What Happens During The Sleep Cycle - 1463 Words

Kaylee Hanke Explanatory/ Exploratory Essay Final 11/16/15 What Happens During the Sleep Cycle? Have you ever wondered what is happening while a person is sleeping? â€Å"Sleep is the word we use to define both a biological state and a behavioral state in which we are quiet and relatively unresponsive to external stimuli† (Larson 1990). Measured when sleeping, brain waves have been identified into several distinct stages. Everyone experiences four stages of the sleep cycle, including REM (Larson 1990). This topic really interested me because it is something that every human goes through and it cannot be eliminated from a person’s life. This topic really catches my attention because everyone can experience the effects of sleep deprivation and it does not just occur in one specific person. This topic is significant to me because my grandfather has narcolepsy, a sleep disorder. As I began my research, I wanted to discover more information about a person’s sleep cycle stages. I started with a general search on the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire’s library page. The general search engine referred me to a book titled, â€Å"Mayo Clinic Family Health Book.† The reliability is shown within the title itself. Mayo Clinic is a reliable source because it is one of the largest corporations that distribute the knowledge of many different doctors. The purpose of this nonprofit organization is to use its information to address and inform average individuals about medical care andShow MoreRelatedRem Sleep : Types And Stages Of Sleep1494 Words   |  6 Pageshow vital of a role REM sleep has on our everyday life. Almost everyone has remembered when they had had an extremely vivid dream. Well that is because they were in a stage in their sleep called REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. REM sleep is a part in the sleep cycle where your eyes move back and forth and is also the part of the sleep cycle where you dream the most. Our bodies need REM sleep in order to maintain proper function and health. In fact, we are programmed to sleep each night as a means ofRead MoreRem Sleep : Types And Stages Of Sleep1496 Words   |  6 PagesREM Sleep Most people do not realise how vital of a role REM sleep has on our everyday life. Almost everyone has remembered when they had had an extremely vivid dream. Well that is because they were in a stage in their sleep called REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. REM sleep is a part in the sleep cycle where your eyes move back and forth and is also the part of the sleep cycle where you dream the most. Our bodies need REM sleep in order to maintain proper function and health. In fact, we are programmedRead MoreFor My Topic I Want To Be Addressing Sleep. I Chose This1740 Words   |  7 Pagesto be addressing sleep. I chose this topic because I love to sleep and I think it is interesting to find out more about why we need sleep and other things about this topic. Everyone experiences sleep so this topic can relate to everyone. It is interesting to see why the body needs sleep and what happens to it when there is a lack of it. I’ve watched many sciences shows about sleep and I have always found it an interesting topic. Until the 1950s, a great many people considered slee p a passive, inactiveRead MoreSleep is Part of Life1014 Words   |  4 PagesZZZ Sleep is something we all have in common, and perhaps also something that we know the least about. We have a vague idea about what sleep is: its what we do when were not awake. In a way sleep is one of lifes biggest mysteries, even though we spend about a third of our lives doing it! Sleep affects our daily life. Students who are sleep-deprived are very likely to have problems in school. A child might fall asleep in class or have attention and/or concentration issues. He or she might be crankyRead MoreWhat is Biological Rhythm? Essay1477 Words   |  6 PagesDiscussion What is Biological Rhythm? Biological Rhythm is periodic biological fluctuation in an organism that corresponds to, and is in response to, periodic environmental change (The Editors of Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, 2014). An example could be of the relative position of the Earth to the Sun and to the Moon with the effects of the changes like day changing to night. There are daily rhythms to many of our physiological functions and activities....our sleep, body temperature, alertness, neurotransmitterRead MoreSleep Is A Periods Of Reduced Activity948 Words   |  4 Pagesasleep! So exactly what is sleep? Sleep is a period of reduced activity. During sleep the body changes internally and externally. It rejuvenates and restores the body, and it follows a predictable pattern consisting of infiltrating Non-REM and REM sleep. Review of Research: Sleep is usually a time where the body is at a lying down position with the eyes shut. The outcome of sleeping is when the body’s receptivity to external stimuli is diminished (The Characteristics of Sleep, n.d.). Generally peopleRead MoreSleep Patterns Of Each Organism924 Words   |  4 PagesOrganisms, whether they happen to be nocturnal or diurnal always have a sort of involuntary or in the words or Ivan Pavlov, ‘unconditioned reflex responses’ that they use to determine when to sleep and wake. Biologists universally believe that organisms have a type of biological clock controlling their various cycles for daily activities. According to the American Heritage’s Dictionary of Student Science, 2014, the daily biological activities are referred to as circadian rhythms and are influencedRead MoreSleep, Sleep Disorders, and Biological Rhythms by Charles J Amlaner1247 Words   |  5 Pagesof eight hours of sleep a night. Some people get more, and so me people get along well with less, but everyone needs to get enough sleep or else they cannot function effectively in their everyday activities. In their work, Your Guide to a Healthy Sleep, National Institutes of Health pointed out that sleep is very important to human existence, so important that one-third of a person’s life is spent doing it (1). In Sleep, Sleep Disorders, and Biological Rhythms, Amlaner said, â€Å"Sleep is a required activityRead MoreThe Theory, The Energy Conservation Theory1419 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction: what is sleep: Sleeping is something that most creatures of the animal kingdom have in common. A period of time where the body seemingly ceases to function. The average human is supposed to sleep 7-8 hours a day, and although this varies from species to species, the core function stays the same.The dictionary definition of sleep is â€Å"the natural state of rest during which your eyes are closed and you become unconscious†.(Sleep, n.d.) Although it seems like nothing is happening whenRead MoreThe Beauty of Sleep Essay1092 Words   |  5 PagesSleep has two basic stages. There is non-REM, and REM sleep: Non-REM stands for non-rapid eye movement. NREM sleep has four stages. Each stage can last from five minutes to fifteen minutes. Stage one consists of alpha waves. Alpha waves are the normal electrical activity when the brain is unconscious or relaxed. In stage one, a person can be woken easily, and if they do get woken up, it would make the person feel as if they hadn’t slept. Also in this stage, you often get a falling sensation and

A Scientific Discussion About Diet And Exercise For Health...

Hello Ms. Zimmerman and agents of the Zimmerman Agency, I would like to introduce myself, I am James Clark. I came across your contact information through your website as an agent that might be able to assist me with getting a completed manuscript published. The working title of this book is A scientific discussion about diet and exercise for health and weight loss. What we know†¦ what we think we know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This manuscript was previously examined by Pegasus Publishing, unfortunately, it did not move forward following a full review of the text. The reason provided, as explained to me was budgetary reasons. Upon following up with the submission editor, it was suggested that I reach out to literary agencies, as I was informed that they enjoyed the book and were consolatory in their inability to move forward with this project. Therefore, I am reaching out to you. The idea for this book is to produce a synopsis of what is understood in regard to the effects that diet and exercise has on overall improvements in health for peop le who are overweight or obese. Unlike 99.9% of all books on this topic, it is not a selective review of the information to forward a dogmatic agenda, or intended to be a marketing pitch for any particular program. The focus of within each section of the book is to present the science of the issues of being overweight and the methods utilized to lose weight based on what we know (have proof) works across the population, as opposed to the format that manyShow MoreRelatedThe Negative Effects Of The Perfect Body And Obesity1026 Words   |  5 Pagesthe trend. The rest of the people who enter these diet regimens will stop due to the lack of time and motivation for them to keep up with others. Unfortunately, these shortcuts to a thin body for beauty and overall health can lead to extremes such as liposuction and multiple eating disorders. Corporations have taken advantage of the idea of fat being similar to that of an unattractive and undesirable body and use the negative effects on health to help further their marketing for their productsRead MoreHistory Of Medicine And Public Health Essay1548 Words   |  7 Pagesbachelor degrees in sociology and anthropology at the Australian National University, as well as a Masters in Public Health and a doctorate from the University of Sydney. She has written 14 books and 130 academic journals on the topics of medicine and public health from a sociological perspective. She is currently researching topics such as sociology in a digital culture and digital health analysis (Lupton, 2012). II. Research Questions †¢ â€Å"What does it feel like to be a fat person in a cultural contextRead MoreThe High Protein Diet Controversy Essay example2620 Words   |  11 PagesThe High Protein Diet Controversy The traditional dietary guidelines most of us were taught in school are now being challenged as a result of a new diet. Remember when your teacher told you that all you needed to do to eat healthy you just needed to consume a lot of pastas and breads and eat meats and fats sparingly. Times have changed. In todays fast paced world of dot coms and international space stations, everyone is looking for something new. Its in with the new and out with the oldRead MoreData commentary on obesity2500 Words   |  10 PagesAfter reading and evaluating six articles written by experts on obesity, the data seems to imply that better educating people about how their behavioral lifestyle choices effect their future and current health is the best solution. The six journal articles evaluated and analyzed include: David Freedman’s article, â€Å"How to Fix the Obesity Epidemic,† published in Scientific American in 2011. Green Gregory’s article, â€Å"Physical Activity and Chi ldhood Obesity: Strategies and Solutions for Schools and ParentsRead MoreThe Problem of Obesity3993 Words   |  16 PagesProblem of Obesity Obesity is a major problem in American. Year after year, new diets are published, and new medications are hailed as wonder drugs that will take weight off with little physical effort, yet the problem still exists unabated. In testimony before the US Congress, Berzins (2001) asserted that, â€Å"[weight] is a complex result of heredity, culture and lifestyle.† According to Rosin (2004), â€Å"About one-third of the U.S. population is 20 percent or more overweight and is therefore atRead MoreKetogenic Diet3772 Words   |  16 PagesKetogenic diet does not affect strength performance in elite artistic gymnasts Antonio Paoli1,2*, Keith Grimaldi3, Dominic D’Agostino4, Lorenzo Cenci5, Tatiana Moro1, Antonino Bianco6 and Antonio Palma6 Abstract Background: Despite the increasing use of very low carbohydrate ketogenic diets (VLCKD) in weight control and management of the metabolic syndrome there is a paucity of research about effects of VLCKD on sport performance. Ketogenic diets may be useful in sports that include weight classRead MoreObesity : A Growing Problem4014 Words   |  17 Pagesproblem that needs to be addressed because health care professionals have observed obesity-related health risks like early onset of Type 2 diabetes, respiratory problems, cancer, depression, and cardiovascular disease and the longer someone is obese, the more serious these factors become. The USPIRC article mentions that 85% percent of people with diabetes have type 2 and 90% of those people are obese or overweight (â€Å"Stop Subsidizing Obesity†). Additional health risks include infertility, skin problemsRead MoreDiabetes : The Leading Chronic Disease3040 Words   |  13 Pagesdiabetes worldwide. It is projected that by 2035, this number will rise to 592 million (Atlas, 2013). In 2012, a total of 29.1 million people or 9.3% of the United States population have diabetes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). That’s about 1 out of every 11 people. According to 2010 statistics, diabetes is the seventh leading causes of death in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). The estimated diabetes costs in the United States for 2012 was $245 billionRead MoreTaking a Look at Maternal Obesity2007 Words   |  8 PagesThe references used are located in the last part of this essay. The literature search was conducted using the keywords and terms maternal obesity, overweight, pregnancy obesity complications, pregnancy risks for obesity, weight gain in pregnancy and prevalence of maternal obesity in Australia. Articles, researches and journals published within the last five years were chosen to gather the most recent peer-reviewed and evidence-based information. The databases that were used include CinahlFT andRead MoreJean Watsons Theory Of Human Caring: Applying It To My Own Practice2314 Words   |  9 Pagesseldom took care of herself. She was overweight, pre-diabetic, and had hypertension. By giving her permission to care about herself and enabling the two of us to explore ways for Ms. X to put caring for herself into action and improve her health and reach her life goals, I believe we had a caring moment that resulted in a breakthrough in the patients ability to reach her health goals. Another valuable component of Watsons theory is that Watson is one of the few nursing theorists who consider

