MEDITERRANEAN VERSUS NORTHERN EUROPEAN PEOPLE Guided comparison and contrast essay

The world is a very diverse place: some areas are more hospitable, others are less so but human kind now lives everywhere with the exception of The Antarctic. The climate and geographical conditions of the places where people choose to live naturally impact their lifestyles, habits and ways of life. Mongolians, for example, live in a land with a very harsh climate where the going is tough; therefore, they are very hardy individuals. Europe is also a large and diverse continent with the extreme south bordering The Mediterranean, and the extreme north bordering the North Sea and reaching into the polar circle. The people who live in these two very different parts of Europe also vary greatly.

 First developmental paragraph: The Mediterranean people

·         Climate: temperate, pleasant , plenty of sunshine

People: Gregarious, easy-going, talkative, loud, friendly, emotional

·         Agriculture: wine, olives and the like

Varied cuisine, derive pleasure from eating/ drinking, socializing over a meal

·         Concluding statement

Second developmental paragraph: Northern European people

·         Climate: harsh, cold, long, dark winters, less sunshine, inhospitable

People: introverted, reserved, less social, more superstitious, persevering, sober, cool, independent and jealous of their liberties (Give reasons)

·         Concluding statement

To sum up, people living in different parts of the world have different temperaments and different life styles due to the type of life they have to lead. Those whose lives are tougher, like Northern Europeans, have had to learn to cope with all that nature throws at them, while those who live in more temperate zones, like The Mediterranean’s, have become more laid back and sociable. One thing that all people share, however, is the values that make us human like kindness and generosity; such values are shared by all of humanity regardless of country.

TYPES OF WAR Guided classification essay

Unfortunately, most of history seems to be comprised of wars of one kind or another. Bloody conflict, during which people take up arms against their own species and try to annihilate them, is unfortunately our method of choice in resolving disputes. The reasons for war may be religious like in the case of The Crusades, political like in the case of the Turkish War of Independence or ethnic and religious like the Yugoslav Conflict. At first glance, it is quite possible to think that war is war and involves people blowing each other away to kingdom come but this is far from being the case: wars may be classified according to method, according to the nature of the participants and according to the form they take.

First developmental paragraph: according to method

·         War (Active conflict)

·         Cold war (Spies )

·         Cyber warfare

Second developmental paragraph: according to the nature of the participants

·         Civil war

·         War

Third developmental paragraph

·         Pitched battles (Armies facing each other on the battle field)

·         War by remote control (modern warfare using technology)

In conclusion, wars may take place in the battle field or on the World Wide Web; may divide a country into warring factions or may cause worldwide conflagration; may involve arms or computers but whatever the case, they cause death and destruction. It is hoped that mankind will discover less violent ways to resolve their disagreements but it is hard to be optimistic given their track record.

AN IDEAL SCHOOL; DEFINITION ESSAY

A good education is a prequisite of getting ahead in the modern world, which makes parents eager to enroll their children in the best educational establishments possible. No stone is left unturned in the search for the school best placed to prepare their kids for life in every sense of the word. This being the case, an ideal school in the modern world needs to excel academically as well as in terms of opportunities for personal growth

First developmental paragraph: the quality of the education provided

·         In terms of teaching staff (well trained, competent)

·         Teaching methods (up to date, modern technology, examples)

·         Syllabus and material

Second developmental paragraph: opportunities for personal growth

·         Team sports and individual sports (the qualities they foster)

·         Active clubs (which clubs, what qualities do they foster)

In conclusion, schools in the modern world are expected to raise young people who have had the opportunity to reach their full potential both academically and personally. They are expected to help young people discover different avenues in life pinpoint what they excel at and what makes them happy. They are also expected furnish young people with the skills that will help them in the modern world. In short, schools are not just about books and teachers.

AN IDEAL HOLIDAY; DEFINITION ESSAY

The popular piece of folk wisdom “All work and no play make Jack a very dull boy” is a very wise piece of advice. Life can be compared to a playground where there is a lot of activity; sometimes people just want to stop playing for a little while and watch from the side lines. A vacation is very much like taking a break from your routine activities to regroup, recuperate or just chill for a while. This being the case, everyone needs a holiday yet people’s expectations of such a break from everyday life can vary: while for some an ideal holiday means an adrenaline rush for others it means peace and quiet.

