Prometheus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Prometheus - Essay Example Prometheus was a very clever witted and wily Titan whose job was to mould mankind from clay. All these aspects help to show how he was a harbinger of good deeds for mankind as he was always concerned with trying to make humanity better. For this reason alone, he often clashed with Zeus, who was opposed to the idea of having any form of humanity other than that of the Titan clan. For stealing fire from Zeus, Prometheus was punished cruelly by Zeus. He was chained to the mountain of Kaukasos where every day, an eagle would feast upon his liver. Since he had healing powers, his liver would regenerate every night. He says, â€Å"This is the crime that I must expiate   Hung here in chains, nailed 'neath the open sky. Ha!  Ha!   What echo, what odour floats by with no sound?† Through these simple yet satirical words, written down in the Aeschylus, Prometheus has tried to set aside his woes and bring to terms that fact that he had been chained on Zeus’ orders, which acco rding to him were very unjust. These lines help to show the kind of disdain that flowed through Prometheus at the time of being chained and undergoing such a cruel punishment all because of the anger that Zeus had in his mind. He says, â€Å"The foe of Zeus and one at feud with all   The deities that find   Submissive entry to the tyrant's hall;   His fault, too great a love of humankind.   Ah me! Ah me! what wafture nigh at hand,   As of great birds of prey, is this I hear?† Through these words and dialogue, Prometheus has tried to put forth the kind of hatred that Zeus possessed for all of humanity of mortals; the reason because of which he got chained to the mountain. This process continued for a very long time, until Zeus ordered Hercules to rescue Prometheus. Despite this, the fire could not be retrieved back from humanity because it had spread too wide and far. However, the question still remains whether or not Prometheus’ punishment was justified by Ze us. According to personal opinion, it was not, because Prometheus was only trying to share with humanity the gifts that the Titans possessed. He could foresee the future and thus had probably foreseen doom that would be bestowed upon mankind if humanity had not discovered fire. Even though years of rubbing sticks and stones together went by, no man was able to create fire until the time that Prometheus stole it and sent it to the cavemen. â€Å"Oh that he had conveyed me   'Neath earth, 'neath hell that swalloweth up the  dead;   In Tartarus, illimitably vast   With adamantine fetters bound me fast-   There his fierce anger on me visited,   Where never mocking laughter could upbraid me   Of God or aught beside!† Through the following lines, Prometheus has tried to describe the kind of hellish life was to spend in the dark pits of Tartarus as per his punishment by Zeus. The wrath of Zeus was not at all justified in the kind of punitive life Prometheus was put int o for the rest of his life. The symbol of Prometheus is thus used in modern day architecture in various parts of the world in order to make people remember that fear persists in the environment as well. Prometheus was not at all a God fearing man and thus went ahead with his decision of taking the fire away and distributing it in a way that it flowed light upon the rest of mankind. Also, his liver, which is actually a symbolism of courage and

The Coffee Crisis Essay Example for Free

The Coffee Crisis Essay To begin, The Coffee Crisis is about an acute coffee crisis and how it threatens millions of small coffee farmers around the world and is putting economic growth, as well as social and political stability, at risk in scores of coffee producing countries in Central and South America, Africa and Asia. In 2004, the governments of coffee producing countries were considering how to respond to the dramatic decline in coffee prices caused in part by a large increase in coffee production in Brazil and Vietnam. Coffee was the main source of income for roughly 25 million farmers, mostly small land holders, in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Coffee prices had hit 40 year lows in 2001 and had remained low since, resulting in real hardship for many farmers. A variety of alternative solutions had been suggested. (Gomez-Ibanez Quinlan, 2004) The International Coffee Organization was advocating increasing demand through programs promoting coffee consumption; the Inter-American Development Bank supported promotion but also thought some high-cost countries should get out of coffee, while the non-governmental organization Oxfam was pushing fair trade pricing. The coffee crisis is worldwide. It is affecting farmers in Central America, South America, Africa, and Asia. While the Arabica farmers in Costa Rica may be getting 40 cents per pound for their coffee cherries, the Robusta coffee farmers in Viet Nam are only receiving 15 cents a pound for theirs. Even the low cost producers are not benefiting from the current situation. This condition is created because the market place does not view coffee as a true commodity. It places premiums and discounts on both coffee types and coffee grades. While both markets may move up and down in tandem, the arbitrage, or spread between one Arabica and Robusta, does not give one farmer an economic competitive advantage over another. This fact tends to get glossed over in most economic discussions on the coffee crisis. Many analysts believe that oversupply is at the root of the present crisis. After the system of coffee export quotas (the International Coffee Agreement, or ICA), administered by the International Coffee Organization, collapsed in 1989, the regulation of coffee production and quality was left to each individual producer country. Almost immediately following the dissolution of the agreement, excessive quantities of coffee entered international markets, prices became quite volatile and the overall quality of the coffee began to decline. Many of the coffee producing nations, including Mexico, were simultaneously in the process of deregulating, privatizing, and otherwise liberalizing agricultural production and national agricultural institutions. This had the effect of exacerbating the uncertainties faced by coffee farmers at the end of the 1980s. The coffee crisis is structural. It was not caused by the cyclical nature of coffee agriculture that has produced the â€Å"boom-bust† cycles of the past. The change in the market place has been brought about by the concentration of buying power in the hands of a