eat it at all but some families are eating the stuff three or more times in one week. When I was a kid I was lucky if I got fast food once every six months and that was a treat. McDonald’s seems to have taken the blunt for the fast food industry when it comes to the consequences of eating it too often. They have tried to make some changes like getting rid of the supersize portions and adding apple wedges as an alternative to fries in their kid’s Happy Meal. There even is a documentary that was made about the negative impact McDonalds and the rest of the fast food industry are having on society. The main character, Morgan Spurlock in the movie did a one-month experiment. He ate three full meals a day at McDonald’s, only ordered a super size meal when asked, and never ate food from any other source. By the end of Morgan Spurlock’s month long McDonald’s binge, he had become depressed and exhausted, he was experiencing dramatic mood swings, and his sex life had greatly diminished. He gained 25 pounds, his body fat percentage increased from 11% to 18%, his liver was showing notable signs of damage, and his total cholesterol increased from 168 to 225. However, because of Spurlock’s unrealistic extent of excess calorie consumption, the only thing that this really proves is that overeating is unhealthy. (2009) If eaten on occasion and in moderation as well as eating the right portion size it is not going to harm you and that movie can be misleading. However, it does show what can happen to those who eat it on a daily basis. Parents should limit their child’s meals at fast food restaurants and think of another quick healthy alternative for those other days they may be in a time crunch. Now that I’ve talked about some of the contributing factors of childhood obesity, let’s discuss the effects it has on our children’s health. Children are ending up with health problems such as, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even type 2 diabetes. This form of diabetes was previously referred to as â€Å"adult onset† diabetes because it used to be more  typical for adults over the age of 40 to get this type. (Schraffenberger, L.A., 2012) Some of these overweight kids are also dealing with being teased by other kids and being called fat. This is leading to more kids being treated for depression. If these kids, some as young as elementary age, are having these kinds of health problems, what does that mean for their health as adults? So what changes have been made to fix this problem of childhood obesity in America? There have been some laws that have gone into effect. One such law has affected me as a childcare provider. The law went into effect in October of 2010 and states that all children over the age of 2 must be served low fat 1 percent milk or fat free skim milk. This law also applies to the schools. The schools have always had minimum calorie guidelines but now there is a maximum calorie guideline the school has to follow as well. This went into effect in July of 2012. Some schools are making changes like taking their soda and snack machines out or having them shut off during lunchtime. Some have even put in new machines with healthier options. Our first lady, Michele Obama has been actively involved in trying to prevent childhood obesity and has even visited some schools that have changed their menus to implement healthier options. Another big advocate in preventing childhood obesity is Rachael Ray. She has started the yum-o organization, which is a non-profit organization. According to the yum-o website, the yum-o organization â€Å"empowers kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cooking.† Wang (2011) explains that the U.S. obesity epidemic can have many serious health and financial consequences if it cannot be controlled, and likely minority and low-income groups are hit harder. Childhood obesity is currently higher than it ever has been and we can do something to prevent it. Parents can help by limiting their child’s screen time, eating more nutritious home cooked meals at the table (not in front of the television) and encouraging their children to be active. For families with busy schedules the parents can take time on the weekends to plan meals ahead of time for the upcoming week. They do not have to be elaborate and can even consist of soup, sandwich fruit and milk. (American Academy of Pediatrics)  The schools can limit the â€Å"junk food† they offer in vending machines and the a la carte line or replace it with healthier options and offer more nutritious meals with the appropriate amount of calories. They can also stop cutting their physical education programs, as keeping children active is very important in preventing obesity as well. Families who are struggling financially can buy fruits and veggies that are on sale or in season and make meals that are cheap yet healthy. Also we should have more restrictions on the food industry, such as maybe a warning label for parents on foods that are way too high in sugar, fat, or sodium. If we all work together to make as many of these changes as we can our kids will be much happier and healthier. References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Obesity rates among all children in the united states. Retrieved September 30, 2012, from www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html Hassink, S. (Ed). (2006). A parent’s guide to childhood obesity. United States: American Academy of Pediatrics Parekh, N., (July 13, 2012). Childhood obesity prevention tips. Prevention is better than cure. Retrieved September 30, 2012, from http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/6-7-2004-55178.asp Ray, R., (2012). Rachael ray’s yum-o cook feed fund. Retrieved September 30, 2012, from http://www.yum-o.org/ Schraffenberger, L.A., (2012). Basic ICD-10-CM/PCS and ICD-9-CM Coding, Chapter 6, Page 123 Sears, W., Sears, M., Sears, J., Sears, R., (2006) The healthiest kid in the neighborhood. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company Wang, Y., (2011). Disparities in pediatric obesity in the united states. Retrieved October 21, 2012, from advances.nutrition.org/content/2/1/23.full.pdf+html

