Sample Common Application Essayâ€Topic of Your Choice

Sample Common Application Essay- Topic of Your Choice Alexis chose option #7 for her Common Application essay. This is the popular topic of your choice option on the 2018-19 application. The question asks, Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one youve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. The other six essay options on the Common Application give applicants so much flexibility that it is rare for a topic not fit elsewhere, but in some cases the topic of your choice is indeed the best choice. This is true for Alexiss essay below. Sample Essay on the "Topic of Your Choice" Option My Hero Harpo In middle school, I took part in an essay competition where we had to write about one of our strongest role models- who they were, what they did, and how they had influenced us. Other students wrote about Eleanor Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, George Washington, etc. I, the youngest of five sisters and one of the quietest people in the school, chose Harpo Marx. I did not win the competition- to be honest, my essay wasn’t very good, and I knew that, even at the time. I had bigger, better things to worry about, though. I was taking swimming lessons, and was terrified of discovering a shark in the deep end. I was making little hats for my dog Alexa, which she did not appreciate. I was busy working on a clay chess set in art class, and learning how to garden with my grandmother. I’m getting off-topic, but my point is: I didn’t need to win a competition or write an essay to feel validated. I was learning who I was, and what was important in my life. Which brings me back to the Marx Brothers. My great-uncle was a big old-movie buff. We’d go over to his house most mornings during summer vacation, and watch Philadelphia Story, The Thin Man, or  His Girl Friday. My favorites, though, were the Marx Brothers’ films. Duck Soup. A Night at the Opera (my personal favorite). Animal Crackers. I can’t logically explain why I found these particular movies so hilarious and entertaining- there was something about them that not only made me laugh, but made me happy. Now, of course, watching those movies again, I’m reminded of those summer mornings, and of being surrounded by the people I loved, unconcerned with the world outside, that adds another layer of appreciation and joy. The brothers each brought their own unique humor to the pictures, but Harpo- he was perfect. The hair. The wide ties and crazy trench coats. The way he doesn’t have to say anything to be funny. His facial expressions. How he offers people his leg when they try to shake his hand. The way you can see the change in him when he sits down at the piano or the harp. The subtle shift from comedian to musician- not a complete shift, of course, but in that moment, you know just how talented and hard-working he must have been. I love that rather than being a full-time, professional musician, which he certainly could have done, Harpo (known as Adolph off-screen) instead devoted his time and energy to entertain, to make people laugh, to be a big goof with a bicycle horn and a killer whistle. I identified with him- and still do. Harpo was quiet, funny-looking, not the most outgoing or famous performers, silly, and still insanely dedicated and a serious artist. I don’t plan on going into show business. I mean, never say never and all that, but I don’t see myself as ever really getting bitten by that particular acting or performing bug. But the lessons I’ve learned from Harpo (and Groucho, Chico, Zeppo, etc.) are the kind that can transcend careers. It’s ok to fall down (a lot.) Learn to laugh at yourself. Learn to laugh at your family. Making faces is a perfectly good way to express yourself. Wear the weird clothes. Don’t be afraid to show off your talents when given the chance. Be kind to children. Have a cigar, if you want. Make up a silly song, or a goofy dance. Work hard at what you love. Work hard at what you don’t love, but what is still necessary. Don’t shy away from being the strangest, brightest, wildest, wackiest, passionate you you can be. And also carry a bicycle horn with you, just in case. A Critique of Alexis's "Topic of Your Choice" Essay With the topic of your choice essay option, one of the first issues to consider is whether or not the essay should have been presented under one of the more focused Common Application prompts. Its easy to be lazy and simply choose topic of your choice to avoid thinking too hard about the most appropriate fit for an essay. For Alexiss essay My Hero Harpo, the topic of your choice option does, in fact, work well. The essay could potentially fall under Common Application essay option #5 on a realization that sparked a period of personal growth. Alexiss experiences watching Marx Brother movies did lead to an understanding of personal identity and life balances. That said, an essay on comedic actors doesnt quite fit the general seriousness of the option #5 prompt. Now lets breakdown some of the important elements of Alexiss essay: The topic. Harpo Marx is a rather unusual focus for an admissions essay. This can be a good thing, for Alexiss essay wont be a clone of other essays the admissions office receives. At the same time, one could argue that Harpos slapstick comedy is a rather superficial focus for an application essay. This certainly could be true if the subject matter were handled poorly, but Alexis manages to turn an essay focused on Harpo Marx into an essay that is really about much more than Marx. Alexis identifies with Harpo, and she explains why she identifies with him. In the end, the essay is as much about Alexis as it is Harpo. It is an essay that reveals Alexiss self-awareness, analytical skills, and sense of humor.The tone. Many applicants wrongly assume that an application essay needs to shine a bright light on a writers accomplishments while hiding any warts. The reality, however, is that were all quirky, flawed, complex people. Revealing an awareness of this fact is a sign of maturity, and it will often play well in an admissions essay. Alexis succeeds admirably on this front. The overall tone here is conversational and slightly self-deprecating. Alexis identifies with Harpos goofiness and his decision to focus on bringing happiness to others rather than personal prestige. We finish Alexiss essay with a sense that she is reserved, silly, able to laugh at herself, yet quietly confident. The overall impression is certainly a positive one.   The writing. Alexiss language is clear and engaging, and she avoids common stylistic errors. The essay has a strong voice and personality. The essay does, in fact, have several sentence fragments, but these are clearly used deliberately for rhetorical punch, not because Alexis is a grammatically inept writer.  The impact. Its always important to step back from an application essay and consider the big picture: what will a reader take away from the essay? Alexiss essay doesnt present any remarkable accomplishment or impressive talent. It does, however, present a student who is thoughtful, self-aware, generous, talented, and quietly ambitious. Does Alexis come across as someone who the admissions folks would want to join their campus community? Yes. Make Your Essay as Strong as Possible If a college requires you to submit an essay with the Common Application, it is because the school has holistic admissions- the admissions folks want to get to know you as a whole person, not as a simple compilation of numerical data such as grades and standardized test scores. Along with extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and in some cases an interview, the essay can plan an important role in the admissions process. Make sure yours is as strong as possible. As you write your own essay, be sure to avoid the bad essay topics,  and follow these tips for a winning essay. Most of all, make sure that your essay makes a good impression. Does it present a dimension of your personality and interests that isnt obvious from other parts of your application? Does it present you as someone who will contribute to the campus community in a meaningful way? If yes, your essay is performing its purpose well.

