Observe and Analyze Two Different Elementary School...

Observe and Analyze Classroom instruction This signature assignment is about observing and analyzing classroom instruction in at least 2 classrooms. The two classrooms that I chose to observed is special education and general education. In this assignment I will give a synopsis of my observation, how the instruction differentiated to meet the needs of identified students, identify strengths and needs based on research based practice, and I will suggest what are the next steps teachers can take to improve their lesson. The first class that I observed was Mrs. Blacks class of fourth, fifth, and sixth graders in a special day class. The lesson was observed from 10:30 to 11:00. The content was English language arts on root words.†¦show more content†¦Mrs. Black attempted to make some connections to prior knowledge for the students, but unfortunately, they were not connecting. Mrs. Black use the word spectrum as an example of word with the root word spect. The reference was the shopping center located here in Chino Hills; however, none of the students knew about it. My suggestion for the teacher to connect to prior knowledge by further probing the meaning of the word, a spectrum (glass when light shines on it creates a rainbow), etc. might have sparked a connection with some students. Mrs. Black used a selection of instructional strategies: board, word cards, chart, worksheet, oral, written, kinesthetic. However some of them werent responsive to student needs. For example, Mrs. Black used cards to talk about root words, adding on suffixed and affixed. She had cards for the students to manipulate which was a great idea. However, then the ideas was to tape the cards to the board. Mrs. Black realize that she needed the cards for additional words. She adjusted as needed, but the instructional strategy then did not have the same purpose she intended. My suggestion would be for Mrs. Black to write the word and definition of spect and sign on the board so students can refer back to it and that would have been beneficial to the student. After the students had put the words together Mrs. Black should write the word on the board because once the cards were rearranged, they had noShow MoreRelatedStudent Comprehension Through Vocabulary : An Action Research Project1533 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å"Vibrant Vocabulary† Increaseing Student Comprehension through Vocabulary An Action Research Project By: Nicole Grummert Crete Public Schools Fall Semester 2015 Research Methods, EDU 603, 604 Doane College Dr. Marilyn Johnson-Farr Table of Contents Permission Letter to Administration Permission Letter to Parents/Guardians Introduction Context of Study Purpose of Study Significance of the Study Personal Relevance Primary Questions Guiding Questions Literature ReviewRead MoreM3 Research Design Critique Report1300 Words   |  6 PagesCorrelational research and causal-comparative research are two widely used research designs of a variety of types. 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The Return Nightfall Chapter 36 Free Essays