Major Legislations Law in Australia

Question: Describe about the Major Legislations Law in Australia. Answer: Topic 3 Australian Trust Law The major legislations in Australia have been found to be inspired by many laws which have been made and speculated by the English people, yet the Australian laws have still found a ways to be not only effected but also majorly monopolized by indigenous Australian laws which are often of small scale but tend to convert their parent laws. The Trust law found in Australia has been a key example of this scenario, whereas it was predominately found to have much resemblance in structure with the English counterpart, it has been uniquely formulated over the years by keeping in mind the family and tax laws in the country. This law has two different constituents which is crucial to understand in order to place a critical analysis of the commercial side of this law. Explanation of the general trust law The general law which has been applicable in the country explains two very different entities involved in this scenario, the trustee and the beneficiary. The trustee as defined by the law is a person of interest which is defined as legal interests in a property which has been marked as a trust property by the estate. The beneficiary in this law sense is a person who has interest in the property which is defined as an interest of equity. The law simply commences as that if any person has an interest which is both equity and remains to be legal as well than the overall measure would provide that the equity interests would remain prevalent whereas it would also be under the ambit of being legal[1]. The case where many contradictions often arise in the country and thus the practice of this law becomes more practical is that the equity is often given by family members within their own families by nominating a trustee. This alone giving of equity to the trustee now allows him to make decis ion for the property and hence endows him with power control, the law therefore states that the trustee should abide by the trust and not make decision which seem to be an over use of his power and become unjust but rather abide by the law. According the ASICs repot of 2010, there are massive loop holes in the financial literacy of people living in Australia. Moreover, there is a huge element of mistrust amongst the people which lead them towards breach in the trust deeds. There has been a similar case from United States in 1988 when Charles Balkin tried to breach his friend when they were looking forward to invest in a land property. His friend, Don was a quite sensible about the financial terms and conditions so he decided to make an agreement with Charles as a trust deed. But Charles refused because he knew that according to Australian Trust Law, if someone breaches the law or agreement, he or she will be liable to face the legal consequences. Power transfers When there are different amounts of legal property and large assets involved, the rise of greed often shadows many ethical and moral grounds of people. The Law of Trustees states that the trustee of any appointed state or property can only be changed and appointed by the appointer of the state which in easier words is the owner. In the cases where owners pass away without nominating any kind of trustee for their property, the law enforces in these cases that the new appointers automatically become the ones that are in legal matters and close to the deceased. The new appointers now fully gain the power of hiring or removing trustees of the company or property. The Australian however allows the appointers to officially nominate themselves as the trustee of the property but these cases are rare and hence they require the nominators to officially make valid gifting and declare in writing about their decision[2]. These circumstances have been fairly rejected in many states around the worl d unless the person of interests shows both a written form of paper or declaration which incorporates the mutual consent of all parties. The transfer however has been recognized as a very complex arrangement because of the tights laws regulated by statute of frauds. The law promulgates that the transfer of a property to a trustee by the nominator or owner can be made when the owner formally files a declaration of transfer which is defined as being only legal and not equity. The careful precession of these words represents different terms and can even manipulate the transfer in itself. The transfer of the property to the trustee has to fulfill another condition which is that the owner himself has completely fulfilled all jurisdiction and formalities which are in regulations of the statute of frauds. The overall haul in the entire procedures of these trust properties are often catalyzed by investment or the common cases of people becoming greedy. The property cases which have been emerging in the country since ages have involved many conflicts between the beneficiaries of the trust and the trustee[3]. Many people have over the years forgotten about how when they are appointed as the trustee of any properties, there are different facets and rules which a trustee must abide by. The first rule which comes into play after the appointment of power is that the trustee is ideally held liable for all the property and the loss of investment in that property, he has specific duties which need to be filled such as proper care of the property. The conflicts which many beneficiaries have with trustee even though of the situation that they hold equity in the property and the law basically ties the hands of the trustee, there are still some moral grounds and limitations to the equity holders su ch as many people often are unaware of the fact that what the trustee is actually up to when catering to the trust. There are no legal constraints which allow the trustee to release the official information to the beneficiary and the same case applies to the counterpart, these systems are solely operated on the basis of trust and effective relationship between both parties. The affiliations with becoming the trustee of any property require quick planning and the innate sense of responsibility towards the property itself. The case often arises when the property starts to lose its market value because of the influx of either real estate problems or the economic issue in the country, in these cases the entire responsibility depends on the trustee who has been appointed by the owner and he is completely liable to make suitable changes to the property which can make remedial action for these properties, these situation also can shift the property towards different companies as well as pr ivate company owners. Festivities involving trust properties When the family trusts are often discussed there are a number of different festivities that often get involved while considering both the beneficiaries and the trustees themselves. The discretional property trusts often work in different ways than other trusts found in Australia. The trusts have been idealized and initiated mainly in different families where members are elected to be either of the both discretional trustees or the beneficiary, the main line which divides these both of these entities is the sources of power and the capability of having different stakes in the trust property them. The trustee in these cases holds the most powerful wand of control of the property which has been given to him on the basis of legal terms, this makes them in complete control of the finances involved in the entire property and makes them even renting out or selling these properties to any other client. The Australian Trust Law restricts the discretional beneficiaries form benefiting only on the basis of their equity claims but rather they are restricted by the trustee themselves. The only fitting way which allows for the beneficiaries can benefit from their property while considering the existence of the trustee is that if the trustee only allows the beneficiary to benefit from all the finances involved in the property. This alone in power in these types of decisions is the law in the country which allows for these trustees to mutually benefit from the inheritance and also helps the trustees to become more easy and flexible in controlling the entire property. Many cases have spurned from different angles which have shown that many trustees falling into the ambiguities of controlling their own property which has been appointed to them with the law and hence have been known to be reported to the supreme court for further assistance, this has relinquished the trust of many people in the trust and therefore makes valid claims about how the trustee was officially appointed by the family can make initial decisions which might seem often ambiguous. In the years that have followed many steps have been taken into account of using the transfer policies which can maintain for the trustees while changing an appointing the new beneficiaries of the trust, this alone step has caused different problems in the properties as reported by many people, these problems which has caused new beneficiaries to compete for the new power control and this has led to many claims by both parties since the law provides the beneficiaries with equity and the trustees with the power of legal claims. Careful precessions have been taken into account when referring to the transfer of these properties to different owners under the discretion trusts and family rules. These problems have often causes many property owners in the country to resort to schemes which would allow for less harm on both the property reputation and the property investment plans in the country. Many people or how the law calls them as the nominators of the property have made attempts into making different private companies as the trustee of their properties, this not only intestates a positive step towards the property but also makes different accounts into solving out the dispute claims in these properties[4]. This has been made possible because the law states that when the commercial company owners are made the trustees of any properties the property becomes safe when the even the official trustee on the contract or lease papers passes away this still makes the companies to remain intact of the property and be the official trustee of the company because the company still remains under the same ambit of its existence. The only case which makes them difficult in different cases is when the company owners change but that still makes the company entirely liable to the trust property; however when the company however begins on the journey of either being completely void or being shut down. The nature of this condition than allows the company to openly make active decisions and resort to different means of hiring a new trustee for the property. The difference between companies operated trustee and the natural trustees of the residential sectors however yet defines other paradigms which can make the owners be on other verges. The natural owners or law appointed trustees can make the changes to the property until and unless they are held liable when they are alive, but when these trustees pass away the conflict often arises in the cases of unsafe properties or in the cases of properties where more than one beneficiary are in collaboration with each other. The applicable rule for the trust property still remains the same but however the principle of liability changes due to the fact of the trustee type. The main conflict between trusties often also arises when the property undergoes different issues such as the property being suffered a loss in its repute or income value. Thi s situations has been catered by the trustees themselves by altering the trust deed which puts the trustees in debt of investing all the trust funds which are received by them for the investment and betterment of the property, however many trustees have made the claims for altering this very clause by stating the reason that these property values often result in dead investment plans and often makes them incapable of appointing any other investors in this case. This law has however been refined to support the legal owners of these properties to make their trust funds investments in many other property options which give them the different opportunities to have other income supports. All these festivities involve different things in these property reviews and these cases have made different acquisitions over the years also involving the commercial side of these properties and in different cases when the trustees automatically become entitled to breach their own contracts and trust de ed while facing commercial investments and property investment plans[5]. Commercial property involving trustees The residential approaches to the trust properties depending on the laws and regulations narrate out a different story rather than the private and commercial ones. The commercial property owners however have different approaches towards these trust issues and can execute different variable law schemes between both the beneficiaries and the company appointed trustee of these companies. The hub of attraction between different things which has attracted many former new clients which are known as creditors and these people are also known as the third parties which are involved in the exercise of these trust companies to make different investment and expecting their financial charts to either boost up or probably go down because of the below explained reasons[6]. The reason why these companies known as creditors are involved in investing in the commercial trust properties is that these companies hold viable investment opportunities as well as the solicited owners of these commercial prope rties such as the trustee who is only liable in making the deal come true with the creditors whereas the official appointed beneficiaries of the company who can only benefit on all the profits earned by the company without having an entire legal say in which the company would operate. This allows the creditors to make decision depending on their liking and hence obtain these properties which are often none protected at a subsidized price which is comparatively much less than the official market of having other companies which are not under the ambit of trusts. There are different levels of different problems which can be affiliated with the nominating parties and the company owners which deal with these trust properties[7]. This makes the risk of having owned a debt incorporated company to the maximum limits because there are no official signs of these records of the company in the files or in any of the documents which have been made public to the audiences or the creditor company owners or different websites which the foreign investors might want to look up. These problems have been fairly narrated by different people in the past and have been dealt by the government in ways which are only prosecuted on the trustees self-morals of when he declares that the company which is being vested by these creditors is a trust owned company under a very viable trust deed. The official procedure for these kinds of interactions forms when the company is being invested by the creditors, the documents formulated often involve different things, one of th ese things involve the companys financial records and bank statements whereas the declaration of these companies as a trust unit or a non-trust unit with a trustee. This step is crucial in these transactions because it enables for the creditors in making active profit from the company without having to pay of the debts of the company or having to fulfill the mouths of all beneficiaries. Hence it is the moral code of conduct and the liability of any trustee to assure the creditors about the legal standing of the company so that the creditors may not suffer the loss of their entire investments[8]. When the cases arrive when creditors find out that the company which have been operated by these trusts have been filed for different debts possessions than the law permits the trustees to make different claims and their legal standings in the Australian court of law allows the trustees to simply pull themselves out of the matter by claiming themselves only the trustees and therefore this ma tter to be resolved by simply removing them because in the end they cannot control the assets of the financial matters of the trust owned companies. Further affiliations and problems The different impacts which can cause problems for the creditors when investing in these non-secured companies by the trust affiliations can cause different amounts of problems for these creditors[9]. The different cases of debts arrival however can be solved by the Australian law of indemnity which has been providing these trustees. The simple procedure of this clause makes it easy for the investors who have been involved in these companies as it allows that the trustee can access all the beneficiary assets of the companies which can provide the official amount which is needed to escape these problems, however these beneficiaries budgets can help to move the company towards prosperity and help the companies to solve out the issues however this only becomes possible when the trustees dont wish to use the assets to just pay off the debts of the companies whereas if in the cases of these companies many trustees have over the years been involved in the breaching of their trust deeds by actively participating them in the concept of using these funds for their personal issues and uses whereas by showing the company under debt. Breaching of the trust deed There are many reasons to why the trust deeds has been breached by different trustees of these commercial properties and hence when the company has been found to be under debt due to the actions of the trustees themselves, this further allows the official appointed beneficiaries of the company to sale the assets without the involvement of the trustee and this further allows the beneficiaries to modify the trust deed so that the remedial actions can be implemented and hence sort out the problems faced by the commercial company[10]. We have seen in the past when Brady Price, the owner of Brad Food Company in NSW tried to breach the term agreement of trust by stating that there are no debts on the property but at the time of selling the property, he found guilty for breaching the trust deed with the other party. Conclusion The overall conclusion of this critical analysis between the company and different trustee owners is that overall inclusion of these companies affiliated with trust promotes more risk than other non-trust companies, although the tangible benefits of acquiring these companies which are affiliated with trusts seem more profitable to the owners in both benefits and profit returns, This also allows for the company to deal in many other countries on different prices and the only efficient way of imposing this effective rule is that the imposition of a written proof of a companys statement of either being in a trust or not.

