Friday, July 31, 2020
Practical Tips for Freshers Week
Practical Tips for Freshers Week The Best Tips Regarding Fresherâs Week HomeâºTips for StudentsâºThe Best Tips Regarding Fresherâs Week Tips for StudentsItâs a well-known fact that across the whole country, a lot of new students are full of much excitement as well as nervousness. Their freshers week starts very soon. There is only one question in the studentsâ minds: How to survive freshers week?In this article, you will be able to get acquainted with a few practical tips on living without your parents, making new friendsSo that you get through the hardest week!Coming preparedItâs no secret that being a student means that you donât have enough money and things start off like a bang.In spite of the fact that you have tried to write down your budgeting plans in advance, as soon as a freshers week begins, you will not take advantage of them.Frankly speaking, this is not only about pints or cocktails. Apart from that, you will realize after your first lecture that almost all courses require certain comp ulsory textbooks that cost pretty much money.Remember that you ought to set some sum of money aside before heading off for university. As a result, it wonât be so difficult for you during the first week.Being yourselfA lot of people think that turning up to an institution of education is a new opportunity of reinventing themselves. However, when they do so, they usually become fake and alienate themselves from their new acquaintances.Signing up for an NUS CardLooking where to BUY AN ESSAY?Save your time and money! Use QualityCustomEssays.com professionals service to get an A+ paper Place an order get 15%offfor your first orderMaybe, you have already made up your mind to do this, but simply procrastinated. It is of a great importance to find time and sign up for this card because it will give you a chance to save a rather serious sum of money. So, take into consideration this beneficial thing.Forgetting about your dignity for some timeActually, itâs significant not to be too ser ious when it comes to freshers.Try to take part in all activities on your fresherâs week, including wearing fancy clothes. It would be great if you get fully involved and interested in this process.Making an effortDespite the fact that you might be quite reserved in comparison with you colleagues, bear in mind that they are all in the same boat. Thus, keeping this in head will help you to make an effort. Simply be sociable and friendly, constantly asking lots of questions.Building some distance with homeItâs common knowledge that many students face homesickness. Nevertheless, it doesnât mean that you should spend hours talking on the phone with your nearest and dearest.Consequently, you will become too weepy and make your mom and dad worry about you. So, try to do all possible and impossible to enjoy your new environment.The most essential thing is getting through the first several weeks. Sooner or later, you will make new friends and your life will get better.
Friday, May 22, 2020
Electronic Mass Media - 1228 Words
ELECTRONIC MASS MEDIA IN TODAYââ¬â¢S SOCIETY MASS MEDIA Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies, including the Internet, television, newspapers, and radio, which are used for mass communications, and to the organizations which control these technologies. Mass media play a significant role in shaping public perceptions on a variety of important issues, both through the information that is dispensed through them, and through the interpretations they place upon this information. The also play a large role in shaping modern culture, by selecting and portraying a particular set of beliefs, values, and traditions (an entire way of life), as reality. That is, by portraying a certain interpretation of reality, they shape realityâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦| |37 |Heliographs - first recorded use of mirrors to send messages by Roman Emperor Tiberius. | |100 |First bound books | |105 BC |Tsai Lun of China invents paper as we know it. | |305 |First wooden printing presses invented in China - symbols carved on a wooden block. | |1049 |First movable type invented - clay - invented in China by Pi Sheng. | |1450 |Newspapers appear in Europe. | |1455 |Johannes Gutenberg invents a printing press with metal movable type. | |1560 |Camera Obscura invented - primitive imageShow MoreRelatedWhat is Mass Media?917 Words à |à 4 PagesWhat is Mass Media? Mass media refers to the many ways that information reaches a large group of people. Sociologists study mass media to see its affects on socialization, social movement, and social power (Chegg, ââ¬Å"Definition of Mass Mediaâ⬠). Examples of mass media: Television Radio Movies Newspaper Internet Importance of Mass Media in Society Mass media is important in society because it reflects the lives, roles, and interests of the people. The media creates the culture and these messages promoteRead MorePrint Media And Digital Media1740 Words à |à 7 PagesThe print and the digital media have been in the forefront in acting as the social mirror reflecting on what goes on in the society. Thus when it is said that the print media is dead it becomes quite disturbing because traditionally it is known as the only tool that people have come to trust to deliver information in a holistic manner. Well, in the advertising world, it is assumed that the more the products are displayed in pages of magazines and newspapers; they are bound to be sold more becauseRead MoreThe Mass Media Influence On Society804 Words à |à 4 PagesThe mass media greatly influence the behavior and thoughts of citizens and policymakers, and has a great impact on policy agenda. The mass media includes television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Inte rnet, and other means of popular communication. There are two kinds of media; print media, which includes newspapers and magazines, and electronic media, which includes television, radio, and the Internet. There are various positives and negatives of the media and its relation to the public and toRead MoreMass Media Essay827 Words à |à 4 PagesUnderstanding the media and what media literacy entails is an important trait that everybody should learn. There were a few developments in the evolution of mass media that took place in the past century. Mass communication first started in the earliest of society which started the written and oral communication era. In this time information was passed down through oral traditions by teachers or story-tellers. As time passed and more stories were told the alphabet and written word finally were createdRead MoreEssay about Mass Media and Popular Culture1491 Words à |à 6 PagesMass Media and Popular Culture: Effects on the Population Mass Media and Popular Culture Mass media and popular culture go hand in hand. This paper will discuss the impact of mass media on enculturation, examine the relationships among media, advertising and the formation of normative cultural values, and discuss the impact of the internet on popular culture and the way we communicate today. Real world examples of this impact will be provided to prove our point of view and the overall effectRead MoreDigital And Print Media s Effect On The Self Respect Of The Older Generation1045 Words à |à 5 PagesElectronic and print media have brought about sweeping changes in human life and have had far-reaching implications for all walks of life. Originating in the early 15th