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

Congress - Essay Example The second factor at play is a congressman’s political party. Particularly in an age of polarized politics, party lines are becoming far more rigid than in previous decades. So-called â€Å"party-line votes† are common, especially with issues that tend to divide Democrats and Republicans such as budgets (Hook & Bendavid, 2011). Accordingly, a congressperson’s vote is more likely to correspond to the wants and desires of the party. The third factor to be considered is a congressman’s relationship to other members of Congress, beyond party affiliations. Knowing that Congress is a large community, it is conceivable that cooperative back-scratching and returning of favors might lead some legislators to favor some bills over others if there is something to be gained from it in terms of support from other congressmen. The fourth and final factor at play is the likely position of the president. Since the passage of a bill depends on the president’s support , the votes of legislators may change if the general perception is that the president may approve. This may not be the case, of course, in cases of â€Å"symbolic votes†: votes taken with the expectation that the president will veto (Lightman, Douglas, & Clark, 2011). 4. ... ocracy that has existed since Ancient Greece is that it amounts to a â€Å"tyranny of the majority† or â€Å"mob rule.† The Founding Fathers of the United States were notoriously critical of true democracy. For instance, Benjamin Franklin once defined the term by saying, â€Å"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch† (Moyers, 2009, p. 314). For that reason, the framers of the Constitution put in numerous safeguards to protect the rights of the minority from the abuse of a mob rule. One important concept of protecting minorities is the separation of powers as given in the Constitution, which decentralizes power through a system of checks and balances. A President, for example, is in command of the nation’s armed forces, but he cannot officially declare war on behalf of the United States. The Congress protects the rights of the minority by serving as a voice for those opponents and by officially deciding whether to declare war or not. In addition, with the actual structure of the Congress, two senators are elected from each state, no matter its size. Rather than having a small majority of legislators from any given state, the power of the large state majority is tempered by the representatives from smaller states. However, the Congress does still promote majority rule by operating on the principle that what is moral is the greatest good for the greatest number. Accordingly, decisions are made when a majority of those in favor or opposed is established. But even a minority has the chance to speak and make its voice heard in Congress, which is its right. References Hook, J., & Bendavid, N. (2011, April 16). GOP passes budget cut. Retrieved November 1, 2011, from The Wall Street Journal:

How will climate change affect National Grid(UK) and how they do PowerPoint Presentation

How will climate change affect National Grid(UK) and how they do business - PowerPoint Presentation Example On the other hand, it is suggested by Koomey et al. (1997, 1) that ‘the common perception among many policy makers and industry leaders is that the twin objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting a more competitive economy are inherently contradictory’. Many efforts have been made by the states globally in order to create a mutually – accepted plan for the reduction of greenhouse emissions; however this plan has faced significant oppositions mostly because it is against of the interests of specific parts of the population within each country globally; gas emissions and pollution in general seem to serve the interests of a specific group of people who ignore the effect of increased industrial activity on a continuous basis and promote personal interests even if they are related with severe damages on climate worldwide. Current paper focuses on the activities of National Grid, ‘an international electricity and gas company and one of the larg est investor-owned energy companies in the world’ (corporate website) in terms of their relationship with the climate changes globally. More specifically, the effects of climate changes in the international context are being identified and evaluated trying to locate the relationship between the firm’s activities and the climate change as they can be observed in the firm’s daily operations specifically in Britain. Climate has changed dramatically in all regions around the world. One of the main reasons for this change has been considered to be the extremely high percentage of carbon dioxide released by industries, households and a wide range of other sources (e.g. automobiles, fires and so on). Regarding this issue, it has been found by Marland et al. (2007) that ‘since 1751 roughly 315 billion tons of carbon have been released to the atmosphere from