few firms that present coffee to the consumer as a â€Å"blended and branded† product, void of any links to type and grade. This has led to intense price competition for market share that has rewarded increased market share to low cost products in the short run at the expense of stability in the supply chain in the long run. Since the crisis is a structural problem and not a cyclical one, remedies are to be found by taking intervening actions. These actions would include a strengthening of coffee institutions, a realignment of market forces, a creation of suitable financial tools, and a promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. It must be emphasized that any direct market intervention, such as quotas or subsidies, would only be short term in effect and would not correct the structural problems. It must also be emphasized that what is required is a series of steps in a number of different areas, as no single step will produce the desired structural changes that are needed. The crisis in the coffee sector continues. Its impact cannot be understated, since coffee constitutes the livelihood of an estimated 25 million families around the world. In world trade, coffee is the second leading commodity, after petroleum. The worldwide coffee market spans some 71 countries, of which 51 are significant producers and 20 are key consumers. Prices have not kept up with production costs to the extent needed to make participation in the coffee business profitable for most producers, even though the crop year 2003-2004 witnessed a worldwide decrease in production. (Central America The Coffee Crisis: Effects and Strategies for Moving Forward, 1992) In coffee producing countries, which account for over 26% of world consumption, the situation is more diverse. In some countries, prices of coffee have fallen in local currency and consumption may therefore be stimulated. In Brazil, the largest coffee market among producing countries, the devaluation of the real has maintained prices of green coffee at pre-crisis levels. As a whole, consumption in these markets is not expected to suffer any major negative impact. The root cause of the coffee crisis can be linked to three factors: over production; under consumption; and market oligopoly. In short, these are all problems associated with the economics of coffee farming. Without resolution, they will lead to both social and environmental breakdowns. (Central America The Coffee Crisis: Effects and Strategies for Moving Forward, 1992). The crisis has been caused by a large increase in coffee production over the past several years by two countries Vietnam and Brazil. In the case of Vietnam, within ten years this country grew from a relatively insignificant producer to the world second largest – ahead of Colombia but behind Brazil, now producing well over 10 million bags annually and accounting for approximately 12% of world exports. (Central America The Coffee Crisis: Effects and Strategies for Moving Forward, 1992) To conclude, without economic remedies to the crisis, it is difficult to promote sustainable agricultural practices in coffee farming. While niche markets within the specialty coffee industry can provide some relief, the size of these markets makes them too small to be an effective solution. References: Central America The Coffee Crisis: Effects and Strategies for Moving Forward. (1992, July 19). Retrieved February 4, 2012, from Latin American and Carribean: http://web. worldbank. org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/LACEXT/0,,contentMDK:20606092~pagePK:146736~piPK:146830~theSitePK:258554,00. html Gomez-Ibanez, J. , Quinlan, S. J. (2004). The Coffee Crisis.

Americas Growing Pains :: essays research papers

America’s first two presidents, George Washington and John Adams, both resolutely adhered to the idea that America should endeavor to stay out of war at all times, and did everything in their power to evade declaring and entering into war. Throughout their reigns, war was ubiquitous in Europe, and many countries (especially Britain and France) made numerous attempts to obtain and secure America’s support. Washington and Adams both believed that America should not side with any foreign country during times of war making the fundamental purport of America’s first foreign policy the elusion of war at all costs. This policy was manifested throughout Washington and Adams’ involvement in, and reactions to the following affairs: the Citizen Genet controversy, the Jay Treaty, and the XYZ Affair.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of Washington’s initial attempts to pursue this policy was his counteraction to the Genet Affair. In 1793, George Washington proclaimed neutrality, thus declaring America an uninvolved, nonpartisan country in times of war. Simultaneously, Edmond Charles Genet was sent to the United States as a special representative from France to implore support in the French Revolution. Genet had previously resolved that the proclamation of neutrality was a â€Å"harmless little pleasantry designed to throw dust in the eyes of the British†. Commencing in Charleston, South Carolina, Genet traveled throughout the United States presenting his credentials. In addition to his quest for support, he began to license American vessels to operate as privateers against British shipping and to grant French military commissions to a number of Americans in order to prepare expeditions against Spanish and British territorial claims in North America. These two actions were in direct defilement of American law. Washington demanded that he cease his unlawful actions, but Genet continued to commission privateers because he enticed the public opinion. This incident is a lucid manifestation of Washington’s ample efforts to avoid war. Genet had copiously essayed to obtain American support in the French Revolution, and in accordance with America’s foreign policy, Washington vehemently resisted any involvement in war. In an attempt to deplete the threat of Americans supporting the French, he avowed that Genet would be expelled. Washington’s reaction to this controversy verified his foreign policy by showing that he was willing to avoid war at all costs, even if alliances were broken and foreign relations were damaged.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In addition to Washington’s response to the Genet affair, he further strived to avert involvement in war by signing the Jay Treaty. This treaty was written to prevent war with Britain, but concurrently it strained America’s relationship with France by going against their alliance.