century, the printing press of the newspaper made the first appearance in Germany in the late 1400 s in the mode of news pamphlets or broadsides (Barber, P. 2014) [1]; and now people are easily capable of getting information through various digital devices such as sophisticated televisions and smart phones. Mass communication, howeverRead MoreElectronic Media1675 Words à |à 7 PagesELECTRONIC MEDIA AND PRINT MEDIA INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONIC MEDIA This is a type of MASS MEDIA which uses ELECTRONIC Energy in the user end. The most familiar electronic media includes video recording, audio recording, multimedia presentations, slide presentations, CD ROMââ¬â¢S and online contents. Also, recorded broadcasting in television, radio, telephone etc. could be considered as electronic media. THE BASIC USES OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA Electronic Media is probably the most diversified subject of studyRead MoreThe Effects Of Mass Media On American Culture777 Words à |à 4 Pages Effects of Mass Media Amanda Shock Media Influences on American Culture (HUM/186) 10/19/2015 Allyson Wells Effects of Mass Media There are many different effects of mass media. Where would the world be today without mass media? The world has evolved so much. From the written era all the way to the digital era, communication has changed so much. For instance, when the radio was invented it changed the way the news was communicated and provided entertainment. The television came soonRead MoreThe Media And Its Impact On Society Essay1721 Words à |à 7 Pagesonce said, ââ¬Å"Whoever controls the media, controls the mindâ⬠. The Media have becoming one of the most dominant source of education of the 21st century. We could argue that most americans use the media as their main source of information. The side effect on that is the fact that the media is very polarized. With the ongoing polarization, we could hypothesize that people would have been more politically educated and oriented if the media was not infiltrated. Mass media is expected to be educational. PublicRead MoreMidterm Review Essay963 Words à |à 4 PagesMComm100â⬠©Ã¢â¬ââ⬠©Massâ⬠©Communicationâ⬠©inâ⬠©Societyâ⬠© Midtermâ⬠©Reviewâ⬠©Ã¢â¬ââ⬠©12thâ⬠©Edâ⬠© (Chaptersâ⬠©1â⬠©Ã¢â¬ââ⬠©9)â⬠© â⬠© Understandâ⬠©theâ⬠©definitionâ⬠©ofâ⬠©Ã¢â¬Ëencodingââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ © Whatâ⬠©isâ⬠©Ã¢â¬Ënegativeâ⬠©feedbackââ¬â¢?â⬠© Characteristicsâ⬠©ofâ⬠©aâ⬠©massâ⬠©communicationâ⬠©audienceâ⬠© Whatâ⬠©isâ⬠©aâ⬠©Ã¢â¬Ëmediaâ⬠©vehicleââ¬â¢?â⬠© Characteristicsâ⬠©ofâ⬠©massâ⬠©communicationâ⬠©organizationsâ⬠© Whatâ⬠©vehiclesâ⬠©haveâ⬠©increasedâ⬠©theâ⬠©mobilityâ⬠©ofâ⬠©theâ⬠©massâ⬠©media?â⬠© Trustâ⬠©inâ⬠©theâ⬠©mediaâ⬠©isâ⬠©consideredâ⬠©what?â⬠© Definitionâ⬠©ofâ⬠©Ã¢â¬Ësurveilanceââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ ©Ã¢â¬ ©withâ⬠©regardâ⬠©toâ⬠©individualâ⬠©mediaâ⬠©useâ⬠© Consequencesâ⬠©ofâ⬠©relyingâ⬠©onâ⬠©massâ⬠©mediaâ⬠©forâ⬠©interpretation
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Definition of Anchoress and the Anchoress of Wisse
An anchoress is (was) a woman who withdraws from secular life for religious purposes, a female religious hermit or recluse. The male term is anchorite. Anchoresses and anchorites lived in seclusion, often in remote locations or walled into a room with only a shuttered window through which food was passed. The position of anchorite is still recognized in canon law of the Roman Catholic church as one form of consecrated life. The position was not one, generally, of complete seclusion. The anchoress was to be kept in connection with a church, and visitors to the anchoress, who could talk to her through a window in her cell, often came seeking prayers or practical advice.à She spent her time in prayer and contemplation, but often also engaged in writing and such typical womenââ¬â¢s activities like embroidery. The anchoress was expected to eat and dress simply. An anchoress needed permission from a bishop to take up the life of semi-reclusion. He would determine if she was likely to adapt to the life of an anchoress and whether she had adequate financial support (this was not a way for the poor to be fed).à The bishop would oversee the anchoressââ¬â¢ life and make sure she was cared for well.à A special rite of enclosure marked the agreement between the church and the anchoress, and her dedication to the enclosed life. This ceremony echoed a burial or entombment, with last rites, as ritually the anchoress was dead to the world. Anchorhold The room, called an anchorhold or anchorage, was often connected to a church wall.à The cell had very little in it, just a bed, crucifix and altar. According to the Ancrene Wisse (see below) the cell was to have three windows.à One was on the outside so that people could visit the anchoress and seek her advice, counsel, and prayers.à Another was to the inside of the church.à Through this window, the anchoress could experience the worship service in the church, and could also be given communion.à A third window allowed an assistant to deliver food and take away waste. Sometimes there was a door to the anchorhold that was locked as part of the enclosure ceremony At death, it was customary to bury the anchoress in her anchorhold.à The grave was sometimes prepared as part of the enclosure rite. Examples Julian of Norwichà (14th and 15th centuries) was an anchoress; she did not live in complete seclusion though she was walled into her chamber. The chamber was connected to a church, she had a servant walled in with her and she sometimes advised pilgrims and other visitors. Alfwen (12th century England) was an anchoress who helped Christina of Markyate hide from her family, who were trying to force Christina into marriage. Among anchorites (male religious recluses enclosed in cells), Saint Jerome is one of the most famous, and is depicted in his cell in several art treatments. Living in a convent, as did figures like Hildegard of Bingenà and Hrotsvitha von Gandershei, was not the equivalent of being an anchoress. Background of the Term Anchoress Anchoress, and the related term anchorite, are derived from the Greek verb anacwre-ein or anachoreo, meaning ââ¬Å"withdraw.â⬠à The Ancrene Wisse (see below), compares the anchoress to an anchor which holds a ship during storms and waves. Ancrene Wisse translation: anchoresses rule (or manual) Also Known As:à Ancren Riwle, Ancrene Rule An unknown 13th-century author wrote this work describing how women could live in religious seclusion.à A few convents used the rule in their order. The Ancrene Wisse is written in a dialect common in the West Midlands in the 13th century. There are eleven manuscripts known, some merely in fragments, written in Middle English. Four others are translated into Anglo-Norman French and another four into Latin. The writer J.R.R. Tolkien researched and edited this text, published in 1929. Popular Culture The 1993 movie Anchoress is modeled after a 14th-century anchoress, quite loosely.à In the film, Christine Carpenter, who is a peasant girl, is locked up at the urging of the priest who has designs on her. The priest tries and convicts her mother of being a witch, so Christine digs her way out of her cell. Robyn Cadwallader published a book, The Anchoress, in 2015, about a girl in the 13th century who became an anchoress.à Sarah takes up the life of an anchoress in order to avoid her landlordââ¬â¢s son, who has designs on her; for her, becoming an anchoress is a way to protect her virginity.