My Sisters Keeper Essay Example

My Sisters Keeper Paper Introduction, and Thesis: Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) to provide a genetically matched donor for an older sick child and to use the organs of the younger to the medical benefit of the elder is not morally justifiable using rule utilitarian ethical theory. This principle is not justifiable due to both the nature of the proposed rule regarding PGD and, primarily, to the nature of utilitarian ethical philosophy in general. Arguments Supporting Thesis: Rule utilitarianism is a moral philosophy holding that general rules for moral guidance should be developed that will act as an aid in making ethical decisions. For example, one such rule might by that one ought to keep promises. Given this general rule, when faced with a moral decision, an individual should look at the list of rules and see if any of these rules apply to the current situation. Using the above example, if the situation involves keeping a promise or not, then one should keep the promise. According to this philosophy, even if the consequences of a particular act of promise keeping are bad, the person behaving in accordance with the established utilitarian rule is morally not at fault. However in an attempt to establish a new utilitarian moral rule, each individual event will affect the attempt to establish a moral rule. We will write a custom essay sample on My Sisters Keeper specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on My Sisters Keeper specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on My Sisters Keeper specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This ethical theory requires development of rules of action based on the potential rules likelihood to bring about the most good for the most people. For the purposes of this discussion a reasonable rule would be: parents should use PGD to provide a genetically matched donor for an older child and use the expendable organs of the younger child to repair life threatening medical conditions of the older. For the sake of argument, this paper assumes that any procedures that would necessarily result in the death of the younger child would not be performed. For example, if the elder child needs a heart transplant, this rule could not be used to justify the death of the younger by removing the younger siblings heart and transplanting it into the elder. The suggested rule makes use of other, more fundamental utilitarian rules such as one shouldnt cause pain or one should prevent pain. Neither of these rules in itself is sufficient to establish the more specific utilitarian rule suggested in the preceding paragraph. To determine if this potential utilitarian rule should be adopted, some cases, using Picoults novel My Sisters Keeper as a springboard should be examined. The first case to examine is the simplest case. If the proposed rule proves inadequate for a simple application, it is unlikely that more complex, and more realistic scenarios will be adequately served by the proposed rule. The simplest case within this context would be the case originally conceived of by Kates parents, Sara and Brian Fitzgerald. In this scenario Sara and Brian had two children, the elder, Jesse, is approximately seven years old. His little sister, Kate is a about two years old when she is diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Since Jesse is not a compatible donor, her parents elect to use PGD to produce a genetically compatible donor as a potential solution for their daughters health problem. Initially, the younger daughter, Anna, is to be used to donate blood cells from the umbilical cord to provide needed blood cells for Kate. Theoretically, these cells would put Kates APL into remission and that would be the end of medical treatment. All three children would be healthy, have little or no memories of the procedure and the Fitzgerald family would live happily ever after. Does this scenario provide the greatest good for the most people? Although others are involved in My Sisters Keeper, such as the nurses, surgeons, and hospital staff, it is reasonable to consider just the impact of the Fitzgerald family. It appears that the most people have received the greatest good. Kate has her normal life expectancy back, Jesse now has not one, but two little sisters to tease and torment, while Sara and Brian have three happy, healthy children. It appears to be a winning situation for everyone. This scenario provides support that the proposed rule may be a viable utilitarian rule, at least in this simplified situation. Unfortunately, all the cases this proposed rule are to be applied to arent this simple. The Fitzgeralds experiences provide an example where the simple case doesnt prevail and the situation is complicated by other events. Initially in My Sisters Keeper, it appears the umbilical cord blood cells take at Annas birth have done the job. Kate goes into remission for five years. However, at this point Kates APL flairs up and lymphocytes are drawn from Anna three times and inserted into Kate. Again this appears to work for the short term, but ultimately, the procedure fails. For the next eight years the process is repeated over and over again; Kate becomes ill, Anna donates something which should help her get better, the treatment works for a while but then stops working and a new, more invasive and painful donation and treatment is attempted. The situation during this period is not so simple and clear-cut. In the process, everyone in the family suffers: physically, emotionally, financially, and/or socially within the family and outside the home. Both Kate and Anna suffer physical pain with each procedure. Jesse begins to act up in an attempt to get attention from both his parents. The relationship between the parents suffers as Sara becomes more and more obsessed about the physical needs of Kate. The family is not the happy unit anticipated in the simpler case. In fact, at the time of Anna filing the lawsuit for medical emancipation, the only good that has resulted is that Kates life as been extended for twelve or thirteen years. All of the benefits of the Kates continuing to live have come at the expense of the rest of the family and of Kate herself, who suffers considerable pain during the process. In these more complicated circumstances it is not so easy to determine the net good or the net harm. It is no longer so clear that a rule utilitarian imperative can be established to justify PGD and the subsequent harvesting of organs. As long as the medical procedure works, it is more easily justified on a rule utilitarian basis. When the procedure fails, the amount of good, if any doesnt appear to outweigh the amount of harm. This points out a fundamental weakness in moral rule utilitarianism as an ethical theory. It does not have much utility. First, calculating the potential harm and the potential good resulting from a proposed medical procedure is difficult, perhaps even impossible, to calculate. In the simple case, it is easy to calculate the net good because only two people are involved in the process: Anna the donor doesnt suffer at all, and Kate has her pain relieved for five years. It is clear that more good than harm results from the PGD, birth of Anna, and Kates used of the cord blood cells from Anna is a good thing on an utilitarian basis. However, with every additional complication, the calculation of net good becomes more difficult. When lymphocytes are drawn from Anna three times at the age of five, it is clear she feels pain and is at some amount of risk of life due to the use of general anesthesia. It is also clear that Kate receives some benefit from the donated cells. What isnt clear is how much physical pain Anna suffers and how much benefit Kate receives. There are no clearly quantifiable measures of pain. There are scales of pain used by physicians to try and measure pain, but they are estimations by the patient and extremely subjective. Suppose, to salvage the utilitarian principle, one were able to establish a unit measure of pain and relief of pain. Suppose Anna reports that she has pain at a level three for twelve hours for a total of thirty-six pain hours, level two for six hours for twelve pain hours and pain level one for 3 hours for three pain hours. This gives Anna a total of fifty-one pain hours. Presumably, on Kates side, if one assumes a one for one exchange of pain values between Anna and Kate, as long as her net relief of pain is greater than fifty-one pain hours the procedure is justifiable from a rule utilitarian point of view. This result is remarkably similar to the conclusion above in that as long as the medical procedure is successful, the performing of the procedure add credence to the establishment of a new moral rule. This is not a satisfactory moral principle. It fails to consider far too many aspects of the entire situation and bases the moral evaluation purely on the result. For example, as any medical provider knows from personal experience, sometimes people die regardless of the treatment they have received. In the above case, suppose that Kate, after receiving the lymphocytes, and despite the fact that the medical team is well qualified and performed the procedure in accordance with the best established procedures, dies shortly after the procedure. Autopsy and postmortem investigation finds no particular reason for the death. For all intents and purposes, Kate randomly dies when she was expected to live. According to rule utilitarian ethics, this procedure was a failure and should not be used to support a potential rule for future behavior and presumably should count against the potential rule. However this wasnt the fault of the procedure and, intuitively, shouldnt count against PGD and the subsequent use of donor tissues. A second objection to utilitarian rules is that it is unclear when a new rule becomes established. Except for fundamental rules which lack substance, such as truth telling is good, loyalty is good, promise keeping is good that are already established, when does a proposed rule have enough evidence to be a new moral imperative. There isnt a Governing Board of Utilitarian Theory (GOUT) that meets periodically and either approves or denies potential utilitarian rules of ethics. One wonders then if a utilitarian rule can ever be established beyond basic, fundamental rules such as those mentioned above. It is counterintuitive to think that an ethical rule can only be established when it has been tested a sufficient number of times. The whole point of ethical rules is to give people ethical guidance. If one is forced to rely on only the more basic rules such as causing pain is bad and relieving pain is good until the new rule has been established with sufficient data, one is often at a loss since such rules are extremely general and can be, and often are, contradictory. In the case of My Sisters Keeper to relieve Kates pain, Anna must be caused pain. This is essentially a wash that really leaves one with no answer at all. Objections that Rule Utilitarian Cannot Justify PGD: The biggest objection to the conclusion that rule utilitarianism cannot justify using PGD to provide a potential donor for a critically ill child is that if feels like one should be able to use rule utilitarianism to make this decision. One ought to be able to look at this issue and say yes it is moral to provide a potential donor for a child using PGD or no, it is not moral do so. If one cannot use rule utilitarianism to help make a decision what good is it? Response to Objection: That is precisely the point. Rule utilitarianism, in fact even act utilitarianism as well, is inherently flawed. Instead of looking at the entire issue of is it moral to perform an act it shifts the focus to will performing such an act result in a net positive value instead of dealing with the social issue the person who posed the ethical question, utilitarianism deals with an unwieldy ethical system of bookkeeping. This is unsatisfactory because it skirts the real issue. Human ethics is not bookkeeping. Results of an act are important in evaluating the morality of an act, but this is only one part of the entire equations. Equally important, and oftentimes more important are other factors that ought to be considered: motive of the people involved, capabilities of those involved and the rights of those involved are essential ingredients in making ethical decisions and rule utilitarianism makes no allowance for these vital concerns. In fact, it is the question of the rights of Anna Fitzgerald that is central to this novel. It is these other factors that are most revealing and the most interesting from an ethical and sociological point of view. Summary of Paper: Rule utilitarian ethics is unable to establish the rule that using a PGD child to provide a transplant source for an older, critically ill child. This is due to rule utilitarianism ethics not being a particularly viable ethical system. The unwieldiness of trying to calculate the net good or bad makes rule utilitarianism impractical. In addition, rule utilitarianism fails to account for anything other than the results which are a small, uninteresting part of any ethical dilemma. This bookkeeping approach to ethics is inadequate. A moral dilemma is not easily solved and is never solved without considering, the agent, the act and the reasonably expect consequences of the act. It is for this reason that utilitarianism cannot, in fact, justify itself as an ethical system.

