...Sample Final Exam Essay: Legalize Gay Marriage English—Mr. Fichter (This sample essay is based upon a student-written essay from last year. The student author is anonymous.) Homosexuality is everywhere. You can see it in books, on television, in the media; it is rapidly becoming a social norm. Given this trend of greater acceptance of gay marriage, the issue of whether to legalize same-sex marriage naturally arises. Massachusetts has led the way by legalizing gay marriage. Responding to this example, some states have taken steps towards accepting gay marriage while others are considering laws and constitutional amendments banning gay marriage within state borders. President George Bush has recently proposed a ban on gay marriage in the U.S. Constitution (Hulse). If Americans carefully examine the situation, however, they should all be able to understand the importance of making same-sex marriage legal in the United States. Those opposing same-sex marriage claim that by allowing this act, marriages everywhere will lose their honor and validity (Kurtz). Marriages between a man and a woman would lose their special importance, these opponents argue, if the definition of marriage is expanded to include same-sex couples as well. The test of time has proven this fear pointless. For several years, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands have allowed gay marriage without any signs of damage to heterosexual couples. Social life in these countries continues unchanged, and...
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...Tani’qua Jones Dr. Boyd American Lit. After reading and analyzing de Crevecoeur’s essay, “What is an American,” one could argue that the entire purpose of the essay was to describe an egalitarianism society, a society which has never existed in his eyes. De Crevecoeur was raised in a family of Counts and Countesses, experiencing the fortune of being born into a wealthy and prosperous family, while witnesses the misfortune of those who weren’t. Through the details and images described, from his experiences, in Letters of an American Farmer we obtain the true sense of being English or French; something de Crevecoeur wasn’t all too proud to be called. John de Crevecoeur was more honored to be called an American, working as a farmer, a life vastly different from the comfort and riches of being a Count. In “What is an American,” De Crevecoeur compares Europe and America to define the nature of being an American. And he illustrates throughout the essay, why the great American frontier is preferred by the vast majority. Although de Crevecoeur was born in France, he sees himself as an Englishman who has come to settle in America. Through his eyes we explore the differences he encounters in America that he would never discover in England. Most of these changes are based on his experience of being an American farmer, working on the beautiful open frontier. Here de Crevecoeur sees the industry of his native country displayed in a new manner, “there are no great manufacturers employing...
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...In the society, we as citizens of the United States live today has a duty being civil disobedience. It is the meaning of breaking a law that is to believed as immoral or unjust to a fellow citizen. Throughout the years starting from the year of 1848, the idea of civil disobedience has been progressively developing within our nation. This conception has been established by allowing Americans fulfilling their duty of civil disobedience by engaging in amicable protest and armistice demonstrations to perpetuate the injustice that is being provided. Withal, in the essay “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience” written by Henry David Thoreau, the author believes that it is the citizen’s duty to practice civil disobedience to demonstrate the unjust laws that are being presented from the government. Thoreau states that the fellow citizens should demonstrate civil disobedience when it “requires you to the...
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...William Hudson's book American Democracy in Peril, has given several challenges facing democracy in American. Hudson's seventh challenge to America's democracy is the “national security state”. Hudson starts the chapter off talking about Ronald Reagan's administration and their involvement in Central America. He talks CIA director William Casey involvement in the conflicted and how he created the contra to prevent the Saninistas from supplying the rebels in El Salvador. Hudson also talks about Oliver North and John Poindexter and the Iran-contra and how they, with the support of Casey, created a hidden government inside the government that used government resources to achieve their own political agenda as Hudson puts it. In the end, North and Poindexter claimed they did what they did for national security. As indicated to Hudson "national security state" from the Iran-contra. Hudson believes "national security state" is harmful to democracy. This essay will investigate the four practices and dispositions associated with "national security...
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...In his essay, Fussell discusses the necessity of the atom bomb during World War II. Many claim that using the bomb on Japanese civilians was cruel and inhumane while others believe that utilizing such an explosive was the most successful way to prompt the enemy’s surrender. Fussell addresses the debate over the effectiveness of the atom bomb in his piece. Fussell makes several claims as to why the atom bomb was essential in making the Japanese surrender and bringing about peace among the two nations. He supports these claims with several facts about the war throughout his essay and uses quotes from numerous individuals to strengthen his argument. For example, John Kenneth Galbraith argued that the atomic bombs were “unecessary and unjustified” (18) because they only ended the war about “two or three weaks early.” (18) However, Fussell states that bombing Japan aided in saving a multitude of American soldiers would have otherwise died on the...
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...In the essay, “Aria:Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood,” Richard Rodriguez exposes the readers to the nature of being bilingual and living in America. Richard Rodriguez not only emphasizes the sound of language but also the context behind it. Through his paragraphs, he goes into depth about the education system, the public, private, and intimacy language, and how much coming home has changed over the years for him. In his essay, “Aria: Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood”, Rodriguez uses anecdotes, strong arguments, and his own voice to successfully argue that bilingual education is impractical, and a child using their native language as well as English in school and public life is not needed. In the first chapter, Rodriguez talks about the struggles of growing up in a Mexican home but when he leaves his house, he enters a whole new world. Using anecdotes Rodriguez states, “I was a bilingual child, a certain kind - socially disadvantaged - the son of working-class parents, both Mexican immigrants” (Rodriguez 322). Rodriguez uses many anecdotes like this throughout the essay to persuade his readers that being bilingual isn’t an advantage. As a child it can be very difficult going to a school where English is the primary language, and so Rodriguez felt that his native language was one that was private. His language was not socially acceptable by others and so he felt that he was obligated to learn the public language which was English. And until he learned English he didn’t feel welcomed...
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...well-written essay, discuss at least two rhetorical elements in the essay you chose from the practice AP test. Relate these devices to one or more of the rhetorical appeals. Consider the following: What effect do these devices or use of language have on the audience? How do these devices or use of language help communicate the speaker’s purpose? How effective are these devices and use of language in communicating the speaker’s purpose? Include specific details from the text. Two pages minimum. (Double spaced, Times New Roman, 12) *If you create a SOAPSTone chart, turn it in with your essay. Civil Disobedience Essay Henry David Thoreau, an American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax...
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...Press and Society February 9, 2012 News in American Society News is defined as “a report of recent events” or “previously unknown information” (Websters Dictionary). News should be something that has a specified influence of effect. For instance, good news would be the end of a war and bad news would be the beginning of a war, and so forth. “News has two priorities: it must be current, and it must mean something to people” (Media Awareness Network). What is the purpose of this news though? There are many objectives of news, but the main objective of news is to inform the audience (Media Awareness Network). This is because of the notion “Intrinsic Human”, better said as a need to know society. We live in a society that definitely needs to know what is going on around them; whether it is locally or half way across the world. Without news, people tend to stress and sometimes are faced with anxiety (Philip Benoit, Powerpoint). With that said, informing the people of such “news” is the job of the news media. The media inform people locally, nationally, and globally about what is going on around them and the important events that have happened in the past, present, and are going to be happening in the future. If we cannot directly observe everything that is going on around us, we must have another way to observe; and the only other option is for a person(s) to find that news for us and make us, as a society, aware. “For much of American history the mass media have been the center...
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...Illegal immigration, citizenship, and peoples rights are all things many people don’t know much about, and some things people know aren’t completely true, what they do know is usually someone else’s perspective rather than the truth. I hope that this essay sheds more light on what the law of soil, the law of blood, birthright citizenship, anchor babies, illegal immigrants, the 13 amendment, and the 14th amendment really are. There are four ways you can gain United States citizenship, one of these is by being born in the united states or one of its territories, another way is for both of your parents to be American citizens. Third, you can be a citizen through the naturalization process, which generally involves applying for, and passing,...
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...rest of this essay will briefly describe these, scrutinize their pros and cons and identify the best among the lot. The essay finally attempts to find ‘the best’ system’s suitability to the United States economy and the possible consequences in the event of being applied. In terms of ‘cost to patient’, the United Kingdom’s healthcare system is the undisputed leader in the world. The government acts in twin roles of 1.healthcare provider and 2.patient insurer. The government gathers funds for healthcare costs beforehand through an ingenuous method of taxation. Of course, as could be expected with a “socialized medicine” model, there are the usual bureaucratic hassles. But apart from that, the UK healthcare system boasts an enviable record of health management and impressive patient outcomes. The National Health Service (NHS) is the central government agency that takes care of all aspects of catering to citizens’ health. The film then goes on to show the workings of the healthcare system of Japan. Here, the system is slightly different, in that, it is a “social insurance” system, wherein the costs are distributed between the employers, non-profit community organizations and citizens. While insurance companies and hospitals in Japan are predominantly in the private sector, they are very well regulated. In this system, monthly premiums cost only $280 for an entire family. The German model is quite similar to the Japanese one, the only difference being that citizens are free to...
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...Abstract This paper seeks a philosophical insight of democracy in general and American democracy in particular by unfolding the paradoxes entailed to whittle a credible conclusion. It attempts to explore contradictions of democracy whether democracy is a best system of governance? Is true democracy possible? Has it to be moral in character? Why other systems of governance tend to challenge the basic fabrics of democracy? Why democracy has turned out to be more productive than other forms of government? Then focus shifts to paradoxes entailed in self evident truth of American democracy. Is American democracy a representative of a true democracy? Does it cater the smaller factions of society? Has the democratic system fostered the rights of liberty, justice, life and pursuit of happiness to good effect for masses once challenged by terrorism, racism, poverty and recession? What good it has brought to its people? Why does America deserve to lead world community? Finally, conclusion is inquired about by addressing the question that How American dream can be pursued in its true democratic meaning? Isn’t it strange that few render democracy as the bludgeoning of the people, by the people, for the people? On the other hand, for some, it is a government of all the people, by all the people, for all the people; a government after the principles of eternal justice, the unchanging law of God; the idea of freedom. Idea of democracy as rule of people traces its expression from...
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...immigrant, and immigrants deserve rights as well as citizens 2. What motivational proofs are present in the essay? How does the author appeal to what people are expected to want? How do the motivational appeals help support the claim? b. The signs the protesters are holding saying “NO HUMAN BEING IS ILLEGAL. I AM A WORKER, NOT A CRIMINAL. TODAY I MARCH, TOMORROW I VOTE. I PAY TAXES” also the fact that many immigrants pay taxes and other things like social security, helping to fund vital operations of our government c. He appeals to what people are expected to want by showing that immigrants are just as productive and beneficial to our governmental system as a citizen therefore proving there worth and there right to be treated as equals in our society d. Motivational appeals help his claim because equality of people is a fundamental of this country, and the signs of the people are calling for equality because they due there part in what the government requires of its people 3. What value proofs are present in the essay? How do the appeals to values help support the claim? e. He shows the value of hard work by these men and women that are not here legally. They provide the base for the argument that immigration laws need to change for those individuals who are truly here for a better life. Value that all men, or women are created equal. 4. How does this essay appeal to your feelings? f. Being that my wife is an illegal immigrant, this article...
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...Immigration Citizens Children The Effects of Immigration on Children and Families Introduction Illegal immigration is a very controversial issue within our society. There are families within our society that are made up of parents that are here illegally but have children who are born here and are citizens. But it is these citizens that are what I am referring to as the incomplete citizens. Who are these incomplete citizens and why are they being impacted by our society? Are there different stipulations for these children that are born to these undocumented families? Do they really receive the same rights as those born to U.S. citizens? Our societies including our politicians have different opinions about illegal immigration. Immigration reform negatively affects those children that are born to undocumented parents. They find themselves facing adversities that had the situation been different would never have to face. Working in an elementary school I have seen first hand how those children are affected as a result of their parent’s legal status. My purpose in this research is to show the emotional, educational, and financial effects that are inflicted on the undocumented families. This is a problem that is not going to be resolved overnight but rather this is a problem that is going to need help from the various disciplines. With this research more information will be found to present how children are affected through the different disciplines and how these disciplines...
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...An Analysis on “Are Too Many People Going to College” Charles Murray’s essay proposes that American colleges are being flooded with individuals who are either unprepared for higher education or who are simply forced into attending college and can’t succeed because of the lack of certain innate abilities. Murray’s essay goes on to take issue with the idea that the pursuit of a traditional college education is somehow strategically creating a separation of the American class system. While Murray makes many salient points with regards to America’s obsession with college education as a standard into a class of the intellectual elite, the essay fails to take into consideration the various motivators that can lead to student success, despite where that student might be on Murray’s ability ladder (Murray Paragraph 13). This essay seeks to analyze Murray’s claims about why the pursuit of a traditional, four-year college education can do more harm than good when it comes to defining success for the individual learner. Rhetorical Analysis The main thesis of Murray’s essay is that the unrealistic pursuit of a college degree, propagates to children at an early age and does more harm than good. Murray claims that many students do not have the ability needed to enjoy and complete a four-year college education (PARAGRAPH 13). Murray further supports his thesis with his reasoning that more people are going to college because they are indoctrinated, regardless of their skilled ability, to...
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...August 25, 2013 Mr. Meeks American Literature What is an American? When immigrants come to America, it is for certain reasons that their newly found land is now their home. Many immigrants choose America as their destination because of their overcrowded cities, in search of religion, a chance to manage their own land to have a better lifestyle, and to have a chance to make a better living. Also, to have less government interference and a greater voice of government are all reasons to get the attention of immigrants to travel to America. An essay well written by the author by the name of Michael-Guillaume Jean de Crevecoeur, was a French immigrant who sought on the ideas on what is an American. He arrived in New York in 1759 spending ten years as a surveyor and a trader. In 1782, he publishes a collection of twelve essays called Letters of an American Farmer under the name of J. Hector St. John, before he published What is an American? These immigrants at the time were looking for a new place to settle to have an equal opportunity for land and freedom, but the meaning of a true American is the question on everyone’s minds. Me belief on what is an American is the current or natural born citizen living in America that can be a part of a culture, and live life to the fullest. Americans can be natural born citizens, and/or immigrants that come from all over the world. America was a prime destination for immigrants due to the fact that you had freedom, and opportunity...
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