Thursday, December 17, 2009

Chapter 25 Taking Essay Tests

Taking Essay Tests
Chapter 25


This chapter will help you write better essay answers. Also, it will show a variety of other helpful ways to improve your test taking skills.
Essay or subjective exams may include either short answer questions or long general questions. These exams have no one specific answer per student. They are usually scored on an opinion basis, although there will be certain facts and understanding expected in the answer. The main reason students fail essay tests is not because they cannot write, but because they fail to answer the questions fully and specifically, and because their answer is not well organized.
Essay exams require recall learning. Carefully figure out the major content areas to learn. If you are not caught up, this is not a time to read everything in a frantic manner. Focus on the key source for the test: notes or textbook, or whatever you think will be most heavily covered on the test. It's better to understand and know a few things very well than to have a large quantity of unorganized, poorly learned material

Persuasive Paper:

Why Marijuana Should be Legalized


If Marijuana were to be a legal drug it would be a major influential force in our country today. The problem has gotten so out of hand that many options are being considered to control it or even solve it. Ending the drug war seems to be a bit impossible. The war on drugs seems to be accomplishing a lot but this is not true. Different options need to be considered. Legalization is an option that hasn't gotten a chance but should be given one. Although many people feel that legalizing marijuana would increase the amount of use, marijuana should be legalized because it will reduce the great amounts of money spent on enforcement and it will increase our country’s revenue. There are also many benefits that can be uncovered to help people if legalization of marijuana is given a chance. Marijuana should be taxed heavily to increase our revenue. Marijuana and other drugs would be made by the same people who make aspirin so the quality would be assured, containing no poisons or adulterants. These could be taxed heavily because the users will be assured of "clean drugs." And again, making drugs legal will reduce the great amounts of money spent on enforcement every year. Drug dealers and users are one step ahead on the enforcement process. If one drug lord is caught, another one will show up somewhere else. We cannot win. A high percent of the people in federal prison are drug law violators. Too much money is wasted on a cause that seems to have no end. All of this money could be used on better things, such as education and homelessness. By lifting the ban on marijuana use and treating it like other drugs such as tobacco and alcohol, the nation would gain immediate and long-term benefits. This change in the law would greatly improve the quality of life for many people. Victims of glaucoma and those needing antinausea treatment, would find marijuana very helpful and easily available. Also, the cloud of suspicion would disappear, and doctors could get on with investigating marijuana’s medical uses without fear of controversy. It might become possible to discuss the dangers of marijuana use without getting caught up in a policy debate.. Meanwhile, the black market would disappear overnight. Some arrangement would be made to license the production of marijuana cigarettes. Thousands of dealers would be put out of business, and a secret part of the economy would come into the open. It is difficult to say whether this change would reduce crime because criminals would probably continue to sell other drugs, but it would have an impact on the amount of money flowing through criminal channels, and this might weaken organized crime. The legalization of marijuana would benefit the federal budget in two ways, the federal revenues would increase because marijuana cigarettes would be taxed at the point of sale. In return, the companies that make the cigarettes would also pay income taxes Second, there would be a reduction on the amount spent on law enforcement efforts to apprehend and prosecute users and sellers of marijuana. The drug enforcement authorities might reduce their budget requests, or, more likely, focus more intensely on hard drugs and violent crimes. The courts would be relieved of hearing some drug cases, as well. The most important gain would be in the quality of government. The sorts of temptations and opportunities that lead to corruption would be significantly minimized. The illogical pattern of law enforcement which now treats marijuana as more dangerous as alcohol, would end. It would set more achievable goals for law enforcement, and this would lend strength and credibility to the government. I believe that it is possible to stop most drug addiction in the United States within a very short time, Simply by making them available.

