Seedfolks Reflection Essay Example

Seedfolks Reflection Paper ENG 1301-50047 30 October 2011 Reflection ESSAY Young and dumb â€Å"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. † ? Albert Einstein; a quote that really hit home when thinking back on â€Å"Maricela† a story from the novel Seedfolks by Paul Fleishman. Maricela’s outlook on life went from being negative to positive, although it took time for her to realize the bigger picture her tone took a drastic turn from being suicidal and irrational to honored, during her pregnancy. In the beginning of Maricela’s story she is very selfish and regretful for being only six-teen years old and pregnant, she is worried she will no longer live a normal teenage life which consist of dating and going to parties. Later in her story she comes to her sense’s and starts to realize the bigger picture, after meeting an instructor from a teenage pregnancy program her high school offers ,that helps her become optimistic and understand the true meaning of having a baby. The story of Maricela is of a girl who is going through a difficult time in her life as a teenager, not only is she a pregnant six-teen year old girl which is looked down upon by many but she Is also Mexican. In Maricelas eyes being Mexican is a hard thing to be proud of in her neighborhood, as stated in the text â€Å"I’m a Mexican, pregnant sixteen-year-old. So shoot me and get it over with. I wouldn’t actually care if you did. In a way I’m already dead† (pg. 67). We will write a custom essay sample on Seedfolks Reflection specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Seedfolks Reflection specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Seedfolks Reflection specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Such harsh words to come from a mother to be, the baby is nothing but a burden to her, it’s almost as if she feels the baby is taking her life away as if she is â€Å"dead already†. Maricela is regretful and pessimistic because she can no longer live the life she lived before the baby was a reality, she narrates, â€Å"I used to be really, really hot. Because of the baby I’m as fat as a wrestler, I dropped out, I’ve been to exactly zero parties, and I’ve been asked out exactly zero times†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (pg. 67). Obviously through her text she states that dating boys and going to parties is her priority, not focusing on the fact she is pregnant. Later, Maricela joins a pregnancy program her high school offers that helps teenage girls understand and helps them with they’re day to day needs, like rides to the doctor and help with GED assistance. For example, she states, â€Å"Three of us from high school got into a program for pregnant teens. They give you rides to the doctor and help with getting your G. E. D. at home† (pg. 67). During the time she’s attending the assistance program, she starts to deal with the fact that she is pregnant, although she is not yet accepting she is taking the proper steps with seeking the assistance. While attending the program, Penny the instructor had come across the community garden. With the garden Penny had the idea to get the three pregnant teenagers involved to help them better understand life. As said, â€Å"Except that Penny, the woman we see, saw the community garden and got the program its own spot, to give us practice taking care of something and to let us witness â€Å"the miracle of life. †Ã¢â‚¬ (pg. 67 -68) Although Maricela didn’t understand or appreciate the garden she still happen to meet a African -American lady by the name of Leona, a lady in which Maricela found comfort in. Maricela was able to talk to Leona because she understood that Maricela did not want to be pregnant. For example, she narrates, â€Å"She knew I didn’t want to be pregnant. I could talk to her about it. †(pg. 71) Finally, in the end Maricela had grown to understand the true meaning of life and being pregnant is bigger than her life its self, bigger than dating and partying. Therefore her outlook on life had made a complete turnaround, from regretful and negative to being honored and positive. She was now finally proud to be mothering a new life to this world, and realizes life never stops, it’s an ongoing cycle. As said in the text,†An old man near us was slowly picking cucumbers, like nothing had happned. † Whole city shuts down, but the garden just keeps going. † Leona said. †(pg. 72) In Paul Fleischman’s novel Seedfolks, a story of a teenage girl by the name of Maricela, overcomes adversity and changes her thought process from negative to positive. She relizes she is apart of a bigger meaning, she is apart of the cycle of life.