Alternatives for Capitalism in a Globalised Economy

Alternatives for Capitalism in a Globalised Economy Essential for globalized economy: Communism or Capitalism In this globalized economy now it is a big question for us that, what is the perfect economic system: communism or capitalism? By globalization we can understand cross boarder market. There is an international exchange of labor forces, ideas, capitals, knowledge, products, and services. Now we will focus on capitalism and communism and try to find out that in this globalized economy capitalism or communism, what is best suited? Is Communism applicable in globalized economy? Communism is a concept, in that ownership of land, capital and industry cannot be owned or controlled by the individual. However, under Communism the control of these things is not by a local community but by the State Government. Under this system the government has total control of everything produced and control what is made, and who will receive the goods and services produced. Under this system you are not allowed to own your own home, your own car, your own furniture, or even the food you eat. The State decides what you can use and where you will work. So, we think it is an obstacle for global economy. Because if the country determine what will be produced, how will be produced and for whom will be produced, then developed countries may notbe interested to invest in that country. At the same time Communism kills the will to work, competition, innovation and creativity, where these are the main characteristics of a worker in this modern globalized economy. Why compete to work? You wont make any more money. Why spend time innovating new ideas, or being creative, there wont be anything in it for me. As a result they fail to provide goods and services for their citizens. The Soviet Eastern Communist countries of the 20th century were noted for not having much goods and services for their citizens. Yet, the ruling class always had plenty of everything, and it was usually imported from capitalist countries. While we have rich people in America, we also have a large middle class that live comfortable lives. Even many if not most poor people in America have refrigerators, TVs, and food on the table. Since Communism controls all goods and services, the individual is at the total mercy of the State. You have no rights except those granted by the State. The old Soviet Union was a police state, with total control over its citizens.West Germany was full of cars on the Autobahns. The streets in East Germany were mostly empty, with an occasional person on bicycle, even in the middle of winter. Freedom of travel is restricted in a Communist State because they control who gets what and for how long. If you were lucky enough to get a car in East Germany, it was usually a worthless piece of junk. But, we may face a question that if communism creates hindrance to global economy, then how China runs its global economy as we know it is a communist country? Then our answer will be†¦ While China’s government may be officially communist, the Chinese people express widespread support for capitalism. And since 2002, the Chinese have been one of the strongest proponents of capitalism, even more so than Americans and Western Europeans. During last 30-35 years China has brought enormous changes to its economy. In the late 1970s, the government started opening the economy to foreign investment and privatization. With these changes came sky-high economic growth – an average of 10% since 1980. And now about 76% people of China agree that most people are better off in a free market economy. Listverse showed 10 benefits of Capitalism: Happiness If you look at this happiness map published by scholars from the University of Leicester, you can clearly see that the foremost democratic, capitalist countries like the USA, Canada, New Zealand and the whole of Europe are the happiest in the world. This is because in these countries, thanks to the free-market, whatever products people want, they can get. ViableAlternatives Perhaps the strongest argument working in favor of democratic capitalism is that there is no alternative politico-economic system which has proved itself to work in our modern age. Almost every attempted implementation of communism has failed (China – abandoned total communism long ago and are slowly creeping towards capitalism). America became socialist and imposed many strong measures on corporations to regulate their behavior, the largest companies (Trans-National Corporations) would most likely move their industry elsewhere, and potential entrepreneurs would be scared to invest in capital, irreparably damaging America’s economy. So as you can see, changing the economic system isn’t even an option. Growth Capitalism allows the economy to grow exponentially. It is a basic fact of economics that the more money a firm makes, the more it can invest in production, and the more it invests in production, the more money it makes. So long as no unfortunate events befall the firm, this growth can, obviously, continue indefinitely. Many see a problem arising with this: there are only a finite, or ‘scarce’ amount of resources on Earth, so this huge growth of production will one day run to a halt. Health There is greater awareness than ever of the importance of fitness due to government campaigns. All of these contribute to an extremely fit society, and, in desperation, one can always resort to liposuction or some other sort of surgery. Social Good It might seem at first glance that everyone is selfishly working for their own money, but dig a little deeper and it becomes apparent that every job has a benefit for someone else. Factory workers produce the products that we can’t live without; hairdressers perform a service that benefits us body and soul; and the police work to protect us and make sure we live in a lawful society. Even unpopular and ‘overpaid’ professions such as city bankers and sportsmen have a positive effect on society, whether it be helping us manage our money, entertainment or something else. Equality No matter where you start in life, everyone has an opportunity to make it big. The basic principle is that the harder you work, the greater your reward. Human Nature Being the Best Freedom Built on Democracy (Nunno, Jed Rachael, 2014) An authoritarian communist party controls Vietnam. Its true. But its founding ideology appears all but gone from the hearts of Vietnams people. Vietnam, in fact, may actually be one of the most pro-capitalist countries on Earth. Almost all Vietnamese people — 95% of them — now support capitalism, according to the Pew Research Center, which polled nearly 45 nations late last year on economic issues. No other country in the poll cracked 90%. Even in the United States — where socialist can be used as an insult — only 70% agreed that a free market economy is the best kind of economy. (Winn, 2015) References Nunno, Jed Rachael, 2014. Listverse. [Online] Available at: http://listverse.com/2010/12/24/top-10-greatest-benefits-of-capitalism/ [Accessed 24 April 2015]. Simmons, K., Spring, 2014. Global Attitude Survey, Washington, DC: PEW Research Center. Winn, P., 2015. USA TODAY. [Online] Available at: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/03/13/vietnam-capitalism-global-post/70261770/ [Accessed 24 April 2015].