Elena had been waiting in her tree. It wasn’t, as a matter of fact, all that different from her six months in the spirit world, where she had spent most of her time watching other people, and waiting, and watching them some more. Those months had taught her a patient alertness that would have astounded anyone who knew the old, wildfire Elena. We will write a custom essay sample on The Return: Nightfall Chapter 36 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Of course, the old, wildfire Elena was still inside her, too, and occasionally it rebelled. As far as she could see, nothing was happening in the dark boardinghouse. Only the moon seemed to move, creeping slowly higher into the sky. Damon said this Shinichi had a thing about 4:44 in the morning or evening, she thought. Maybe this Black Magic was working to a different schedule than any she’d heard of. In any case, it was for Stefan. And as soon as she thought that she knew that she would wait here for days, if that’s what it took. She could certainly wait until daybreak, when no self-respecting Black Magic-worker would ever thing of beginning a ceremony. And, in the end, what she was waiting for came to rest right below her feet. First came the figures, walking sedately out of the Old Wood and toward the gravel pathways of the boardinghouse. They weren’t hard to identify, even at long range. One was Damon, who had aje ne sais quois about him that Elena couldn’t miss at a quarter of a mile – and then again there was his aura, which was a very good facsimile of his old aura: that unreadable, un-breachable ball of black stone. Avery good imitation, in fact. Actually, it was almost exactly like the one†¦ It was then, Elena later realized, that she felt her very first qualm. But right now she was so caught up in the moment that she brushed the uneasy thought away. The one with the deep gray aura with crimson flashes would be Shinichi, she guessed. And the one with the same aura as the possessed girls: a sort of muddy color slashed with orange must be the twin sister Misao. Only those two, Shinichi and Misao, were holding hands, even occasionally nuzzling each other – as Elena could see as they came up close to the boardinghouse. They certainly weren’t acting like any brother and sister that Elena had seen. Moreover, Damon was carrying a mostly-naked girl over his shoulder, and Elena couldn’t imagine who that might be. Patience,she thought to herself.Patience. The major players are here at last, just as Damon promised they would be. And the minor players†¦ Well, first, following Damon and his group were three little girls. She recognized Tami Bryce instantly from her aura, but the other two were strangers. They hopped, skipped, andfrisked out of the Wood and to the boardinghouse, where Damon said something to them and they came around to sit in Mrs. Flowers’ kitchen garden, almost directly below Elena. One look at the auras of the strange girls was enough to identify them as more of Misao’s pets. Then, up the driveway came a very familiar car – it belonged to Caroline’s mother. Caroline stepped out of it and was helped into the boardinghouse by Damon, who had done something – Elena had missed what – with his burden. Elena rejoiced as she saw lights coming on as Damon and his three guests traveled up the boardinghouse, lighting their way as they went. They came out on the very top, standing in a row on the widow’s walk, looking down. Damon snapped his fingers, and the backyard lights went on as if it were a cue for a show. But Elena didn’t see the actors – the victims of the ceremony that was about to begin, until just then. They were being herded around the far corner of the boardinghouse. She could see them all: Matt and Meredith and Bonnie, and Mrs. Flowers and, strangely, old Dr. Alpert. What Elena didn’t understand was why they weren’t fighting harder – Bonnie was certainly making enough noise for all of them, but they acted as if they were being pushed forward against their will. That was when she saw the looming darkness behind them. Huge dark shadows, with no features that she could identify. It was at that point that Elena realized, even over Bonnie’s yelling, if she held herself still inside and focused hard enough, she could hear what everyone on the widow’s walk was saying. And Misao’s shrill voice cut through the rest. â€Å"Oh lucky! We got all of them back,† she squealed, and kissed her brother’s cheek, despite his brief look of annoyance. â€Å"Of course we did. I said so,† he was beginning, when Misao squealed once more. â€Å"But which of them do we start with?† She kissed her brother and he stroked her hair, relenting. â€Å"You pick the first one,† he said. â€Å"You darling,† Misao cooed shamelessly. These two, Elena thought, are real charmers. Twins, huh? â€Å"The little noisy one,† Shinichi said firmly, pointing to Bonnie. â€Å"Urusei, brat! Shut up!† he added as Bonnie was pushed or carried forward by the shadows. Now Elena could see her more clearly. And she could hear Bonnie’s heartrending pleas to Damon not to do this to†¦the others. â€Å"I’m not begging for myself,† she cried, as she was dragged into the light. â€Å"But Dr. Alpert is a good woman; she has nothing to do with this. Neither does Mrs. Flowers. And Meredith and Matt have already suffered enough.Please! â€Å" There was a ragged chorus of sound as the others apparently tried to fight and were subdued. But Matt’s voice rose above it all. â€Å"You touch her, Salvatore, and you’d better make damn sure you kill me, too!† Elena’s heart jerked as she heard Matt’s voice sounding so strong and well. She’d found him at last, but she couldn’t think of a way to save him. â€Å"And then we have to decide what to do with them to start with,† Misao said, clapping like a happy child at her birthday party. â€Å"Take your pick.† Shinichi caressed his sister’s hair and whispered into her ear. She turned and kissed him on the mouth. Not hastily, either. â€Å"What the – what’s going on?† Caroline said. She had never been shy, that one, Elena thought. Now she had moved forward to cling to Shinichi’s unoccupied hand. For just an instant, Elena thought he would throw her off the widow’s walk and watch her plunge to the ground. Then he turned, and he and Misao stared at each other. Then he laughed. â€Å"Sorry, sorry, it’s so hard when you’re the life of the party,† he said. â€Å"Well, what do you think, Carolyn – Caroline?† Caroline was staring at him. â€Å"Why’s she holding you that way?† â€Å"In theShi no Shi , sisters are precious,† Shinichi said. â€Å"And†¦well, I haven’t seen her in a long time. We’re getting reacquainted.† But the kiss he planted on Misao’s palm was hardly brotherly. â€Å"Go on,† he added quickly, to Caroline. â€Å"You choose the first act in the Moonspire Festival! What shall we do with her?† Caroline began to imitate Misao, kissing Shinichi’s cheek and ear. â€Å"I’m new here,† she said flirtatiously. â€Å"I don’t really know what you want me to pick.† â€Å"Silly Caroline. Naturally, how she di – † Shinichi was suddenly smothered by a great hug and kiss from his sister. Caroline, who had obviously wanted the attention of choice put to her, even if she didn’t understand the subject, said huffily, â€Å"Well, if you don’t tell me, I can’t choose. And anyway, where’s Elena? I don’t see her anywhere!† She seemed about to say more when Damon glided over and whispered in her ear. Then she smiled again, and they both looked at the pine trees surrounding the boardinghouse. That was when Elena had her second qualm. But Misao was already speaking and that required Elena’s full attention. â€Å"Lucky! Then I’ll pick.† Misao leaned forward, peeking over the edge of the roof at the humans below, her dark eyes wide, summing up the possibilities in what looked like a barren clearing. She was so delicate, so graceful as she got up to pace and think; her skin was so fair, and her hair so glossy and dark that even Elena couldn’t take her eyes off her. Then Misao’s face lit up and she spoke. â€Å"Spread her on the altar. You brought some of your half-breeds?† The last was not so much a question as an excited exclamation. â€Å"My experiments? Of course, darling. I told you so,† Shinichi replied and added, staring into the forest, â€Å"Two of you – er, men – and Old Faithful!† And he snapped his fingers. There were several minutes of confusion during which the humans around Bonnie were struck, kicked, thrown to the ground, trampled on, and crushed as they fought with the shadows. And then the things that had shambled forward before, shambled farther forward with Bonnie held in between them, dangling limply from each by a slim arm. The half-breeds were something like men and something like trees with all the leaves stripped off them. If they had beenmade , it looked as if they had been made specifically to be grotesque and asymmetrical. One had a crooked, knobby left arm that reached almost to its feet, and a right arm that was thick, lumpy, and only waist-high. They were hideous. Their skin was similar to the chitin-like skin of the insects, but much bumpier, with knotholes and burls and all the outward aspects of bark on their branches. They had a shaggy, unfinished look in places. They were terrifying. The way their limbs were twisted; the way they walked, shambling forward like apes, the way their bodies ended on top with treelike caricatures of human faces, surmounted by a tangle of thinner branches sticking out at odd angles – they were calculated to look like creatures of nightmare. And they were naked. They had nothing in place of clothes to disguise the ghastly deformities of their bodies. And then Elena really knew what terror meant, as the two shambling malach carried the limp Bonnie to a sort of roughly hewn stump of tree like an altar, laid her on it and began to pluck at the many layers of her clothing, clumsily, pulling at them with sticklike fingers that broke off with little crackling sounds even as