Chocolate condition Essays

Chocolate condition Essays Chocolate condition Essay Chocolate condition Essay The mean shows that on average the participants in the chocolate condition rated their happiness a 4, which is higher than the average happiness score of those in the no chocolate condition. This indicates that those in the chocolate condition felt slightly happier than those in the no chocolate condition. This is also supported by the Mode, as the mode for group 1 was higher than for group 2. The median is the most suitable measure of central tendency for this study as the data collected was ordinal. This also showed that generally group 1 rated their happiness higher than group 2. A higher median indicates that group 1 had higher happiness scores overall.In order to find out whether the results were due to chance factors a Mann-Whitney U test was carried out. The observed value of U was 52 and the critical value was 64 at a 0.05 level of significance. As the observed value of U was smaller than the critical value the experimental hypothesis was accepted and the null hypothesis was rejected (Appendix 6, Page 10). The graphs show a range of answers from the two groups. In group one the happiness scores range from 3 to 5 and in group two the happiness scores range from 2 to 4. From the graphs it can be seen that majority of subjects in both of the groups rated their happiness 3 or 4. Showing little variation between the two groups.The results support the experimental hypothesis stating subjects in the chocolate condition will significantly score their happiness higher than those in the no chocolate condition. There was a lot of control over the study as an experiment was used and the independent variable was completely controlled. This research method also ensured that all subjects were treated equally as possible. They all heard the same debriefing but the standardised instruction differed for the two groups, as it involved one group eating chocolate and the other not.A strength of using the independent measures design is that each subject took part in only one of the two conditions avoiding order effects. But participant variables may have been a problem for example the participants in the chocolate condition may have been more comfortable with sharing their happiness score than those in the other group. The sample included equal number of males and females; therefore the study was not biased towards gender. But the results cannot be generalised to people outside the age range 16-19 years and to those who are not students. Also, the results dont represent other towns and can only be generalised to British students. Therefore many generalisations cannot be made.Demand characteristics may have occurred as the subjects were informed in the standardised instructions that they will be answering questions. There is also the possibility that subjects may have rated their happiness on the basis of what they thought was expected rather than how happy they really were at the time. But demand characteristics were also minimised by asking other questions rather than just the critical question.To improve the study, subjects from different towns, nationalities and age groups could be used to see if similar results are found and this would enable the findings to be generalised to a much wider popul ation. Subjects: An opportunity sample of 30 black and white college students aged between 16-19 years. 15 males and 15 females. Subjects were selected during college time and randomly assigned into one of the two groups.Procedure: Informed consent was gained from all participants and they were checked for any allergies or illness that may be affected by chocolate (Appendix 1, Page7). The study took place in a quit room, where only the participants were present. The standardised instructions were read to both groups (Appendix 2, Page 7). Group 1 (chocolate condition) did the experiment first. All 15 participants in that group were provided with 4 squares of chocolate. After they ate the chocolate, they filled in the short questionnaire. Then they left the room and immediately group 2 came in and filled in the same questionnaire but they were not given any chocolate. Both of the groups were thanked and debriefed (Appendix 3, Page 8).All participants were treated equally. The experime nt took place in the same room ensuring identical surroundings. All subjects were aware that they had the rights to withdraw at anytime (Appendix 1 2, Page 7). The only difference was that one group were given chocolate before they filled in the questionnaire but the other group was not. The dependant variable was the answer to: Rate your happiness on the scale of 1-5. This was the critical question; the other questions were there just to reduce demand characteristics. In order to find out whether the results were just due to chance an inferential statistical test was carried out. The experiment used an independent groups design; therefore the Mann-Whitney U test was used at a 0.05 level of significance. A significant difference between the happiness of the two groups was looked for.It was found that the subjects in the chocolate condition rated their happiness higher than those in the no chocolate condition. This indicates that chocolate does have an affect on a persons happiness. The table below shows the mean, median mode. They have been used to find out the central tendency for the happiness scores for both of the groups. (See Appendix 5, Page 9 for raw data).

Some people say there is no point in trying to regulate cybermut. What Assignment

Some people say there is no point in trying to regulate cybermut. What do you think and why - Assignment Example Cybermut payment services allow buyers worldwide to do shopping twenty four by seven. It is a multilingual and multicurrency system that can function and accept payment cards in any currency (euros, dollars, yen etc.). It simply provide their customers with a simple and secure methods to pay their payments and purchases done via customers bank which record transactions. It offers essential advantages to make a transfer payment. It is simply a payment system which is done for free without imposing any critical and complicated rules or regulations. It generate the acknowledgment of delivery of the confirmation of payment. In short Cybermut System can regarded as a simple web service to ensure the online transaction or transfer payments are more secure. There’s is no substantial point in trying not to regulate Cybermut. It is accepted that every service has its own pros and cons but in this case advantages outnumbered

Experimentation, Research and Consent (slp5C) Essay

Experimentation, Research and Consent (slp5C) - Essay Example They should agree on what and what should not happen to them. Research should as much as possible avoid any harm on the subjects while maximizing its benefits and minimizing any possible harms. A risk/benefit assessment should be carried out before the experiment can be conducted. Benefits may have to be foregone due to possible harms. Subjects should not be harmed no matter the benefits it may bring to others, for example, in the treatment of child disease where the subjects may not benefit directly from the research (McNeill, 1993). Justice should be accorded to the participants. Participation should be allowed for anyone who can benefit from the research and they should not be denied the benefits. Benefits should be distributed fairly according to individual contribution, merit, and role during the research. People should not be selected due to their compromised, availability and manipulated situations example prisoners, ethnic minorities, or patients. If public funds are involved, the benefits should go to all people and not only to those who can afford them (McNeill,

Ancient Egyptians Essay Example for Free

Ancient Egyptians Essay Bill Wilke Egyptians are highly known for their glorious pyramids, powerful pharaohs, and endless amounts of gold and Jewels. When we think of Egyptians we also think of tombs, curses, and cats being a source of protection. However, it is not known to many that they have not only defined the art, but also the meaning behind tattooing. Tattoos are the one thing still captured on the bodies of mummies, in which were discovered from over a millennium ago. Females in particular, had specific tattoos which were used as a therapeutic role during pregnancy and birth. Each tattoo had specific color and significance behind the symbols. Handmade tools were also used in the craft of tattooing during the Egyptian era. Now they have evolved to more dynamic equipment and use of substance. From care to the final product there is a lot of work that goes into preserving tattoos. Written records, physical remains, and works of art have changed our understanding of Egyptian culture. There is good reason to believe that Egyptians were beyond their intellectual ability. Their process of preparing a human as a mummy required countless steps and organization. Ancient writers and modern scientists have both attributed to the knowledge of how this Ancient tradition came about. The remains of Egyptians have been kept preserved because of their tedious attempt in the process of mummification. Mummies, for example, had the protection from chemical exposure, extreme cold conditions, very low humidity, and lack of air when submerged in tombs. The discovery of mummies from Ancient Egypt has also shown us the presence of tattooing. Research and discoveries have pointed out that the art of tattooing was known to Egyptians, and was one of the common practices that were adopted by them. The tattoos found on their remaining bodies were known to be in many sizes, shapes, and colors. One of the earliest evidence of tattoos was identified on mummies dating all the way back from 2000 B. C. The majority of mummies discovered were identified as female, in which were covered with dot like patterns throughout their bodies. Evidence points to the fact that tattoos were an exclusively used practice among females. One of the most famous mummies ever written about was Amunet, who was known as a deity or rather a highly known Goddess (Taylor, 1998). Other than being a traditional royal subject, tattoos had significance for female Egyptians. Lineberry (2007), The tattooing of Ancient Egyptian women had a therapeutic role, and functioned as a permanent form of amulet during the very difficult time of pregnancy and birth (Tattoos, para 5). Pregnancy and birth can be a life changing experience, and for Egyptian women it was also a particular time that they felt the need for protecting themselves. The areas in which were most commonly noted with tattoos during this difficult time were on the thighs, breasts, were placed over wrapped mummies to protect them. She also points out that, it signified keeping everything in (Tattoos, para 5). This pattern is also known as a cicatrix pattern, in which was typically located over the lower pubic region. Tattoos on the abdomen of women, for example, safeguarded them during their pregnancy. As any conscious mother would do for her child, she protects her unborn willingly from harms way. Ancient Egyptian tattoos had many other meanings behind their symbols. Traditionally, Egyptians would use specific drawings as a tribute of sacrifice to a deity. This would mean that an individual would be professing his or her entire belief for someone higher or greater than themselves. Tattoos were presumed to be part of a permanent amulet that could not be lost. An amulet is defined as a trinket, or piece of Jewelry that was thought to have magical protection against evil or disease. In other instances disease would have been another reason that Egyptian females would have acquired a tattoo as well, simply to protect their health while carrying a child. Their significance in symbols also ranged from medical protection to fertility for women. Many tattoos that were used by Egyptians derived from their writing system, which consisted of pictures and symbols. The Scarab, also known as a eetle, was considered a symbol for renewing life. Madhura (2010), It was also considered as one of the many royal titles used by the Pharaohs and was also found to be used by Tutankhamen, one of the most famous Egyptian Pharaohs (Egyptian Tattoo Designs, para 4). He also explains a symbol used called the eye. Madhura (2010), The Ankh or the eye is a widely identified and used symbol of Egyptian culture. In the ancient times, it represented life and was hence one of the respected symbols. Among the different designs of the Ankh, the eye of the Horus is more popular as it stands for the good luck. The eye of Horus, also known as the eye of the Ra, is believed to be the all-seeing eye that was also used in amulets worn by the ancient Egyptians. The Egyptian cross or the Ankh also stands for rebirth or reincarnation. The Egyptian eye tattoo represents light, power and royalty and hence, is a favorite tattoo symbol (Egyptian Tattoo Designs, para 3). Other noted symbols in which were commonly used were the Serket. The Serket is identified as a female fgure with a scorpion on her head. Also used were Kings and Queens, such as Cleopatra, and the Egyptian eye which represents light. Through Egyptian eyes, attoos satisfied various needs and interest as they do today. Their style is captivating and vivid, leading many to believe that this form of art was easily adaptive. The instruments and tools in which were used for tattooing were dated all the way back to 3000 B. C. An Archaeologist by the name of W. M. F Petrie, discovered a tool with a wooden handle and sharp edge at the site of what was called Abydos. He had noted that the tools resembled wide, flattened needles that could potentially make the pattern of multiple dots. Typically these tools would have been used for areas of the ody that females were tattooed for their pregnancy and childbirth protection. The consistency and color was that of dark or black pigment such as soot. It has been said that the Inuit tribe used darker pigmentation or bright colors such as yellow for their tattooing. Inuits are also known for their face tattoos. The tools that are used today have evolved into more intricate ways of use. For example, several needles are used rather than a flat wide needle as the Egyptians had. The more needles you have, the detailed work. Wide range of coloring brings symbols to life as it tells a story. The etails make it look real in a 3D type of way. Instead of soot, ink is the one form of substance that provides color. There are several different types of ink. One type of ink, for example, is black light ink. When the tattoo is under a black light lamp, it will glow. Colors range from the basic primary and secondary colors to different shades. Another option today is the ability to numb the area in which is being tattooed. Egyptians had no means of covering the painful process in which tattoos involved. The care that we provide today goes into the preservation of the tattoo, making it able o last longer. In order for the tattoo to heal correctly you cannot scrub the area, expose it to sun, and it must be able to breathe. Care consists of wiping the skin with antibacterial soap, and then applying petroleum Jelly. Petroleum Jelly is more of a pure substance with no additives and it is easier to work with. It is used widely because it does not cause allergic reactions or pull the ink out. Other forms of Jelly include clear AD Ointment and Bag Balm. No matter what gender a human is, tattoos are more popular today than they were a millennium ago. They represent a erson as an individual, rather than a means for protection. Technology today has given us the ability to express the art of tattooing on a whole new level. Egyptians introduced this ability, in order for individuals to use tattoos to define their stories or personal experiences. Tattoos were once known as frightening and repulsive, and have come a long way since then. Symbols in Egyptian times have been considered generic compared to todays variety. More attention goes into the care of tattoos in todays society during and afterwards. Care is what aids in the conservation of a eautiful piece of art, whether it is a symbol, picture, or words. From medical protection to therapeutic means, tattoos were widely used among Egyptians. With the help of discoveries, female mummies have revealed the remains of tattooing on bodies. We can now understand where tattoos originated from, and how meaningful they were so long ago.