Persuasive Paper:

Why Marijuana Should be Legalized


If Marijuana were to be a legal drug it would be a major influential force in our country today. The problem has gotten so out of hand that many options are being considered to control it or even solve it. Ending the drug war seems to be a bit impossible. The war on drugs seems to be accomplishing a lot but this is not true. Different options need to be considered. Legalization is an option that hasn't gotten a chance but should be given one. Although many people feel that legalizing marijuana would increase the amount of use, marijuana should be legalized because it will reduce the great amounts of money spent on enforcement and it will increase our country’s revenue. There are also many benefits that can be uncovered to help people if legalization of marijuana is given a chance. Marijuana should be taxed heavily to increase our revenue. Marijuana and other drugs would be made by the same people who make aspirin so the quality would be assured, containing no poisons or adulterants. These could be taxed heavily because the users will be assured of "clean drugs." And again, making drugs legal will reduce the great amounts of money spent on enforcement every year. Drug dealers and users are one step ahead on the enforcement process. If one drug lord is caught, another one will show up somewhere else. We cannot win. A high percent of the people in federal prison are drug law violators. Too much money is wasted on a cause that seems to have no end. All of this money could be used on better things, such as education and homelessness. By lifting the ban on marijuana use and treating it like other drugs such as tobacco and alcohol, the nation would gain immediate and long-term benefits. This change in the law would greatly improve the quality of life for many people. Victims of glaucoma and those needing antinausea treatment, would find marijuana very helpful and easily available. Also, the cloud of suspicion would disappear, and doctors could get on with investigating marijuana’s medical uses without fear of controversy. It might become possible to discuss the dangers of marijuana use without getting caught up in a policy debate.. Meanwhile, the black market would disappear overnight. Some arrangement would be made to license the production of marijuana cigarettes. Thousands of dealers would be put out of business, and a secret part of the economy would come into the open. It is difficult to say whether this change would reduce crime because criminals would probably continue to sell other drugs, but it would have an impact on the amount of money flowing through criminal channels, and this might weaken organized crime. The legalization of marijuana would benefit the federal budget in two ways, the federal revenues would increase because marijuana cigarettes would be taxed at the point of sale. In return, the companies that make the cigarettes would also pay income taxes Second, there would be a reduction on the amount spent on law enforcement efforts to apprehend and prosecute users and sellers of marijuana. The drug enforcement authorities might reduce their budget requests, or, more likely, focus more intensely on hard drugs and violent crimes. The courts would be relieved of hearing some drug cases, as well. The most important gain would be in the quality of government. The sorts of temptations and opportunities that lead to corruption would be significantly minimized. The illogical pattern of law enforcement which now treats marijuana as more dangerous as alcohol, would end. It would set more achievable goals for law enforcement, and this would lend strength and credibility to the government. I believe that it is possible to stop most drug addiction in the United States within a very short time, Simply by making them available.

Cause and Effect paper

Abortion: Cause and Effect
By Gina Taylor

To have abortion or not is a very difficult choice to make. The final choice comes from religious and ethical beliefs. However, to have an abortion means to participate in a horrendous crime against humanity, God, and oneself. Abortion can also have deleterious effects on the mother’s health and well being. Many of the couples, mainly the mothers, that have an abortion tend to go into a state of depression known as Post-abortion syndrome. Negative effects on the mother’s body can also stem from using abortion methods, such as the use of RU 486, a controversial abortion pill; increased risk of breast cancer is another effect of abortions. Other side effects of abortion, from emotional scars to a detachment from God and religion can also result. The choice to have an abortion is not only immoral and murder, but it can lead to negative effects on the mothers psychological, physical, and spiritual well being. The health of the mother, should be the main concern governing an abortion. Many of the pregnant women that have an abortion, tend to regret their decision later on; this regret and state of desolation, as well as depression is known as Post-abortion Syndrome. The Post-Abortion Syndrome, is better classified as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The symptoms of this syndrome can be characterized as depression, substance abuse, sleep disorders and suicidal thoughts. Many of the symptoms usually arise after the abortion has been performed. Many of these symptoms, such as suicide can be a threat to the mother’s health. If the mother decides to commit suicide then that would defeat the whole idea of having an abortion in order to save the mother’s life. Many of the pregnant women that have an abortion justify the action upon unwanted conditions, such rape or congenital defects. In cases pertaining to rape, the pregnant women justify having an abortion as a means to erase the tragic events from consciousness. However, by having an abortion she is giving up the most important tool to help her in the recovery process. The unborn child can evoke a sense of loneliness in the mother after the abortion.