Isolation in Society Essay

Most people take society for granted, having lived within it their whole lives. They follow rules and social norms almost without thinking or realizing how much these rules affect their lives. It is only when these rules and norms are removed that people realize the significant impact of society on who they are. People assume social roles and when these roles are removed, whether by choice or by accident, they are forced to survive without the benefits or protections of society. Charlotte Perkins Gilman and William Golding are two authors that attempted to show the negative effects of isolation from society. In â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Gilman Jane is isolated from society and slowly descends into her own world of delusion and insanity; in the Lord of the Flies by Golding, the isolated boys forgo the rules of civilization and revert to a state of savagery and paranoia. In each story, as in real life, isolation from society causes suffering. A large part of staying within society and not being isolated from it is to fulfill an expected social role, whether as a mother, father, doctor, or nurse. Expectations from society are placed on each of these roles, as well as a pressure to conform. Whether people choose to accept them or not, social roles are assigned to everyone who participates in society. According to Gerrig, â€Å"A social role is a socially defined pattern of behavior that is expected of a person when functioning in a given setting or group† (Gerrig and Zimbardo 574). In both â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† and Lord of the Flies, pressures of fulfilling social role leads to physical and mental isolation and alienation from society and creates suffering. In the article â€Å"The Outsider,† a genius boy named William James Sidis is described as someone whose intelligence made him isolated from society: â€Å"At eighteen months he could read The New York Times, at two he taught himself Latin, at three he learned Greek. By the time he was an adult he could speak more than forty languages and dialects. He gained entrance to Harvard at eleven, and gave a lecture on four-dimensional bodies to the Harvard Mathematical Club his first year† (Towers 6). His IQ was reported between 250 to 300 points, and his intelligence isolated him from his peers and social norms. This hyper-intelligence distanced him from almost everyone else in the world, creating an isolated, lonely youth who suffered in his alienation. Since he was born, he was constantly fueled by the expectations of others pushing him to excel. It led to his drive to succeed beyond most others in the academic fields, but did not allow for him to ever experience â€Å"normal† life, in social terms. Conforming to the ideas of others that wanted his brain used for noble pursuits, he missed out on simple social interactions or other joys of being human, eventually becoming a forty-six-year-old virgin who was unable to find sexual identity because he never incorporated it into his life. Sidis claims that despite all his intelligence and accomplishments, he is a failure, because he never got to be anything but an outsider. His isolation from normal society not only limited the options in his life, but also added unnecessary suffering. This real life isolation and the suffering it causes is seen in the characters of Gilman’s and Golding’s stories. In â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† and Lord of the Flies, people became isolated from society and suffered because of it. Jane is an intelligent and independent woman, and this makes her an outsider in nineteenth century society, who expect women to be happy mothers and wives. Though all of the stranded boys are isolated from society on the island, Ralph becomes an outsider from their community, after his intelligence and sense clash with the savage behavior the other boys adopt. In Jane’s case, she was an outsider for her rejection of â€Å"normal† society, while Ralph was an outsider because of his acceptance of it. Real life is no different than fiction, and people who think above the typical mentality and social norms often become isolated from society, thus becoming outsiders. For Jane in â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper,† it is the refusal to accept these social roles that makes her an outsider in her own world, combined with the dismissive attitude that she receives from others. In the story, Jane makes the claim that she cannot participate in social activities such as working and visiting family because of her mental illness. This is largely because of her dominant doctor husband who keeps telling her that she is and treating her as if she were helpless. Her husband acts just as any husband of the time, treating her as a helpless woman instead of the intelligent and creative woman she is. He also is the one who will not allow