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Individual Assignment Integrative Free Essays
I order to capitalize on an opportunity the window of opportunity must be open, which refers to a period of time during which it is ealistically possible to enter a certain market. There are three approaches that can be used to identify opportunities: observing trends, solving a problem, finding gaps in the marketplace. When observing trends it is essential to be able to distinguish between trends and fads. We will write a custom essay sample on Individual Assignment Integrative or any similar topic only for you Order Now A venture is particularly successful when it benefits from several trends converging. Such trends are economic forces, social forces, technological advances and political and regulatory changes. The second approach to identifying opportunities is to solve problems. Many people have experienced problems in their wn lives and turned the solution into a business opportunity. Finding gaps in the marketplace are the third source of business ideas. Often products are not available to consumers in a particular location or arenââ¬â¢t available at all. Chapter 2 of the textbook ââ¬Å"Entrepreneurship ââ¬â successfully launching new venturesâ⬠also outlines the personal characteristics that tend to make some people more successful at recognizing opportunities. Prior experience in an industry helps entrepreneurs tremendously. By working in an industry an individual may spot a market niche that is underserved. Once an entrepreneur starts a firm, new venture opportunities become apparent. This is the so-called corridor principle, which states that once a venture is started new corridors that lead to new ideas become apparent. Additionally, most entrepreneurs possess cognitive factors also called entrepreneurial alertness, which is defined as the ability to notice things without engaging in deliberate search. Social networks also affect opportunity recognition. The extent and depth of an individualââ¬â¢s social network is of high importance. Network entrepreneurs tend to be more successful than solo entrepreneurs. What is more, eak-tie relationships, characterized by infrequent interaction between casual acquaintances, are more likely to result to lead to new business ideas than strong-tie relationships. Furthermore creativity plays a role in generating a novel or useful idea In the interview with Mike Ramsay, the Cofounder of TiVo, he talks about how he came up with the idea of the digital video recorder. Many of the recommendations from our textbook can be directly related to the process Mike Ramsay went through before finding his final business model. First of all Ramsay possesses the previously mentioned characteristics that an ntrepreneur needs in order to be successful. He has prior experience in the industry, as he had been working for different technology companies before starting his own venture. Not only did he work for HP a very well established technology company, but also for a startup company called Convergent Technologies. During these years he developed a network of weak-tie relationships with talented qualified people in the technology industry. ââ¬Å"We never worked very closely together, but we always kept in touch sociallyââ¬â¢ (p. 93). Their type of relationship if further underlined y the statement: ââ¬Å"It would be kind of fun to work together on some ideas, because we come at it from different angles. Maybe weââ¬â¢ll come up with something. â⬠(p. 193) According to research in this area it is more likely that an entrepreneur will get a new business idea from a weak-tie relationship. Furthermore, the founding of TiVo is great example for the corridor principle. The original idea on which the company was founded was not a DVR but a home server network that brought computing technology into home entertainment. However while looking into the technology a new opportunity came apparent. Look, you canââ¬â¢t do everything, so letââ¬â¢s design a simple server based on very low-cost technology. Letââ¬â¢s decide on one app that we think is the killer app to run on it, and letââ¬â¢s do that. If thatââ¬â¢s successful, then weââ¬â¢ll branch out. Forget the network thing and forget the massive amounts of storage and high cost and hardware models and all thatâ⬠(p. 194) Generally you could say that Mike Ramsay was able to analyze and understand technological advances better than most people, as he was part of an innovative community. We were definitely at the center of the universe, and that was fun. You felt like whatever you did, you had the best opportunity and you could go to the best places and work with the brightest people. They had energy and enthusiasm and they couldnââ¬â¢t fail. There was nothing that was impossibleâ⬠(p. 192) The microcomputer revolution was a trend of his time that created his opportunity. ââ¬Å"It was very early on. There were no PCs. The microprocessor idea had Just gotten going, and they were 4-bit microprocessorsâ⬠that was state of the art. Designs were all basically custom hardware designs, so it was very different. I was involved in chip design at that point. That felt like rocket science. That was the leading edge, and therefore it was the most exciting thing to work on. â⬠(p. 192) Stephen Kaufer, cofounder of TripAdvisor, explains in his interview how he came up with the idea of collecting information for travelers and how he developed his identifying a problem and by solving it, creating a business opportunity. ââ¬Å"The idea came when my wife, Caroline, and I were trying to find a vacation for ourselves. We started with a travel agent, who recommended an island and some resort. This was ââ¬â¢98 or ââ¬â¢99, and I thought Iââ¬â¢d use the Internet to find out more. I found a whole lot of websites that would help me book a reservation at this hotel, but nothing that would tell me whether the hotel was any good or not for what I was looking for. â⬠(p. 361) Just like in the case of Mike Ramsays startup, Stephen Kauferââ¬â¢s initial business idea was different from what the company turned out to be in the end. ââ¬Å"When we started TripAdvisor, the notion was TripAdvisor. om was actually Just going to be our demo site, because we never planned to appeal directly to end users. We were going to be selling this rich database to travel portals, online travel sites. They would be querying ur database to find the best information and surfacing it to their users, and there would be a little ,Powered by TripAdvisor. ââ¬Ë â⬠(p. 364) Again this can be related to the corrid or principle as described in the text book. Stephen Kaufer had no experience in the traveling industry or creating a search engine. However he could contribute his knowledge about starting up a company. Because I had started a few companies beforeâ⬠¦ â⬠(p. 362) Furthermore although he came up with the basic idea by himself he can be considered a network entrepreneur, as he assembled a team of founders to start his company. â⬠¦ and started to assemble friends that I had worked with before who might be interested in starting an Internet company to build the best travel search engine out thereâ⬠¦ â⬠(p. 362) What I found particularly interesting about these interviews is that in both cases the original business idea was very different from the business the startup ended up turning into. It is very surprising to me that they were able to get funding without a clear revenue stream and business model. Even though they had gotten funding for something else they changed their idea and business model to adjust to the newly ound