Homework Due Monday 10/03

Hello Class!

For your homework you need to complete the following:

1. Read: EW in the Portfolio Keeping Tab Pg. 18-22 and 32-39

2. Type: Taking Stock #8 in EW Pg.39. Make it at least a paragraph and bring to class on Monday (either print it out or e-mail it to me)

3. Read the sample Reflection Essay passed out in class. Be prepared to answer the following questions in class: How well does this essay fit the assignment? What does the author do well and what can the author improve on? What specific information is given to the reader? Can you follow what the author is saying without having met this person or having read their essays?

PAA Rules to Remember

After reviewing your drafts I have created a list of rules I want to see you follow in your essays.

1. Any borrowed information (quotes, dates, statistics, or general information you had to look up) must be followed by in-text citations.

2. Quotes NEVER start or end a paragraph.

3. Quotes over 3 lines long are considered block quotes and must be cited in MLA format.

4. You have to transition from one paragraph to the next, if you don't your papers will not flow properly no matter how much sense your organization makes.

5. Everything must be written in proper MLA format (use EW MLA tab or OWL Purdue Website to check it).

6. Your essay is due Friday at 12:10, no exceptions.

7. Don't panic alone! If you are struggling take a deep breath and e-mail me, but for goodness sake don't do it an hour before class and expect me to help you.

Is Scott Walker’s Budget Bill the Best way to Balance Wisconsin’s deficit?

Posted for Devon

This past January, the state of Wisconsin
caught the Nation’s eye as political unrest and mass protests erupted as Scott
Walker was elected the new governor of Wisconsin. As soon as Walker stepped
into office on November 30, 2010, the state of Wisconsin would be forever
changed. Walker came into a state with a budget deficit. The governor’s job,
fix it. Walker decided that the best way to do this was to cut many of the
benefits which state workers receive. Some of which include “requiring
employees who pay into the Wisconsin Retirement System to contribute 50 percent
of their annual pension payment, requiring state employees to pay at least
12.6% of the average cost of annual [health insurance]premiums and make various
changes to limit collective bargaining for most public employees to wages”
(Highlights of Gov. Walker's budget Repair Bill 1). Along with state workers
receiving cuts, public schools received many funding cuts. The main result of
these cuts, less money in the pockets of state union workers. To many, this
seemed like a attack to state workers; resulting in, mass protests at the
capital in Madison. These protests went on for days. People by the thousands
gathered to protest the bill. I myself actually took off school for a day to
participate. What i saw? Unhappy people, thousands off them. It was obvious to
Walker that the citizens of Wisconsin didn’t agree with him, especially the 14
democrats that fled to Illinois putting their jobs at risk to pretest the
voting of the bill. However, he stood strong and the bill was passed. Along
with the finical blows many workers will suffer, the state itself will have
consequences. People are forced to choose a side. The result of this, a
strongly split conservative and liberal state. With such strong opinions of
this bill, one must think there is a better way to balance the deficit.
Wisconsin Senator Kathleen Vinehout believes we should “eliminate the tax cuts
going to the most wealthy; don’t increase taxes on those of modest means; don’t
create or expand programs unless absolutely necessary; return the raids on
funds and minimize cuts to education, colleges and local government. Get rid of
the charter school expansion and new private school “choice” vouchers.”
(Vinehout 1). She also believes that by “accepting public employee
contributions to health insurance and retirement” and “fund local government at
last year’s level” Wisconsin would have enough money to reverse half of the
cuts local schools” (Vinehout 1). To conclude, Walker does not have to go after
state employees, he choose to. There are other ways to balance the budget.

Works Cited

Staff, State Journal.
"Highlights of Gov. Walker's Budget Repair Bill." Madison.com Madison
WI News Sports Entertainment. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. <http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_3d93e6aa-363a-11e0-8493-001cc4c002e0.html>.

Vinehout, Kathleen. "A Better
Way to Balance the Budget with the Same Dollars Uppity Wisconsin."
Uppity Wisconsin Progressive News from the Cheddarsphere. Web. 19 Sept. 2011.
<http://uppitywis.org/node/46580/view?destination=taxonomy/term/230?page=7>.

What lies beneath Mt. Rainier?