My Writing is My Voice :: Teaching Writing Education Essays

My Writing is My Voice For the longest time, I really did not know who I was. Not that I was confused about who I saw in the mirror, but I had know idea why I thought the way I did about things. Science had always interested me. Animals have such a unique character created out of the need for survival. They are not influenced by outside pressures to conform. I made the decision to study them for the rest of my life. But I really did not know what separated me, as a human, from my cat. The school systems and church tried to give me explanations. They encompassed the fact that I think logically, have problem solving skills, emotions, and make decisions based on these emotions. Animals did not have these abilities and this separated them form us. But the education started to contradict itself. After being exposed to a vast majority of animals, I saw abilities that humans cannot posses. Some can fly, breath underwater, and exist in climates where humans cannot without artificial devices. Humans cannot survive winters without clothes or travel the oceans without boats. The system was lying to me. Animals could adapt and think quite well. We were not better, just different. This made me lose faith in the system and I began to take up independent thought. Because I thought I should be a truly independent thinker, I believed that everything I knew was a product of my own discovery. Within my own mind, everything was the way it was because I thought it. The rest of the information in my head was only a bunch of stuff set up by society for me to learn. When I left my small town of Big Lake after graduation, I was in search of a higher education. Where? A university of course! I rushed into the world of undergraduates with hopes and dreams of someday being able to explain a reason for everything. But I did not want to do it in the same fashion the system was requiring it. They made the rules and I was supposed to follow them. I did not like what they had to say. I questioned most everything. There were disciplines though that I did not question. Physics, biology, and chemistry existed long before humans. I have already seen them in nature. Nature itself was proof enough to believe in their validity.

Propaganda

Propaganda: It's here to stay When the word ‘propaganda’ is used, negative connotations are generally brought to mind. People think of politicians using propaganda to force their agenda on others or to slander their opponent’s name as in the new election coming up between Obama and Romney. Yet is this all propaganda really is? Or is there something more that is never discussed about propaganda? This essay will be summarizing and discussing three from Orwell, Lutz , and Woolfolk about propaganda and the English language.The reader will gain a better understanding about what propaganda really is and how it is used and how to avoid getting tricked by it. The first article by George Orwell is out of his book of 50 essays entitled â€Å" Politics and the English Language. † George Orwell is an English journalist and novelist, who wrote such famous books as 1984 and Animal Farm. His article begins by talking about four parts of writing that are misused in the Eng lish language. The first topic discussed is dying metaphors.Orwell says, â€Å"A newly-invented metaphor assists thought by evoking a visual image, while on the other hand a metaphor which is technically â€Å"dead† has in effect reverted to being an ordinary word and can generally be used without loss of vividness. † If someone does not understand a metaphor because it is one that is not used anymore, it loses its effect and should not be used in writing or in propaganda (Orwell). A perfect example is the metaphor of the Hammer and the Anvil. When this metaphor is used most people think it means that the anvil gets the worst of it, when really it is the hammer that always breaks on the anvil.It is a metaphor that has lost meaning because hardly anyone uses an anvil anymore, causing this metaphor to be technically â€Å"dead†. The next subject discussed is verbal false limbs. Orwell says verbal false limbs â€Å"save the trouble of picking out appropriate verbs and nouns, and at the same time pad each sentence with extra syllables which give it an appearance of symmetry. † A few examples Orwell gives include our phrases ‘such as’,’to make contact with’, ‘play a leading part in’, and ‘be subjected to’.The problem is using these phrases takes out simple verbs that give meaning to a sentence and add extra fluff to them in order to sound â€Å"better† (Orwell). When writing it is important to avoid these verbal false limbs so the reader can truly understand what you are trying to say. The third item discussed is pretentious diction. Words such as ‘promote’, ‘constitute’, ‘exploit’, ‘utilize’are used to dress up simple statements and make the person saying them sound dignified. It also is used to add scientific terms to a biased judgment. It is a common trick we see in propaganda all the time.You will see such things as â€Å" It is inevitable if you elect Obama, our country will fail. † The word’ inevitable’ is an example of pretentious diction (Orwell). It is taking a scientific term and adding it to a biased opinion in order to convince the voter that voting for Obama is bad. The fourth item discussed is meaningless words. These are words that are used in which the definition of is unclear. You see this in political ads words such as fascism or socialist. These words are used, but do the readers really know what the author is trying to say by using them. Another one common in political ads is the word ‘patriotic’.Do we have a real definition of what it means to be patriotic or is that a word that is just thrown around. Orwell says that words such as these need to be used carefully and taken out of writing if unneeded. As Orwell ends this article he gives six rules of writing to avoid these crucial mistakes seen in the English language today. The rules are as follows â⠂¬Å"(1) Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. (2) Never use a long word where a short one will do. (3) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. (4) Never use the passive where you can use the active. 5) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. (6) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything barbarous. † These rules may seem easy enough but if you grew up writing today it will be harder than you think to change habits and stick to these rules. If you can stick to these rules you will become a better overall writer (Orwell). The second article we will discuss is Doublespeak by William Lutz. William Lutz is an American linguist who specializes in the use of plain words and avoiding doublespeak or deceptive language.Lutz begins talking about how language is a human tool and may be the most important of all the human tools. Yet like any tool, it can be used to build society but can also be used to destroy it (Lutz 25). One quote that Lutz says describes this perfectly, â€Å" Language can easily distort perception and influence behavior and thus be a tool, or weapon, for achieving the greatest good or the greatest evil. † Lutz goes on to talk about how language is power and whoever controls language controls society (Lutz 26). There are four kinds of doublespeak that Lutz talks about the first being euphemism, which is designed to avoid reality.When different words are used to make a situation sound better, this is euphemism. Lutz brings up the subject in 1984 where reports on human rights would remove the word ‘killing’ and replace it with ‘deprivation of life’. This helped the government avoid the subject of government sanctioned killings that happened in other countries that the United States had supported. This is a prime example of doublespeak, using different words to misl ead the reader as to what has really happened. The second type of doublespeak discussed is jargon.Jargon is used all the time by doctors and lawyers; it is speech used that only those in a specialized group can understand. When used in these groups it is not considered jargon because all members understand what is being said. Yet when jargon is used with members outside the group it is then considered doublespeak as all members do not fully understand what is being said (Lutz 27). When companies use lawyer terms to describe something that has happened in their company to the public it is considered doublespeak; they know most people do not understand what they are saying and could use it to cover up what is really happening.The third type of doublespeak that is mentioned is gobbledygook. This is the practice of piling on words, the bigger the better to purposely overwhelm the audience as to what is actually being said. This is common when something bad happens in our economy. Politi cians use big words in long complicated sentences so that their readers do not really know what is going on. The fourth type of doublespeak discussed is inflated language. This is the process of making ordinary words seem fancy and better than what they are.This is often used in advertising to make a product sound better than it is in order to make the audience want to buy it. For example, a used car may be described as experienced (Lutz 27). This is one of the most common ways you see Doublespeak in America today, whether it be in advertising for a product or for a politician. Lutz then discusses how doublespeak is used in politics. â€Å"Political language is the language of public policy and power. Our direction as a nation is defined for us by our elected leaders through language,† says Lutz. Therefore if our leaders are not always honest and pright, we the people do not have the proper knowledge and understanding to make the decisions we need to make. This language has b een distorted in the past such as in Vietnam instead of calling them bombings they called them â€Å"protective reaction strikes. † Orwell said, â€Å"This language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. † This is why you have a negative reaction when you hear the word propaganda. It's always easier to remember the bad things that have happened and forget the good things (Lutz 29).Not all propaganda is used to mislead or hurt people. It can be used to get people to vote for something that is good and truthful or convince people to recycle. Yet the things that have happened in the past will always give propaganda a bad reputation. The third article is â€Å"Propaganda: How not to be bamboozled† by Donna Woolfork Cross. Donna is an American writer known for such novels as Pope Joan. Woolfork says that propaganda gets a bad reputation because people simply don't understand what it really i s. It is a means of persuasion that can be used for good or evil.Propaganda is used to tell people what toothpaste to buy, the type of movies to see, and the one most people think of, and who you should vote for in an election (Woolfolk Cross 1). Cross says, â€Å"People are bamboozled mainly because they don't recognize propaganda when they see it. † Cross gives thirteen different ways to recognize propaganda. The first is name calling; this is a simple one to understand. It is when someone or group says something bad