cloth tore. They didn’t seem to care that they broke their fingers off – as long as they accomplished their task. And then they were using bits of torn cloth, even more clumsily, to tie Bonnie, spread-eagled, to four knobby posts snapped off their own bodies and hammered into the ground around the trunk with four powerful blows by the thick-armed one. Meanwhile, from somewhere even farther away in the shadows, a third man-tree shuffled forward. And Elena saw that this one was, undeniably, unmistakably male. For a moment Elena worried that Damon might lose it, go mad, turn around and attack both the were-foxes, revealing his true allegiance now. But his feelings about Bonnie had obviously changed since he had saved her at Caroline’s. He appeared perfectly relaxed beside Shinichi and Misao, sitting back and smiling, even saying something that made them laugh. Suddenly something inside Elena seemed to plummet. This wasn’t a qualm. It was full-blown terror. Damon had never looked so natural, so in tune, sohappy with anyone as he did here with Shinichi and Misao. They couldn’t possibly have changed him, she tried to convince herself. Theycouldn’t have possessed him again so quickly, not without her, Elena, knowing it†¦. But when you showed him the truth, he was miserable, her heart whispered. Desperately miserable – miserably desperate. He might have reached for possession as a defiant alcoholic reaches for a bottle, wanting only forgetfulness. If she knew Damon, he had willingly invited the darkness back in. He couldn’t stand to stand in the light, she thought. And so now, he’s able to laugh even at Bonnie’s suffering. And where did that leave her? With Damon defected to the other side, no longer ally, but enemy? Elena began to tremble with anger and hatred – yes, and fear, too, as she contemplated her position. All alone to struggle against three of the strongest enemies she could imagine, and their army of deformed, conscienceless killers? Not to mention Caroline, the cheerleader of spite? As if to corroborate her fears, as if to show her how slim her chances really were, the tree she was clinging to seemed suddenly to let go of her, and for a moment Elena thought she would fall, spinning and screaming, all the way to the ground. Her handholds and footholds seemed to disappear all at once, and she only saved herself by a frantic – and painful – scrambling through serrated pine needles up to the grooved, dark bark. You are a human girl now, my dear,the strong, resinous smell seemed to be telling her.And you are up to your neck in the Powers of the undead and of sorcery. Why fight it? You’ve lost before you’ve begun. Give in now and it won’t hurt so much. If aperson had been telling her this, trying to hammer it in, the words might have sparked some kind of defiance from the flint of Elena’s character. But instead this was just a feeling that came over her, an aura of doom, a knowledge of the hopelessness of her cause, and the inadequacy of her weapons, that seemed to settle over her as gently and as inescapably as a fog. She leaned her throbbing head against the trunk of the tree. She had never felt so weak, so helpless – or so alone, not since she had been a newly wakened vampire. She wanted Stefan. But Stefan hadn’t been able to beat these three, and because of that she might never see him again. Something new was happening on the roof, she realized wearily. Damon was looking down at Bonnie on the altar, and his expression was petulant. Bonnie’s white face was staring up at the evening sky in determination, as if refusing any longer to weep or beg again. â€Å"But†¦are all thehors d’oeuvres so predictable?† Damon asked, seeming genuinely bored. You bastard, you’d turn on your best friend for amusement, Elena thought. Well, just you wait. But she knew the truth was that without him, she couldn’t even put together Plan A, much less fight against these kitsune, these were-foxes. â€Å"You told me that in theShi no Shi , I would see acts of genuine originality,† Damon was going on. â€Å"Maidens hypnotized to cut themselves†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena ignored his words. She concentrated all her energy on the thudding pain in the center of her chest. She felt as if she were drawing blood from her tiniest capillaries, from the far reaches of her body, and collecting it here at her center. The human mind is infinite, she thought. It is as strange and as infinite as the universe. And the human soul†¦ The three youngest of the possessed began dancing around the spread-eagled Bonnie, singing in falsely sweet little-girl voices: â€Å"You are going todie in here, When you die inhere , outthere They throwdirt right on your face!† How delightful, Elena thought. Then she tuned back in to the drama unfolding on the roof. What she saw startled her. Meredith was now up on the widow’s walk, moving as if she were underwater – entranced. Elena had missed how she’d gotten there – was it by some sort of magic? Misao was facing Meredith, giggling. Damon was laughing, too, but in mocking disbelief. â€Å"And you expect me to believe that if I givethis girl a pair of scissors†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he said, â€Å"she would actually cut her own – â€Å" â€Å"Try and see for yourself,† Shinichi interrupted, with one of his languid gestures. He was leaning against the cupola in the middle of the widow’s walk, still trying to out-lounge Damon. â€Å"Didn’t you see our prizewinner, Isobel?You carried her all the way here – didn’t she ever try to speak?† Damon held out a hand. â€Å"Scissors,† he said, and a dainty pair of nail scissors rested in his palm. It seemed that, as long as Damon had Shinichi’s magic key, the magic field around them would continue to obey him even in the real world. He laughed. â€Å"No, adult-size scissors, for gardening. The tongue’s made of strong muscles, not paper.† What he held in his hand then were large pruning shears – definitely not toys for children. He hefted them, feeling their weight. And then, to Elena’s utter shock, he looked straight up at her in her treetop refuge, not needing to search for her there at all – and winked. Elena could only stare back in horror. He knew, she thought. He knew where I was all the time. That was what he had been whispering to Caroline about. It hadn’t worked – theWings of Redemption hadn’t worked, Elena thought, and it felt as if she were falling and would fall forever. I should have realized it would be no good. No matter what’s done to him, Damon will always be Damon. And now he’s offering me a choice: see my two best friends tortured and killed, or step forward and stop this horror by agreeing to his terms. What could she do? He had arranged the chess pieces brilliantly, she thought. The pawns on two different levels, so that even if Elena could somehow climb down to try to save Bonnie, Meredith would be lost. Bonnie was tied to four strong posts and guarded by Tree-Men. Meredith was closer, up on the roof, but to get her off Elena would have toget to her and then through Misao, Shinichi, Caroline, and Damon himself. And Elena had to choose. Whether to step forward now, or be pushed forward by the anguish of one of the two who were almost a part of her. She seemed to catch a faint strain of telepathy as Damon stood beaming there, and it said,This is the best night of my life. You could always just jump,came the fog-like hypnotic whisper of annihilation once again.End the dead-end road you’re on. End your suffering. End all the pain†¦just like that. â€Å"Now it’s my turn,† Caroline was saying, brushing past the twins to face Meredith herself. â€Å"It was supposed to be my choice in the first place. So it’s my turn now.† Misao was laughing hysterically, but Meredith was already stepping forward, still in a trance. â€Å"Oh, have it your own way,† Damon said. But he didn’t move, still staring curiously, as Caroline said to Meredith, â€Å"You’ve always had a tongue like an adder’s. Why don’t you make it forked for us – right here, right now? Before you cut it into pieces.† Meredith held out her hand without a word, like an automaton. Still with her eyes on Damon, Elena breathed in slowly. Her chest seemed to be going into spasms as it had when the sucker plants had wound their way around her and cut off her breath. But not even sensations in her own body could stop her. How could I choose? she thought. Bonnie and Meredith – I love both of them. And there’s nothing else to do, she realized numbly, the feeling draining from her hands and her lips. I’m not even sure if Damon can save both of them, even if I agree to†¦submit to him. These others – Shinichi, Misao, even Caroline – they want to see blood. And Shinichi not only controls trees, but just about everything in the Old Wood, including those monstrous Tree-Men. Maybe this time Damon has over-reached himself, taken on more than he could handle. He wanted me – but he went too far to get me. I can’t see any way out. And then she did see. Suddenly everything fell into place and was brilliantly clear. Sheknew . Elena stared down at Bonnie, almost in a state of shock. Bonnie was looking at her, too. But there was no expectation of rescue in that small, triangular face. Bonnie had already accepted her fate: agony and death. No,Elena thought, not knowing whether Bonnie could hear her. Believe,she thought to Bonnie. Not blindly, never blindly. But believe in what your mind tells you is the truth, and what your heart tells you is the right path. I would never let you go – or Meredith either. I believe,Elena thought, and her soul was rocked by the force of it. She felt a sudden surge within herself, and she knew that it was time to go. One word was ringing in her mind as she stood and let go of her handholds on the tree trunk. And that one word echoed in her mind as she dove headfirst from her sixty-foot perch in the tree. Believe. How to cite The Return: Nightfall Chapter 36, Essay examples