But if one sees the constitutional infringement to women by the restriction of abortion, the torment to the unwanted child and the anguish society has to sustain, then this topic would not be so debatable. Too many people do not see the cause and effect of not being able to have abortions. All human beings are given some inalienable right guaranteed by the constitution. One of those privileges is the right to pursue happiness. A baby can sometimes disrupt a woman's pursuit of happiness. Even if she decides to give it up for adoption, she still has the burden of carrying the fetus for nine months. Having the option to perform an abortion can solve that obstacle. Taking away this right would be invading on a woman's constitutional liberty. The unwanted child also suffers. Most of the time the mother of the unwanted child is very young and inexperienced or too poor to take care of the child. The child is usually malnourished, has no medical care, and gets very little attention or love. The foster care system isn't any better. Only a small percentage of the children are adopted by suitable parents. But the rest remain in the foster care system, where there is little or no personal care. In both cases, the child has a poor education because of the lack of attention and discipline. He/she grows up to be unproductive individuals or a menace to society. Many get involved in drugs and crimes. These individuals also tend to be violent, lacking morality due to the small amount of care they received themselves. In the long run, not only does the child suffer but also society, who has to tolerate his violent behavior and crimes. An abortion can be seen as putting the child out of misery while he/she doesn't have the ability to reason or fear. In short, abortion allows a woman to retain her constitutional rights.

Chapter 14 Classification

Classification
Chapter 14

In a classification essay, a writer organizes, or sorts, things into categories.
Sort things into useful categories : Be thorough don't leave out a critical category. For example, if you say water sports of Hawaii include snorkeling and sailing, but leave out surfing, your essay would be incomplete because surfing is Hawaii's most famous water sport. On the other hand, don't include too many categories, which will blur your classification. For example, if your topic is sports shoes, and your organizing principle is activity, you wouldn't include high heels with running and bowling shoes.
-Make sure all the categories follow a single organizing principle. Once you have categories, make sure that they fit into the same organizing principle. The organizing principle is how you sort the groups. Do not allow a different principle to pop up unexpectedly. For example, if your unifying principle is "tourist-oriented" water sports, don't use another unifying principle, such as "native water sports," which would have different categories: pearl diving, outrigger, or canoe racing.
-Give examples that fit into each category. In general, you should write the same quantity, give the same number of examples, for each category. The most important category, usually reserved for last, might require more elaboration.
These are the steps in writing a classification essay. To classify, or sort, things in a logical way, find the categories to put them into. For example, say you need to sort the stack of papers on your desk. Before you would put them in random piles, you would decide what useful categories might be: papers that can be thrown away; papers that need immediate action; papers to read; papers to pass on to other coworkers; or papers to file.

Chapter 13 Compare and Contrast

Comparison and Contrast
Chapter 13

In this chapter, four writers use compare and contrast organization. Comparing and Contrasting is a writing and thinking strategy. Compare and contrast essays are the other big essay types in academic writing. These essays will follow a specific question and are fairly easy to complete. There are several ways to write this type of essay. The most important thing to remember is structure. Many wonderful essays fall victim to the woes of bad structure, making any ingenuity to fall by the wayside.

You probably use comparison all the time. Maybe you want to buy some candy, so you go to the store and look at all of the candy that is available
You can't buy all the candy, so you have to narrow down your choices you compare and contrast the different kinds of candy so that you can make your decision.

In comparison and contrast, transition words tell a reader that the writer is changing from talking about one item to the other.

Transitional words and phrases help make a paper smoother and more coherent by showing the reader the connections between the ideas that are being presented.

Chapter 12 Cause and Effect

Cause and Effect
Chapter 12

Chapter 12 describes the steps taken to write a cause and Effect paper. Before you begin writing or even researching, make a list of all the causes of this event you already know about. Ask questions like these: Why did this happen? What preconditions existed? Were the results foreseen? Could they have been foreseen? Then do some preliminary research, using what you already know to guide the direction of your reading. Change or add to your original list of causes to reflect new information gathered from your research. Done in depth, this kind of analysis is likely to uncover an almost unlimited chain of linked causes, far more than you can effectively address in one paper. Identify one to three of them as more important (or interesting, or overlooked) than the others. Then, acknowledging that multiple causes exist, limit your discussion to those most important.
The following example names the cause first, followed by the effect:
Because the technology program received independent funding from grants and federal Title I funds, it was relatively untouched by the school district's own budget cuts.

Chapter 11 Description and Reflection

Description and Reflection
Chapter 11

Writing a descriptive essay requires a strong accent on the observation and the descriptions provided by the author. The facts in this type of essay can be just the background of the vivid experiences presented by the writer. It is crucial to focus strictly on the subject of description. It can be: A certain experience, a special memory, an interesting place, one person, a thing/object.
The identification of the focus of a descriptive essay should be based on the personally perceived experiences. The author basically describes what he observes and perceives. The main message is the reason the author wants to share this experience with the reader. A descriptive essay is to make the reader believe as if he has seen and experienced something on his own.
A standard descriptive essays outline is concentrated on the senses and based on the delivery of the author’s experience through the following means: taste, smell, sight, sound and touch.

Chapter 9 Forms of College Writing

Forms of College Writing
Chapter 9


Chapter 9 describes the three divisions into which most college curricula are divided, and the academic departments that constitute each division. The chapter then presents more specific information about academic departments, including the topics students study, the forms of writing teachers assign, and the traits of those forms. The three curricular divisions are Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural and Applied Sciences, these groups are then subdivided into specific departments, such as biology, chemistry, and physics.

Chapter 8 The Writers Process

The Writer’s Process
Chapter 8

This chapter describes how student Writer Angela Franco followed the writing process outlined in chapters 2-7. First, she thinks through the assignment’s purpose, audience, form, and assessment method, next she reviewed her assignment and narrowed its focus by clustering and free writing. With a focus selected, Angel selected the best organizational pattern for her writing. After finishing the first draft, Angela was ready to revise.
The next step would be to make a second revision followed by proofreading and formatting her essay.

Chapter 7 Submitting Writting and creating portfolios

Submitting Writing and Creating Portfolios

Chapter 7

This chapter will help in preparing to write for any audience or publication. Submitting a final paper is the key to writing, you must first, consider your potential audience, Share your writing with peers or family members, and then select the appropriate submission method such as, paper submission or electronic submission.

Creating a work portfolio is one of the most important things you as a working professional can do. There are two basic types of writing portfolios: the first is a working portfolio in which you store documents at various stages of development, and the second is a showcase portfolio with which you share appropriate finished work.

chapter 6 editing and proofreading

Editing and Proofreading Strategies

Chapter 6

Editing and proofreading are writing processes different from revising. Editing can involve extensive rewriting of sentences, but it usually focuses on sentences or even smaller elements of the text. Proofreading is the very last step writers go through to be sure that the text is presentable. Proofreading generally involves only minor changes in spelling and punctuation.
Editing consists of all of the following,
Always think about your target audience, start with sentences, consider words, check grammatical details, punctuation and spelling.
Proofreading is the very last step in preparing a final draft. You should first
start with problem areas, read from the end to the beginning and check for typos. Sometimes it takes two or more additional "passes" through a paper to be sure you've found all the remaining typographical errors, misplaced pieces of punctuation, or inaccurate words.