Mad Cow Disease :: essays research papers

Mad cow disease kills many and is spreading rapidly throughout Britain and is slowly affecting the United States. Mad cow disease is a serious disease that affects many different species. There are different forms of the disease. This disease has occurred in Britain and can occur in the United States as well. Mad cow disease can be prevented.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mad cow disease has several different names. It is called Bovine Spongiform encephalopathy or BSE. Other names are New Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or vCJD (Morris). Transmittable Spongiform encephalopathy or TSE is another name. Spongiform encephalopathies are nervous system disorders which nerve cells of the brain die, causing the brain to assume a sponge-like appearance (Montague, Part 1). In 1985 a veterinarian found odd symptoms in a cattle (Morris). Cows in Britain began to die of mysterious ailments (Montague, Part 1). German physicians Hans Gerhard Creutzfeldt and Alfons Jakob first discovered vCJD in its natural form in the 1920’s (Shell, Part 2). In 1996 British government conceded that people were falling victim to a degenerate new brain disease linked to BSE (Morris).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some cows in the United States may already have mad cow disease. It is also very possible that people in the United States may have the human form of the disease. Cows are vegetarians by nature. They can be infected when they are forced to eat parts of other infected animals. When animals are slaughtered for human food at least half of the carcass-hide, hooves, entrails, etc can not be sold for human consumption. It’s then sent to a â€Å"rendering† plant where it’s ground up, boiled down and driven into the consistency of brown sugar. Now, it’s sold for feed for cows, pigs, chickens and pets. Eating infected animals transmits mad cow disease or eating animal parts especially brains and spinal cords (Montague, Part 3). Cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry that are exposed to BSE via animal food can secretly harbour the disease (Morris). Scrapie is a disease that has affected sheep for at least 200 years. Sheep infected with Scrapie rub up ag ainst fences or barns until they scrape away their wool, leaving raw wounds, then they die. Scrapie infected sheep are sometimes fed to cows (Montague). Humans can get the human form of mad cow disease by eating infected meat.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mad cow disease has a severe effect on animals. The infamous disease has increased 23 percent a year in Britain since 1994 (ABC News).

Alcoholics Anonymous â€Nursing Essay

Alcoholics Anonymous is a close-knit program which is a very successful method of recovery for alcoholism. The program was the first of many to adopt the twelve step approach to recovery. This program is three dimensional: spiritually, mentally and physically which is represented in the twelve steps. The steps stress anonymousness, kindness and rejuvenation within all members. It gives recovering alcoholics a place to feel comfortable and unashamed to know others are going through the same recovery. Members are encouraged to be sponsored by a companion recovering alcoholic with more experience in the program to help to better understand AA. The sponsor is the same gender as the member and usually the relationship between the two is a gift that both members can benefit from. The Twelve steps are as follows: 1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable. 2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. 3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. 6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. 7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. 8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. 9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. 10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. 11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. When I went to the AA meeting, I noticed that this disease of alcoholism affects all ages, socioeconomic groups and both genders. Not being an alcoholic, I did not think I would enjoy/benefit from the meeting–but I was indeed wrong. The feeling of support, unification and encouragement that the group portrayed is indestructible. Members of the group listened and strengthened one and other. I think Alcoholics anonymous is something that is very special and anyone suffering from an addiction to alcohol would profit from.