College Acceptance Essay Example For Students

College Acceptance Essay I am more than what meets the eye. There is only a certain part of me that people observe and judge me by in my everyday life. Some people know me as the boy who rushes down to the Harmon Cove bus stop every morning half awake and half asleep juggling several items in my hands. In one hand I have my books that I attempted to read for homework the previous night and my other hand is holding on to my Sony metallic cd player for my bus ride to school. My peers and acquaintances wait for my arrival on the yellow school bus expecting me to begin their day off by cracking few jokes and sharing stories of my wild weekends. Only I wish they would know that not all my wild weekends which I brag about are spent at raving clubs and parties, surprisingly most of them are really time spent home alone listening to music and helping my parents around the house. Also, I am a student who walks through the halls of Secaucus High School always teasing girls on my way to classes, promoting my style of Aerocrombie Finch clothing and perfume, and many other tactics that some people find amusing and others find immature. One may hear my name traveling through the air prompting them to relate an encounter with me and sticking a label upon my character and personality. I wish everyone would understand the Xavier that the world knows, is only a part of an image that people can see and the remainder of me is a mystery to for them to unveil. It may seem people have already discovered my personal ideas through predicting my next move, but there exists a private world of my own. I think I should admit few things about myself and accept them as a part of me. Common sense comes to me much easier than book smartness because I enjoy interacting with people and my environment, than sitting in a corner reading a book and making my mind visit the twilight zone. Even my mother told me that I can cross the street safely, but if I have to read a map to get to my destination-forget about that. My teachers may think I am careless when it comes to my studies, but when it is time to become serious I do. Everyone has a certain subject they love to explore, and my love exists for the creative arts since childhood. Different kinds of music appeal to my senses and it has throughout time molded me into the person I am. The various ideas presented conveyed through lyrics of musicians have invited me into their world, though my brother tells me my butterfly girl Mariah Carey does not count in this category. It is music that vanishes boredom, loneliness, anger, and somber periods for me. In addition, in my spare time I like to go raving at clubs and meet new people of my age group. It is exciting for me to visit foreign towns and observe life from many perspectives. I may portray a tough exterior by not reacting to sentimental ideas, but I am a person who feels the hurt of a friend or a family member and the joys of life. I do not think we are obligated to explain and show our personal feelings at every moment of time. There is a time set aside for privacy in my world, which I do appreciate and try not to take for granted. No one may expect me to take a trip into the city and visit a church to do my confessions. Yes, I am human and I sin, but not in serious matters. So, okay I stole few french fries from this freshmans lunch and took this girls lipstick to write down my homework. I think we still can perform our duties for the world, but we also should not forget to have some fun in life. My weekends may not balance out my school days, yet I still seek balance to enjoy and understand life through different eyes. .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55 , .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55 .postImageUrl , .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55 , .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55:hover , .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55:visited , .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55:active { border:0!important; } .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55:active , .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55 .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ufee9910ca4a09bc1254eb6fea6149b55:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Teaching Essay WritingI am a person who is being molded into a person from my outside influences and my personal feelings. There are many goals and aspirations that reside inside myself that I will one day achieve and fulfill. Right now I am a senior in high school with time flying and seconds running out for making my future decisions. The answers are not lying in front of me, but at least I know the questions that will help me reach my destination. I am busy applying for college admissions and hoping I will be admitted into a business school so I can practice a similar trade like my father. It was my father who introduced me to the business world and it has grown into one of my current interests. My mother doesnt want time to pass soon, because both of us are aware that in a few months changes will take place as I become independent and move on to college. There are many challenges waiting there for me and there are many barriers that I will have to hurdle over. Well Xavier has changed, is changing, and will remain changing in this journey of life. Life is unpredictable and I am one of those who get to experience it.

Magdelana Abakanowicz Essays - Abakanowicz, , Term Papers

Magdelana Abakanowicz Magdelana Abakanowicz was born in 1930 near Falenty, Poland. She studied at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, and sought to escape from the conventional art forms through weaving. Abakanowicz creates sculpture in bronze, wood, steel, ceramic, and burlap. Her main subjects are human and animal figures presented in large groups of 50, 80, or 150 exemplars. Abakanowicz also works in drawing, painting, choreographing dances, and architectural projects. Her work can be seen in museums all over the world. Often in her work she explores the alerted reality created by groups of sculpture in a gallery while also drawing heavily upon her personal and family history. Abakanowicz's work demonstrates an evolution from themes to dwellings, to humans, to the primality of organic growth itself. Abakanowicz's strong idealism and forceful speaking style suggest a productive tenacity born of a defensive self-belief. She feels ?overawed by the quantity where counting no longer makes sense. By unrepeatedl y within such a quantity. By creatures of nature gathered in herds, droves, species, in which each individual, while subservient to the mass, retains some distinguishing features. A crowd of people, birds, insects, or leaves is a mysterious assemblage of variants of certain prototype. A riddle of nature's abhorrence of exact repetition or inability to produce it. Just as the human hand cannot repeat its own gesture, I invoke this disturbing law, switching my own immobile herds into that rhythm.?

