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.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES ESSAY: DATA MINING

Data mining is a powerful, and according to some, a wonderful new technology that enables corporate businesses to trawl through the enormous amounts of data they harvest off the internet to weed out what is essential to their particular business. From the business perspective, this sounds completely innocuous yet is this in fact the case? Do your research and find out; then write an essay discussing the pros and cons of this now well established practice the extent of which you were perhaps unaware of.
Refer to my second blog, The Essay Archive, for sample essays: https://theessayarchive.blogspot.com.tr/  

Reading material to annotate

1.       “Data Mining” by Doug Alexander http://www.laits.utexas.edu/~anorman/BUS.FOR/course.mat/Alex/

2.       “Data Mining: What is Data Mining?” http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/faculty/jason.frand/teacher/technologies/palace/datamining.htm

3.       “The Danger to Privacy isn’t Corporate Data Mining or Governmental – It’s Both Combined” http://falkvinge.net/2012/10/11/the-danger-isnt-corporate-data-mining-or-governmental-surveillance-its-both-combined/#

4.       “The Real Danger of Data Mining”  http://voices.yahoo.com/the-real-danger-data-mining-426467.html

5.       “Big Data Mining, Fairness and Privacy” http://www.privacyobservatory.org/issues/14-issue-1/40-big-data-mining-fairness-and-privacy

Videos to watch and take notes on

1.       “What is Data Mining?” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcud5Pn9PdU

2.       “Data Mining” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPtvFO0dfAQ

CAUSE EFFECT ESSAY: THE MENTALITY OF MOBS AND OTHER UNRULY CROWDS

People are known to do things in a mob that they would never dream of doing on their own and would probably feel awful about afterwards. A typical example is a lynch mob named after the first man to fire up such a mob to carry out a public execution.  What motivates mobs to act as they do? Are mobs dangerous or not? Do they serve a purpose or do they disrupt daily life and cause social upheaval? Do your research and write about the causes of this phenomenon.  In your conclusion you may suggest some solutions and ways to address the issue.

Refer to my second blog, The Essay Archive, for sample essays: https://theessayarchive.blogspot.com.tr/  

Pictures to view

1. http://www.google.com.tr/search?q=Mob+Mentality&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=C3_SUdDoJujl4QTpzICADw&ved=0CGYQsAQ&biw=1440&bih=762

Reading material to annotate

1. What is mob mentality? http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-mob-mentality.htm
2. Examining the mob mentality http://source.southuniversity.edu/examining-the-mob-mentality-31395.aspx
3. How riots work http://people.howstuffworks.com/riot3.htm
4. Mob mentality can take over protests or even clearance sales http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=205860

Videos to watch and make notes on

1. Dealing with flashmobs http://www.policeone.com/Crowd-Control/videos/6198122-Dealing-with-Flash-Mobs/

CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY: 'EUROPE'S LOST GENERATION' YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

Youth unemployment has reached an all time high in Europe with millions without work and no solution in the offing. Write an essay discussing the causes and effects of youth unemployment. In your conclusion, suggest a few solutions.

Refer to my second blog, The Essay Archive, for sample essays: https://theessayarchive.blogspot.com.tr/  

Reading material to annotate

1.       Youth unemployment: Europe’s lost generation http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/2804/youth-unemployment-europes-lost-generation

2.       Jobless youth: Europe’s hollow efforts to save a lost generation http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/europe-failing-to-combat-youth-unemployment-a-900621.html

3.       Lost generation fears for Europe’s youth as unemployment soars across the eurozone and leaves more than 19 million without jobs http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2302837/Lost-generation-fears-Europes-youth-unemployment-soars-eurozone-leaves-19million-jobs.html

4.       Europe’s lost generation http://www.thefinancialist.com/europes-lost-generation/

Listening material to make notes on

1.       Global youth unemployment: the lost generation

http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2013/05/global-youth-unemployment

2.       A lost generation: Europe’s youth and their future http://www.france24.com/en/20130126-special-debate-europe-youth-lost-generation-part-one (There are other related videos on this sight you can watch too)

3.       Europe’s politicians tackle unemployment http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/29/business/europe-youth-unemployment-dos-santos/index.html?iref=allsearch

4.       Europe’s youth brain drain worries http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/business/2013/06/28/intv-santos-eu-employment-andor.cnn.html

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY: CONSCRIPTION, MILITARY RECRUITMENT OR THE DRAFT

Compulsory military service is very common in certain parts of the world while others have professional armies or a combination of both. What are your views on conscription in terms of your own country? Is it a worthwhile policy or not? Do your research and write an argumentative essay. This writing task is dedicated to all those students who have been coming in to see me having written about this topic without doing any researchJ

Chart to view

1. Military conscription policy by country http://chartsbin.com/view/1887

Reading material to annotate

1.       What are the arguments for and against conscription? http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_arguments_for_and_against_conscription

2.       Anti conscription arguments http://www.veteranstoday.com/2009/12/20/anti-conscription-arguments/

3.       Military conscription, recruitment and the draft  http://uspolitics.about.com/od/electionissues/a/draft_4.htm

Listening material to make notes on

1.       Why I chose a gun http://www.ted.com/talks/peter_van_uhm_why_i_chose_a_gun.html

2.       The draft dilemma – Europe http://watchdocumentary.org/watch/the-draft-dilemma-europe-video_7759f0d1f.html

Refer to my second blog, The Essay Archive, for sample essays: https://theessayarchive.blogspot.com.tr/