Universal Healthcare is Moral Essays

Universal Healthcare is Moral Essays Universal Healthcare is Moral Essay Universal Healthcare is Moral Essay Universal healthcare can be defined as a healthcare system which employs a combination of health financing and service provisions to provide universal healthcare coverage to most members of a society. This definition of a universal healthcare is not binding. In fact, various definitions of universal healthcare do exist. The differences emanate from the fact that various universal health practices apply in different countries and the extent to which the system is put into practice does vary. As at today, universal healthcare is being practised in all industrialized countries except the United States. Since the German health insurance bill of 1883, which was part of Otto Von Bismark’s social legislation, universal healthcare has spread to many countries like the UK, Spain, and Italy. But the interpretation of the system varies in these countries. One common feature of the system in these countries though, is that their governments are actively involved in the functioning of the system. Access to healthcare services in these countries derives from citizen rights rather than insurance coverage. The case in the United States is exactly the opposite. In determining the morality of a universal healthcare, recourse can be made to Jeremy Bentham and James Mill ethical theory which states that â€Å"all action should be directed towards achieving greatest happiness for greatest number†. This theory is the theory of utilitarianism. How does this apply to the morality of a universal healthcare? In accepting morality as recognition of the desirability of good over bad, we can say that the greatest happiness for the greatest number represents good more than bad. No matter the side of the debate one is, the truth remains that universal healthcare will primarily extend the provision of healthcare services to more less privileged citizens of the Unites States. In that case, it is moral. Universal healthcare is also an example of a common good. The aforementioned statement is open to debate though. But a common good need not be beneficial to all. This perfectly supports the argument in favour of a universal healthcare. There exist a segment of the population who vehemently oppose the promulgation of a universal healthcare. Seeing no benefit for themselves, but since the majority will benefit, why do we not go ahead and introduce the system into our healthcare system? Even the scriptures support the existence of a universal healthcare. The scripture deifies the government as an arbitrary authority in matters of governance. If we practice democracy, then we should as well expect the leaders we voted for to promote our common good to care enough for our health. It is in the pursuance of such common good in the face of opposition that the biblical injunction becomes significant. A universal healthcare is thus moral. It is the right of all Americans and it is the job of the government to support this right. Is social justice moral? Yes. And universal healthcare is just one example of it. Social justice expresses fairness. It gives individuals and groups fair treatment and a just share of benefits. Same thing that universal healthcare stands for!. But the ride is not all that smooth. Antagonists of this system have argued that introduction of the system will spur many unintended consequences. They employ this theory of double effect concluding that universal healthcare will lead to a forceful demand for services even when such are very much unreasonable. The system, they say, will lead to avoidable court cases and that individuals might take no further interest in providing for their own health since they now have the right to demand for it anyway. The scripture has also been cited as teaching against the existence of such system as a universal healthcare system. It has been argued that the bible forbids the use of force in obtaining ‘things’ for ourselves. Universal healthcare is seen as such a ‘thing’ since the government will have to force all citizens and healthcare providers to comply. Another theory that has been employed in the argument against a universal healthcare system is the theory of emotivism. Antagonists argue that the campaign for the introduction of a universal healthcare is based on feelings rather than reality. They insist that the fact that the majority have that feeling does not necessarily mean that the system is moral. They believe that the decision on whether the system is moral or not should be based on a measurement of realistic projections rather than hinged on a plethora of emotions. The realistic projections, they say, will reveal that though universal healthcare might be beneficial to all, it is essentially immoral. Antagonists also argue that the introduction of the system will undermine the theory of ethical relativism. Ethical relativism dictates that what is right or wrong and good or bad is not absolute but variable and relative, depending on the person, circumstances, or social situation. Since universal healthcare is a mockery of the above concept, antagonists argue that it is immoral. Firstly, the theory of double effect does not really apply to universal healthcare. No matter the nature of the unintended consequences, the merits of a universal healthcare far outweigh the demerits. All good things do have a side effect. The side effects are not necessarily akin to a double effect. To dismiss a system that will be so much beneficial to the majority on the basis of an inappropriate double effect is in essence immoral. It is also a known fact that nothing goes for nothing,. Double effect is not a substantial reason to damn a universal healthcare system. Definitely a price must be paid for everything that will be of benefit to the society at large. Remember when there is no pain, there can’t be any gain. The theory of emotivism is also not strong enough to oppose the fact that a universal healthcare is moral. Antagonists argue that it is based on emotions instead of reality. This is not true. After all universal healthcare benefits the majority and this perfectly fits into the system of government (Democracy) and also supports Jeremy Bentham and James Mill ethical theory which states that â€Å"all action should be directed towards achieving greatest happiness for greatest number†. Since it is the happiness of the majority what is being solicited for, then the issue of unnecessary emotions is definitely avoided. Although ethics vary from one culture to another and there is no universal standard that can conclusively differentiate between good or bad, a universal healthcare system still expresses the common good with one voice, even among different cultures. Every culture, tribe, and even religion believes that health is wealth. The concept of universal healthcare can be easily understood among people of different tribes and ethical backgrounds. It is also true that the scriptures forbid the use of force. But the same scriptures vest an overriding authority in the government. The scriptures can be argued to understand that such issues as debates might arise especially when critical decisions that affect the common good must be made. In vesting such an authority in the government, the scriptures empower the government to make the right decisions no matter the stand of the opposition. This should not be interpreted as a use of force. Rather, it should be understood as fulfilment of a scriptural injunction. The argument that a universal healthcare is a form of force is weak and is not what the scriptures teach. Sometimes arguments or debates do come easy, especially when the other side have a hard case to prove. That universal healthcare is immoral sounds like a hard case to prove. The preponderance of theoretical and practical evidence supporting the morality of universal healthcare are so abundant while the supporting arguments for its immorality are essentially weak. The theories of utilitarianism, common good, social justice and scriptural teachings are strong enough concepts that cannot be dismissed with a wave of the hand. These supporting theories have been shown above to be strong pillars behind a universal healthcare system. If they do support the system, as has been shown, it seems to me the morality of universal healthcare system needs not be called to question again. It is time the united states dispel this fear of the unknown and introduce the system into our healthcare system. That the system is already in use in other industrialized countries with astounding benefits to citizens should also inspire our government to do the right thing. We should not aim to be wrongly different, but rightly so. Universal healthcare also draws support from different segments of our society. The support spans across racial, professional, gender, political and age divides. Such a monumental support should not be dismissed for the comfort of the minority. Universal healthcare. Wikipedia online encyclopaedia.. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Universal_health_care. Definitions from www. answers. com Definitions from www. dictionary. com Doug Pibel, Sarah van Gelder. (Jul 19, 2006). Health Care: Its What Ails Us. yesmagazine. org/issues/health-care-for-all/health-care-its-what-ails-us John R. Battista, M. D. and Justine McCabe, Ph. D. (june 4 1999). The Case For Single Payer, Universal Health Care For The United States. Outline of Talk Given To The Association of State Green Parties, Moodus, Connecticut on June 4, 1999.