Free Essays on Karl Marx, The Estrangement Of Labor

Karl Marx The Estrangement of Labor Throughout Marx’s Philosophical and Economic Manuscript of 1844, the term "estranged labor" is predominate in his theories. But what is â€Å"estranged labor†? In the introduction to the book, the point is brought up that this phrase is one of difficulty when translating the Manuscript from German to English. There is a dispute over whether to use estranged instead of alienated. Both of these terms have similar meanings in that they describe the separation between two or more things or people. However, it is believed that it is more proper to use â€Å"estranged† because alienated leads the reader to believe that the separation was created, in this case, by the laborer. Whereas by definition, estranged means: 1: to remove from customary environment or associations 2: to arouse especially mutual enmity or indifference in where there had formerly been love, affection, or friendliness (www.m-w.com). and labor: 2: an act or process requiring labor (task) 3: a product of labor (www.m-w.com). Therefore, we can conclude that estranged labor is the removal of the process or product of a labor or task from its natural place in nature. But what does Marx mean by this? To understand what Marx is talking about, we must look back at his dialectic. This part of Marx’s theories derives from two men, Georg Hegel and Ludwig Feuerbach. Hegel and Feuerbach were on the opposite ends of the philosophical spectrum. Hegel was an Idealist Philosopher who believed that the human conscience developed separate of the outside world. Feuerbach on the other hand was a Materialist Philosopher who believed that everything was defined by the material world. Marx takes the middle ground here. He states that while it is true that the conscience develops separately and the material world does define much of a society, you cannot have one without the other. Here Marx uses Hegel’s ideas of the thesis and antithesis. Heg... Free Essays on Karl Marx, The Estrangement Of Labor Free Essays on Karl Marx, The Estrangement Of Labor Karl Marx The Estrangement of Labor Throughout Marx’s Philosophical and Economic Manuscript of 1844, the term "estranged labor" is predominate in his theories. But what is â€Å"estranged labor†? In the introduction to the book, the point is brought up that this phrase is one of difficulty when translating the Manuscript from German to English. There is a dispute over whether to use estranged instead of alienated. Both of these terms have similar meanings in that they describe the separation between two or more things or people. However, it is believed that it is more proper to use â€Å"estranged† because alienated leads the reader to believe that the separation was created, in this case, by the laborer. Whereas by definition, estranged means: 1: to remove from customary environment or associations 2: to arouse especially mutual enmity or indifference in where there had formerly been love, affection, or friendliness (www.m-w.com). and labor: 2: an act or process requiring labor (task) 3: a product of labor (www.m-w.com). Therefore, we can conclude that estranged labor is the removal of the process or product of a labor or task from its natural place in nature. But what does Marx mean by this? To understand what Marx is talking about, we must look back at his dialectic. This part of Marx’s theories derives from two men, Georg Hegel and Ludwig Feuerbach. Hegel and Feuerbach were on the opposite ends of the philosophical spectrum. Hegel was an Idealist Philosopher who believed that the human conscience developed separate of the outside world. Feuerbach on the other hand was a Materialist Philosopher who believed that everything was defined by the material world. Marx takes the middle ground here. He states that while it is true that the conscience develops separately and the material world does define much of a society, you cannot have one without the other. Here Marx uses Hegel’s ideas of the thesis and antithesis. Heg...

Words About Feeling and Suffering

Words About Feeling and Suffering Words About Feeling and Suffering Words About Feeling and Suffering By Mark Nichol English has adopted a rich store of words about feeling and suffering from the classical languages. The Greek pathos, for example, has come down to us intact to mean, in English, an evocation of pity or compassion, but that’s just for starters. Pathology (the word literally means â€Å"the study of feeling or suffering†) is the branch of medical science concerned with investigating the nature of disease. It also refers to deviation in not only physical and mental health but also, by extension, environmental and social ills. A class of terms referring to specific physical and mental ailments uses the root -pathy: They include allopathy, the name for the conventional treatment of disease, often with pharmaceuticals that counter or alleviate symptoms, and its complement homeopathy, which refers to treatment by natural substances. Words like arthropathy (joint disease) and cardiopathy (heart disease) identify ailments of specific organs or body systems, while noun and adjectival forms of the names of the mental disorders psychopathy and sociopathy (referring to behavior marked by antisocial behavior), have transcended the medical milieu to be used loosely in popular culture. Phytopathology, or plant pathology, meanwhile, is the study of plant diseases. These ailments, and those affecting animals as well, are generally caused by pathogens (there’s that root word again, followed by another common root, which stems from the Greek term meaning â€Å"to be born†). Forms of other -path terms besides psychopath and sociopath are also used outside of the medical realm: Sympathy, the sensitivity to others’ feelings, and empathy, the action of, or the capacity for, vicarious experience of others’ feelings; sympathetic and empathetic are the adjectival forms. Then there’s apathy, meaning â€Å"the lack of feeling,† and antipathy, which means â€Å"aversion.† Each has a corollary adjectival form, though antipathetic is less commonly used than apathetic. Speaking of -pathetic, that’s a word in its own right, with several distinct meanings: It can mean â€Å"sad,† â€Å"laughable,† â€Å"inadequate,† or, less often, â€Å"able to arouse compassion or contempt.† Note, too, related terms derived from -pati, the Latin equivalent of -path: Compatible is essentially a synonym of sympathy. Meanwhile, passion (â€Å"suffering†) and both forms of patient the noun referring to someone under medical care or treatment and the adjective for the quality of forbearance stem from this root. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Slang Terms for MoneyTelling a Good Poem from a Bad One50 Synonyms for "Song"

Causes and Effects of Climate Change Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Causes and Effects of Climate Change - Assignment Example According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that the stratosphere has been identified as an atmospheric layer which is essential for survival on Earth because it contains ozone gas (O3) which forms the ozone layer protecting the earth from ultraviolet radiations of the Sun. The depletion of this ozone layer can lead to the entry of these harmful radiations into the surface of the earth and these radiations have many harmful effects which range from DNA and RNA damage in humans to the disturbance of even the marine life. Thinning of this layer has been found to be associated with skin cancers, cataracts, and weakening of the immunity. It can damage the ecological balance because it will not only disturb marine life but there is evidence that it might even affect crops. The stratosphere is sensitive to atmospheric pollutants which include chlorofluorocarbons, chlorocarbons, and halon compounds. Because of increased environmental pollution and the emission of these ha rmful compounds into the atmosphere by the industries and other sources which include the emissions from cars, refrigerators, air conditioners and aerosols, the stratospheric ozone has been depleting gradually. The reason behind this is that these gases react with the ozone gas and initiate a cascade which destroys numerous ozone molecules. The greenhouses gases constitute less than one percent of the atmosphere. They include carbon dioxide, ozone, and water vapor. Thirty percent of the solar energy is reflected back before it even enters the last surface of the earth and a significant amount of energy that reaches the earth is also reflected back. This energy is the infrared radiation. This radiation is taken up by the greenhouse gases before it escapes the troposphere thus leading to a warming effect which is known as the greenhouse effect.