Paul Lunsford

Mount Rainier is a dormant volcano that lies in the Pacific Ring of
Fire, which is the largest ring of active volcanoes in the world.
More than 40 percent of the volcanoes in the ring are actively
reoccurring and the rest are due to erupt within the next several
hundred years. Some might ask why this is relevant to us right now
because the volcanoes will most likely not erupt in our lifetime but
it will in our grandchildren if not children’s era. And to me that
would be horrible to know that it is a good possibility that the
eruption could be the end to my family. Knowing that this volcano will
erupt soon makes me want to know when it will erupt? What will happen
to the surrounding forests, ecosystems, towns, and cities?
Washington is an amazing place to live due to the beautiful, lush
forests, high snow topped Cascades and Olympic Mountain Ranges, and of
course the thriving metropolitan cities such as Seattle, Bellingham,
Belleview, and Tacoma. Also the amazing fertile soils of the Green
River Valley, Sumner Valley and Puyallup Valley. The main reason the
soil in these valleys is so fertile is because of all the sediments
the Lahar mudflows that swept down from Mt. Rainier for the past
10,000 years, the last known Lahar was approximately 500 years ago.
“Moving at speeds up to 80 kilometers per hour, a lahar would race
like a wall of wet, turbulent concrete into the valley. During such an
event, students and other valley residents would have only 45 minutes
to seek higher ground before being inundated with a fast-moving slurry
of mud, rock and water as thick as 10 meters (about 30 feet)
deep”(Pinsker). This passage confirms that when Mt. Rainier erupts it
will be pandemonium, property, memories and lives will be lost.
With all that said there is still the side of when the Volcano erupts
with the magma how far will it flow to? Will it be an eruption like
Mt. Saint Helens in 1980?
Will it cause a chain reaction with the other volcanoes in the Pacific
Ring of Fire? According to geologists the eruption of Mt. Rainier in
the first half of the 19th century would most likely reoccur when the
next eruption occurs. The Osceola Mudflow was the name of the massive
mudflow that raged down Mt. Rainier, through the river valleys and
into the Pudget Sound. “The eruption that we can expect in the future
would consist of ballistic projectiles, tephra, pyroclastic flows,
volcanic gases, landslides, and glacial outburst floods”(Think Quest).
Ballistic projectiles are the flaming chunks of rock that will blow
off the top of the mountain that have a range of about 3 miles. Tephra
is this superheated volcanic ash that when lands will catch anything
on fire, and if 4 or more inches accumulate on a structure the
structure will collapse due to the weight of the ash, the Mt. saint
Helens eruption was mostly tephra. Pyroclastic flows are heated
mudflows that will encase everything it runs over like a quickset
concrete mixed with noxious volcanic gasses and ash.




Works cited

Lisa M. Pinsker.“Paths of Destruction: The Hidden Threat at Mount
Rainier.”GeoTimes, April 2004: September 18, 2011


Mt. Rainier. “Think Quest”. September 18, 2011
http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/00472/Mount_Rainier_paragraphs.htm

Do Americans' Depend on Cars too Much?

By Jake Lubeck

The invention of the automobile has had a gigantic impact on the earth. No only is it one of the causes of global warming, it has also helped to increase the percent of over-weight or obese people in car driving countries. But the automobile is not just a nuance to society. Cars have helped to create not just factory jobs, but cars salesmen, shipping and mechanic jobs, and engineering positions. Also, western American cities and suburbs were built around the idea that were going to drive. There are also some ways people car avoid using a car, which are healthier for the environment. They are riding a bike, or even walking. These simple ways can help to cut down emissions, and make people healthier. (126)

First off, cars have one of the greatest impacts on global climate change in today's world. The U.S in particular has one of the largest effects. The Union of Concerned Scientist said "Transportation is the largest single source of air pollution in the United States. It causes over half of the carbon monoxide, over a third of the nitrogen oxides, and almost a quarter of the hydrocarbons in our atmosphere in 2006" (UCSUSA.org 1). The U.S. is one of the most developed countries in the world. If places such as India or Africa start consuming as much as the U.S, does, the amount of pollution will skyrocket. (106)

Secondly, cars can help to cause obesity. Places that walk or bike more, such as Latvia, have an active transport 67%, and have a 14% obese population. While the U.S. has an active transport at 12%, and a 33% obese population (sustain.cs.washington.edu). This shows that even walking places instead of driving can have a big effect on the health of the population. (60)

But the automobile industry has some up sides. Car makers help to create a huge amount of jobs that supports the economy. About 1 in every 10 jobs has to do the car making industry. U.S. car companies buy the most raw materials out of any other company in any other business sector. Metals, plastic, rubber, wiring, and computer chips are some of the things that go into making a car, that the manufactures buy from other companies (CNN 1) . Auto manufactures don't just give jobs to the people building the cars, but also the give jobs to the miners, rubber farmers, leather manufactures, and producers of the raw materials. (109)