insights. Both entrepreneurs, Mike Ramsay and Stephen Kaufers, showed great flexibility and the ability to evolve from the original idea to a functioning business model. Kaufer even points this out in his interview: mfou canââ¬â¢t get too attached to your vision in a startup, because things may change. Itââ¬â¢s not a sign of failure to change your visionâ⬠(p. 372) Creating a new venture team poses a challenge to every startup. The entrepreneurs who launch and start the venture have an important role to play in shaping the firmââ¬â¢s business concept. The way a new venture is build sends an important message to nvestors. Some founders like the feeling of control and are reluctant to involve themselves with partners or hire manager who are more experienced than they are. (Rich vs King) New ventures have a high propensity to fail, which is partly due to the liability of new roles. The size of the founding team and the quality of the founders are the two most important issues in this matter. Teams have an advantage over sole entrepreneurs and bring more talent, resources, ideas and professional contacts to a new venture. However work habits, tolerances for risk, levels of passion for the usiness, ideas on how the business should be run can greatly differ among partners. Ideally the founding team is heterogeneous rather than homogeneous, meaning that their area of expertise and their abilities are diverse rather than similar or overlapping. Different points of view about technology, hiring decisions, competitive tactics and other important activities generates debate and constructive conflict, reducing the likelihood of making a decision without airing alternative points of view. Founding teams larger than 4 people is typically too large and therefore ausing communication problems. Three common pitfalls include team members not getting along, a lack of hierarchy or the same area of expertise of the founders. Three important qualities founders should have are prior entrepreneurial experience, relevant industry experience and a network. It is essential that every team member makes a valuable contribution to the team. Kaufer and Ramsay both talk about their founding team and the hiring process they went trough with their startup. Kaufer, as an engineer, recognized that he needed a cofounder with a business background. l was introduced by a friend to another cofounder, Langley Steinert, on the business, marketing, business development, financing side of things. So the two of us kind of took up the project as, (â⬠¦ ) Langley had the business development experience and connections to sell and market it. Because I had started a few companies before, I knew it was important to have the right combination of skills and interests amongst the founders. We assembled four initial founders of the company and got our first round of funding in February of 2000. â⬠(p. 362) He also tates that this aspect is important from an investorââ¬â¢s perspective: ââ¬Å"We never would have succeeded without Langley on the team. How to cite Individual Assignment Integrative, Papers
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
The use of the atomic bomb was the primary reason Essay Example For Students
The use of the atomic bomb was the primary reason Essay for Japanese defeat. Do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. The atomic bomb devasted the two cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. It killed hundreds of thousands of people, especially civilians. After so many defeats in southeast asia, the dropping of such bombs would totally wipe out the morale of the Japanese population. However, there were other reasons as to why Japan surrendered. We will write a custom essay on The use of the atomic bomb was the primary reason specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now One of the other reasons was the battle of coral that they lost. They were the battle of Coral Sea, the battle in the Solomon Islands and the Battle of Midway. The Battle of Midway was especially significant to Japans lost of arms, where they lost a hundred navy officers and four fleets of carriers. With her military might, America used her power and island hopping strategy to retrieve back all pacific islands that was conquered by Japan before. By doing so, they had cut off the supplies of resources and money for the Japanese troops, hence led Japan into her surrender. In conclusion, the primary reason of Japans surrender was that of the atomic bomb was dropped in Japan. Compared to the three maior battles that they fought, the death as extremely high. Because of the atomic bomb, Japan was faced with the complete annihilation of her people or surrender. The economic crisis in Japan did not mean much to the army and they would not surrender and lose their honor because of such a reason. Army officers still refused to surrender even after the first atomic bomb, and so they would not surrender to the economic downturn. .
Friday, March 20, 2020
Embry Riddle (Aeronautical University) offers online MBA courses Essays
Embry Riddle (Aeronautical University) offers online MBA courses Essays Embry Riddle (Aeronautical University) offers online MBA courses Paper Embry Riddle (Aeronautical University) offers online MBA courses Paper The private school Embry Riddle offers online MBA courses and the application term is open worldwide right now. Around 80% of people who enroll for these online graduate business programs are already employed and have experience. They simply want to improve their skills. Embry Riddle records online courses and archives them. The only thing applicants should know is that these programs are not accredited by the gold standard of business school accreditations ââ¬â the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools. The online MBA courses at Embry Riddle were founded in the academic year 1996-1997. The total number of enrolled participants is 2 624. The tuition is $545 for both in-state US residents and out-of-state, international students. The deadline for applying has started and you can find more information on worldwide.erau.edu web site if you want to submit your personal info and start taking online lectures at this university. The US News rankings for this Embry Riddle Aeronautical Universityââ¬â¢s online business graduate program are the following: rank 20 and score 90 for training and faculty credentials, rank 2 and score 90 for technology and students services, rank 133 and score 48 for student engagement, rank 92 and score 50 for admissions selectivity and the whole score out of 5 is 2.4. The application deadline is rolling for both US residents and out-of-state international students. The admissions website is worldwide.erau.edu/admissions/index.html. The Admissions directorââ¬â¢s name is Valerie Kisseloff. She can be contacted at this phone number: (800) 522 67 87 and by e-mail on [emailprotected] The school awards MBAs and there are 26 full-time and 122 part-time faculty instructors who teach at these online business graduate programs. The degree can be earned online entirely. There are not campus-based students who participate in these online MBA courses. The total number of students enrolled for this course is 2 624 and the average age of these students is 35 years. There are more males 78.2% rather than females 21.8%. The recommended Internet speed for this online course is a cable Internet speed. There is a 24/7 live tech support and a response from a tech instructor within 24 hours. The part-time tuition and full-time tuition for both in-state and out-of-state participants is $545.