How to Get a Job with a Liberal Arts Degree

How to Get a Job with a Liberal Arts Degree Are you sick of people laughing when you tell them you’re majoring in Sociology or Spanish Literature? â€Å"Oh, ha, good luck finding a  job,† they say, or â€Å"I guess you want to teach, right?† That way of thinking is outmoded, and there’s no need to turn up your nose at a liberal arts degree. You just need to approach it smartly.  Check out the following graphic  that details all you need to know about following your heart when selecting a college major, where it can lead you, and how to find your perfect job even with a liberal arts degree.

Robbing people of the ability to see enormous opportunities directly Essay

Robbing people of the ability to see enormous opportunities directly in front of them - Essay Example In this way, three of the readings which have been engaged during the course of the semester will be utilized to prove that the current system of opportunity and potential that exists for the individual within the United States is ultimately divorced from the reality, which t is oftentimes associated with such terms as the American dream. In such a manner, it will be the goal of this author to prove to the reader why the United States, in its present form, promises a hopeless situation for many participants within its society. Although it is not hard to disagree with such talking heads as Rush Limbaugh, the point that he made with regards to disagreeing with the overall level of potential and opportunity that exists within the United States was yet another example of some of the ridiculous things that he has said during the course of his career. What Limbaugh said was the following: â€Å"Such an understanding robs people of the ability to see the enormous opportunities directly in front of them†. ... ay engage with are necessarily far different than the level of potential and opportunity that a lower class or desperately poor individual would have to leverage/draw upon. Taking the case of â€Å"The Lesson†, the reader can instantly note that the narrator of the piece effectively differentiates society into two distinct groups: those that escape desperate poverty and those that continue to struggle with the painful realities of life defined by want and hardship. Such a difference is shown with regards to some of the conversations that take place near the shop windows that exhibit goods that the girls have never seen before, nor have any idea how they should be utilized. Junebug says in her conversation with Big Butt and Miss Moore, â€Å"’What’s a paperweight?’†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢To weigh paper with dumbbell’†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Not exactly, it is used to weigh paper down so it won’t scatter and make your desk untidy’†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢I don†™t even have a desk’† (Bambara 267). This difference with regards to the way in which different cultures exist and experience life in different dimensions helps to show the fact that the opportunity that exists for one given socioeconomic class and the opportunity and reality that exists for another are entirely different. As a means of further highlighting such a truth, Barbara Ehrenreich’s piece entitled â€Å"Serving in Florida† underscores the economic realities that exist for those individuals that have not had the fortune of receiving a college degree or making a career in any other way. Seeking to perform research with regards to how individuals at the very bottom layers of the socioeconomic chain seek to make a way for themselves, Ehrenreich sets out to engage in two minimum wage jobs at 60 + hours a week just as a means to provide for herself. The

Mobile Computing and Social Networks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Mobile Computing and Social Networks - Essay Example Quite a few market research studies also forecast a new internet revolution on mobile phones. Some of the new smart phones are more powerful than computers and operate in the ‘intimate’ space, accompanying people throughout the day (Arora 2012: 1). The convenience and capability to access data or do certain tasks with the help of applications from homes or any other public place using mobile devices even without a desktop computer has ensured a considerable increase of convenience and efficiency for businesses and people on the move The smart phone technology research and development wing has become very active in recent years and is improving day by day. Mobile networks are also creating phones that are increasingly better and tougher to intrude into or hack thus correspondingly increasing the capability of mobile devices and its applications. Effectiveness and Efficiency of Mobile Applications: A simple way to describe geolocation is to say that it is a technology that requires data from a computer or mobile phone to pinpoint a person's actual physical position. A better and succinct definition that could be used is as follows: â€Å"A geolocation system is an information technology solution that ascertains the location of an object in the physical (geo-spatial) or virtual (Internet) environment. Most often, the object is a person who wants to utilize a service based on location, while maintaining his/her privacy† (ISACA 2011: 5). This has caught up among today’s youth and social networking sites which they commonly use by providing us the ability to track or let friends know where we are, to identify certain or specific joints frequented by them and book tickets in cinema halls. These types of applications can also be accessed on a desktop system but will not be the same as when available on a mobile device. Most individuals have invariably used Google Maps to get directions from one place to another but again the thrill of using s uch an application from a mobile is unique. Depending on your movement from one place to another, the data sent and received will also change. This is possible due to the GPS (Global Positioning System) chip found inside the device. This chip uses two methods to track your position. In the first method, the chip uses satellite data to calculate a person's exact location but if there are any snags like interference or unavailability of service, then the chip uses data from cell phone towers to calculate location. If the person is driving through rain, cloud cover or even a canopy of trees, there could be a loss of communication but on a clear day, there should not be any problem. Here we should also note that if the software is very sophisticated, the accuracy provided will also be of high quality. Light should also be shed on some concerns regarding this type of application. Sharing of location could lead to personal risk. Anti-social elements like stalkers or even robbers who know that you are out may take advantage of situations. Although all these exist, many application developers are finding ways to counter such disadvantages by providing privacy preferences. If one chooses wisely, the benefits from such an application far outweigh the negative effects though it necessitates a small amount of privacy sacrifice from our side.

E-Business and Intellectual Property Essay Example for Free

E-Business and Intellectual Property Essay Patents need to be protected in order for a company to have an advantage in a very competitive market. The Internet revolution has seen a massive increase in the long distance purchases made by consumers, as geographical barriers is no longer as important as they were. Protection is needed for those businesses who conduct business in ways other than in person. A type of industrial property protection can basically be called patents. This type of protection is used to stimulate the innovation and design of new technology. It basically protects the investments made to develop new technology. Patent protection is usually given in terms, mainly about 20 years. In the article E-Boom or E-Bust? Business Method Patent and The Future of Dotcommerce, the authors argue that State Street Bank v. Signature Financial Group caused a rush upon the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). The evidence clearly supports such an argument. Before this State Street Bank business methods were unpatentable due to a judicial exclusion of methods of doing business. However, the court in State Street Bank, laid this exception to patent law to rest in 1998 stating that data structures encoded in computer memory constitute patentable subject matter (Marsden Huffman, 2000, p. 18). This had to cause a rush on the PTO. A whole new area of commerce had become available to patent protection; a rush would be the only term sufficient to define the number of patent applications that would descend on the PTO. The authors next argue that the Internet explosion also was affected by the courts finding in State Street Bank. The Internet revolves around commerce. Most sites have a way of generating money, whether producing revenue is from one-stop-shopping or advertising. Many of these sites have used or will use business methods that are patentable because of the State Street Bank decision. Companies only gain when they patent their internet business methods. The third argument concerns the value of the patent. According to Marsden and Huffman,As long as the patent applicant does not overreach by seeking claims so broad that they ultimately render the patent invalid in view of the prior art it can pursue broader and stronger patent rights under the new paradigm  of business method patenting than it would previously have expected (p. 19). They argue that a valid patent has three forms of value. The first form is offensive. This allows for the enforcement of a patent against infringers. If one has the power to make another stop use of an invention, it has control over that invention. The second form of value is defensive. Thus, it deters others from using invention, because of the patents existence. And the third form of value created by a patent is value in the financial market. Companies are better able to find financial backing when they are legally able to protect their property. The clearest support of the financial market theory is based upon the fluctuation of stock prices based on valid patents gained or patents lost due to invalidation. The fourth argument the authors address is the benefits and drawbacks of the broad patent rights. Clearly, the owners of a patent have a benefit. Others believe that broad business method patenting creates a burden on free commerce. The criticisms fall into one of three categories: patents in these fields will create barriers to commerce and innovation that outweigh the purported good of such patents; patents are being issued for trivial or obvious advances, or that are clearly anticipated by prior art; and PTO patent examining resources are inadequate to police the patenting process properly. The PTO responded to the criticism by making reforms that some feel will not change a thing. They have required such things as additional training, a new training manual, and special training as to prior art. The authors think to determine the benefits of these changes are too soon. They also believe that the area is too important to wait for public policy debates to determine the answer. The PTO must continue to issue patents while the answers are found. Then the PTO can make appropriate adjustments. The State Street Bank decision changed the way patent lawyers viewed business methods. Before, a lawyer would not even consider a patent application for a business method. But after 1998, business methods became patentable. This had to change the way patent law was practiced and the number of patent  applications made to the PTO. This argument naturally flows into Internet applications. It seems natural that patent law should provide protection for those holding patents. After reading this article, the three ways that a patent provides value for the holder, seem clear. It gives one the right to sue for infringement, provides others notice they have the patent, and turn an intangible idea into real property. The authors do not take a stand on whether they consider the current patent laws to be a benefit or a drawback. I personally think that the most benefit can be gained by over-granting patents rather than turning down patent applications. I would rather the PTO grant a patent, and it later be invalidated due to prior art, than it be denied out of hand. I suppose this argument essentially creates a company policing policy. But it would be necessary to sue if a company needed use of the patented invention. In areas such as business methods and software where changes occurs everyday, I think that there would probably be an alternative method. Companies would have to determine the importance of the invention to them, before they decided to sue. Patent law provides protection to E-business for their website operations, interfaces, financial management, transactions, and advertising. For an E-business to jeopardize its ability to file for a patent is not very easy. Obtaining a patent and reasons for obtaining one is a process that has to be very clear and precise. The E-business has to show just cause and information in order to obtain the patent. Reference: Marsden, W.J. and Huffman, J.A. (2000). E-Boom or E-Bust? Business Method Patent and The Future of Dotcommerce. Pp. 18-22, 28-29. Retrieved on February 28, 2008 from http://delawarebarfoundation.org/delawyer/Volume18_Number4_Winter2000-2001.pdf

Edna as a Metaphorical Lesbian in Chopin’s The Awakening Essay

Edna as a Metaphorical Lesbian in Chopin’s The Awakening Elizabeth LeBlanc places The Awakening in an interesting context in her essay â€Å"The Metaphorical Lesbian,† as gender criticism must, for Chopin wrote the novel at the end of the 19th century, when homosexuality as an identity emerged culturally, at least in terms of the gay male identity, as proffered by Oscar Wilde across the Atlantic. Lesbianism, too, started to make its debut on the cultural stage, particularly in literature. However, although lesbianism started to emerge during Chopin’s lifetime, it seems doubtful that it played any formative role for Edna’s characterization. Yet gender criticism often requires a reading of a text in light of gender and sexuality regardless of authorial â€Å"intent.† LeBlanc wisely stops short of calling Edna an authentic lesbian, instead appropriating Bonnie Zimmerman’s â€Å"metaphorical lesbian† by which a character â€Å"engages in a variety of woman-identified practices that suggest but stop sh ort of sexual encounters,† often falling into the continuum of female-centered relationships as identif...