about another person or group. You see this in political ads all the time or you might hear a politician referred to as â€Å"foolish† or â€Å"fascist†.This is used to make the reader not think but just believe what is being said. Cross then talks about glittering generalities, this is simply the opposite of name calling, it is using terms to make someone look good, it is used to make you want to vote for someone in an election. A political ad ma y say â€Å"Vote for Romney; It's the American way. † This sounds good but when actually examining what they are saying what does it really mean (Woolfolk Cross 2)? The next issue Cross discusses is the plain folks appeal. This is where a politician wants the viewer to think he is a person just like them.A good example is when you see presidents going around to blue collar workers and shaking hands and working with them and kissing babies (Woolfolk Cross 2). They want you to believe that they are the same as you so you will vote for them. Cross also talks about the Argumentum Ad Populum; this is simply telling the people what they want to hear. This can happen in elections as well; you will hear politicians say you all are â€Å"good tax-paying Americans† or â€Å"the backbone of America. † These phrases are things that all people want to hear and our used to distract the voter from what is really being said (Woolfolk Cross 3).The next use of propaganda is the A rgumentum Ad Hominem. Cross says, â€Å"Argumentum ad hominem means â€Å"argument to man† and that's exactly what it is. When a propagandist uses argumentum ad hominem he wants to distract our attention from the issue under consideration with personal attacks on the people being involved. This happens often; if the issue being discussed by a politician is health care reform, then another politician may make an attack about that politician’s bad family life. His bad family life has nothing to do with health care reform, yet things like this will distract potential voters from what is actually being said.The next item discussed is Transfer; (Glory or Guilt By Association) this is simply associating something that is good with the issue at hand even if it has no relevance to that situation. The next propaganda technique is bandwagon. We have all heard the term bandwagon fan to describe someone who likes a certain sports team only because they are doing well. The same ap plies in propaganda; it is used to convince people to like something because it is the popular thing to do (Woolfolk Cross 4). This happens with fashions and is used by getting celebrities to endorse a product.Cross then talks about faulty cause and effect relationship. This is where propaganda says one thing causes another thing to happen even if it really did not. You see this in politics all the time, sense Obama has been in office our unemployment rate has gone down. Now this may be true, but was it caused by Obama or were there other factors in place? It is used to convince people to believe something without actually checking the facts. The next propaganda item discussed is false analogy. An analogy is a comparison between two ideas, events or things (Woolfolk Cross 6).A false analogy is simply comparing two things that really have nothing to do with each other. It is often used in politics to link one thing with another that really has no reason to be associated with the othe r thing. The next propaganda technique, begging the question, this is a common technique used in politics. You may see a political ad that says, â€Å"No true American could turn down proposal 4. † This is forcing the viewer to say do I not want to be a true American (Woolfolk Cross 6). It's basically answering the question for a person instead of letting them answer it for themselves. The 11th item discussed is the two extremes fallacy.This is where you make a situation seem like there are only two options to choose from, either black or white. This forces the viewer to choose one side when really there might be a multitude of options to choose from. The next propaganda technique is card stacking. It's a easy technique of showing only what you want people to see. It's used where politicians only want you to see the good parts of their plans and not the negatives such as raising taxes, they will show you all this great things that will happen but not where the money is coming from (Woolfolk Cross 7). The last propaganda technique is called the testimonial.This is where you get someone who is famous or loved to endorse a certain product or person, even if they are not an expert in the field. You see professional athletes endorsing medical products, even though they are not a medical expert. Woolfolk lays out all thirteen examples of propaganda to show people what to look out for. In conclusion, propaganda is misunderstood. Propaganda itself is not a a negative thing, it is just a means of persuading someone that can be used either for a positive effect or a negative one. Yet in today's society propaganda is used for many different reasons.This is why it is important to understand what propaganda really is. Orwell, Lutz, and Woolfolk give good insight into how propaganda is used and how to avoid being confused by it. After reading this you will have a better understanding of propaganda and how to identify it, and how to understand what the author is reall y trying to say. It will make you a better thinker, and help with important decisions that you have to make. Sources: 1. Lutz, William . â€Å"Doublespeak. †Ã‚  Public Relations Quarterly  . 33. 4 n. page. Web. 2. Orwell, George. â€Å"Fifty Orwell Essays . †Ã‚  Gutenburg. n. page. Web. 13 Sep. 2012.