First developmental paragraph: the adrenaline rush

Who: sports junkies, people who lead sedentary lives through no choice of their own

What kind of holiday: bungee jumping, mountain climbing, trekking, diving, surfing and the like

Purpose: to get their hearts racing

Why: their regular life is routine, dull or dreary

Conclusion: they wish to come alive on holiday

Second developmental paragraph: peace and quiet

Who: anyone who gets seriously tired and works long hours, manual workers, computer techs, businessmen and the like

What kind of holiday: a beach holiday with books and IPods, evening strolls, a comfortable hotel,  and the like

Purpose: to rest physically and mentally

Why: their regular routine is exhausting

Conclusion: they wish to wind down

To sum up, there are all sorts of holiday makers but one thing they have in common is that they all want a change from their daily routines, whatever they are. There is nothing like monotony to destroy the spirit and let’s face it, most of us have dug ourselves into a rut for one reason or another. Denying ourselves the chance of a change would be most unwise on all sorts of levels.

WRITING EXERCISE: WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE SCHOOL UNIFORMS

The following exercise has been designed to help you grasp the basics of essay organization. In each case, the introduction and the conclusion will be provided along with notes for the development. Read the introduction carefully and make sure you understand the reason for the organization of the essay. Then write the development in accordance with the suggestions provided. You may need to do research to expand on the points. A word of warning: this not the only way of organizing this essay but it is one that works.

Uniforms, specialized clothing for various groups of people in life, have been around for hundreds and thousands of years especially in some sectors. Some people wear uniforms for recognition and identification like the army, clerics and the police, some do so for protection like firemen and riot police, others do so for hygiene like doctors and nurses. Yet students in many countries are made to wear uniforms as well and some are at a loss to understand why. Do they have a point or are school uniforms vital? There is a very simple answer to this: school uniforms should be the norm in developing and underdeveloped countries.

First developmental paragraph: Financial arguments

·         Poverty and limited means: one uniform cheaper than lots of regular clothes

·         Equality: the distinctions between more well to do less well-off students blurred

Second developmental paragraph: Practical arguments

·         Identification: young people identified as students

·         Discipline: uniforms, due to their connotations, make keeping order easier

·         Pride: a sense of pride due to being a student at a certain school

Third developmental paragraph: Individuality versus the system

·         Counter argument: uniforms restrict personality development

·         Rebuttal: generations of people have grown up with school uniforms; no data to link lack of individuality to uniforms

In conclusion, uniforms have done hundreds and thousands of people of past generations no discernible harm and in no way prevented them from flourishing. This being the case, burdening overstretched parents with the added expense of a wardrobe for their offspring seems illogical. The alternative a uniform and a spare is both cheaper and more practical. This does not mean to say uniforms can’t be more child-friendly and comfortable. In fact efforts should be made to achieve this to put a stop to the argument for once and for all.

WRITING EXERCISE: THE EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN

The following exercise has been designed to help you grasp the basics of essay organization. In each case, the introduction and the conclusion will be provided along with notes for the development. Read the introduction carefully and make sure you understand the reason for the organization of the essay. Then write the development in accordance with the suggestions provided. You may need to do research to expand on the points. A word of warning: this not the only way of organizing this essay but it is one that works.

Family life is always pictured as a bed of roses with marital bliss and happy well adjusted children leading satisfying and useful lives. The fact that this isn’t always true is no secret; there are rifts, bust ups and sadly violence in many families all over the world for reasons ranging from psychological problems to economic concerns, drink and tradition. The women on the receiving end of the violence are not by any means the only victims though: the children suffer too; both in the short term and the long term as they carry the legacy of their fathers on to future generations.

First developmental paragraph: there are numerous short term impacts of domestic violence on children

·         Physical: broken bones, bruises and similar injuries

·         They witness violence so: fear, lack of confidence, feelings of unworthiness, anger and resentment towards the father, the desire to protect the mother, the desire for revenge, the desire to run away, bedwetting, nightmares, bullying at school, discipline problems.

Second developmental paragraph: there are some unexpected and serious long term effects of domestic violence on children as well

·         The abusive father the role model: the cycle of violence continues; Abuse victims = prospective abusers

·         Problems in relationships: marriage, friendships, the work place, society

·         Crime and violence in life

In conclusion, the damaging physical and psychological impact of being witness to domestic violence affects not only the child but also the adult he grows into and the people he comes into contact with as an adult. The family he forms is likely to suffer in the same way and the psychological scars formed in the victim’s childhood continue to do harm down the generations. The poison is spread in the social circle of the victim and also in society, which means that the state needs to have measures and institutions  such as social services in place to tackle such problems before they get out of hand.

 

WRITING EXERCISE: THE REASONS FOR INCREASING DIVORCE RATES IN THE MODERN WORLD

The following exercise has been designed to help you grasp the basics of essay organization. In each case, the introduction and the conclusion will be provided along with notes for the development. Read the introduction carefully and make sure you understand the reason for the organization of the essay. Then write the development in accordance with the suggestions provided. You may need to do research to expand on the points. A word of warning: this not the only way of organizing this essay but it is one that works.