her to write, so she begins her journal until she can work again: â€Å"So I take phosphates or phosphates-whichever it is- and tonics, and air and exercise, and journeys, and am absolutely forbidden to â€Å"work† until I am well again† (Golding 88). What her husband dismisses is Jane’s deep depression, which is made worse by her isolation and sense of helplessness. â€Å"You see, he does not believe I am sick! † (88). He robbed her of writing and being productive in the way she wishes, and offers her little alternatives. At the time, women were expected to keep house and raise the children, while Jane preferred writing and independence. She eventually comes to see domestic life as a prison, directly opposing the societal view of domestic life as the height of existence. Even before her descent into insanity, she is an outsider compared to the nanny and John’s sister who are happy filling their social roles as submissive housewives. Jane is left in her isolated world alone in the house, with her husband gone much of the time on emergencies and serious situations. In her isolation, Jane grows increasingly detached not only from her husband and family, but from reality. By making her an outsider, Jane is unable to get over her depression and the isolation from society only makes her mindset worse. Isolation from society can negatively affect the behavior of people, much like it does to Jane. Many people with mental illness are kept out of â€Å"normal† society, instead locked away like Jane is. This behavior robs people of the ability to interact with each other, almost negating the concept of what a society is supposed to be. This brings up the question of whether societies should be inclusive or if it is okay to create outsiders and exclude them. Nineteenth century society simply did not want to accept a strong independent woman. In Lord of the Flies, the entire definition of society is called into question. In Lord of the Flies, isolation from society is the theme of the work. The boys are isolated on a desert island and are forced to create their own rules, and soon Ralph finds himself isolated from this new society. Ralph initially uses his intelligence and morals to maintain order and establish a democratic society with the conch shell. He is a wise choice as leader and the signal fire displays the hope they have to return to civilization, but fear and paranoia begin to take over. The isolation from society leads Jack and his followers to abandon the rules, and this makes Ralph and his followers outsiders to them. The instance where the boys killed the sow shows how far removed from society they are and by chopping off of its head and offering it to the beast seems to suggest that isolation from society leads to the breakdown of civilized behavior. In their blood lust, the boys chant, â€Å"Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood† (Golden 168). The boys take pleasure in the destructive power of killing, where they were only recently innocent schoolboys. They savagely murder Simon thinking he is the beast and they, â€Å"Leapt on to the beast, screamed, struck, bit and tore† (000000), like animals and not humans. After the boys kill Simon, the only boy that does not believe in the beast, they in fact become the beast themselves by murdering the person who knows the truth. However barbaric, Jack’s society appeals to most of the boys and even Ralph and Piggy think it is a demented but mostly safe society. For Ralph and his followers, isolation from society did not cause him to revert to a savage state, though tempted by it. Perhaps the author is trying to suggest that all humans possess violent instincts and will revert to them when given the chance, but the truly strong individuals will manage to retain their sense of morality and independence. When the boys are rescued, Ralph realizes that the isolation from society forced all the boys to lose their innocence, though he managed to retain his sense of civilization. Both Jane in â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† and Ralph in Lord of the Flies are outsiders in their own worlds, isolated physically and by their own beliefs and thoughts. This isolation led to suffering for each. In both stories, frustration and paranoia provokes dark thoughts in the minds of the characters, as the boys on the island become savages, Ralph is forced to hide for his life, and Jane becomes insane. Both authors seem to suggest that isolation from society and its rules leads to only suffering and the breakdown of morality. The good become evil, and the intelligent and independent thinkers lose their minds and sometimes lives. Ralph offers hope that this fate is not always true, but he is also forever changed by his experience. Jane’s position offers little hope, as she continues to deteriorate mentally throughout the story. But, the stories each offer questions about social roles and how they affect the mind, and whether isolation can allow a person to better understand the outside world or forget how to interact in it. The only thing that is certain is that few can escape from the reality of society. Works cited: Gerrig, Richard J. and Zimbardo, Philip G. â€Å"Social Norms. † Psychology and Life. 17th ed. 2005. Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper. † The Project Gutenberg. November 1999. 31 January 2007. . Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: Berkeley Publishing Group, 1954. Towers, Grady M. â€Å"The Outsiders. † The Prometheus Society. 22 April 1987. 31 January 2007. .