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
How to Write an A+ Argumentative Essay
How to Write an A+ Argumentative Essay SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You'll no doubt have to write a number of argumentative essays in both high school and college, but what, exactly, is an argumentative essay and how do you write the best one possible? Let's take a look. A great argumentative essay always combines the same basic elements: approaching an argument from a rational perspective, researching sources, supporting your claims using facts rather than opinion, and articulating your reasoning into the most cogent and reasoned points. Argumentative essays are great building blocks for all sorts of research and rhetoric, so your teachers will expect you to master the technique before long. But if this sounds daunting, never fear! Weââ¬â¢ll show how an argumentative essay differs from other kinds of papers, how to research and write them, how to pick an argumentative essay topic, and where to find example essays. So let's get started. What Is an Argumentative Essay? How Is it Different from Other Kinds of Essays? There are two basic requirements for any and all essays: to state a claim (a thesis statement) and to support that claim with evidence. Though every essay is founded on these two ideas, there are several different types of essays, differentiated by the style of the writing, how the writer presents the thesis, and the types of evidence used to support the thesis statement. Essays can be roughly divided into four different types: #1: Argumentative#2: Persuasive#3: Expository#4: Analytical So letââ¬â¢s look at each type and what the differences are between them before we focus the rest of our time to argumentative essays. Argumentative Essay Argumentative essays are what this article is all about, so let's talk about them first. An argumentative essay attempts to convince a reader to agree with a particular argument (the writer's thesis statement). The writer takes a firm stand one way or another on a topic and then uses hard evidence to support that stance. An argumentative essay seeks to prove to the reader that one argument- the writer's argument- is the factually and logically correct one. This means that an argumentative essay must use only evidence-based support to back up a claim, rather than emotional or philosophical reasoning (which is often allowed in other types of essays). Thus, an argumentative essay has a burden of substantiated proof and sources, whereas some other types of essays (namely persuasive essays) do not. You can write an argumentative essay on any topic, so long as there's room for argument. Generally, you can use the same topics for both a persuasive essay or an argumentative one, so long as you support the argumentative essay with hard evidence. Example topics of an argumentative essay: ââ¬Å"Should farmers be allowed to shoot wolves if those wolves injure or kill farm animals?â⬠ââ¬Å"Should the drinking age be lowered in the United States?â⬠ââ¬Å"Are alternatives to democracy effective and/or feasible to implement?â⬠The next three types of essays are not argumentative essays, but you may have written them in school. We're going to cover them so you know what not to do for your argumentative essay. Persuasive Essay Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative essays, so it can be easy to get them confused. But knowing what makes an argumentative essay different than a persuasive essay can often mean the difference between an excellent grade and an average one. Persuasive essays seek to persuade a reader to agree with the point of view of the writer, whether that point of view is based on factual evidence or not. The writer has much more flexibility in the evidence they can use, with the ability to use moral, cultural, or opinion-based reasoning as well as factual reasoning to persuade the reader to agree the writerââ¬â¢s side of a given issue. Instead of being forced to use ââ¬Å"pureâ⬠reason as one would in an argumentative essay, the writer of a persuasive essay can manipulate or appeal to the readerââ¬â¢s emotions. So long as the writer attempts to steer the readers into agreeing with the thesis statement, the writer doesnââ¬â¢t necessarily need hard evidence in favor of the argument. Often, you can use the same topics for both a persuasive essay or an argumentative one- the difference is all in the approach and the evidence you present. Example topics of a persuasive essay: ââ¬Å"Should children be responsible for their parentsââ¬â¢ debts?â⬠ââ¬Å"Should cheating on a test be automatic grounds for expulsion?â⬠ââ¬Å"How much should sports leagues be held accountable for player injuries and the long-term consequences of those injuries?â⬠Expository Essay An expository essay is typically a short essay in which the writer explains an idea, issue, or theme, or discusses the history of a person, place, or idea. This is typically a fact-forward essay with little argument or opinion one way or the other. Example topics of an expository essay: ââ¬Å"The History of the Philadelphia Liberty Bellâ⬠ââ¬Å"The Reasons I Always Wanted to be a Doctorâ⬠ââ¬Å"The Meaning Behind the Colloquialism ââ¬ËPeople in Glass Houses Shouldnââ¬â¢t Throw Stonesââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ Analytical Essay An analytical essay seeks to delve into the deeper meaning of a text or work of art, or unpack a complicated idea. These kinds of essays closely interpret a source and look into its meaning by analyzing it at both a macro and micro level. This type of analysis can be augmented by historical context or other expert or widely-regarded opinions on the subject, but is mainly supported directly through the original source (the piece or art or text being analyzed). Example topics of an analytical essay: ââ¬Å"Victory Gin in Place of Water: The Symbolism Behind Gin as the Only Potable Substance in George Orwell's 1984â⬠ââ¬Å"Amarna Period Art: The Meaning Behind the Shift from Rigid to Fluid Posesâ⬠ââ¬Å"Adultery During WWII, as Told Through a Series of Letters to and from Soldiersâ⬠There are many different types of essay and, over time, you'll be able to master them all. A Typical Argumentative Essay Assignment The average argumentative essay is between three to five pages, and will require at least three or four separate sources with which to back your claims. As for the essay topic, you'll most often be asked to write an argumentative essay in an English class on a ââ¬Å"generalâ⬠topic of your choice, ranging the gamut from science, to history, to literature. But while the topics of an argumentative essay can span several different fields, the structure of an argumentative essay is always the same: you must support a claim- a claim that can reasonably have multiple sides- using multiple sources and using a standard essay format (which we'll talk about later on). This is why many argumentative essay topics begin with the word ââ¬Å"should,â⬠as in: ââ¬Å"Should all students be required to learn chemistry in high school?â⬠ââ¬Å"Should children be required to learn a second language?â⬠ââ¬Å"Should schools or governments be allowed to ban books?