The family has always been considered the basic unit of societies and as such been protected and preserved. All traditions and religions have always upheld the family as sacred and divorce, the breaking of the bond connecting the spouses was considered a most definite no- no and frowned on. But as Heraclitus so aptly put it, there is nothing permanent except for change and this applies to divorce as well with the breaking up of the once hallowed institution becoming ever more common. There are various reasons for increasing divorce rates in the modern world.

First developmental paragraph: Changing conditions and perceptions

·         The increasing emphasis on the individual regardless of gender in the modern world

·         The growing awareness and concern for women’s rights

·         Access to higher education for women

·         Women participating actively in social and business life

·         Women gaining economic independence

Second developmental paragraph: Changing personal choices

·         The unwillingness to continue a bad marriage and condemn oneself to a life time of misery

·         The knowledge that each individual can stand on his/her own feet

·         The observation of successful single parent households

In conclusion, although it is true that divorce rates have increased in the modern world, this measure should still be considered a last resort after all other options have been exhausted. Naturally abusive relationships and similar impossible situations should not be allowed to continue but counseling should be widely available for couples going through a rocky patch to discourage them from taking the easy way out. In short, divorce is not evil or a sin but it should most definitely be a last resort.

WRITING EXERCISE: THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF BEING AN ONLY CHILD

 The following exercise has been designed to help you grasp the basics of essay organization. In each case, the introduction and the conclusion will be provided along with notes for the development. Read the introduction carefully and make sure you understand the reason for the organization of the essay. Then write the development in accordance with the suggestions provided. You may need to do research to expand on the points. A word of warning: this not the only way of organizing this essay but it is one that works.

In the past, due to lack of birth control, the existence of large rural communities where manpower was an advantage and custom, large families with a dozen or so children were quite common. Infant mortality was high and some would pass away but others survived to till fields and plough the land. In the modern world, over population, the widely publicized disadvantages of a large young population, changing life styles and the existence birth control have shrunk families with only children becoming ever more common. In China, it is forbidden by law to have more than one child. Although this is the current trend, it doesn’t mean being an only child has only advantages; there are disadvantages as well.

First developmental paragraph: advantages

·         Material benefits ( good schools, more possessions, holidays, opportunities to study abroad, being the parents only heir and the like)

·         The focus of parents love and attention

Second developmental paragraph: disadvantages

·         The need to carry parents responsibility alone in old age

·         No uncles, aunts, cousins and the like

Note to the student: not learning to share and being spoilt have not been included for the reason that most modern kids go to kindergarten very early on and siblings are replaced by peers.

In conclusion, smaller families with only children are becoming more and more common in the modern world as people marry later after completing their higher education and gaining the wherewithal to make a home.  Once married, couples both continue with their active careers making large families impractical.  Whether for good or bad, extended families have now been replaced by friends and a social circle though many will often think back on the good old days of larger families.

WRITING EXERCISE:THE REASONS FOR THE USE OF COSMETICS AND OTHER BODY PAINT

The following exercise has been designed to help you grasp the basics of essay organization. In each case, the introduction and the conclusion will be provided along with notes for the development. Read the introduction carefully and make sure you understand the reason for the organization of the essay. Then write the development in accordance with the suggestions provided. You may need to do research to expand on the points. A word of warning: this not the only way of organizing this essay but it is one that works.

The adornment of primarily the face but also the rest of the body with paint of one sort or another is, contrary to opinion, a very old tradition. While indigenous tribes will resort to natural products available in nature for the purpose, 16^th and 17^th century Europeans used lead based paints on their faces, which were highly toxic. Body paint or facial paint is still very widely used in many areas of public life sometimes for ceremonial purposes, sometimes during war, but sometimes for health and beauty.

First developmental paragraph: ceremonial purposes

·         Religious ceremonies: Eastern religions, African and Aboriginal religions, Indian rituals and by shamans

·         In coming of age and sports ceremonies in Africa, East Asia and among indigenous peoples

·         The theater, the movie industry and regularly on television

Second developmental paragraph: during war

·         By indigenous tribes all over the globe to elicit fear ( Indians, South American Indians, The Maori, The Zulu and the like)

·         By commandos for camouflage

Third developmental paragraph: health and beauty

·         To delay aging ( a lot of modern day creams)

·         To enhance beauty in accordance with the norms of society and conceal blemishes ( specific types of makeup were the custom in different societies during different periods; Black eyeliner in ancient Egypt and the Middle East, moles or patches in 18^th century Europe, the makeup of geishas and the like)

·         For health reasons (creams, foundations and the like)

In conclusion, as can be seen it would be very simplistic to label all body and facial paint as women’s business and completely frivolous. Facial adornment has had, and still has, an important place in the social lives of communities and being major components of rituals, help bring society together as a more cohesive whole. As such, the use of cosmetics will continue in private and public life.