Higher Education as A Wise Investment Essay

Higher Education as A Wise Investment Essay Higher Education as A Wise Investment Essay Example Higher Education as A Wise Investment Essay Example The world is constantly changing, and people are changing with it. Even more, people are those, who create an impulse to alter the environment around them. That is why every person needs to have and use the possibilities to grow intellectually and receive the best tuition, because everyone has his/her own inner power to make the world better. According to a contemporary model of a liberal society, humans are placed in the center of the planet around them. They are not just observing what is going on, but also participating. They have the right to express their opinion. These ideas might seem to be not very related to an educational process. However, a basis of such concepts like a freedom of speech, a critical thinking and self-respect are formed at school and polished at higher educational institutions (Bronfenbrenner). Studying at the university or college is efficient for liberating the consciousness and developing the creativity of young people. Every person has a unique individuality. Thus, investing into a higher education might lead to efficient results in this sphere. The universities and colleges are considered to form free-thinking members of the democratic society. They will succeed in the further adult life and make the community around them better (Sokol). It is difficult to say that higher education is necessary for everyone in the society. It is a wise investment, regardless the personal circumstances. The tuition costs a lot; and not many people in the United States can afford it. The question is whether everyone needs it. There are many people that do not want to work as clerks at the offices or become scientists. It is possible to say that they do not need any higher education. From another perspective, higher education is another way to develop intellectually and culturally. It does not matter what the future professional plans of a person are (Bevilacqua, Giannetto, and Matthews). Even though the issue is worth a long discussion, I think that higher education is a very good investment for a number of reasons. Main Reasons Why Higher Education Is a Wise Investment The price of studying at the university or college is big enough to make the majority of the middle-class families take a loan in the bank. They could hope that their child will find a good work after the graduation. According to the information given in the article â€Å"Getting More Bang for the Buck in Higher Education†. Students are already borrowing about $113 billion a year, more than twice as much as a decade ago, and student debt now tops $1 trillion. The federal government accounts for nearly 90 percent of all student loans and the Congressional Budget Office estimates that students will take out $1.4 trillion in new federal loans over the next decade. (D’Andrea 2013). This statistics shows that higher education is still very popular among the Americans despite its high costs. It is necessary to note that the United States is a developed country. There are many workplaces that require a higher education to fit the standards. For example, it is impossible to work as a web-developer without a specific knowledge on the issue. It is surely rather complicated than a high school level. If there are not many professionals in the country, the company has to invite people from abroad to work for them. Nowadays, many American companies do it frequently. It supports an idea that people with higher education are needed. They will surely find a workplace after the graduation. Having a university degree is a sign for employees that a person obtains the premium qualifications for the work. There is no need to check his/her knowledge in all details in this sphere. It also increases the possibilities for a professional growth in the company. A university degree becomes an advantage in creating an image of a successful person. It is surely an intellectual achievement. It is a wide-spread idea that university graduates earn more during the lifetime. It may be explained by an idea that they do not work on lower positions like college graduates do. Of course, a financial well-being depends not only on the persons academic degree. Such issues like working productivity, energy and enthusiasm as well as luck are also very important. However, having a university degree increases the chances of an individual for a quick advancement by a career ladder. The article in The New York Times includes the following: A college graduate is almost 20 percentage points more likely to be employed than someone with a high-school diploma. Although the cost of a college degree is 50 percent higher than it was 30 years ago, the increase in lifetime earnings associated with a college degree is now 75 percent higher. (DAndrea) Another idea that supports the thesis that higher education is a wise investment is the following one. It shows employees and other people that the person with the degree is committed and knows how to set and accomplish goals. It addition, to have a degree shows that the person is able to work systematically while gaining the new knowledge and passing exams successfully. It might be incorrect to analyze the advantages of investing into higher education only from a personal economical point of view. It is necessary to note that it abolishes such serious problems in the society as a total ignorance, a fear of strangers, and their culture. Increasing an educational level of people is the best way of preventing racism and crimes. An educated person will not kill for fun, because he/she understands the value of the human life. He/she will be a better citizen that will help the poor, because he/she has an idea about humanism. People become better, no matter whether they are being skilled workers or professors. The humankind has made a long way from the ancient times to the 21st century and gained much knowledge in all spheres. It should be understood by everyone. This knowledge broadens the mind and creates a good basis for a further progress of human thoughts. Higher education is an attribute of a high social status. It can be called an achievement, in other words, and the prestige of the university degree attracting many people. The government gives to citizens a possibility to go to the university without paying all the money for the tuition as a reward (Nola and Irzik). This can be seen in an example of the U.S. army and the desire of people to get higher education. It is another argument that supports the importance of investing into the university degree. The U.S. Army: Supporting the Prestigious Status of Higher Education It is necessary to describe the overall situation connected with an army in the United States. It is the U.S. Military that faces numerous problems. The main problem it meets with is unwillingness of young people to serve the country and the lack of financing. That is why the military saves money, reduces some expenses on other issues, but leads an active advertising and promoting campaign. All this has made to create a new positive image of an American soldier. It should attract volunteers to the army. Re-branding of the U.S. Army is a main issue that managers want to achieve in their advertising and promotion campaigns. It targets mostly the young men from 18 to 24 years old that have been