Problems of the Working College Student Essay

I work thrity-five hours a week at a warehouse in Ontario California. When I first registered for college classes, I figured college would be fairly easy to fit into my schedule. After all, I thought, college students are not in class all day, like high school students are. So, I assumed the twelve hours a week I’d spend in class wouldn’t be too much of a load. But I was in for a big surprise. My first semester at college showed me that students who work while going to college face problems at school, at work, and at home. First of all, students who try to juggle job and school responsibilities find trouble at school. Early morning classes, for example, are particularly difficult for me. Because I work every week night from six to midnight, I don’t get home until 1:00 a. m. , and I can’t fall asleep until 2:00 a. m. or later. Consequently, I am too tired to pay attention in my eight o’clock class. Once, I even fell asleep in that class and my Professor asked me to leave for the day. Not only was this an embarrassment for myself, but it also cost me to miss the day’s assignment not to mention being marked as absent for the day. Sometimes student’s work hours create other conflicts. For instance in my experience they cut into my study time, so I have little time to do all the assigned reading and homework. I get behind in the assignments, and I never seem to have enough time to catch up. As a result, my grades are not as good as they could be. To avoid these kind of experience’s students have to be organized, and have time management or they may get overwhelm in their daily schedule. Because students both work and go to school, they can have problems doing well with their education. But work can also suffer when workers attend college. Students can bring school into the work place. I’ve been guilty of this practice and have paid the price. One night I tried to study at work, but my supervisor caught me reading my college textbook at my work station this was a problem, and after the supervisor asked me to put my book away and get back to work I was reprimanded, and now my supervisor doesn’t trust me. Sometimes students come to work very tired, which is another problem. For example when I don’t get enough sleep I can become rude to fellow co-workers, and then the rudeness can get me into trouble. I remember one particular time a co-worker reported me because I was sarcastic to her. She had spent a half hour complaining about my job performance and I had been too tired to be patient and I lost my temper. Once again, my supervisor reprimanded me and I was asked to leave for the night. Another time, school interfered with my job when I had to leave work early to take a make-up test at school. I know my supervisor was unhappy with me then, too. Arranging a schedule that will fit the needs of schooling is a solution to combat this problem. Working college students can also suffer outside of classes and the workplace. For example my schedule illustrates the conflicts of trying to take on too many duties. Since I work nights during the week, the weekends are a more convenient time that I can study. Because I have to use my weekends to do school work, I can’t do other things. My apartment is a mess since I have no time to clean it. Worse, my girlfriend is threatening to leave me because I have no social life. We never even go out like we once used to now when she comes over, I am too busy studying. However the rewards of earning a college degree in this economy can be the difference between having a job and having a career. Students who have sacrificed their time with hard work and determination are more likely to earn that degree. Students, who have responsibilities at home, work and college can face a cycle of stress. For example, I am constantly racing around trying to manage my time, and I can’t break the cycle. I want a college education, and I must have a job to pay my tuition and living expenses. The only way students can manage is to learn to manage their time. For example after speaking with my supervisor about the quest for a higher education he understands my situation and has rearranged a work schedule to fit the needs of my schooling. Now in my third semester at college, I’ve realized that working students have to be very organized to cope with the responsibilities of college, work, and home.

William Faulkner His Life and Stories

A renowned novelist, William Cuthbert Faulkner was born in New Albany, Mississippi in 1897 (The Columbia Encyclopedia). Eight years prior to his birth, his grandfather was killed by an ex-partner in business. William Faulkner was the eldest of the siblings. During his school life, William loved sports and was a quarterback in the football team and his passion for writing poetry existed since he was only 13 years old. However he lost interest in school and before he could graduate, he dropped out. Faulkner tried to get enlisted in the army but due to his short height, he was refused and thus enlisted himself with the Canadian Air Force after lying about facts and figures and convincing them that he was British. Although Faulkner did serve with the Canadian Air Force in World War I, the war was over before he could experience any action. However he still related tales of his action in war and injuries to people when he came back after the war. At the University of Mississippi, Faulkner studied literature for a brief period of time and wrote poems as well as drew cartoons for â€Å"The Scream† which was the university magazine. Again Faulkner lost interest in studies and soon left the university before he could graduate. Phil Stone, Faulkner's friend had helped with the publication of his poetry â€Å"The Marble Faun† in 1924. In 1925, Faulkner moved to New Orleans and published many sketches and essays in a magazine by the name of â€Å"The Double Dealer†. His stories which he related to people about how he fought in World War I were seen to be reflected in his first ever novel called â€Å"Soldiers' Pay†. Later on he traveled to Europe where he visited Italy, France and England and soon returned back to the United States. Soldier's Pay† was published in 1926 and Faulkner began writing another novel by the name of â€Å"Mosquitoes† which is taken today to be one of the worse works presented by Faulkner. Sartoris, which was later republished as â€Å"Flags in the Dust† in 1973, was written in 1929 and it was set in a fictional made up part of Mississippi. In the same year, Faulkner married Estelle Oldham. Estelle had divorced Franklin, her first husband who was a lawyer. The following year, after marriage, Faulkner purchased a new house in Oxford. Many of his works were named after buildings which showed the importance of architecture in the eyes of Faulkner. Faulkner completed his work on â€Å"As I Lay Dying† in six weeks and relates in it the life of Addie Bundren till death (Anonymous). 1931 brought good news to the Faulkner household with the birth of a daughter who was named Alabama. However happiness was not to stay with the Faulkners for long and the child who was a case of premature birth, died after a couple of days. Faulkner also worked for 20th Century Fox, in Hollywood as an on-screen writer. In 1939 his mistress left him and went to Germany with her newly wedded husband. â€Å"Bailey's Woods† was purchased by Faulkner which a wooded land and he gave it to one of his brothers for management. Faulkner also related the death of his grandfather in one of the later books where we find a character called Bayard Sartoris who was murdered in the exact same way. Much of Faulkner's life was spent writing various novels which proved to be a remarkable piece of literature. In November 1949, Faulkner was voted to receive the Nobel Prize but due to the votes not being unanimous, the award was delayed to be delivered the following year. Faulkner died from a coronary occlusion in 1962. Barn Burning is one of the short stories written by William Faulkner. It was written in 1939 which was the mid point in the career life of William Faulkner. Faulkner is known to have related real life incidences in his stories and they closely relate to him and his life. Similarly Barn Burning has this association prevalent throughout it. It is a sad story and shows the struggle which the unprivileged had to undergo with the privileged people of the society. The two main characters of this story are Colonel Sartoris Snopes and his father Abner Snopes. In the feudal system shown in the story, Abner Snopes is a sharecropper and has to share the majority of his produce with the landlord. This left Abner and his family in a state of hard work and major profits going to the landlord while they received the meager share fit only for survival. The elements of love and respect are missing in the relationship between Colonel Sartoris and his father. The story begins with a scene in the courtroom where a case is under hearing against Abner Snopes. Mr. Harris has accused him of burning his barn and due to lack of evidence Abner is released. However the judge asks him to leave the country. For the first time Abner replies and the reader comes to find out the Abner has a voice â€Å"cold and harsh†. He states that he wishes to leave the country himself. Abner is seen to be referred by people as the â€Å"Barn Burner†. Privilege to education was not for Colonel Sartoris or his siblings to enjoy and nutrition was another factor missing from their lives. They â€Å"could smell the coffee from the room where they would presently eat the cold food remaining from the mid-afternoon meal. † William Faulkner stresses on these two missing factors to show the low morale of the people in the book. This is closely related to the low morale of the people of his time that belonged to the middle class. In â€Å"Barn Burning† Abner Snopes is also depicted as a man who is loyal to no one other than himself or his family (which is a mere extension of himself)† (Max L. Loges, p. 44). The family is forced to shift from one farm to another as Abner's behavior is considered unacceptable by all the landlords. Eventually Abner ends up burning his landlord's farm. Colonel Sartoris feared that he might end up becoming like his father and he detested this thought. He disliked his father but did not want to be disloyal to his family and thought â€Å"our Enemy he though in that despair; ourn! ine and hisn both! He's my Father! † Sartoris wanted to become a better man and a man of truth, something which his father was not. Although Sartoris felt that his father had faced enough hardships during war and now he was just taking what was rightfully his. Sartoris did not know that Abner ran away from the war and deserted the troops. After burning the farm of Major de Spain, Sartoris had to decide now whether he was going to tell everyone the truth or lie to protect his father. It was time for Sartoris to make himself the better person he wanted to. The economic conditions presented in the story relates to the economic conditions of William Faulkner at that time. Therefore William Faulkner wrote against the economic injustice which he himself went through. The mansion and woods are what attracted Faulkner a lot and in his life he does purchase these after marriage. In all the story does not closely relate to the life of Faulkner but one can see its reflection in it. â€Å"A Rose for Emily† has a very long opening sentence that is of 56 words and the setting is at the funeral of Emily Grierson. This story was originally published in 1930. The circumstances of Emily's life are narrated by Faulkner and her relationship with her lover, father and the townspeople. â€Å"‘Rose for Emily' has been ‘read variously as a Gothic horror tale, a study in abnormal psychology, an allegory of the relations between North and South, a meditation on the nature of time, and a tragedy with Emily as a sort of tragic heroine'† (Anonymous). The narrator informs the reader that the men of the town attended the funeral of Emily due to an obligation which they felt. The women go inside her house because no one has seen the inside of Emily's house for a long period of time measurable by years. â€Å"The men through a sort of respectful affection for a fallen monument, the women mostly out of curiosity to see the inside of her house, which no one save an old man-servant–a combined gardener and cook–had seen in at least ten years†. Emily was more like a mystery to the town and people were inquisitive about her house and herself. In this take we once again come across the character called Colonel Sartoris who was shown to be a former mayor of the town. Emily was a beautiful young girl whose father had to force away everyone who fell in love with her. This behavior was partially in effect due to the high praises that her family would receive by the town and this affected her life a lot. After the death of her father, when Emily was free to choose and do what she willed, she came in contact with a man who Faulkner has named Homer Barron. Mentally immature, Emily clung onto him and fell deeply in love with him. The whole town was aware of their affair and wondered if they were already married to each other. Soon Homer disappeared and it was assumed that he and Emily were married. When the women went to explore Emily's house they came across a room which was not opened and the townspeople went to open that room. The room was full of dust and was â€Å"decked and furnished as for a bridal. † Male clothing was found there which included shoes, collar, suit and a tie. â€Å"Then shockingly, laying right there in the bed was the man†. The townspeople were in state of astonishment and they remained motionless for a while. Homer was killed by Emily so that he would never leave her again and be with her till eternity. Faulkner presents a psychological condition in Emily and the effects imprisonment can cause once a person is free. The bisexual possibilities housed in the narrator of â€Å"A Rose for Emily† reflect just such capabilities in Faulkner and attest to his attempts to interrogate the gender control inherent in authorship† (Renee R. Curry, p. 391). He describes Emily's house as an intimate space. Faulkner portrays in this story his personal stance regarding the patriarchal societies. â€Å"A Rose for Emily† shows that in a male dominating society, man controls the women but they do not realize the negative effects which this forceful control can bring about and indeed such actions soon gave rise to feminism. Dry September is another one of the great works in English literature in the field of short stories. William Faulkner knew how to write and exhibited a classic style of writing. The story is about Will Mayes, a black man falsely accused of sexually assaulting an old white maid known in this story as Minnie Cooper. The story relates to the different classes and social standards practiced by the then southern society. Minnie Cooper is a victim of such elements in the society. The bulk of the story is about the black man, Will Mayes, being wrongly sentenced to death. The story however also outlines the social and moral plummeting of a woman. Although in this story a woman is the cause of the death of an innocent man, Faulkner with his amazing style of writing makes it seem like an understandable event. This short story was first published in 1931 and Faulkner was paid $200 for this remarkable piece of writing (Anonymous). The story starts with the words â€Å"through the bloody September night†. These words are carefully chosen by Faulkner and not only do they describe the sunset but also the murder of the innocent black man. A rumor had spread â€Å"like a fire in dry grass† and the aftermath would be the death of a man who was innocent. So the story starts off with the image of murder, injustice and violence and this is the main theme of the story. â€Å"Stale pomade† and â€Å"stale breath and odors† are the expressive words used by Faulkner to present to the readers the barbaric unjust ambiance. Faulkner further states that no one really knew what happened and thus he takes a step further in portraying the extent of injustice that was about to take place. No one knew yet a man was about to be sentenced to death. The story has been divided into sections where the first section is in the barbershop and the following one deals will Minnie and her life. The part where Faulkner deals with Minnie and her life, the reader comes to learn that Minnie herself is a victim of the society and she lives in a place where she is constantly ignored. The last section shows the male dominated society and the helplessness of women when McLendon physically abuses his wife. Faulkner is seen to bring out the wrongness in a male dominated society and thus expresses the ugliness of it in many of his stories including â€Å"Dry September†. In that male dominated society, a woman was noticed and given importance only if she was sexually appealing and good looking. Minnie was no longer attractive and â€Å"the sitting and lounging men did not even follow her with their eyes any more†. This made Minnie feel not important and nonexistent. She probably even doubted her being a female. The town felt sorry for Minnie and a mob killed Willie assuming that Willie had raped the old maid. Faulkner expresses in the story the prejudices that existed in his own surroundings. He censored the description of the killing of Willie so that the reader does not wander off the actual point that Faulkner is trying to convey. He wanted his audience to know the reasons for such injustices and to cure them. â€Å"Faulkner's views are revealed to the reader with the help of numerous details: the society where people commit a crime is cruel† (T. Fedorova). While Willie is a victim to people like Millie, Millie herself is a victim to the male dominated society where the importance of a woman is only till the time she is young and beautiful. Faulkner wishes such elements to be eradicated from the society in which he lives.