Profile of Demeter the Greek Goddess

Profile of Demeter the Greek Goddess Demeter is a goddess of fertility, grain, and agriculture. She is pictured as a mature motherly figure. Although she is the goddess who taught mankind about agriculture, she is also the goddess responsible for creating winter and a mystery religious cult. She is usually accompanied by her daughter Persephone. Occupation: Goddess The family of Origin: Demeter was a daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and so a sister of the goddesses Hestia and Hera, and the gods Poseidon, Hades, and Zeus. Demeter in Rome: The Romans referred to Demeter as Ceres. The Roman cult of Ceres was initially served by Greek priestesses, according to Cicero in his Pro Balbo oration. For the passage, see Turas Ceres. In Graeco Ritu: A Typically Roman Way of Honoring the Gods [Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, Vol. 97, Greece in Rome: Influence, Integration, Resistance (1995), pp. 15-31], author John Scheid says the foreign, Greek cult of Ceres was imported to Rome in the middle of the third century B.C. Ceres was also referred to as Dea Dia in connection with a three-day May Ambarvalia festival, according to Tibullus and the Ambarvalia, by C. Bennett Pascal, in The American Journal of Philology, Vol. 109, No. 4 (Winter, 1988), pp. 523-536. Also see Ovids Amores Book III.X, in an English translation: No Sex Its the Festival Of Ceres. Attributes: The attributes of Demeter are a sheaf of grain, a conical headdress, a scepter, a torch, and a sacrificial bowl. Persephone and Demeter: The story of Demeter is usually combined with the story of the abduction of her daughter Persephone. Read this story in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter. Eleusinian Mystery: Demeter and her daughter are at the center of the widest spread Greek mystery cult the Eleusinian Mysteries a mystery religion that was popular in Greece and in the Roman Empire. Named for the location in Eleusis, the mystery cult may have started in the Mycenaean period, according to Helene P. Foley, in The Homeric hymn to Demeter: translation, commentary, and interpretive essays. She says that substantial remains of the cult begin in the 8th century B.C., and that the Goths destroyed the sanctuary a few years before the start of the fifth century A.D. The Homeric Hymn to Demeter is the oldest record of the Eleusinian Mysteries, but it is a mystery and we dont really know what transpired. Mystery Cults of the Ancient World Review Myths Involving Demeter: Myths about Demeter (Ceres) re-told by Thomas Bulfinch include: ProserpineThe Rural DeitiesCupid and Psyche Orphic Hymn to Demeter (Ceres): Above, I provided a link to the so-called Homeric Hymn to Demeter (in public domain English translation). It tells of the abduction of Demeters daughter Persephone and the trials the mother went through to find her again. The Orphic hymn paints a picture of the nurturing, fertility goddess. XXXIX.TO CERES. O Universal mother, Ceres famdAugust, the source of wealth, and various namd: 2Great nurse, all-bounteous, blessed and divine,Who joyst in peace, to nourish corn is thine:Goddess of seed, of fruits abundant, fair, 5Harvest and threshing, are thy constant care;Who dwellst in Eleusinas seats retird,Lovely, delightful queen, by all desird.Nurse of all mortals, whose benignant mind,First ploughing oxen to the yoke confind; 10And gave to men, what natures wants require,With plenteous means of bliss which all desire.In verdure flourishing in honor bright,Assessor of great Bacchus, bearing light: Rejoicing in the reapers sickles, kind, 15Whose nature lucid, earthly, pure, we find.Prolific, venerable, Nurse divine,Thy daughter loving, holy Proserpine:A car with dragons yokd, tis thine to guide, 19And orgies singing round thy throne to ride: 20Only-begotten, much-producing queen,All flowers are thine and fruits of lovely green.Bright Goddess, come, with Summers rich increaseSwelling and pregnant, leading smiling Peace;Come, with fair Concord and imperial Health, 25And join with these a needful store of wealth. From: The Hymns of OrpheusTranslated by Thomas Taylor [1792]

David Foster Wallace on SNOOTS - Extreme Usage Fanatics

David Foster Wallace on SNOOTS - Extreme Usage Fanatics After reading this article, decide if you are a SNOOT: one of the Few, the Proud, the More or Less Constantly Appalled at Everyone Else. Question: What Is a SNOOT? Answer: SNOOT (n) (highly colloq) is this reviewers nuclear familys nickname clef for a really extreme usage fanatic, the sort of person whose idea of Sunday fun is to hunt for mistakes in the very prose of [William] Safires column [in The New York Times Magazine]. This definition of the family word SNOOT (an acronym for Sprachgefà ¼hl Necessitates Our Ongoing Tendance or Syntax Nudniks of Our Time) appears in footnote number five of David Foster Wallaces review article Authority and American Usage (in Consider the Lobster and Other Essays,   2005). There, the late author of Infinite Jest devotes more than 50 smart and entertaining pages to the topic of grammarin particular, to the dispute between linguistic conservatives and linguistic liberals, otherwise known as the Prescriptivists vs. the Descriptivists. Before deciding whether you would feel comfortable characterizing yourself as a SNOOT, consider Wallaces description of SNOOTitude: There are lots of epithets for people like thisGrammar Nazis, Usage Nerds, Syntax Snobs, the Grammar Battalion, the Language Police. The term I was raised with is SNOOT. The word might be slightly self-mocking, but those other terms are outright dysphemisms. A SNOOT can be defined as somebody who knows what dysphemism means and doesnt mind letting you know it.I submit that we SNOOTs are just about the last remaining kind of truly elitist nerd. There are, granted, plenty of nerd-species in todays America, and some of these are elitist within their own nerdy purview (e.g., the skinny, carbuncular, semi-autistic Computer Nerd moves instantly up on the totem pole of status when your screen freezes and now you need his help, and the bland condescension with which he performs the two occult keystrokes that unfreeze your screen is both elitist and situationally valid). But the SNOOTs purview is interhuman social life itself. You dont, after all (despite withering cultural pressure), have to use a computer, but you cant escape language: Language is everything and everywhere; its what lets us have anything to do with one another; its what separates us from the animals; Genesis 11:7-10 and so on. And we SNOOTS know when and how to hyphenate phrasal adjectives and to keep participles from dangling, and we know that we know, and we know how very few other Americans know this stuff or even care, and we judge them accordingly.In ways that certain of us are uncomfortable about, SNOOTs attitudes about contemporary usage resemble religious/political conservatives attitudes about contemporary culture: We combine a missionary zeal and a near-neural faith in our beliefs importance with a curmudgeonly hell-in-a-handbasket despair at the way English is routinely manhandled and corrupted by supposedly literate adults. Plus a dash of the elitism of, say, Billy Zane in Titanica fellow SNOOT I know likes to say that listening to most peoples public English feels like watching somebody u se a Stradivarius to pound nails. We are the Few, the Proud, the More or Less Constantly Appalled at Everyone Else.(David Foster Wallace, Consider the Lobster and Other Essays. Little, Brown and Company, 2005) As regular visitors to this site may have noticed, we strive to remain on speaking terms with both sides in the Usage Wars. Looking at how language works (description) happens to interest us more than laying down arbitrary laws on how language should be used (prescription). And yet its clear that most readers arrive at About.com Grammar Composition in search of rulings, not linguistic ruminations, and so we do try to be accommodating. But how do you define your interest in language? Are you a fan of Lynne Trusss Eats, Shoots Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation (2004), or do you feel more at home with David Crystals The Fight for English: How Language Pundits Ate, Shot, and Left (2007)? Are you inclined to fuss at a child who uses aint, or are you more interested in finding out that until the 19th century in both England and America aint was an acceptable usage? In short, do you consider yourself a SNOOT?

MEMO---Affordable Care ACT Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MEMO---Affordable Care ACT - Assignment Example The growth is facilitated by the company staff, the full-time employees and the part-time employees. The company already has a health insurance cover for the full-time employees. The cover has reduced recurrent expenditure on hospital bills and also improved the welfare of the full-time employees (Sommers et al, 2013). We believe that, if the health package is extended to the part-time staff, it will greatly improve their welfare and attitude towards the company. Currently, part-time employees represent 20% of the total company employees. In addition, the number increases to 30% of the total workforce when there is a huge workload. Due to the unpredictable patterns of the economy, the company is forced to recruit an additional team to aid in delivering various important tasks. Therefore, when the health insurance cover under the Affordable health care is adopted on board, the company will also benefit. The company has experienced tremendous growth for the last ten years. The number of employees is expected to double within the next year to approximately 300 employees including the part-time employees. It is a requirement to have health insurance for all employees of registered companies. This is in line with the Affordable Care Act, which becomes effective soon. As part of the company’s core values, it is important to comply with national laws to ensure the continued success of the company. Complying with the new mandate will see the company increase in size and increase the annual turnover, in the long run (Huntington et al, 2011). Though the Affordable health care will increase the company costs, it will have a variety of benefits. A health insurance cover for the part-time employees will help reduce absenteeism due to sickness. Absenteeism impacts the company negatively, and it is an additional cost to the company. Where several part-time employees are absent, the company will be