Theatre in the Community Essay examples -- Drama

Theatre in the Community Britain in 1979 was a place of great change and division. Although the country had united in the election of Margaret Thatcher as the first Conservative woman Prime minister by the early 1980’s one could say that the country was spiralling into a state of decline. This was largely due to the disarray of the previous Labour government and the implementation of the Conservative government’s robust style of economic management. All spheres of social and cultural life were to be judged on their economic terms and values. This is particularly true within the Arts. In ‘Politics of Performance’ Baz Kershaw describes how, â€Å"Private enterprise was to replace public dependency, so cuts in government, expenditure, including that on the arts, were inevitable.† This stems back largely to the ideological principals of conservatism. Conservatism believes in the self reliant role of the individual. It strongly allows for the expansion of public enterprise and thus frowns upon state intervention and avoids assistance towards public dependency. Therefore, where it was seen that some areas of public life, such as the arts, were â€Å"financially draining†, cuts were made where necessary to ensure that funds were spent more wisely, largely towards benefiting enterprise. A culmination of activities throughout the 1980’s meant that the arts were one of the key areas of public life that were disregarded in favour of prioritised events. This is effectively where the arts began to suffer. Although some mainstream theatre was funded by the GLC (Greater London Council), many alternative theatre groups were seen as unnecessary and as they often highlighted social issues, such as homosexuality, that were seen as taboo, they were generally avoided when it came to the distribution of funding. This can clearly be seen in Kershaw’s, ‘Politics of Performance’, where Kershaw states, â€Å"The divisions in British society were also reflected in the growing distance between the top and bottom of the theatrical pyramid during the 1980’s. In 1982 the Royal Shakespeare Company had moved into the huge concrete edifice of the Barbican in the City of London. The following year, a government- ordered investigation into the RSC (the Pristley report) concluded that counter to government suspicions- the company was efficient but under funded to the ... ...iece was heavily influenced by the needs of a local disability group. Community theatres range in size from small groups led by single individuals performing in borrowed spaces, to large year round companies with elaborate well equipped theatres of their own. Many community theatres are successful non-profit businesses with a large active membership and, in some cases, a full time professional staff. As the performers and other artists are also involved in other aspects of their community, non-professional theatre can develop a broad base of support and attendance among those who might not normally support the professional arts. Community theatre is in fact well documented as being the most widely attended venue for theatre in America and Australia. Community theatre is often seen as adding to the social capital of a community, in that it develops skills and community spirit for those involved. Furthermore, it can also create a place for debate, self-expression and interactivity that is important for the health of a community. When this can involve people with learning disabilities, for example, it can disarm prejudices that people encounter on a daily basis. Theatre in the Community Essay examples -- Drama Theatre in the Community Britain in 1979 was a place of great change and division. Although the country had united in the election of Margaret Thatcher as the first Conservative woman Prime minister by the early 1980’s one could say that the country was spiralling into a state of decline. This was largely due to the disarray of the previous Labour government and the implementation of the Conservative government’s robust style of economic management. All spheres of social and cultural life were to be judged on their economic terms and values. This is particularly true within the Arts. In ‘Politics of Performance’ Baz Kershaw describes how, â€Å"Private enterprise was to replace public dependency, so cuts in government, expenditure, including that on the arts, were inevitable.† This stems back largely to the ideological principals of conservatism. Conservatism believes in the self reliant role of the individual. It strongly allows for the expansion of public enterprise and thus frowns upon state intervention and avoids assistance towards public dependency. Therefore, where it was seen that some areas of public life, such as the arts, were â€Å"financially draining†, cuts were made where necessary to ensure that funds were spent more wisely, largely towards benefiting enterprise. A culmination of activities throughout the 1980’s meant that the arts were one of the key areas of public life that were disregarded in favour of prioritised events. This is effectively where the arts began to suffer. Although some mainstream theatre was funded by the GLC (Greater London Council), many alternative theatre groups were seen as unnecessary and as they often highlighted social issues, such as homosexuality, that were seen as taboo, they were generally avoided when it came to the distribution of funding. This can clearly be seen in Kershaw’s, ‘Politics of Performance’, where Kershaw states, â€Å"The divisions in British society were also reflected in the growing distance between the top and bottom of the theatrical pyramid during the 1980’s. In 1982 the Royal Shakespeare Company had moved into the huge concrete edifice of the Barbican in the City of London. The following year, a government- ordered investigation into the RSC (the Pristley report) concluded that counter to government suspicions- the company was efficient but under funded to the ... ...iece was heavily influenced by the needs of a local disability group. Community theatres range in size from small groups led by single individuals performing in borrowed spaces, to large year round companies with elaborate well equipped theatres of their own. Many community theatres are successful non-profit businesses with a large active membership and, in some cases, a full time professional staff. As the performers and other artists are also involved in other aspects of their community, non-professional theatre can develop a broad base of support and attendance among those who might not normally support the professional arts. Community theatre is in fact well documented as being the most widely attended venue for theatre in America and Australia. Community theatre is often seen as adding to the social capital of a community, in that it develops skills and community spirit for those involved. Furthermore, it can also create a place for debate, self-expression and interactivity that is important for the health of a community. When this can involve people with learning disabilities, for example, it can disarm prejudices that people encounter on a daily basis.