Also, some people see a car as a need and not just a want. These people would most likely be living in a suburb, were most of their jobs are in the city. And public transportation isn't very prevalent. The American suburb was built around an idea that Henry Ford had, low cost cars that most families can afford(About.com 1). This meant that people could spread out and live farther out of town and still have a way to get into the city. So most people who live in spread out communities need are car for work, travel, and shopping. (99)

But, I believe that the environmental problems of owning a car far outweigh the benefits. The pollution and environmental effects I see as a more urgent than keeping cars around. If we destroy the earth so humans can not inhabit it anymore, then what good is the car. I think that using more active ways of getting place to place is the future of transportation. (64)

Work Cited

http://sustain.cs.washington.edu/blog/index.php/2009/01/16/the-relationship-between-cars-and-obesity/

Cars and Obesity

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/vehicle_impacts/cars_pickups_and_suvs/cars-trucks-air-pollution.html

Cars and Pollution

http://articles.cnn.com/2008-11-13/politics/granholm.energy_1_energy-independence-auto-industry-battery-technology?_s=PM:POLITICS

Cars and the economy

http://geography.about.com/od/urbaneconomicgeography/a/suburbs.htm

Cars and Urban Sprawl

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5523771_definition-urban-sprawl.html

Cars and the Suburbs

What is the Bridge to Nowhere and will it Ever Happen?

The Bridge to Nowhere was supposed to be a bridge that connected the island of Ketchikan to the island of Gravina where the airport is located. The current means of transportation is to ferry across the half mile stretch of channel to reach the airport. The bridge would eliminate the ferry system that has been going on for years and allow cars to drive across instead. So is a 223 million dollar bridge really worth it in a town where the population is only 7,922 (2010 census)? Some say yes (mostly the people from Ketchikan), while almost everyone else says no. (ketchikanalaska.com).

According to Timothy Egan of the New York Times, this bridge would be the one of the biggest in the nation: “a mile long, with a top clearance of 200 feet from the water - 80 feet higher than the Brooklyn Bridge and just 20 feet short of the Golden Gate Bridge.” (Egan p.1). Although seemingly expensive and unnecessary, the building of the Bridge to Nowhere would bring about 600 jobs (Egan p.2), which would be good for a lot of people, especially now with the unemployment rate being rather high. So while this bridge may seem like it would only benefit the people from Ketchikan, it may help others as well.

Being from Ketchikan, I’m stuck in the middle as to whether or not the bridge should be built. A part of me says yes because it would reduce a lot of the hassle that ferrying involves. You have to worry about finding a parking spot in the long term parking lot on the Ketchikan side, taking all of your luggage with you onto the ferry (which only comes every 30 minutes, 15 in the summer season), cram onto the rather small ferry with all of your luggage plus everyone else’s as well, ride for four to five minutes across, take all of your luggage up the outdoor ramp with only a small roof (did I mention Ketchikan is one of the rainiest places in the world? The average rainfall is 152 in per year. (ketchikanalaska.com)) to the ticket booth, pay the five dollars for the ferry ride, take the ramp or stairs to the street you have to cross where you finally make it into the airport itself (knowing all of this from personal experience). The other part of me says that the funding for the bridge could be used for a better cause instead of helping a small town’s inconveniences.

So will the Bridge to Nowhere ever happen? Although that answer seems to be no for now, the people of Ketchikan are still fighting hard to make the bridge happen. Seeing as the only other options of traveling into and out of Ketchikan are float plane and the Alaska Marine Highway System, which is the ferry system that only goes to a select number of places, traveling can be an even bigger aggravation without the airplane option which is the fastest and easiest way to travel.

Work Cited

“Ketchikan Alaska”. 2011. http://www.ketchikanalaska.com/index.html. Web. 18 September 2011.

Egan, Timothy. “Built With Steel, Perhaps, but Greased With Pork”. 10 April 2004. http://www.econ.ucdavis.edu/faculty/gclark/ecn1a/hwkey/Built%20With%20Steel.pdf. Web. 18 September 2011.

Buddhism-To stay or not to stay?

Jenna Hall

In the US many different types of religions are practiced whether we recognize them or not. The US is a multicultural place however the majority of Americans identify themselves as Christians. I think it is important to know the dimensions of all religions before choosing one you personally connect with. Let me tell you a little bit about a religion I find fascinating on many levels. Buddhism is a religion that was brought to the west (San Francisco) in the late 1940s early 1950's. Buddhism was introduced in the form of Zen by Senzaki who was a Buddhist master. I think one reason Buddhism was appealing to people then was because the hippie and beat movement started to take a role in many people's lives. A revival of Buddhism is on the rise and I have many reasons why I think not only our country, but China and other countries who identify with Buddhism could benefit.

People chose to practice Buddhism because it is one way to attain ultimate freedom and enlightenment through a series of practices such as: prayers, sutras, meditation, yoga, and chanting. I think the more we can be proactive in our religion, the more we will apply it's lessons. One of the Buddhist beliefs is to always keep karma in mind. Karma is the what goes around comes around philosophy, and it's purpose is to be mindful of how you treat other people, animals, and things in order to better our society. Just think, if everyone kept these philosophies in mind, Wouldn't our world have the potential to be a moral, loving, and inventive place? Buddhism practices silence, art, meditation, yoga, and bettering oneself to then better the world. Technology does not rule all, and money is not the motive.

Now that I have given you a little background information on Buddhism and why I connect to its over all intention, I now want to tell you about it's revival present-day in China, hopefully spreading to other areas. Dharmapala, an Indian monk, stopped in Shanghai from the congress of religions in Chicago. He was taking a tour around china and his intent was to send missionaries to India to restore Buddhism and its all glory. He wants to start a propaganda throughout the whole world however, not just China. In way's China is holding true to Buddhism alone and keeping other religions out the best they can. The Buddhist monasteries put themselves under the watchful eye of Japanese monks in order to keep their properties safe.

Some of the activists trying endlessly to keep Buddhism around are arguing that “While Buddhism may be standing still or even dying in certain parts of China, it is showing new signs of life in provinces of Kiangsu and Chekiang and in the large cities. Such revival in centers subject to the influence of the modern world shows that Buddhism in China as in Japan has enough sufficient vitality to adjust itself to modern conditions.”(Hodus2). One thing leading to the revival is the reconstruction of the monasteries. The large cities of China are building activities, and something like this shows the monasteries are feeling a new wave of prosperity hopefully coming their way. Lectures and publications are also a widely effective way to spread the revival because it gets the word out to many areas. Not only monks but others are delivering lectures on the Buddhist sutras for those not willing to attend the lectures.

These are some present day activities showing the revival of Buddhism and the importance of people knowing why this religion deserves to be reawakened.

Works Cited

“Buddhism and the Buddhists in China.” Authoroma, 14 September 2011.

“Buddhism and Neuroscience.” Psychology today, 26 January 2011

Why is Cannabis Illegal? What would it be like if it was the other way around?

Narrative sketch by Jackson Brandes

WRIT 101 Sec. 10

I was kind of foggy on what exactly we where supposed to do exactly, I took away that it was mainly to show we can research our topic and generate information. So this is what I wrote:

The legalization of Marijuana has been a hot topic for debate over the past couple of years. I myself, having pro-marijuana views, as well as being a former user of this substance have always had a slight interest on the subject. I have really never taken the time to delve down into the details and see what the argument is all about. Now that I have the opportunity I intend on answering some of the fallowing questions: Why is Marijuana considered so bad when it is considered such a widely used drug? What are the pros and cons of legalization? And do they have merit? How would it affect the government? How would it affect consumption rates amongst population if legalized? These are a couple of questions on a long line that are being examined through this project.

I really started thinking about this when I was remembering back to about my sophomore and junior year of high school. Lunchtime and after school time would usually consist of roving around the neighborhood with a group of buddies trying to smoke weed. I remember loving it back then. The perception was that it was so cool, and their was a slight risk involved which exhilarated my 16-year old mind to think that I was getting away with something illegal. I held weed to a lesser standard for degradation of personal image then being a cigarette smoker or one of those kids who can’t come to class sober. There was something bout it being illegal but not too illegal that made it enticing. This brings me to my question of origin for my research: Why is it illegal? Why is something that is in comparison much less harmful then the two other main drugs on the market, tobacco and alcohol, illegal? Why was I smoking weed instead of smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol? I believe exploring this sub-topic first will open up much more background for my essay.

I found this article on The National Institute of Health journal list, written by Philippe Bourgeois, titled: the Mystery of Marijuana: Science and the U.S. War on Drugs. The author makes a good point that I agree with in basically saying that the perception Marijuana since the 50’s has been thought of as wrong for the idea that it is a self-destructing mechanism that will lead an individual into the deep dark depths of drug-addiction, basically saying it’s a gateway drug. This quote exemplifies this point, “The pharmacological properties of a drug are not the sole determinants of its potential harm. Of special importance and concern is the nexus between socially structured vulnerability and destructive drug consumption.” (Bourgeois, 2003b) The author then eludes to the fact that drug use begins earlier and stays more prevalent with people in very unstructured social situations; and without a structured life it becomes easier for drugs to make-up that structure. The author says that the war on drugs is mainly focused on heavier narcotics. He then goes on to assume that why Marijuana is banned is to cut-off the supposed gateway mechanism to harder drug use with the idea that the less people that don’t break the law and don’t smoke weed as a young adult will not use hard drugs. (Bourgeois). I agree with this statement. I think it is a very smart point and logical factor into why Marijuana is illegal. This article then goes on to analyze many points and views of this topic of marijuana and also gives much more insight into the proposed origin question of my argument. The fallowing question, paraphrased, is the underlying theme that this article left me asking myself is: In this day and age is it more reasonable for our generation to fallow the social norms that have been in place for the past 50-80 years that allow our economically depressed country to continue to pump so much money into a failing war on drugs? Or should we look to evaluate how our society is today and strive for social revamp of the system that will allow us to adjust moral and cultural values to a reasonable scale based on current issues and trends? (Bourgeois)

If I can come away with questions like that from researching one article I am very confident in my researching capabilities and look forward to expressing all my ideas, reactions, questions, and answers on the essay.

1. The Mystery of Marijuana: Science and the U.S. War on Drugs

2008, Vol. 43, No. 3-4, Pages 581-583 (doi:10.1080/10826080701884853)

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

2. (Quote within article): Bourgois P, Schonberg J. Righteous dopefiend. Berkeley: University of California Press; 2008.

Alycia Burt

Writ 101

MichelleBrown

September18, 2011



Why are publicschools better than private schools?

This startedout as me wanted to be a school teacher and going to school for elementaryeducation but what would be so much better about teaching at a private schoolinstead of a public school. I have always went to a public school myself andseemed to turn out just fine, who wants to go and spend around “17,441 whichwas the average of private schools in 2009 in the United States” (Great schoolsINC). Why would someone pay that much money to go to school when they could gofor free? This is a question I ask myself a lot. Though some people wouldprobably think I’m crazy for spending $125 on a pair of jeans. So am I being ahypocrite for how they want to spend their money?

Whileresearching public and private schools I have learned that private schools arenot as excepting as you would think they would be. “Public schools are requiredto take any child and provide them with the necessary programs that they needeven if it is special ed. While private schools may deny any kid to theirproblem due to their special needs.” (Great schools INC). Every kid learns at adifferent pace and some need more help than others and that just isn’t rightthat they are able to do that. Public schools offer a wide variety of kids andfriends, that is not narrowed down be mental ability or anything.

It’sstriking to me that people would pay all this money to go and get the sameeducation that they could get for free. There are so many more advantages“Public schools provide transportation to and from school for children who livein the school district” (Education bug). This transportation can be a big helpfor parents trying to work and get their kids to and from school. Many of usknow how bad the economy is right now and a lot of people can’t afford thatextra expense in these times right now. If you cannot afford to send yourchildren to private schools does it mean that they are not getting as good ofan education? “A large scale government financed study has concluded thatstudents in regular public schools do as well or significantly better in maththan comparable students in private schools.”(Teresa Mendez). Public schoolsare obviously showing that they can be just as good, or even better thanprivate schools. You do not have to pay all the money and you are stillproviding a good education for your child. Though in private schools the classsize does tend to be lower and normally gives the children more one on one timepublic school teachers have always been very will to help me and meet up withme anytime I have ever needed help, it has never been an issue.

I personallydo not believe that private schools are better than public schools. I haveattended public schools my whole life and have always love it and am notplanning on hopefully becoming a teacher at a public school. If public schoolswere that bad the government would not be helping that and setting up theguidelines that need to be reached each year. Why would so many people attendpublic schools if they were that bad? They wouldn’t I feel blessed to havegotten to attend the public school that I did and meet all the friends that I have.We can’t expect everyone to believe that spending 17,000 for your educationrather than nothing would be better or even remotely close but it truly isbetter.



Work Cited

GreatSchools, Joining. "Private vs.Public Schools - Defining Your Ideal School GreatSchools." GreatSchools- Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community. 2011. Web.19 Sept. 2011..

"Advantagesof Public Schools - Education Bug." Education Bug - Articles, Public &Private Schools, Colleges. 2011. Web. 19 Sept. 2011..

Mendez,Teresa. "Public v. Private Schools ProjectAppleseed." ParentalInvolvement & Engagement In Public Schools Project Appleseed in Education.USA Today, 2005. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. .

The Right to Die.

The Right to Die.

Growing up, some of my first memories of my life are sitting in the hospital, waiting for my grandfather to pass away from a terminal disease. Cancer took his life when I was not even two years old. The right to die, assisted suicide, euthanasia, no matter how you change the name, it’s a topic that we all have heard about. I believe that everyone should have a choice when they are so sick that life is unbearable for them to live. Families that sit in hospitals and watch their loves ones suffer and know that they cannot do anything to deter their pain. And the money spent to keep their loved ones alive, even when they cannot afford it. And when people ask me why I want to be a doctor I reply, “Because I like to help people.”

Assisted suicide its legal in three states, Oregon, Washington, and Montana, coincidently the three states that I’ve lived and grown up in. Some people wonder, why would someone want help with killing him or herself when suicide and attempt of suicide is decriminalized (Marker)? The most used reason for assisted suicide, in relief from a chronic illness. Cancer being the number one reason for assisted suicide. (Ertelt) The laws surrounding assisted suicide are very strict, and like many laws here in the United States in has a checks and balance system. The current system in Montana makes sure no one that gains anything more then the fact that their love ones have passed with no pain, benefits from the procedure. Because we do have things like a power of attorney, and if they in any way get anything from their loved one passing, such as money or estate they cannot make the decision for assisted suicide.

Many people wonder who would want an assisted suicide? Statistics in Oregon in the year of 2010 say that 59 reports of death by lethal prescription, bur 96 people were prescribed the drugs, and 20 people of the 96 dies from their underlying disease . 70.8 percent of people that have been a patient of the assisted suicide program have been over the age of 65(Ertelt).

There are many people out there that believe that assisted suicide is just an easy way out for the patient, when in reality they are not the suffering patient themself. People argue about how assisted suicide “demeans the value of human life” other people say that it “violate doctors' Hippocratic oath,” both points make a valid argument. But there are counter arguments to both these statements. The value of a human life, is seen through the beholder, and now known as the “other pro-choice” people want a say, in life and in death. And when people argue about the Hippocratic oath, doctors take the Hippocratic oath worldwide; it has been the basis for medicine since Greek times. The Hippocratic oath states that no one shall kill anyone via lethal drugs, it also states that you shall never cut into a person (surgery) or abort someone’s child. Both practices used nation, and worldwide. (“Definition…”)

Works Cited

Marker, Rita L and Hamlon, Kathi. “Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: Frequently Asked Questions.” http://www.patientsrightscouncil.org. Patients Right Council, 1 Jan. 2010. Web. 18 Sept 2011.

Ertelt, Steven. “Oregon Report Shows Assisted Suicide Deaths Increase Again.” lifenews.com. lifenews.com, 26 Jan. 2011. Web. 18 Sept 2011.

“Definition of Hippocratic Oath.” MedicineNet.com. Medicine Net Inc., 27 April, 2011. Web. 18 Sept 2011.

How are children affected by air pollution?

How are children affected by air
pollution?

Kimberlee Kidder

I have always wanted to help children, for a long time I thought I wanted to be a pediatrician so I could do just that. Over the past year or so I realize being a doctor isn’t for me but I still have a passion to help children. When first trying to come up with a topic, I thought I would just find out what air pollution did to the human body but as I began researching that I found out that “Children, especially those under 8 years of age, are at greater risk from outdoor air pollution due to lung development and function.” (Tumer-Henson) So I decided to use my passion to help children drive the research.

Before I began researching the topic I had only a little bit of back knowledge on it. I knew asthma in children and adults worsened from exposure to smoke. I only knew about a hand full of air pollutants like ozone and carbon dioxide, but I felt like there had to be much more information on the subject. I wanted to know what kinds of things are labeled air pollutants? And how they harmed children’s bodies?

As I began researching, I found out that asthma isn’t the only disease affected by air pollution. According to David Bates “Air pollutants have been documented to be associated with a wide variety of adverse health impacts in children. These include increases in mortality in very severe episodes; an increased risk of perineonatal mortality in regions of higher pollution, and an increased general rate of mortality in children; increased acute respiratory disease morbidity; aggravation of asthma, as shown by increased hospital emergency visits or admissions as well as in longitudinal panel studies; increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms in children, and infectious episodes of longer duration; lowered lung function in children when pollutants increase.” I never expected there would be so many ways a child could be affected by air pollution. I also found out there are tons of different kinds of pollutants that can cause these issues in children. Ozone, nitrogen dioxide, lead and sulfur dioxide are the main pollutants that are harming children. (Tumer-Henson)

After finding out how air pollution is affecting children, I wanted to know: Where are the pollutants coming from? And how do we help stop or prevent further pollution? What can be done to help stop
or prevent it? Most people know their car exhaust has air pollutants in it but they aren’t going to stop driving their cars to work and take the bus just because “the main source of CO (carbon monoxide) is motor vehicle exhaust” (Tumer-Henson). However I think if people know by cutting back on the amount they drive their car could help the pollution of the air maybe some would, I know I will.

I don’t think the world can change overnight and stop releases pollutants into the air but like I found out in Henson’s article “Although the limits are set for the entire country, the law allows individual states to set stronger standards” and “during any review process, public comment is encouraged.” I for one never knew that. I bet there are other people out there that don’t know that either. I think part of the problem is people haven’t been educated in the ways children are affected by air pollution. Small changes now can help save children from having to suffer from asthma, other respiratory problems and in some cases death. The children of today are our future. We need them healthy and safe so they can make a difference later in their live.

Work cited

Tumer-Henson, Anne, Kannika Ruangdej, Wiparat Suwanwaiphatthana. “Outdoor Air
Pollution and Children’s Health” Pediatric Nursing 36 (2010)

Bates, David. “The Effects of Air Pollution on Children” Environmental Health Perspectives 103 (1995)

What are the Benefits of Learning a Second Language

I'm often asked what I plan to do with a foreign language major. Usually people assume I want become a translator or even a teacher, but neither of these are my reason for deciding to major in Russian. For me studying a second language has greatly altered my perception of other countries and it has even made me question the way I view my own country. Learning a language opens a window into another region of the world, helping understand the history, culture, and politics of a particular country. Language can be seen as the basic instrument we use to connect with one another, to our communities, and even to our entire nation (Berman).

It's true that being bilingual or multilingual can help in many areas of life including career, academic, and even social settings. A second language might significantly boost a job applicant's resume, but that's just the beginning of its widespread benefits. Studies have shown that, " foreign language learners consistently out perform control groups in core subject ares on standardized tests" (Armstrong & Rogers). The benefits aren't solely related to vocabulary and speech but all other academic areas such as, mathematics, science, writing, and reading.

If the benefits of learning a second language are so broad and far reaching, why isn't foreign language study a more integral part of elementary, high school, and college curriculum across the Nation? This is where my interest began to deviate from my original question, " What are the Benefits of Learning a Second Language", to understanding why language study has been put on the back burner in American schools. Why isn't language study considered an essential part or a "core" academic subject area (Peckham)? Language acquisition is just as vital to overall education as math and science classes, and may be considered even more important in our ever globalizing world.

The United States was founded upon the idea of bringing people of all countries and backgrounds together to form a single unified nation. And English acted as the major unifying factor, but even now when the number of immigrants in the United states is at its highest point, only about 15% of citizens speak a second language. If U.S. students wish to compete in the global job market after graduation they are likely at a disadvantage to the European Union. This 15 country union has promoted language study and nearly 50% of it's citizens are bilingual (Dulfano & Kwan). How can we truly call ourselves a global society if we refuse to learn the languages and cultures of the rest of the world? If the United States wishes to remain a major player in the globalized world, foreign language study needs to become a fundamental part of education at all levels.

Armstrong, P.W. and J.D. Rogers. (1997). Basic Skills Revisited: The Effects of Foreign

Language Instruction on Reading, Math and Language Arts.” Learning Languages,

Spring. 20-31.

Berman, Russel. "Foreign Language for Foreign Policy?." insidehighered.com. N.p., 28/11/2010. Web. 18 Sep 2011. <http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2010/11/23/berman>.

Dulfano, Isabel, and Jill Kwan. "FLAME-Foreign Language Alternative Mastery Example: The FLAME Approach in Its Evolution." Hispania. 90.1 (2007): 123-30. Print.

Peckham, Robert. "Getting Down to the Core with Foreign Language Advocacy."Language Journal. 61.2 (2010): 7-9. Print.

Why should we preserve and protect archaeological sites and artifacts?

Paul Buckner

Writ 101

Michelle Brown

9/18/11

Why should we preserve and protect archaeological sites and artifacts?

In this modern world one of the most dangerous problems we face is not the danger of economic collapse or environmental disaster but the loss of our cultural heritage. Our cultural heritage defines who we are today and who we will become; to let it be destroyed would be a travesty unequaled throughout human history. Unfortunately, this destruction of our past is progressing at the very moment I am writing this. Throughout the world archaeological sites and artifacts are being destroyed by neglect, in the name of progress, and most often, greed. Not even developed countries are safe, over the last five years Italian authorities were able to seize over 120,000 antiquities before they left the country but despite their efforts over 100,000 tombs in the southern Apulian region have been devastated (‘Illicit Antiquities’). Although in its self is a great tragedy it is relatively commonplace around the world. For example, in poverty stricken nation of Belize, “73 percent of major sites [have been] looted” (‘Illicit Antiquities’), and in nearby Guatemala thieves have become so brazen they, “…they even looted from the laboratory at Tikal.”(‘Illicit Antiquities’). It is clear that something must be down about this growing problem before it is too late and the wonders of our past are lost forever.

This topic is very important to me and I care about resolving this crisis very deeply.  I vividly remember the near floating feeling I felt as a young boy touring the famous cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde and the temples of Tulum. From the largest pyramids to the smallest arrowheads the objects of the past gave me a tingling sensation that reached my very core as I considered the history of each artifact. This intense and almost unreal feeling of amazement inspired me to pursue a career in archaeology and helped shape who I am today. However, my passion for the past and for archaeology is trumped by my desire for future generations to experience the same unexplainable feelings of wonder and awe while gazing upon the monuments left behind by our ancestors.

For my goal to become a reality we must act fast. Already more and more sites are becoming endangered and threatened. In Egypt floods are damaging tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the oldest freestanding mud brick structure in the world is on the verge of collapse due to neglect (Wiseman). Although nature is contributing to the crisis it no match for the human trait of greed as evidenced by the fact that, “… in southwest Niger between 50 and 90 per cent of sites have been destroyed by looters” (‘Illicit Antiquities’).

This is clearly a problem that must be addressed; the statistics can only tell us so much about the problem. The fact is that archaeological sites around the world are being destroyed and too little too late is being done to stop it. Not only is the feeling of wonder I felt being stolen from future generations but vast reserves of knowledge are being lost once sites are destroyed and archaeologists are unable to study them.

Works Cited

Brodie, Neil, and Peter Watson. "Illicit Antiquities:  the Destruction of the World's Archaeological Heritage." Illicit Antiquities Research Centre. University of Cambridge, Mar. 2000. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. <http://www.mcdonald.cam.ac.uk/projects/iarc/culturewithoutcontext/issue5/brodie-watson.htm>.

Wiseman, James. "The World's Most Endangered Sites." Archaeology 52.6 (1999): 28. University of Montana. Web. 18 Sept. 2011.

What is happening in Iraq?

Note: posted for Kent Niedens

The war between Iran and Iraq that started in 1980 has hurt more than just their countries. When Iran invaded Iraq the war ended up being a stalemate for many years. It was not until 1988 that the war ended between the two countries. The war had ended between nations, but a war had started inside of Iraq. While the leaders of different groups were trying to take control of the government and nation, the country started to fall into chaos (“Iraq”). The United States decided it did not want to see Iraq get a government they did not like. This is important to me because I want to join the military. It is important to know what I might be fighting for and what we have been fighting against.

While growing up I knew we were fighting in Iraq because we thought there were nuclear weapons that they were not telling us about. As I got older I did not know why we were in Iraq and I did not know if we should stay there. But after wanting to join the army I learned that we are needed over in Iraq and that we should not leave as quickly as planned. The United States has spent about 757.8 billion dollars on the Iraq war since 2001 (Crawford and Lutz 2). Although the war has been costly, the military is helping them keep the rebels down and they are also helping them to stabilize their economy. There were several hundred thousand men and women from serving in Iraq to help the nation defend itself, to reassure the people and help stabilize the economy. As well as helping to make sure that the current government is able to stay in control. With the extra protection provided by our military and others, the people are able to participate more in government elections (“Iraq”). The Hutchinson Encyclopedia states that in 2005 voter turn out was almost up to sixty percent, even with all the violence and protestors. Sunni tried to boycott the polls but with the assurance of protection their plans were foiled (“Iraq”).

Many citizens of the United States thought we were fighting to get rid of the terrorists and to help Iraq get a democratic government. That may be true but we also fought to help protect the people of Iraq. Iraq’s military was weak after the devastating war with Iran. The UK and US thought it best to step in and help restore the government and to get Iraq drilling for oil again (“Iraq”). In 2003 the constant attacks on the oil pipelines caused their GDP to drop thirty percent, but then in 2004 it was back up (“Iraq”).

We have starting pulling out soldiers and they are all supposed to be out at the end of 2011 (“Obama”). What will happen if the Iraqi government asks us to stay longer? We have already spent a lot of money in this war and even more in lives. We should help them because if we do not their government might go back to what it was before we started to help.

Crawford, Neta and Catherine Lutz. "Economic and Budgetary Costs of the Wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan to the United States: A Summary". Costs of War. Brown University. Web. 18 September 2011.

"Iraq." The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather guide. Abington: Helicon, 2010. Credo Reference. Web. 18 September 2011.

“Obama: U.S. to withdraw most Iraq troops by August 2010.” CNN Politics. CNN, 27 February 2009. Web. 18 September 2011.