â⬠These topics all have at least two sides of the argument: Yes or no. And you must support the side you choose with evidence as to why your side is the correct one. But there are also plenty of other ways to frame an argumentative essay as well: ââ¬Å"Does using social media do more to benefit or harm people?â⬠ââ¬Å"Does the legal status of artwork or its creators- graffiti and vandalism, pirated media, a creator whoââ¬â¢s in jail- have an impact on the art itself?â⬠ââ¬Å"Is or should anyone ever be ââ¬Ëabove the law?ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ Though these are worded differently than the first three, you're still essentially forced to pick between two sides of an issue: yes or no, for or against, benefit or detriment. Though your argument might not fall entirely into one side of the divide or another- for instance, you could claim that social media has positively impacted some aspects of modern life while being a detriment to others- your essay should still support one side of the argument above all. Your final stance would be that overall, social media is beneficial or overall, social media is harmful. If your argument is one that is mostly text-based or backed by a single source (e.g., ââ¬Å"How does Salinger show that Holden Caulfield is an unreliable narrator?â⬠or ââ¬Å"Does Gatsby personify the American Dream?â⬠), then itââ¬â¢s an analytical essay, rather than an argumentative essay. An argumentative essay will always be focused on more general topics so that you can use multiple sources to back up your claims. Good Argumentative Essay Topics So you know the basic idea behind an argumentative essay, but what topic should you write about? Again, almost always, you'll be asked to write an argumentative essay on a free topic of your choice, or you'll be asked to select between a few given topics. If you're given complete free reign of topics, then it'll be up to you to find an essay topic that no only appeals to you, but that you can turn into an A+ argumentative essay. What makes a ââ¬Å"goodâ⬠argumentative essay topic depends on both the subject matter and your personal interest- it can be hard to give your best effort on something that bores you to tears! But it can also be near impossible to write an argumentative essay on a topic that has no room for debate. As we said earlier, a good argumentative essay topic will be one that has the potential to reasonably go in at least two directions- for or against, yes or no, and why. For example, itââ¬â¢s pretty hard to write an argumentative essay on whether or not people should be allowed to murder one another- not a whole lot of debate there for most people!- but writing an essay for or against the death penalty has a lot more wiggle room for evidence and argument. A good topic is also one that can be substantiated through hard evidence and relevant sources. So be sure to pick a topic that other people have studied (or at least studied elements of) so that you can use their data in your argument. For example, if youââ¬â¢re arguing that it should be mandatory for all middle school children to play a sport, you might have to apply smaller scientific data points to the larger picture you're trying to justify. There are probably several studies you could cite on the benefits of physical activity and the positive effect structure and teamwork has on young minds, but there's probably no study you could use where a group of scientists put all middle-schoolers in one jurisdiction into a mandatory sports program (since thatââ¬â¢s probably never happened). So long as your evidence is relevant to your point and you can extrapolate from it to form a larger whole, you can use it as a part of your resource material. And if you need ideas on where to get started, or just want to see sample argumentative essay topics, then check out these links for hundreds of potential argumentative essay topics. 101 Persuasive (or Argumentative) Essay and Speech Topics 301 Prompts for Argumentative Writing Top 50 Ideas for Argumentative/Persuasive Essay Writing [Note: some of these say "persuasive essay topics," but just remember that the same topic can often be used for both a persuasive essay and an argumentative essay; the difference is in your writing style and the evidence you use to support your claims.] KO! Find that one argumentative essay topic you can absolutely conquer. Argumentative Essay Format Argumentative Essays are composed of four main elements: A position (your argument) Your reasons Supporting evidence for those reasons (from reliable sources) Counterargument(s) (possible opposing arguments and reasons why those arguments are incorrect) If youââ¬â¢re familiar with essay writing in general, then youââ¬â¢re also probably familiar with the five paragraph essay structure. This structure is a simple tool to show how one outlines an essay and breaks it down into its component parts, although it can be expanded into as many paragraphs as you want beyond the core five. The standard argumentative essay is often 3-5 pages, which will usually mean a lot more than five paragraphs, but your overall structure will look the same as a much shorter essay. An argumentative essay at its simplest structure will look like: Paragraph 1: Intro Set up the story/problem/issue Thesis/claim Paragraph 2: Support Reason #1 claim is correct Supporting evidence with sources Paragraph 3: Support Reason #2 claim is correct Supporting evidence with sources Paragraph 4: Counterargument Explanation of argument for the other side Refutation of opposing argument with supporting evidence Paragraph 5: Conclusion Re-state claim Sum up reasons and support of claim from the essay to prove claim is correct Now letââ¬â¢s unpack each of these paragraph types to see how they work (with examples!), what goes into them, and why. Paragraph 1- Set Up and Claim Your first task is to introduce the reader to the topic at hand so theyââ¬â¢ll be prepared for your claim. Give a little background information, set the scene, and give the reader some stakes so that they care about the issue you're going to discuss. Next, you absolutely must have a position on an argument and make that position clear to the readers. Itââ¬â¢s not an argumentative essay unless youââ¬â¢re arguing for a specific claim, and this claim will be your thesis statement. Your thesis CANNOT be a mere statement of fact (e.g., ââ¬Å"Washington DC is the capital of the United Statesâ⬠). Your thesis must instead be an opinion which can be backed up with evidence and has the potential to be argued against (e.g., ââ¬Å"New York should be the capital of the United Statesâ⬠). Paragraphs 2 and 3- Your Evidence These are your body paragraphs in which you give the reasons why your argument is the best one and back up this reasoning with concrete evidence. The argument supporting the thesis of an argumentative essay should be one that can be supported by facts and evidence, rather than personal opinion or cultural or religious mores. For example, if youââ¬â¢re arguing that New York should be the new capital of the US, you would have to back up that fact by discussing the factual contrasts between New York and DC in terms of location, population, revenue, and laws. You would then have to talk about the precedents for what makes for a good capital city and why New York fits the bill more than DC does. Your argument canââ¬â¢t simply be that a lot of people think New York is the best city ever and that you agree. In addition to using concrete evidence, you always want to keep the tone of your essay passionate, but impersonal. Even though youââ¬â¢re writing your argument from a single opinion, donââ¬â¢t use first person language- ââ¬Å"I think,â⬠ââ¬Å"I feel,â⬠ââ¬Å"I believe,â⬠- to present your claims. Doing so is repetitive, since by writing the essay youââ¬â¢re already telling the audience what you feel, and using first person language weakens your writing voice. For example, ââ¬Å"I think that Washington DC is no longer suited to be the capital city of the United States.