School Prayer Essays - Prayer, Spiritual Practice, Spirituality

School Prayer Essays - Prayer, Spiritual Practice, Spirituality School Prayer School Prayer By Danielle Clark Block 1 Speech 105 I. Intro- Contrary to the claims, students have the Constitutional right to pray in school, either individually or in informal groups so long as the prayer is not organized by the school. But if the students only knew what they were really doing by praying in school. II. First of all they are going against the Bible. As to quote, Matthew 6:5-6: And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray... So as you can see those who pray in places such as the cafeteria, middle of the hall or things of that nature is actually going against the bible. Now I am not saying that a person should not pray in schools, but they should do it just as the Bible says in a personal place. If a student can't find a personal place, and have an undesirable need to pray, they need to not make a big deal out of it. Praying as put in the Bible is a personal experience between that person and God. Not an event to be proclaimed up and down the hallway. III. Another problem there is with praying in schools is the fact that there are some students who don't believe in God. The purpose of a democracy is to have the majority decide but yet always respect the rights of the minority. Some administrators, teachers, parents, and most importantly, kids, just feel uncomfortable when it comes to religion. Several factors could be attributed to this problem, from too many religions and religious theories to religious pressure to lack thereof. But whatever the reason some people feel offended by seeing these students pray. They think that their rights are being infringed upon. Well in example, if a shirt some student is wearing offends a person they tell someone about being offended. Someone else is also offended and so they tell someone. These 2 people influenced by what they have heard tell more people. This chain reaction continues until that kind of shirt is not allowed in schools, in example Marilynn Manson shirts. The minority there is the students wanting to wear the shirts; the majority is the people offended by it. The majority spoke and the minority is told to fallow. But now it is the minority being offended no one cares to do anything about it. IV. The last problem I have are the advocates of school prayer say that without it there is moral decline, blaming the absence of school prayer for everything from low SAT scores to teenage pregnancy. But it just won't work. In fact, legislated school prayer would make things worse. For a school to require students to recite, for example, a Christian prayer would give Christianity a special status, implying that other religions are somehow inferior. One religion would be pitted against another, conflicts would arise, and intolerance would grow. The only palatable compromise in a directed public school prayer would be a watered-down prayer that would be meaningless to the deeply religious and an infringement on those who follow no religion. Some of our senators are trying to pass an amendment in have school prayer required. But the First Amendment begins Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof... If we were to have this school wide required prayer we would be in essance establishing a religion. And even though what they are trying to pass is a constitutional amendment it goes against on of the main things our forefathers came here for. The First Amendment is one of the finest laws man has ever written. For over two hundred years, it continues to mean exactly what it was originally intended to mean: Religion and other fundamental rights should remain beyond the reach of majorities and governments, and certainly not subjected to the political whims of Congress. Bibliography Biblyography FAQ. Prayer in Schools. atheists.org/schoolhouse/faqs.prayer.html. Downloaded December 16, 1999 Maryland teen walks out of Graduation over Prayer. Prayer in schools. freedomforum.org/religion/1999/5/28mdgradprayer.asp Downloaded December 16, 1999 Smudge Report. Bible verse. smudgereport.com/longstories/prayer.html Downloaded December 16,