Feng Shui Essay

Feng shui traces its origin to ancient China. Although it was often utilized by the ancient Chinese to predict the future, feng shui was more than that. Literally translated as â€Å"wind water,† it was fundamentally a part of their beliefs concerning nature – specifically the anchored on the principle that when man elects to live with nature, he and his environment both benefit by his actions. This is in contrast to what happens when he is living against nature where his activities destroy either himself, nature, or both. (Carroll, 2007) According to Feng shui man is greatly affected by his physical and emotional surroundings. In other words, a man who finds himself in the midst of a negative atmosphere like noise, ugliness, or death is debased, while he who surrounds himself with things associated with the positive such as beauty, music, kindness, and sweetness joins the ranks of the virtuous and the noble. (Carroll, 2007) The so-called experts in feng shui claim that they utilize their knowledge about the five elements of nature (wood, water, fire, metal and earth) and the two energies called chi and sha to sense â€Å"metaphysical energies† and predict the directions of their flow. This is what occurs when they arrange the furnishings inside a house, recommend the best directional position that a building should take, or where to locate it within a piece of land before construction work starts. For instance, these masters would position the beds in every room in certain ways, they would tell the homeowners where to locate the dining room or bathroom, where the appliances should be, what kind of paintings or framed pictures to hang and where, or even which direction the house should face – all of these after using their â€Å"sensors† to tell which way the good energy flows. The objective of the exercise, according to feng shui masters, is to make optimum use of the good energies and avoid the bad energies. For some people, however, feng shui is nothing but superstition. (Carroll, 2007) Reference Carroll, R. T. (2007). feng shui. Retrieved September 23, 2007 from http://skepdic. com/fengshui. html

Extraction of Dna from Calf or Hog Thymus/Isolation of...

Extraction of DNA from Calf or Hog Thymus/Isolation of Yeast RNA I. Abstract Nucleic acids may be divided into two groups RNA and DNA. DNA contains almost all the genetic information while RNA serves as the bridge between the DNA and proteins. Study of both DNA and RNA initially involves proper extraction/isolation. The storehouse of eukaryotic DNA is the nucleus (and in the mitochondria), so experimentally, DNA is extracted from tissues that have a high nuclear to cytoplasmic mass ratio, such as the tissues of the thymus gland and spleen. The thymus gland is a particularly good site for DNA extraction because it functions as the primary site for T lymphocyte differentiation. The T lymphocytes it acts upon have a round nucleus that†¦show more content†¦7.4 (at this pH, stability of crucial hydrogen bonds and other linkages in the DNA double helix are maintained). The addition of sodium citrate buffer has two other significances. First, it chelates Mg2+ and Mn2+, cations that serve as cofactors for DNAses. This chelating action of sodium citrate prevents the degradative enzymes to take effect in performing their function. Secondly, sodium citrate chelates other divalent cations (e.g. Ca2+) that could form salts w ith the anionic phosphate groups in the DNA backbone. Centrifugation was done next in order to separate the nuclei from other cellular organelles as well as cellular debris. The denser nuclei sank down to the bottom after centrifugation, forming the residue, whilst the  ¡Ã‚ §lighter ¡Ã‚ ¨ cellular organelles such as the mitochondria, etc. remained suspended in the supernatant. After discarding off the supernatant, the residue was suspended in 24 ml of 2.0 M NaCl. This was done because the salt increases the ionic strength of the solvent that in turn produces a  ¡Ã‚ §salting in ¡Ã‚ ¨ effect. Salting in then allowed the proteins of the nucleus to again, dissolve for easier separation later through a second centrifugation. Another effect of salt addition is that it could, with strong possibility, weaken the interactions between the negative charges carried by DNA and the positive charge of basic proteins. SDS solution was then