â⬠Versus, ââ¬Å"Washington DC is no longer suited to be the capital city of the United States.â⬠The second statement sounds far stronger and more analytical. Paragraph 4- Argument for the Other Side and Refutation Even without a counter argument, you can make a pretty persuasive claim, but a counterargument will round out your essay into one that is much more persuasive and substantial. By anticipating an argument against your claim and taking the initiative to counter it, youââ¬â¢re allowing yourself to get ahead of the game. This way, you show that youââ¬â¢ve given great thought to all sides of the issue before choosing your position, and you demonstrate in multiple ways how yours is the more reasoned and supported side. Paragraph 5- Conclusion This paragraph is where you re-state your argument and summarize why itââ¬â¢s the best claim. Briefly touch on your supporting evidence and voila! A finished argumentative essay. Your essay should have just as awesome a skeleton as this plesiosaur does. (In other words: a ridiculously awesome skeleton) Argumentative Essay Example: 5-Paragraph Style It always helps to have an example to learn from. I've written a full 5-paragraph argumentative essay here. Look at how I state my thesis in paragraph 1, give supporting evidence in paragraphs 2 and 3, address a counterargument in paragraph 4, and conclude in paragraph 5. Topic: Is it possible to maintain conflicting loyalties? Paragraph 1 It is almost impossible to go through life without encountering a situation where your loyalties to different people or causes come into conflict with each other. Maybe you have a loving relationship with your sister, but she disagrees with your decision to join the army, or you find yourself torn between your cultural beliefs and your scientific ones. These conflicting loyalties can often be maintained for a time, but as examples from both history and psychological theory illustrate, sooner or later, people have to make a choice between competing loyalties, as no one can maintain a conflicting loyalty or belief system forever. The first two sentences set the scene and give some hypothetical examples and stakes for the reader to care about. The third sentence finishes off the intro with the thesis statement, making very clear how the author stands on the issue ("people have to make a choice between competing loyalties, as no one can maintain a conflicting loyalty or belief system forever.") Paragraphs 2 and 3 Psychological theory states that human beings are not equipped to maintain conflicting loyalties indefinitely and that attempting to do so leads to a state called ââ¬Å"cognitive dissonance.â⬠Cognitive dissonance theory is the psychological idea that people undergo tremendous mental stress or anxiety when holding contradictory beliefs, values, or loyalties (Festinger, 1957). Even if human beings initially hold a conflicting loyalty, they will do their best to find a mental equilibrium by making a choice between those loyalties- stay stalwart to a belief system or change their beliefs. One of the earliest formal examples of cognitive dissonance theory comes from Leon Festingerââ¬â¢s When Prophesy Fails. Members of an apocalyptic cult are told that the end of the world will occur on a specific date and that they alone will be spared the Earthââ¬â¢s destruction. When that day comes and goes with no apocalypse, the cult members face a cognitive dissonance between what they s ee and what theyââ¬â¢ve been led to believe (Festinger, 1956). Some choose to believe that the cult's beliefs are still correct, but that the Earth was simply spared from destruction by mercy, while others choose to believe that they were lied to and that the cult was fraudulent all along. Both beliefs cannot be correct at the same time, and so the cult members are forced to make their choice. But even when conflicting loyalties can lead to potentially physical, rather than just mental, consequences, people will always make a choice to fall on one side or other of a dividing line. Take, for instance, Nicolaus Copernicus, a man born and raised in Catholic Poland (and educated in Catholic Italy). Though the Catholic church dictated specific scientific teachings, Copernicus' loyalty to his own observations and scientific evidence won out over his loyalty to his countryââ¬â¢s government and belief system. When he published his heliocentric model of the solar systemin opposition to the geocentric model that had been widely accepted for hundreds of years (Hannam, 2011) Copernicus was making a choice between his loyalties. In an attempt to maintain his fealty both to the established system and to what he believed, he sat on his findings for a number of years (Fantoli, 1994). But, ultimately, Copernicus made the choice to side with his beliefs and observations above all and pub lished his work for the world to see (even though, in doing so, he risked both his reputation and personal freedoms). These two paragraphs provide the reasons why the author supports the main argument and uses substantiated sources to back those reasons. The paragraph on cognitive dissonance theory gives both broad supporting evidence and more narrow, detailed supporting evidence to show why the thesis statement is correct not just anecdotally but also scientifically and psychologically. First, we see why people in general have a difficult time accepting conflicting loyalties and desires and then how this applies to individuals through the example of the cult members from the Dr. Festinger's research. The next paragraph continues to use more detailed examples from history to provide further evidence of why the thesis that people cannot indefinitely maintain conflicting loyalties is true. Paragraph 4 Some will claim that it is possible to maintain conflicting beliefs or loyalties permanently, but this is often more a matter of people deluding themselves and still making a choice for one side or the other, rather than truly maintaining loyalty to both sides equally. For example, Lancelot du Lac typifies a person who claims to maintain a balanced loyalty between to two parties, but his attempt to do so fails (as all attempts to permanently maintain conflicting loyalties must). Lancelot tells himself and others that he is equally devoted to both King Arthur and his court and to being Queen Guinevereââ¬â¢s knight (Malory, 2008). But he can neither be in two places at once to protect both the king and queen, nor can he help but let his romantic feelings for the queen to interfere with his duties to the king and the kingdom. Ultimately, he and Queen Guinevere give into their feelings for one another and Lancelot- though he denies it- chooses his loyalty to her over his loyalty to Ar thur. This decision plunges the kingdom into a civil war, ages Lancelot prematurely, and ultimately leads to Camelotââ¬â¢s ruin (Raabe, 1987). Though Lancelot claimed to have been loyal to both the king and the queen, this loyalty was ultimately in conflict, and he could not maintain it. Here we have the acknowledgement of a potential counter-argument and the evidence as to why it isn't true. The argument is that some people (or literary characters) have asserted that they give equal weight to their conflicting loyalties. The refutation is that, though some may claim to be able to maintain conflicting loyalties, they're either lying to others or deceiving themselves. The paragraph shows why this is true by providing an example of this in action. Paragraph 5 Whether it be through literature or history, time and time again, people demonstrate the challenges of trying to manage conflicting loyalties and the inevitable consequences of doing so. Though belief systems are malleable and will often change over time, it is not possible to maintain two mutually exclusive loyalties or beliefs at once. In the end, people always make a choice, and loyalty for one party or one side of an issue will always trump loyalty to the other. The concluding paragraph summarizes the essay, touches on the evidence presented, and re-states the thesis statement. How to Write an Argumentative Essay: 8 Steps Writing the best argumentative essay is all about the preparation, so let's talk steps: #1: Preliminary Research If you have the option to pick your own argumentative essay topic (which you most likely will), then choose one or two topics you find the most intriguing or that you have a vested interest in and do some preliminary research on both sides of the debate. Do an open internet search just to see what the general chatter is on the topic and what the research trends are. Did your preliminary reading influence you to pick a side or change your side? Without diving into all the scholarly articles at length, do you believe thereââ¬â¢s enough evidence to support your claim? Have there been scientific studies? Experiments? Does a noted scholar in the field agree with you? If not, you may need to pick another topic or side of the argument to support. #2: Pick Your Side and Form Your Thesis Now's the time to pick the side of the argument you feel you can support the best and summarize your main point into your thesis statement. Your thesis will be the basis of your entire essay, so make sure you know which side youââ¬â¢re on, that youââ¬â¢ve stated it clearly, and that you stick by your argument throughout the entire essay. #3: Heavy-Duty Research Time Youââ¬â¢ve taken a gander at what the internet at large has to say on your argument, but nowââ¬â¢s the time to actually read those sources and take notes. Check scholarly journals online at Google Scholar, the Directory of Open Access Journals, or JStor. You can also search individual university or school libraries and websites to see what kinds of academic articles you can access for free. Keep track of your important quotes and page numbers and put them somewhere thatââ¬â¢s easy to find later. And donââ¬â¢t forget to check your school or local libraries as well! #4: Outline Follow the five-paragraph outline structure from the previous section. Fill in your topic, your reasons, and your supporting evidence into each of the categories. Before you begin to flesh out the essay, take a look at what youââ¬â¢ve got. Is your thesis statement in the first paragraph? Is it clear? Is your argument logical? Does your supporting evidence support your reasoning? By outlining your essay, you streamline your process and take care of any logic gaps before you dive headfirst into the writing. This will save you a lot of grief later on if you need to change your sources or your structure, so donââ¬â¢t get too trigger-happy and skip this step. #5: Draft Now that youââ¬â¢ve laid out exactly what youââ¬â¢ll need for your essay and where, itââ¬â¢s time to fill in all the gaps by writing it out. Take it one step at a time and expand your ideas into complete sentences and substantiated claims. It may feel daunting to turn an outline into a complete draft, but just remember that youââ¬â¢ve already laid out all the groundwork; now youââ¬â¢re just filling in the gaps. #6: Edit If you have the time before deadline, give yourself a day or two (or even just an hour!) away from your essay. Looking it over with fresh eyes will allow you to see errors, both minor and major, that you likely would have missed had you tried to edit when it was still raw. Take a first pass over the entire essay and try your best to ignore any minor spelling or grammar mistakes- youââ¬â¢re just looking at the big picture right now. Does it make sense as a whole? Did the essay succeed in making an argument and backing that argument up logically? (Do you feel persuaded?) If not, go back and make notes so that you can fix it for your final draft. Once youââ¬â¢ve made your revisions to the overall structure, mark all your small errors and grammar problems so you can fix them in the next draft. #7: Final Draft Use the notes you made on the rough draft and go in and hack and smooth away until youââ¬â¢re satisfied with the final result. A checklist for your final draft: Formatting is correct according to your teacherââ¬â¢s standards No errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation Essay is the right length and size for the assignment The argument is present, consistent, and concise Each reason is supported by relevant evidence The essay makes sense overall #8: Celebrate! Once youââ¬â¢ve brought that final draft to a perfect polish and turned in your assignment, youââ¬â¢re done! Go you! Be prepared and â⢠ª you'll never go hungry again â⢠ª, *cough*, or struggle with your argumentative essay-writing again. (Walt Disney Studios) Good Examples of Argumentative Essays Online Theory is all well and good, but examples are key. Just to get you started on what a fully-fleshed out argumentative essay looks like, let's see some examples in action. Check out these two argumentative essay examples on the use of landmines and freons (and note the excellent use of concrete sources to back up their arguments!). The Use of Landmines A Shattered Sky The Take-Aways: Keys to Writing an Argumentative Essay At first, writing an argumentative essay may seem like a monstrous hurdle to overcome, but with the proper preparation and understanding, you'll be able to knock yours out of the park. Remember the differences between a persuasive essay and an argumentative one, make sure your thesis is clear, and double-check that your supporting evidence is both relevant to your point and well-sourced. Pick your topic, do your research, make your outline, and fill in the gaps. Before you know it, you'll have yourself an A+ argumentative essay there, my friend.
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