brought up on the TV culture. When those young men are asked to fill in the questionnaire, they describe the army as something with the dog soldier work, obstacle courses and in-your-face drill officers. The Army tries to make it more transparent for the American public. It creates an image of a strong young professional patriot, who goes to the military to serve the country. The situation with the lack of volunteers is so difficult, that the Army introduced a special army experience tour. The officers visit high schools on a recruiting truck and talk about the possibilities the military service can give to students (Baron). However, an issue that is connected with a problem of higher education is not the popularity of the military service. The main point that underlines the importance and prestigious status of the university degree are the perspectives the army opens for a young recruit. The military service gives a wide range of social opportunities for young people from lower classes. After the army, the person is able to get a higher education at a lower price. The person receives a good and cheap healthcare and a possibility to buy a house. That is why the advertising campaign targets high school and college students, mostly in the southern states. In these regions, there are more immigrants like Hispanics and blacks. According to the state program, such immigrants will be able to become the citizens of the country after the military service. The marketing strategy the army of the United States uses depends on the economic and social status of the target audience. The state program aims at increasing the popularity of the military service among people and promise to provide them with various profits in future. It is one of the most important features making the army so popular among young people of the lower class and immigrants. It is necessary to note that those young men who go to the army do not really have many opportunities to make their lives better to choose from. They do not have other ways to get education and social profits. As it has been mentioned earlier, higher education costs much even more for middle-class families. This sum is too much for a poor immigrant family or just for a family with many children. In fact, the soldiers that can be compared to customers do not have a choice. It is similar to arriving to the store where there is an only model of the mobile phone available. There is no competition at all (Garamone). The price for this mobile phone is extremely high, but it will be certainly bought. There is a lack of mobile phones. This example can be easily compared to the military. In reality, the army is a monopolist in its sphere. It is quite logical, because it is impossible to have several armies in the country. It might cost too much and lead to a breakup in the country in case some political problems arise. However, it is the only way to make the life better for a big number of young people. Our SamplesThe best way to know how to write good essays is by getting a sample of an essay from competent experts online. We can give you the essay examples you need for future learning. Free Essay Examples are here. Main Reasons why Some Think Higher Education Is not a Wise Investment Many college and university students complain that they need to take too many obligatory courses being not related to their major ones. The students have been writing petitions and discussing this question for many years. However, the majority of higher educational institutions create curriculums with general studies. Higher education supposes that a student will learn many disciplines on the higher level to become not only a professional, but also a well-educated cultural person (Dann). Many people claim that the university level is unnecessary for them. There is not much information about the major studies and too much information about philosophy, literature, rhetoric, and other general issues (Conerly). Even though I do not agree with the statement that there is no need to take the courses being not related to the one’s specialization at all, I will try to compare some arguments from both sides to make a situation clearer. The general education has an obvious advantage. It gives the all-round knowledge in different spheres of science and art. It is difficult to disagree with this argument because the basic knowledge in languages, art, and history is not redundant for engineers and managers. Perhaps, those who are good in programming have neither the desire nor much talent to learn foreign languages or even write essays in their own. They have a different way of thinking. In their logical world of codes, there is no place for a verbal beauty. The problem is that even great programmers need to communicate with people, write emails, and love writing letters to their girlfriends without mistakes as well as work abroad. Sometimes the knowledge of English is not a treatment for everything. That is why the universities make language disciplines obligatory for all students. According to the article â€Å"Dont Buy the Hype, College Education Is Not an Investment,† the majority of university graduates do not know much neither in their profile, nor in general subjects. More than a third of recent college graduates had coasted through without adding anything to their human capital. Reports that employers often find graduates applying for jobs to be weak in basic skills are numerous. If a college degree were a regulated investment opportunity, it would have to bear the standard warning that past performance is no guarantee of future performance. The future won’t be similar to the past for many college graduates and telling young people that college will be a good investment is careless and irresponsible. (Leef) There is a universal counter-evidence to this statement. There is always a possibility for self-education. Nowadays, there is no problem in finding information in the Internet and even in taking online courses. As a proverb says, â€Å"Where there is a will, there is a way.† Students should always be motivated to learn something (Conerly). They know for sure that they have to be good in their specialty because it is their future profession. However, they really do not understand why it is necessary to learn French if they can communicate perfectly in English. They do not intend to work in France. The lack of motivation makes those obligatory general courses ineffective. Thus, in the end, both professors and students lose their precious time. Another argument for attending the courses that are not related to the profile is that they teach students to think critically. It makes the brain work harder if a student needs to master a subject being not his or her initial specialization (Grove). However, this theory has more disadvantages than advantages in practice. Firstly, the ability to think critically does not depend upon the subject the person is learning. The only thing that is important is a process of learning and mental abilities to compare facts and make conclusions. Secondly, it often leads to serious psychological problems. If the person is a talented musician, and he/she is bad at mathematics, but still learns it, he/she constantly fails in this. It does not depend on the efforts put for learning. This state leads to depression, appearance of inferiority complex, and a decrease of self-rating. The next argument to support the idea of necessity of general studies