7 Steps to a Successful Georgetown Application

7 Steps to a Successful Georgetown Application SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Georgetown University is one of the most selective universities in the country- less than 17% of students who apply there get accepted.However, understanding the application and what Georgetown admissions officers are looking for when they review your application can give you a serious leg up over the rest of the competition. In this guide, we go over everything you need to know about the Georgetown University application, including what you need to submit, every Georgetown application deadline, what admissions officers are looking for when they review applications, and how you can make each key part of your application stand out from the pack. Key Info About the Georgetown Application It’s important to know the key information about the Georgetown University application early on so that you'll have plenty of time to gather and submit all the materials you need before deadlines. Where to Find the Georgetown Application: You can find the Georgetown application here. This page also has links to application FAQs and deadlines. How to Submit the Application: When you’ve completed the Georgetown application, you can submit it by hitting the â€Å"Submit† button at the end of the application. SAT and/or ACT scores must be sent directly to Georgetown. When to Submit Your Application: It’s very important to know each Georgetown application deadline because missing just one could mean your application won’t be looked at. Below is every Georgetown University application deadline you need to be aware of: Deadline Action November 1 Deadline for Early Action applications December 15 Announcement of Early Action results January 10 Deadline for Regular Decision applications February 1 Deadline for financial aid forms: FAFSA and CSS Profile April 1 Announcement of Regular Decision results May 1 Reply date for all accepted first year students Source: Georgetown Office of Undergraduate Admissions Looking at the above chart, you can see that the Georgetown University application deadline for Early Action is November 1, and the deadline for Regular Decision is January 10,though on their website Georgetown does recommend submitting your application earlier if you can. Early action is not binding, which means that, even if you apply Early Action to Georgetown, you can still apply to and accept a place at other schools. Early Action just gives you the benefit of knowing Georgetown’s decision earlier (although some Early Action applicants get deferred to the Regular Decision pool). How to Apply to Georgetown Completing and submitting your Georgetown application is a fairly straightforward process. Below are the seven steps you need to follow. Georgetown recommends you complete the first three steps as soon as possible, ideally over the summer or in early fall. Step 1: Fill Out and Submit the Georgetown Application The Georgetown application can be found here, and it should only take you about 10-15 minutes to fill out.It contains mostly demographic information, such as your address and contact info, including those of your parent(s). Submitting this form allows Georgetown to create an applicant file for you, the first step in considering you for admission. It also initiates the alumni interview process (see Step 6). At the end of this form, you'll pay the $75 application fee by inputting your credit or debit card information. If this fee is a financial burden for you, you may request a fee waiver. Step 2: Create an Applicant Profile After completing Step 1, you'll receive instructions within 24 hours via email on how to create an application account.You'll be able tolog into this account anytime. This Georgetown account makes it possible for you to track your recommendation requests and save your work on the Application Supplement. Here's what the Georgetown application looks like in PDF form. Step 3: Complete the Georgetown Request for Secondary School Report, Teacher’s Report, and Midyear School Report To complete this form, you’ll need to know the name and email address of both your high school counselor and the teacher writing your recommendation. After you submit these forms, those two people will each receive an email telling them what to do next so that Georgetown can receive your transcript and letter of recommendation. Here are the PDF versions of the Secondary School Report, the Teacher's Report, and the Midyear School Reportfor your reference (note that you'll actually be filling these out on your Georgetown online application account described in Step 2). Step 4: Submit the Application Supplement You’ll next need to submit the application supplement, which you can save and go back to as many times as you need. The supplement is where you’ll enter info about your extracurriculars, state what area you plan on majoring in, and write your essays. Step 5: Submit Your Standardized Test Scores You’ll need to submit general SAT and ACT scores, and it’s strongly recommended that you submit three SAT Subject Test scores as well.Georgetown’s SAT code is 5244, and its ACT code is 0668. Georgetown requires scores from all test sittings. So, for example, if you took the ACT twice, the SAT once, and SAT Subject Tests four times, you’d need to submit scores from each of those test dates. If you’re applying Early Action, you are not required to submit three SAT Subject Tests scores by the Early Action deadline, and your application will still be reviewed in full. However, if your application is deferred from Early Action to Regular Decision, it’s expected you’ll have three Subject Test scores to submit by the Regular Decision deadline. If there are extenuating circumstances preventing you from completing three Subject Tests by the Regular Decision deadline, you can write a letter to the admissions committee explaining your situation. Step 6: Have an Alumni Interview All first-year applicants are required to have an interview with a Georgetown alum, provided one lives in the same city/region as they do. Georgetown does not have on-campus interviews, and if there are no alumni near you, this requirement is waived and it won’t hurt your application. You’ll receive information via mail or email explaining how to set up the interview, typically two to four weeks after you complete Step 1. Step 7: (Optional) Submit Any Supplemental Materials If you are interested in an art, music, theater, or dance program at Georgetown, you have the option to send in supplemental materials, but this is not required. Georgetown Application Checklist To recap, below is everything you need to submit when you apply to Georgetown. You can use this application checklist to stay organized and make sure you've submitted all the required materials. Your application won’t be considered until all the pieces below have been received by Georgetown: Georgetown Application Secondary School Report (including transcript) Teacher Recommendation Application Fee of $75.00 SAT/ACT scores Alumni Interview (Optional but strongly recommended) Three SAT Subject Test scores (Optional) Supplemental Materials (for art, music, theater, and dance) What Does the Georgetown Application Committee Look For? What Makes a Strong Georgetown Application? What makes a standout Georgetown application? Like other universities,Georgetown wants to admit students that they feel will excel at their school, both academically and socially.They want students who will do well in their classes and also work well with professors, fellow students, and university groups. Georgetown also wants to admit those who will have a positive impact on the school and the world in general, both while they’re students and after they graduate. In order to make the most accurate admissions decisions, Georgetown looks at a variety of factors that could indicate future success at the school. Below are some of the most important factors: Academic Excellence Georgetown wants to know you can excel in their classes, so they'll look for academic excellence in your application.There are usually three factors that show academic excellence: Your GPA The rigor of the classes you took in high school Your standardized test scores Being strong in each of these three areas proves to Georgetown that you can handle (and do well with) difficult coursework. The next section gives more specific information on what grades and test scores you should be aiming for. If you've participatedin academic competitions and done well in them, you can also show academic excellence that way. Leadership Skills Georgetown wants leaders at their school because leaders are more likely to have an impact at the school and after they graduate. You can show leadership skills by taking on higher roles in extracurriculars, starting your own club or fundraiser, or gaining more responsibilityat your job or internship. Anything that shows that you took initiative and were able to excel with additional responsibilities will prove that you have the potential to be a strong leader at Georgetown and beyond. Passion for Your Future Major Students who are passionate about what they are studying are more likely to get better grades and do well in their careers after they graduate. In order to prove your excitement for what you're going to study at Georgetown, your application should indicate that you've taken classes and pursued extracurriculars in that subject area during high school. For example, if you want to major in pre-med and eventually become a doctor, your high school transcript should include lots of science- and math-oriented classes, while your extracurriculars could include activities such as being part of a science club, volunteering at a hospital, etc. Sociability Getting good grades is important, but Georgetown also wants students who will be part of the campus community and get along with other students. This skill makes the campus a happier place, and more engaged students often have a larger positive impact on their school. Being involved in a group club or sports team demonstrates sociability, and the people writing your letters of recommendation can also mention your strong people skills. 5 Key Sections of the Georgetown Application and How to Do Well on Them For a school as competitive as Georgetown, your application needs to be strong across the board. Below are the five key parts of the Georgetown application as well as tips for how you can excel on each one to impress admissions officers: #1: High School Transcript Your transcript shows Georgetown three essential pieces of info: which classes you took, how difficult they were, and the grades you received in them. In terms of the number of years of classes in different subjects, Georgetownrecommends the following: Four years of English At least two years of social studies At least two years of a foreign language At least two years of math At least one year of natural science There are additional class recommendations depending on what you want to major in at Georgetown. You can see those recommendations here. Georgetown has rigorous classes, and they want to see applicants who have already challenged themselves by taking advanced classes in high school.If your school offers honors, AP, and/or IB classes, you should aim to take at least some of these advanced classes, especially those in the field you plan to major in. It’s also important to get high grades in those classes. Accepted Georgetown students have an average GPA of about 4.01. This means you'll probably need to be at the top of your class, taking honors/AP/IB classes, and only getting a few Bs in high school. High grades are most important in classes related to your future major. #2: Standardized Test Scores While Georgetown has no minimum score requirements for the SAT/ACT,because admission is so competitive, you should aim for a high standardized test score. A safe score to aim for is the 75th percentile score for admitted Georgetown students. Meeting this score for either the SAT or ACT means you will have scored higher than 75% of other admitted students, which puts you in a strong position during the admissions process. A 75th percentile score for Georgetown is either a 34 on the ACT or a 1550 on the SAT. You can get scores lower than this and still get accepted, but these are solid goal scores to try to aim for. Note thatGeorgetown doesn’t look at writing scores for either test, so you don’t need to take the optional SAT Essay or ACT Writing section. Although SAT Subject Test scores aren’t technically required, because Georgetown strongly recommends taking them, you should treat this as a requirement. You’ll need three Subject Test scores, and although these likely won’t be as important as your general SAT/ACT scores, you should still aim for a high score, ideally a 700 or higher. It’s also helpful if at least one of the Subject Tests relates to the subject you plan on majoring in to show Georgetown you already have strong skills in that area. You can read our guide to learn more about what a good SAT Subject Test score is. #3: Letters of Recommendation You’ll need just one letter of recommendation for Georgetown, so try to ask a teacher who knows you well and thinks highly of you.A strong letter of rec will include specific examples of your academic abilities and personal skills; it willalso explain why you’re an excellent applicant for Georgetown. Speak to the person you’d like to write your letter fairly early, ideally at the end of your junior year or beginning of your senior year, especially since Georgetown recommends filling out the Teacher’s Report (which is sent to your recommender) early on in the application process.Check out our guide for more information on who to ask to write your letter of recommendation and a step-by-step guide on how to ask. #4: Essays Georgetown requires three essays. The first essay is a short answer and should be about half a page (single-spaced). The other two essaysshould be approximately one single-spaced page each.Below are the current Georgetown essay prompts: Short Essay:Briefly (approximately one-half page, single-spaced) discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which youhave been most involved. Essay 1:As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in yourown words. Please submit a brief essay, either personal or creative, which you feel best describes you. Essay 2: The prompt for this essay depends on what you plan on majoring in. Applicants to Georgetown College:What does it mean to you to be educated? How might Georgetown College help you achievethis aim? (Applicants to the Sciences and Mathematics or the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics should address their chosencourse of study). Applicants to the School of Nursing Health Studies:Describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studyinghealthcare. Please specifically address your intended major (Global Health, Health Care Management Policy, Human Science,orNursing). Applicants to the Walsh School of Foreign Service:Briefly discuss a current global issue, indicating why you consider itimportant and what you suggest should be done to deal with it. Applicants to the McDonough School of Business:The McDonough School of Business is a national and global leader inproviding graduates with essential ethical, analytical, financial and global perspectives. Please discuss your motivations for studying business at Georgetown. In the first two Georgetown essay prompts, you get the chance to discuss yourself and why you’re a strong candidate for admission. Be sure to use specific examples that let admissions officers see what you care about and why you would be an asset to Georgetown.They want to see someone who is passionate about something and will use that passion to excel in school and have a positive impact on Georgetown. The final essay gives you a chance to show Georgetown what your future plans are. Having an idea of what you want to study and how your education will help you achieve your goals indicates that you’re thinking ahead and have big plans for the future. Be sure to reference specific resources at Georgetown, such as study abroad options, student groups, or research opportunities you're interested in. This shows that you’ve done your research on Georgetown and know how to make the most of what it offers to help you achieve your goals. Check out this step-by-step guide for more info on how to write a great college essay. #5: Extracurriculars Your extracurriculars are also an important part of your Georgetown application.The best way to stand out with your extracurriculars is to emphasize your passion and leadership skills. You can do this by pursuing extracurriculars in a field related to your future major, sticking with them, and achieving leadership roles in them. Learn more about thetypes of extracurriculars you'll need to have to get into top-tier schools. Recap: Georgetown University Application Georgetown is a very competitive school, but understanding its application process and what admissions officers are looking for can help increase your odds of getting in. There are multiple parts of the Georgetown application, and it’s extremely important to know each major deadline in the application process. You’ll need to submit either SAT or ACT scores, and it’s highly recommended that you submit scores from three SAT Subject Tests as well. There are also two Georgetown essay prompts you'll need to complete. When looking over your application, admissions officers want applicants whom they believe will excel academically and develop strong personal relationships at Georgetown. When applying to a school as competitive as Georgetown is, you really can’t have many weak areas in your application. It’s vital to go through each key area- including your grades, standardized test scores, letter of recommendation, essays, and extracurriculars- and try tomake them as strong as possible to maximize your chances of getting accepted to Georgetown. What's Next? Wondering what a good SAT score is? Learn how to set a goal score based on the schools you want to get into. Want to know how to make your extracurriculars stand out even more? Check out this guide to four amazing extracurricular activities and learn why they're so impressive to colleges. Trying to decide between community college classes and AP classes?Which one looks better on college applications? Read our guide for a complete overview of both. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: