Essay --

The United States was founded on the right to pursue happiness, just as it was founded on the right for everyone to be considered equal. According to Americas forefather’s equality is innate and the truth to this is undeniable. If our forefather’s saw the kind of equality the world was striving for in today’s society, our forefather’s would be turning over their graves. Being separated from what is socially acceptable is not always easy. When most people are being normal, are they really acting normal- or are they just pretending? There are benchmarks that society has drilled people into believing to be true. These benchmarks are inherently unrealistic expectations that people deem to be true. In the Coca-Cola commercial a girl tries many times through trial and error to look socially acceptable, after much frustration she realizes that the only way she can be happy is if she puts on clothes and makeup she’s comfortable with. Yes society is broken, but we are society so let the change begin with us. By being around people that like us for who we are, accepting our faults, and finding ourselves in society- we can learn to be ourselves. One of the most important qualities in life is being able to find peace of mind but this quality is hard to find if society is constantly following other people’s rules. In the Coca-Cola commercial the girl realizes that even though she look’s socially acceptable, she will only be happy if she wears clothes she’s comfortable with. In today’s society it’s hard to find people that go against what everyone else has conformed to, and when this is seen it makes it even more special, because it creates a chain reaction. When this occurred, the girl acquired insight and emerged as her own person, now being ... ...because that way we can be comfortable and let down out walls that expose our real personality. If we spend time trying to meet this benchmark that society tries so hard to make true- we will always be frustrated, just like how the protagonist was in the commercial. Our faults and weaknesses only make us human and are always inevitable, but when we are surrounded with people that love us for who we are, we learn that these so called â€Å"flaws† only make us unique and are at peace with who we are. Society is at fault for setting this cookie cutter image that a lot of people deem to be true, but these benchmarks are always farfetched which is why people aren’t happy with who they are trying to be. Being able to step in the world without caring what other people think is a great and empowering feeling. Because we only have one life to live- we might as well be ourselves.

Rafael Nadal

Drew Parker Mrs. Edwards 15, October, 2012 Spch 102 Rafael Nadal Introduction: A. ) Known by many as â€Å"Rafa†, Rafael Nadal is one of the top-ranked tennis players in the world today. B. ) He has a combined record of 120-43, and doesn’t seem to have any weaknesses and is compared to tennis legends like Andre Agassi and Bjorn Borg. C. ) His childhood, and his achievements this far has made him who he is today, and as stated on Forbes. com, â€Å"Nadal is the number 16 highest paid athlete with endorsements worth 25 million dollars. † Transition: Let’s start with his roots. Body: Main point 1 –Nadal was born in Majorca, Spain on June 3rd, 1986. He began playing tennis and soccer at the age of 3, being coached both by his Uncle Toni. According to The New York Times, â€Å"there was a lot more soccer than tennis in Nadal’s childhood. â€Å" His Uncle Toni was a top soccer player for Spain’s F. C Barcelona, and with his experience he t rained Rafa to be a great soccer player as well as tennis star. At the age of 11 he decided to quit soccer and totally focus on tennis. He is naturally right handed, but his Uncle Toni forced him to play with his left hand because you can generate more spin that way.By playing left handed it gives Nadal a supreme advantage during his serve. When people serve right handed the ball bounces away from the player, and when people serve left handed the ball spins right into the opponents’ midsection. With majority of the tennis stars being right handed, it makes things very difficult for an opponent of Nadals’ while returning serves. At the age of 15, Rafael was one of the highest ranked juniors in the world, and he jumped into the pro’s becoming one of the youngest players ever to win an ATP tour match. He achieved this when beating Ramon Delgado in Majorca 2002.This made him one 1 out of only 9 players to ever win an ATP match before the age of 16. Transition: All o f his accomplishments at an early age is a precursor for what’s to come. Main point 2 – Nadal has won many tournaments and many awards throughout his career. In 2003 at the age of 16 he was the youngest player ever to be ranked in the ATP’s top 100. In the same year he won the ATP Newcomer of the Year award. He was also the youngest player ever to make it to a third round in a Grand Slam at Wimbledon at the age of 16. In 2005, at the age of 19 Nadal had one of the best accomplishments of his career at that point. Atptour. om states, â€Å" Nadal was the first teenager to win a Grand Slam since Pete Sampras in 1990. † He won the French Open that year and had a combined 25 match-winning streak at the end of the year. Tom Oldfield stated in his book Rafael Nadal: The Biography, â€Å" Nadal had been known as a clay court specialist since playing in his first tournaments in 2001. † So it wasn’t a surprise that he would win the French Open. Nadal has won 71 total singles titles, and 11 doubles titles totaling in 82 career tournament wins. Sports Illustrated has Nadal down for winning 11 grand slams to this day, which ties him for 4th on the all time list.He is behind all-time greats like Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, and Roger Federer. He is tied with another German great Bjorn Borg He has won 7 French Opens, 1 U. S. open, 1 Australian Open, and 2 Wimbledon Opens. He also won the Olympic gold in 2008 making him one of the most well rounded players in the game. He is only 23 years old at this point, and has done much more than other tennis players do in their whole career. No one may come close to matching the number of Grand Slams he could end up winning. Transition: All of these achievements could lead to nothing more than some serious cash flow. Main point 3-Rafa is one of the highest paid athletes in the world. According to celebnetworth. org Rafa has sponsorships with, â€Å" Kia motors, Babolat, Nike, Bacardi, Richard M ille, and Armani. † His Nike endorsement is worth 21 million per year. With all of these endorsements and his career earnings, Nadal is at a net worth of around 60 million dollars per year making him the 16th ranked highest paid athletes. This puts him on the list of names along with Michael Phelps, Lebron James, Alex Rodriguez, and other highly paid athletes. In 2012 he has already gained 26 million in endorsements and 34 million in annual earnings. Transition:This takes us to our conclusion. Conclusion: A. ) We’ve been over Rafael’s childhood, his achievements, and his earnings. By doing this we see how much he means to the game of tennis. He was one of the youngest players ever to win a Grand Slam, and is endorsed by names like Nike, Babolat, and Armani, which only endorse the best athletes. B. ) He is currently the 16th highest paid athlete and the future looks bright for Nadal. At a current age of only 23, Nadal has a chance to become one of the greatest of all times, and at the pace he’s going he has a great opportunity to beat Federer’s record holding 17 Grand Slams.

A Surrealist Writer Essay

Considered to be one of the most important contemporary writers in modern Japan, Haruki Murakami shot to fame with his novel â€Å"Norwegian Wood†, a story about sexuality and loss, which sold 4 million copies in Japan instantly turning him into a Japanese pop culture icon. Although most of his stories are set in modern Japan, his portrayal of everyday things and gritty realities depict most cities of the modern world. Since his works are heavily influenced by Western culture, with cameos of Marlboro cigarettes and McDonald’s, allusions to western music and values, Murakami is able to bridge the gap between the wild West and the oriental East. Thus, his works transcends cultures and speaks to a global audience. Some critics have criticized him for being predictable, using almost similar characters and mirroring plots (www. complete-review. com) but he too has been praised for presenting a fresh eye and imagination into contemporary literature. And what an imagination it is. Upon reading a Muraki novel, one is taken through a bizarre journey of realities, dreams and other dimensions. Although he grounds his novels in the everyday people that act as his protagonists, his presentation of their experiences are out of the ordinary. He sends his characters into alternate realities, lets them have conversations with ghosts and out of body experiences. If he were not a novelist, Haruki Murakami will surely have equal success as a Surrealist painter. The Elephant Vanishes into the TV TV people is a short story found in Murakami’s short story compilation book â€Å"The Elephant Vanishes. † Powell’s books. com describes the book as â€Å"haunting and hilarious† and an assault on the normal. † It contains stories ranging from the disappearance of a favorite elephant, a guy seeing the love of his life, losing sleep yet finding freedom, and the intricacies of family relationships. The book is again a perfect blend of Murakami’s style of reality and disambiguity, tackling such issues as love, independence and dependence. From all the stories found in â€Å"The Elephant Vanishes†, TV People stands out in its style and presentation. TV people is a story of a man who one day receives a TV delivered to his apartment. What fascinated the man was not the TV he received but the the people who delivered it. Referred to as the â€Å"TV people†, they are described as slightly smaller than the average man, who silently works setting up the man’s TV. The man is intrigued as to who and what these people are, especially since he did not even buy the television. However, he is even more puzzled by the fact that these TV people did not seem to see him and acknowledge his presence. However, he again sees the TV people at work and this was where things started to turn bizarre. Every time the man would ask his officemates about the TV people, the officemates would just ignore him, much like the way the TV people ignored him. This sets him on a journey of self critique, questioning his own identity and ultimately his own existence. It is a fascinating read as it has the tone of a suspense movie, with all the questions hanging in the air as the TV people intrude upon the life of the protagonist. What is great about the story is that it does not only tell a tale of a man questioning his own existence but it also presents the reader something to chew and ponder upon. The theme of existing or non-existing through the acknowledgement of others is very thought provoking especially in a modern society where identities and lives are created through the attention of other people. Another interesting thing to note is that the introduction of the TV into the protagonist’s life led to his journey of self-critique. Some reviews o fthe story revealed that Haruki Murakami actually wrote TV People as a critique on a technology saturated society. Much like how the TV impacted the life of the protagonist, the fast paced development and assimilation of technology in human lives has altered man and his values. People now live in a world where the media and technology dictate what is right and what is wrong, who is important and who is not, who exists and who doesn’t. Especially in Japan where the rapid development of Information and Communication technologies have resulted in a fast paced and highly competitive society, a â€Å"lost generation† has emerged in their society. Youths who live like hermits in their own houses that they became so detached from reality. Much like the TV people who shunned the outside world while they go on their way. This story attempts to wake society from its dependence on technology. Entertaining in its suspense but intelligent in its presentation, TV people is vintage Murakami. It presents ordinary settings, ordinary things, made extraordinary by the stories that they lead.

An Analysis of Tone in The Road Not Taken, a Poem by Robert Frost

An Analysis of Tone in The Road Not Taken, a Poem by Robert Frost Robert Frosts work The Road Not Taken conveys a very simplistic, yet introspective theme. The poem describes the dilemmas and choices one must make in life, and how those specific decisions affect that person. Frost establishes this theme with an allegorical illustration of two paths in the woods. Later in the poem, the author reveals the attributes and personality of the main character as he or she contemplates past life choices. This characterization helps to bridge the gap between the reader and the character, allowing the poem to communicate a deeper resonance. Frost strengthens the readers figurative presence in the poem by presenting such emblematic diction and setting. The use of such devices again aid to the connection between the reader and the character-forcing Frosts message to become even more insightful. Robert Frost portrays a very pensive and impactful tone in his poem The Road Not Taken through means of symbolic imagery, representative setting, thorough characterizati on, and powerful diction, in order to encourage the reader to reflect upon his or her own life choices. One of the most significant elements of this poem is Frosts use of imagery. In the opening lines of the poem, the main character stops at a forked path in the forest, pondering which direction he or she will go. This part, being one of the most vital, symbolizes a choice needing to be made, most likely in life. Roads in literature often correlate with travel or a migration from one place to the next. So, the characters consideration about which road to take reveals a self-reflection the character has about which direction to go in life. Secondly, before the character continues his or her journey, he or she notes that the end of the first trail is covered by a sort of undergrowth, metaphorically indicating the perplexity of life and the inability to predict the consequence of life choices. The poem unmistakably exhibits this analysis in the first stanza, Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, / And sorry I could not travel both / And be one traveler, long I stood / And looked down one a s far as I could / To where it bent in the undergrowth (lines 1-5). Furthermore, it can be said that Frosts use of these figurative images are centralized to exemplify his tone of self-reflection and cogitation, as they boldly depict the importance of lifestyle decision-making. Another literary aspect Frost utilizes to express his tone is setting. In the poem, he writes, Two roads diverged in a yellow wood (line 1). The phrase a yellow wood may be an indication of the color the trees radiated. This suggests that the story takes place in the middle of autumn, most likely, contributing to the sense that time is running out-as in life-for the character. Here, Frost again outlines his tone as he demonstrates the characters rational contemplation and, eventually, regret. The author further establishes the setting as he indicates that the paths were not worn, even stating that one was grassy, providing a location of serenity and aesthetic beauty. This rendition of the setting applies a philosophical aspect to the poem, as it represents a life of innocence and potential. The forked trail could symbolize maturation and development, as the character is forced to choose which direction he or she wants to take his or her life. In the second stanza, it states, Then too k the other, as just as fair, / And having perhaps the better claim, / Because it was grassy and wanted wear (lines 6-8). In this part of the poem, it almost seems as if the character foolishly expected life to desire him or her to enter it, as the poem suggests the grass wanted to be worn down. This is probably one of the reasons why the character emotes regret later in the work. Again, Frost communicates his solemn and contemplative tone by familiarizing the reader with the characters experiences. Frost draws the reader into the story as he characterizes the man or woman standing in the woods. The character evidently appears conflicted throughout the story as he or she faces a dilemma and eventually has mixed emotions when one of the options were chosen. As the second stanza begins, the character states that he or she hastily chose the grassy trail which, according to the theme, is not wise. The author seems to suggest that the character is highly impulsive, while also adventurous, considering that he or she is wandering through the forest, almost aimlessly. As the story progresses, however, the character seems to be regretful of the choice he or she has made. For instance, as the character walks, he or she begins to seem fearful that the opposite path may have been more alluring or aesthetic. This becomes evident in the third stanza, stating, And both that morning equally lay / In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way lead s on to way, / I doubted if I should ever come back. (lines 11-15). Understanding the characters feelings again strengthens the relationship between the reader and the character, making the authors reflective tone and solemn message become even more compelling. The final figurative element Frost incorporates into the poem is diction. This becomes prominent in the final stanza, as it reveals the characters regrets. I shall be telling this with a sigh / Somewhere ages and ages hence: / Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-/ I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference. (lines 16-20). With use of the word sigh, Frost delineates the characters dissatisfaction with his or her choice. In the conclusion of the poem, the character, realizing that he or she had made the wrong choice, suggests that if the other path had been taken, he or she would have made the better choice. This ties in with Frosts tone as it is represented in the characters regrets. Robert Frosts short poem The Road Not Taken proves its literary merit through an intensely developed theme, as well as tone. Frost organizes an exceedingly philosophical and contemplative piece, through use of numerous literary devices. One of the most eminent include metaphorical imagery, such as autumn, a forest, and paths. He further exemplifies the tone as he employs setting and characterization. With these instruments, the poem is able to appeal to the reader, as it seemingly allows an immersion into the text. Finally, the authors application of diction contributes to what makes the text so captivating, as it lets the reader delve into the mind of the character. The poem The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost illustrates an insightful, yet regretful tone through use of setting, characterization, imagery, and diction, for the sole purpose of making the reader aware of the haste and intricacy of life.

Applying Social Influence Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Applying Social Influence Theories - Essay Example The message chosen to advertise this product is based on people’s need to confirm to their self – assigned roles of conservationist, environment conscious person; green warrior; or providing care-giver. It would go something thus: â€Å"You are amongst those people who are attempting to help the environment in so many small and big ways. You love the planet; and so do we. You want to make the world a better place; and so do we. Our little contribution is this range of organic snacks; developed from sustainable products all through. These recipes draw inspiration from age old traditional snacks across ethnicities. Our snacks are healthier, more nutritious, while being just as tasty as other competing brands. And as a bonus; they will help you protect the environment as well. Even the wrapping is eco-friendly! Yes, they have a shorter shelf life; but that won’t matter sine they will be long gone before that date. So help us help you make this world a better place. Question 2 Social influence is the process of affecting the opinions, attitudes, behaviors and desires of a number of people through the use of persuasive messages. This influence need not always be exerted in the first person; and can be done through the media in order to reach a large number of people.

Standardized Testing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Standardized Testing - Research Paper Example Furthermore, the grading system might be a disadvantage to most of the students thus making them fail. Different students can be motivated differently when they are doing these tests. Others can get demoralized during the test process while others can be motivated by how the questions set and the way they are answering them. However, there many factors than can affect how the students will perform in these tests. SAT and ACT testing systems have different ways in which they test their students. Although these two tests fulfill the same role i.e. college acceptance, each one has different testing skills. SAT test on the critical thinking and the solving ability of the students while the ACT tests on the content of knowledge that a student has on a particular topic. It tests major things on what you been taught in class. Some students may find this testing very difficult because of the low skills that they have on the topics tested. This will make most of them fail the test, not becaus e they are poor in learning but due to the inadequate skills in answering the questions. Some students do not care what grades they are going to be in the tests. They make sure that they do the tests. These students will react negatively to test because it is not an issue to them. Some students have learning disabilities and they should be treated differently from others. They should be given extra time during the test and even different examination rooms. These students are believed to do better in ACT test because these tests are straightforward and more knowledge-based (Kaplan, 9). The grading system of SAT and ACT have different portions. These portions are marked differently. The writing portion is the part where a person marks it. This is because this portion has different ways in which the students can give answers. Students will express their knowledge here depending on how they understood some topics. The second portion has multiple choices. This is where a student chooses the correct answer from five choices. One choice is always correct. This portion can be mark by a machine. Marks awarded in this portion vary from the type of tests. For instance, in SAT test, if a student fails one question from the multiple choices, a fourth of the marks will be deducted from the total marks in the multiple-choice questions. This is completely different from ACT test because even if a student fails a question, there will be no deduction made from the other scored questions. The third portion of the test includes materials that are not covered in school. The teacher will not check them because the student will be taking the materials to the college (Allyn & Bacon, 23). The students’ knowledge on these tests can also depend on the motivation that they have on their learning. Students should have good motivation during learning to ensure that they get relevant knowledge that will be applied during the tests. Each student must have a desire on what is expected from the studies they are taking. They should know that these studies have meaning in their lives and should take them seriously. Another factor that will help students get the required knowledge is by making sure that they attend SAT classes. These classes are very importance because most of the topics that are tested in exams are discussed during these classes (Allyn & Bacon, 25). On the other hand,

Response to the Movie Sicko In medical sociology terms Essay

Response to the Movie Sicko In medical sociology terms - Essay Example rom the 2006 National Health Interview Survey† highlighted that in 2006, â€Å"there were 43.6 million Americans of all ages who did not have health insurance (at the time of the interview), or 14.8% of the population† (cdc.gov). With this, some people could not help but complain to the somewhat awful situation that they are in. In the same way, SiCKO (directed by Michael Moore), a movie from The Weinstein Company and Dog Eat Dog Productions, documented the alarming health issues that the contemporary Americans are facing nowadays. The movie revealed how health services in the US are made nearly unavailable and mostly unaffordable to its citizenry by its increasing costs and profit maximization by giant insurance companies. Also, SiCKO compared US’ health care to other nations such as Canada, Great Britain, France, and even Cuba, with an astonishing revelation of their free and low-costs health care services to its people. Thus, the following sections of this pape r exemplified my response to the movie in medical sociology terms. As we all know, without even mentioning the exact figures, Americans are now living in the world where there is a significant increase in diseases like cardiovascular disorders and cancers. Of course, this can be attributed to people’s negative health behaviors and lifestyles, which include lack of exercise and dietary conditions that predispose them to these diseases. In an instance, Michael Moore narrated in the movie that in France, people get to enjoy their wine, cigarettes, and fatty foods. These behaviors and lifestyles do have a direct impact on health. But Moore augmented that despite these French indulgences, just like Canadians and Brits, they live much longer than the Americans do. â€Å"Something about that seemed grossly unfair†, said Moore. Moreover, Dr. Jacques Milliez, Head of Obstetrics, St. Antoine Hospital, said in his interview with Moore that in France, â€Å"you pay according to your means and you receive according