in the university is that the variety of disciplines gives to students an opportunity to choose what they prefer more. It is good in the sense of self-determination. However, it causes difficulties with the employment after graduation (Genovese). Universities do not always filter the disciplines applicable to the real life. Students might have problems with the further professional adaptation. Time is very valuable. The majority of students want to get their profession as soon as possible. Another very important issue, which supports an idea that extra courses are not needed, is money. Many families cannot afford paying for the tuition. The general courses are costly, obligatory for all students, and, in addition, not related to their major course. It is evident that the question of money is an obstacle for the majority of students.The lack of money is not the only problem in the question of general studies. Another important factor is time. Many college and university students work part time or have family issues that do not allow them to spend at least four years for finding themselves. No matter how good this idea is in theory, the reality where the time and money are involved makes its corrections (Grove). It is possible to find a college with a flexible curriculum (Education Portal). One can always choose an institution to study at. This question is important, because there is no money-and-time-back system at colleges and institutes. That is why every student needs to understand what his/her aim is; whether it is to get a more generalized knowledge, or to pay more attention to the major subject. An opportunity to take the courses being related to the one’s specialization is more practical than studying the disciplines providing the basics of everything in the world to students. One of the main counter-evidences against getting a higher education, omitting if it is not a way for self-development but a wise investment, is that studying is not a financial operation at all. Forbes writes: When college cheerleaders say that there is an earnings premium for graduates, they make it sound just like investing in financial instruments. â€Å"Buy this bond and you get interest payments in return; buy a college degree and you get higher wages in return.† But that isn’t the case. No one receives any payment or premium merely for having finished college. Employers do not reward workers just for having passed enough classes to earn a degree. They reward workers for their productivity. Going to college might increase a person’s productivity, but it’s neither necessary nor sufficient for that. (Leef) In reality, the academic degree supposes that the person has done more of the individual work to get it. As a result, it might be just an advantage in the competition to gain the job. However, it is not another document that supports an idea that the person has a good professional pedigree. It is difficult to say for sure if the higher education is necessary for everyone in the United States. The tuition costs a lot of money. The majority of students have to take a loan in the bank to finish the university. There are both advantages and disadvantages in studying at the college or university. Higher education is a good investment into the future career, because a graduate might find a well-paid job. He/she might have good possibilities for the future career growth. In addition, higher education gives to students numerous possibilities for the personal intellectual and cultural growth. It might make their lives better in future. A free-thinking, creative, and intelligent person has more chances to succeed in life than those people selecting not to continue their studies. To sum up, the well-educated citizens are the developing power of each community and every state. That is why getting higher education is a wise investment both in the individual and state senses.

10 Ways to Get the Job You Love

10 Ways to Get the Job You Love People generally get exactly what they are looking for, and people who are looking for a job- any job- are not an exception to the rule. They, in fact, illustrate the rule. They often make the mistake of settling for the first job opening available, which is understandable- responsible people have to do whatever it takes to meet their obligations. But if you don’t want to be searching again in a few months, you should do your best to get  a job you love from the beginning. Here are 10 simple things you can do to help  get once step closer to getting a job you love.Assess YourselfYou need to know what fits you the best. One simple way to do this is by taking self-assessment tests, which are typically short and widely available online- sometimes at no cost. Classic examples are available from Myers-Briggs or Keirsey. These tests will help you understand where your greatest potential for productivity, satisfaction, and success may be.Focus on the Best-Fitting JobsWhile the ur gent need may seem like the real issue, it is really the long-term need that deserves your attention. You will discover that as you assess yourself your focus will be much more finely tuned and you will find yourself looking for a job that is a good match. You will now be operating more efficiently, not wasting time filling out endless online applications for jobs you didn’t really want in the first place.Nail Your ResumeLisa Cefali and Alesia Benedict offer several insights into nailing your resume:Write the resume for the reader. The hiring authority does not care that you played varsity basketball in high school or that your hobbies include collecting stained glass. They want to see your experience and accomplishments. Give them what they want.Connect the dots. Make it easy to for the reader to see why you are a good fit for the job by connecting the dots between your talents and skills and the job.Don’t write an introduction. Write an executive summary (and name it such) of the information that follows.Use keywords. Write with the language that appeared in the job posting. Some resumes are scanned for matching keywords before being read by a human.Nail Your Cover LetterEvery cover letter should be written exclusively for each job and company to which you apply. Within a matter of seconds, the recipient should be able to see that you are an excellent candidate for the job. The cover letter should do that, causing them to take particular note of the details in your resume. Restate the defined requirements of the job and show how you meet or exceed those specifications.Nail Your InterviewDon’t go to a job interview to decide if you want the job, because you have nothing to decide until an offer is put on the table. Martin Yates, the author of the bestseller, Knock ’em Dead, says this about the interview:You go to a job interview to get a job offer. Nothing else matters, not the pay, the benefits, or the work environment; they are a ll irrelevant until an offer is on the table. The person on the other side of the desk is not your adversary. They want to find someone who can do the work, wants to do the work, and can get along with others so that they can and get back to their real work ASAP. Your job is to help them make that decision.Look for the Perfect MatchJob hunting is kind of like dating, only more complex and, typically, with more competition. Sign up with TheJobNetwork and let us help you find the perfect job match for you. Anybody can find a job. We can help you find the job you want.