Individual, Community and Black Identity in 8 Mile Essay

Individual, Community and Black Identity in 8 Mile - Essay Example From this paper it is clear that  8 Mile portrays life of the black community placed in the harsh social and economic conditions in Detroit of the mid-1990s, and the white protagonist living inside and interacting with this community transforms understanding of being ‘black’. The entire plot of the movie revolves around racial issues in America, but the flavor of racism can be sense not only in the traditional ‘white-against-black’ way, but also in reverse; and this reverse rejection is expressed in disrespect of B-Rabbit as a hip hop musician by the black hip hop community: â€Å"B-Rabbit, is a white rapper who overcomes the odds against him which include poverty and lack of respect as a white rapper†.This essay stresses that  the character gets discriminated – surprisingly – based on his whiteness. However, the resolution of the conflict in the final battle in the Shelter gives the viewer a hint at the true understanding of blackne ss. At the same time, he admits his own challenged background, which probably makes him more authentically black in cultural meaning that Papa Doc. Thuswise, the movie’s representation challenges traditional ‘black’ identity depicted in media and emphasizes virtually the significant aspect of it: while whites were depicted in hip hop â€Å"as socially privileged and therefore not credible† in the genre â€Å"where credibility is often negotiated through an artist’s experiences of social struggle†.

Assess the dramatic and thematic effectiveness Essay Example for Free

Assess the dramatic and thematic effectiveness Essay The opening act of The Duchess of Malfi is important in terms of the themes that John Webster is presenting. He uses the characters to explore such themes, and subsequently the audience are given detailed descriptions of most of the main characters. Moreover, Webster uses the characters to describe each other not only giving the audience an insight into their personal attributes, but also how each character perceives the other. Although not entirely apparent in the initial acts of the play, the fact that the audience only know about the characters from the other characters descriptions, implies the ideas of secrecy, deception, and spying, and the general theme that there are things that the characters think they know, when in fact they dont. Antonio is the first character to be introduced, and he is initially presented as an outsider returning home from the French court, which he admires. He has a brief conversation with Delio about the French court, and how although it was orderly, it could easily be distorted.  Pure silver drops in general; but if t chance  Some cursed example poisoned t near the head,  Death and diseases through the whole land spread. The rhyming couplet makes it almost seem like a curse, and exerts a sense of doom. This already gives the impression that the court of Malfi is it self distorted, as Antonio describes the goodness of the French court, and then quickly goes onto describe how easily any court could be corrupted, as if pointing a finger at the court of Malfi. Webster uses this contrast quite effectively to convince the audience from the beginning that there is more to the Court of Malfi than it may primarily seem.  Interrupting the conversation, Bosola arrives, and before he even speaks, Antonio speaks of him to Delio, and creating a distinct impression of Bosola. Would be as lecherous, covetous, or proud,  Bloody, or envious, as any man,  If he had the means to be so.  This unpleasant impression of Bosola given to the audience is further supported, as Delio reveals that he was a fellow seven years in the galleys for a notorious murder, making him appear as an evil character who is capable of murder.  Aside from the information the audience receive from Antonio and Delio, the way in which Bosola speaks makes him appear to be very negative. He and his brother are like plum trees that grow crooked over standing pools; they are rich and oerladen with fruit, but none but crows, pies, and caterpillars feed on them.  The constant use of dark and distasteful imagery attributes him to be quite bitter, and so completes the overall impression that he is indeed an unpleasant character. However, as Bosola leaves, Antonio says he has heard good things about Bosola, but his railing at those things which he wants overcomes these positive aspects. Tis great pity  He should be thus neglected; I have heard  Hes very valiant. This foul melancholy  Will poison all his goodness.  This indicates to the audience that Bosola may have a good side which he may or may not reveal later. Either way, this is another way in which Webster explores the theme of first impressions not being all that they seem.

How Do Textual Features Combine To Convey A Theme Of The Poem? :: essays research papers

How do Textual Features Combine To Convey a Theme of the Poem?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Milton wrote extensively throughout his life, and studied literature profoundly. His cunningness and literary techniques were observed in all of his literature. However, at the prime of his life, his weak eyes gave as his intense work and studies caused his blindness. As a result of this tragedy, Milton created a sonnet about his blindness. He questioned the meaning of this tragedy, of the future, and God for his blindness within the sonnet. Even though his whole life and work involved his eyes, he accepted this eventually. Within Milton's sonnet about his blindness: figurative language, personification, his intent and prosody are adopted to convey his questions and heart felt acceptance of his blindness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Milton uses figurative language to express his grievances and discontent. He reflects upon his life and â€Å"how my light is spent,† or the time he had his sight. Milton then expresses the feeling of the â€Å"dark world and wide† of the blind as his introduction to his questions. He begins to question his writing that only death can take away (â€Å"...one talent which is death to hide..†), â€Å" lodged... useless† within him because of his new blindness. As a result, Milton begins to question God, â€Å"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?† Milton wonders as to the meaning of his blindness; Does God want him to continue to write, even with his blindness, or what does God really mean? At first his tone seems harsh, but his feelings are redirected as he answers his own questions in time. His last question to God, was answered by himself as he realizes that he cannot blame God for his actions. His figurative language from the point he begins to question, up to where he begins to answer his own questions are full of implications of his thought. These implications must be picked out in order to make sense of the feeling and statement Milton is trying to make.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Furthermore, Milton uses personification to express the importance of words and values. He personifies â€Å"Patience† as if patience were a man who replies for him. Patience is his reasoning for accepting the fact that he is blind. It is used to introduce the answer towards his questioning, and as a change or turning point within the sonnet. As in standard Petrarchian sonnets this change is in the 8-9 line, and a transition between problem and solution is achieved. The problem was whether or not he should continue to write. Yet, in line 8 the personification conveys the theme of acceptance through Patience.

Decision Making Process Essay

It is never easy to make decisions in life, especially life changing decisions. The decision making process is a very difficult process that is used by everyone in one way or another. Some people may alter the decision making process in order to fit their own needs and their own personal circumstances, but there is a model that has been provided in order to show the basic steps. The decision making process model includes six different steps. The first step is to identify and diagnose the issue. After figuring out the issue, then one must figure out alternative solutions to the problem. Before making the choice, one would first evaluate the alternative solutions that have already been suggested. Making the decision is then followed by implementing the solution. Once the solution has been implemented for a little while, the solution must then be evaluated. Choosing a college to attend is one of the most difficult decisions that one could make. For most young people, the decision to attend college is the most important decision they have made thus far (Dolinsky, 2010, p. 62-776). There are costs for the courses, course materials, and other related expenses. There are also issues such as the times of the classes, the courses offered, and the length of time it will take to earn a degree. An individual would have to figure out if the college that they are looking in to is the right choice for them. When debating with myself to attend college, I had a lot to think about, as do others. First I had to figure out if I truly wanted to attend college. With a son, I needed to make sure I was making the right decision for the both of us. I figured out that going to a traditional college was not for me since I didn’t just have myself to worry about. I was already working full time and being a single mother. So it was a little difficult to even make the decision to further my education. I fought with myself long and hard about this situation and finally determined that going back to school was going to benefit my son more than hurt him, especially with me being a single mother. Studies show that more and more students are taking online classes anyway, so I figured it would be a good idea. I even found out that more than 3. 2 students have taken at least one online class, as of 2005 (More Students Are Learning Online, Report Says, P. 32). After I had decided to attend college, I needed to figure out which college or university would fit my needs the best. To find the right college of nearly 4,000 choices, you have to really know what you want, and then carefully weigh out what schools have to offer (Fitzgerald, N, p. 10). I had to do a lot of research into each university that I had available to me. As I previously stated, I could not attend a traditional college as I had little to no time to leave my house. I also needed to determine which university had the degree in which I wanted to obtain, which was my associates in accounting. Then I needed to figure out which university was more cost effective. I needed to ask questions like how much did they charge per credit hour? Were their materials included in with the price? What type of materials was required? There was so much information that I needed to obtain to set my heart on one university. I believe that my thought process in making my decision is a little bit similar to the one that was provided for us. I had to figure out the issue, in which was determining that I wanted to attend college. Then I needed to make a plan to figure out which college would be right for me. This step had a lot of different options. That’s when I needed to evaluate the different options and make my decision. I then chose the University of Phoenix. I gave my choice a chance and earned my associates degree. I evaluated my decision and decided to go back for my bachelor’s degree!

How gangs are portrayed in the media Essay

Gangs are portrayed on TV and in the movies as if they are totally evil, but in reality there are more positive aspects that are not shown. The media only shows gangs involved with drugs and the violence, and as a result the media has scared many people into believing that gangs will take over our cities if we do not stop them. The movie Colors and the TV show American Justice overwhelmingly portrays gangs as bad. The movie Colors displays the bad things in gangs like how easy it could be to join a gang and to distribute the drugs for them. This movie portrays the working of a gang in California.. The movie also showed how the older gang members got the younger members to go out and sell the drugs for them. The idea behind this was that if the younger person was to get caught there would be a lesser chance that they would rat on the main dealer and they would get a lesser punishment, as juveniles. In the movie they always show you the parts of the gangs running from the police or doing something bad like the drugs and violence. What the movie does not show you how the gangs contributed to the society or if they did where is it then. The movie was based on the fact that gangs are bad and that is how they showed it. A TV program called America Justice, talks about the gangs negatively. They just show the bad parts of being in gang. In an interview they had with a former gang member, and all they seem to ask him was questions on the illegal aspects of the gang. The person doing the interview asked him how his gang got the younger kids to sell the drugs for them and he said, ‘all we need to provide was a free initiation to a gang, and we would get the younger kids to do our dirty work for us and make money at the same time.’ The person doing the interview asked him if he or any one in the gang ever killed someone and he did not reply to the question making you think that he did or someone else did but he does not want to rat on himself or other gang members. With these types of questions it makes you think that gangs are based on the bad stuff. People may think something different if they ask him questions on like what contributions has you brought to your society instead of all the drugs and violence. The question of what do you do for work would be more driven towards the positive aspects of the gang instead of questions on the illegal stuff. With them asking all negative questions makes you  think that they are doing it to stress the bad parts. TV shows usually show all the bad parts of belonging to a gang like the drugs, the violence, but do you ever see anything on the good parts of a gang. What about the ‘Guardian Angels’ wouldn’t they be considered to be a positive helping gang? I have seen an article on Guardian Angels it talked about the aspects of them doing a fund raiser for the homeless and how they contributed to the people around them. This was all done without the drugs and violence unlike the other gangs we here about doing them. If the media would stop running to cover all the gang activity in this country, I am sure the number of gang related problems would be reduced and the crime rate would be on a slow but steady decline. By doing this there would be a less of an influence on the people, by showing just the bad stuff in gangs like the drugs and violence and make it less appealing to them. This country seems to love violence on TV. The big deal is that they affect our lives so drastically that they are a problem. The main fact is that the gangs where around for a long time and it is going to take a while to stop them. My feelings toward the coverage of the gangs are as if the media is there to put thought in your mind making you think all gangs are bad. The sad fact is that not all gangs are bad, but the way movies and TV programs make them to be all evil. I feel that they should do less coverage of the gangs doing bad stuff and more on the good aspect of what they may do. The media is constantly focusing on the bad stuff giving you the idea that they are bad, but not in all cases.

Misplaced Modifiers Mix Meanings

Misplaced Modifiers Mix Meanings Misplaced Modifiers Mix Meanings Misplaced Modifiers Mix Meanings By Mark Nichol Scrambled sentence structure can lead to humorous or at least head-shaking imagery that readers will stumble on. Be alert in your writing for infelicitous misplacement of meaning: 1. â€Å"Kangaroo babies are the size of a lima bean at birth.† But we’re not told how big a lima bean is at birth. Oh perhaps it means this: â€Å"At birth, kangaroo babies are the size of a lima bean.† 2. â€Å"A famous athlete in the ancient Olympics named Milo of Kroton could break a string tied around his head with his bulging forehead veins.† OK, wait, let me get this straight: Milo of Kroton tied a string around his head with his bulging forehead veins? Why not just tie the string to, um, the string? Milo evidently wasn’t using his head after all: â€Å"In the ancient Olympics, a famous athlete named Milo of Kroton could, with his bulging forehead veins, break a string tied around his head.† (It was also unclear whether the athlete or the games were called Milo of Kroton.) 3. â€Å"The first company to pioneer the idea of extended stay in 1975 was started by an apartment developer.† A year-specific long-term residence hotel? What an intriguing business model! Which entrepreneurial insight did they have for 1976? (And first and pioneer are redundant.): â€Å"The company, which pioneered the idea of extended stay, was started by an apartment developer in 1975.† (â€Å"In 1975, an apartment developer started the company, which pioneered the idea of extended stay† is also correct and is also more active, but the context may prefer passive construction.) 4. â€Å"Mail was delivered by the Pony Express in the Wild West, a system in which riders rode to checkpoints, got a new horse, and rode on.† I’ve never heard the Wild West described as a system: The writer meant, â€Å"Mail was delivered in the Wild West by the Pony Express, a system in which riders rode to checkpoints, got a new horse, and rode on.† 5. â€Å"Based on a true story, divers are left behind to float in the open seas in Open Water.† The divers are not based on a true story; a true story inspired the movie: â€Å"In Open Water, based on a true story, two divers are left behind to float in the ocean.† 6. â€Å"The president says valor and sacrifice in the armed forces are no longer defined by sexual orientation at historic signing.† What does sexual orientation at a historic signing have to do with valor and sacrifice?: Nothing. The sentence should read, â€Å"At a historic signing, the president says valor and sacrifice in the armed forces are no longer defined by sexual orientation.† 7. â€Å"If you learn to laugh with, and at, your family, you’ll be able to survive just about anything that life throws at you with confidence and style.† Why let your life throw things, much less throw things with confidence and style?: â€Å"If you learn to laugh with (and at) your family, you’ll be able to survive, with confidence and style, just about anything that life throws at you.† (I also placed â€Å"and at† in parentheses to break up a string of commas that would, unchecked, have flattened the sentence.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Computer Terms You Should KnowBest Websites to Learn EnglishNarrative, Plot, and Story

Las Vegas Geology Highlights

Las Vegas Geology Highlights The glittering city of Las Vegas has done all it can to blot out the desert. But the region is a wonderland of natural attractions, too. Start with the Desert The American desert is a world-class destination all by itself, of course. Its such an iconic setting, familiar from Western movies, music videos, and car ads, that it feels like home even the first time you go there. Any place in the desert is special, but there are really noteworthy sites near Las Vegas. As you arrive, look around and drink in the sight of endless stone. Las Vegas Valley is a downdropped basin typical of hundreds in the Basin and Range, the geologic province that extends over all of Nevada and a little beyond it on all sides. Over the last 25 million years or so, the Earths crust here has been stretched in an east-west direction to around 150 percent of its former width, and the surface rocks have broken into strips of mountains running north-south. As a result the hot material beneath has bulged upward, turning Nevada into a high plateau rich in metal ores and geothermal energy. Numerous earthquakes have been recorded there during this century as the areas tectonic activity continues. The high elevation and the upwind barrier of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range on the west has made the Basin and Range a very dry place, one where the mountains remain bare and settlements sparse. Typical desert landforms- playas, dunes, desert pavement, arroyos, alluvial fans and bajadas- are plentiful, and bedrock outcrops and fault traces are well exposed. Geologists love deserts. Just Add Water Las Vegas was once a small settlement named Bringhurst, but it got its current name from the grasslands (las vegas, the meadows) that once grew in the valley. In the desert, grass represents a shallow water table, and in the Las Vegas Valley grass was a sign of the natural faults that force the water table near the ground surface there. Las Vegas languished as a tiny railroad town, serving the nearby mines, until the Colorado River was dammed to create Lake Mead in the 1930s. The city has also exploited the aquifers beneath the Las Vegas Valley so that even if the city vanished tomorrow, the meadows would not return. The availability of enough water to boat in and fill pools helped turn Las Vegas into the tourist destination it is today. While the Las Vegas Strip makes spectacular playthings out of water, the rest of the city tends to landscape itself in gravel and cactus. The University of Nevada campus here is an elegant example of this approach, and worth a visit just for the grounds. The geology department building has hallways lined with display cases full of excellent rock and mineral specimens, too. Las Vegas Geologic Sites There are many beautiful places to see while youre in town. Three great national parks- Grand Canyon, Zion and Death Valley- are within reach for budget travelers, but let me focus on places nearer Las Vegas. Just west of the city is Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area, a prime destination for rock climbers. But you can just take a slow drive through the colorful formations if you like. One of the geologic highlights is an excellent exposure of the dramatic Keystone Thrust, where ancient crustal motions 65 million years ago shoved great thicknesses of gray limestone on top of younger beds of red sandstone. An hour or so northeast of Las Vegas is Valley of Fire, Nevadas first state park. The geologic setting is similar to Red Rock, but in addition this park features many ancient petroglyphs, rock art left by the local tribes including the mysterious Anasazi. Take my Valley of Fire tour here.About.coms Betsy Malloy has her own photo tour.Heres visitor information for Valley of Fire daytrippers.Try a guided 4WDÂ  of Valley of Fire. Both Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire are places that display the Sevier Thrust Belt, a gigantic zone of tectonic upheaval that stretches from the Las Vegas area into Canada. The thrust belt records a continental collision far to the west, on the continents edge, during Cretaceous times about 80 million years ago. There are other places near Las Vegas where you can see its signs. To the north of Las Vegas is the understated Upper Las Vegas Wash, where locals come to get away from it all while geologists come to explore the rich fossil record. Take a visit. To the south, you can take trails down to the Colorado River valley below Hoover Dam. And many more destinations are listed in my Nevada Geology category. Maybe a desert hot spring or an all-terrain vehicle tour is more to your liking. Given all these possibilities, Im about ready to go live there full time myself. PS: Among the people who DO live there amidst the tinsel and the scenery are some righteous salt-of-the-earth types, proud of their small desert towns. After youve had your fill of Las Vegas, why not unwind in a quiet little place like Blue Diamond, Nevada, the town that sheetrock built.

Descartes epistemology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Descartes epistemology - Essay Example These ones are often the forerunners of methodology of modern science. It seems that Descartes' epistemology is one of the most significant systems which made (of course, along with other thinkers) philosophic background for modern science, skeptical and highly rational. Both the rise of modern science and the rediscovery of skepticism were key influences on Descartes' epistemology (Stroll; Newman). While Descartes believed that humans were capable of knowledge and certainty and that modern science was developing the superstructure of knowledge, he thought that skepticism presented a legitimate challenge that needed an answer. Thus, the rational cognition was Descartes' answer, but with the number of stipulations. Descartes considered the supposition that all of one's beliefs are false. But Descartes claimed that it is not possible for all of one's beliefs to be false, for anyone who has false beliefs is thinking and knows that he is thinking, and if the person is thinking, then that person exists (Garza). Also, it was obvious that nonexistent things cannot think. So, "Cogito, ergo sum", i.e. "I think; therefore, I am".