American History Critical Analysis free essay sample

History Critical Analysis In the story American History the character Elena seems to be very studious and an innocent girl but deep down she is very insecure and ashamed of various aspects in her life. Her character traits seem to constantly relate back to the embarrassment she feels of herself. She has plans for her future which seems to be her only worry until Eugene moves in next store. Elena is a very intelligent young girl and a hard worker when it comes to her school and education. Although her grades are high, she still cannot be placed in honors classes because English isnt her first language. Eugene was in honors classes for all his subjects, classes that were not open to me because English was not my first language, though I was a straight A student (Cofer 34). Elena has a hidden longing to excel in school and better herself with her classes and education. We will write a custom essay sample on American History Critical Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This is very important to her because she wants to be successful so that she can eventually leave El Building. But since she cannot due to her culture and language, it holds her back from doing her best to strive for the goals and high standards that she has set for herself. Elena is not very expressive she seems to keep to herself often and not show her inner emotions as easily as some do when they open themselves up publicly. Elena expresses her insecurities in a concealed way, she doesnt seek for attention or compliments to help feel better about herself. I hated my skinny flat chested body, and I envied the black girls who could jump rope so fast that their legs became a blur (33). Elena has a low self esteem especially with her appearance and capabilities to achieve, she has a lack of confidence which leads her to be very self judging. Most of Elenas time was spent either at school or in her room of El Building. Elena had a fire escape in her room which was right above her neighbors house. I had a view of their kitchen and their backyard, and though I could not hear what they said, I knew when they were arguing, when one of them was sick, and many other things (33). She would take close notice to her neighbors and became infatuated with the way that they lived. I could see his place from my window in El Building. In fact, if I sat on the fire escape I was literally suspended above Eugenes backyard (33). Elena felt like she became part of their family without them knowing, she would watch them and feel this way because she does want to live in a normal home, like her neighbors do. She doesnt specifically say she wishes to be or live like them but her fascination shows her secretly wanted life style that she cannot have. The way she lives, in El Building isnt the same as living in a private and quiet house. Elena has too much pride for her family to ever actually share her slight embarrassment towards the fact that she lives in El Building. Elena not only is embarrassed but also ashamed of herself and where she lives. El Building wasnt the prettiest sight according to Elena, I thrust my books out a silly gesture that embarrassed me almost immediately. You live there? ; She pointed to El Building which looked particularly ugly, like a gray prison with its dirty windows and rusty fire escapes (38). She doesnt necessarily have to say that she doesnt like living in El building she just hints toward her disliking for it. The light through the large kitchen window of his house told me that El Building blocked the sun to such an extent that they had to turn lights on in the middle of the day. I felt ashamed about it. She even says that she doesnt plan to stay in El Building, As for me, I was going to go to college and become a teacher (35). Shes got her mind set on getting out of El Building to somewhere that fits her standards, which is why she wants to succeed. Once Elena is on her own, doing what she enjoys, in her home of choice, it could potentially be more satisfying for herself. Elena should feel more accomplished rather than ashamed or embarrassed when that time comes. Elenas insecurities do get the best of her which makes her more of a pessimist later in the story. I was ready to for rejection, snobbery, the worst (34). She always seems to think the worst of situations because of her insecurities and self judgement. She has become quite use to being made fun of by the other girls in her school. Therefor, when meeting Eugene she expected the same treatment from Eugene. Elenas low self esteem issues play a part in how she expects to be treated by others. Its a given that she is embarrassed of herself, so when people as nice as Eugene come along she was surprised by his kindness because its not something she is use to. Elena is envious of some of the other girls in her school who are capable of doing things that she is not, such as jump rope. I envied the black girls who could jump rope so fast that their legs became a blur (33). She wished to be more like these girls because she is too insecure about herself and her body. Since she cares what these girls think of her, when they make fun of her for not being able to do what they do, she is hurt and probably feels worse about herself. Elena starts to lower her self esteem when hurtful things are said to her because shes embarrassed of herself and inability to do things that others can. Elenas innocence is shown all throughout the story. She is a very sensitive girls whos feelings are easily hurt. I felt burning on my cheeks and then my glasses fogged up so that I could not manage to coordinate the jump rope with Gail. She lets minor things get to her and make her emotional. But the tears that came up from a deep place inside me were strictly for me (38) Elena however is not emotional for the death of her president but for the embarrassing encounter she went through with Eugenes mother. When Elena is put it in a bad personal situation she becomes maudlin. Elena is too young and immature to understand the importance of the death of her president, but she doesnt know any better because of her age. At this point she could only be emotional over her own personal issues. Though I wanted to feel the right way about President Kennedys death, I could not fight the feeling of elation that stirred in my chest (37). She doesnt know the difference between what should be considered important and what should not because her embarrassment towards many different things doesnt give her a clear outlook as to what she really should be worried about when she is worrying in her head, about her personal self. Hence, Elena is a brilliant young girl with hidden insecurities that get the

secrets unrevealed essays

secrets unrevealed essays The first study of clandestine operations was initiated 1988 in hopes of learning about the relationship between the President and the intelligence committees of Congress. Stephan F. Knott, an Assistance Professor of Political Science at the Untied States Air Force Academy, picked up this study of clandestine operations. In Knott's recently published book (1996) Secret and Sanctioned, he unveils the reality that not only were clandestine operations in the Cold War recently, been had also been used in times dating back to our Forefathers. Knott's account of covert operations involving some of our most admired leaders (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln etc.) gives clear evidence that even the most admired respected of our leaders weren't completely honest dealers. The fact that covert operations were undoubtedly active in the times our Forefathers are illustrated within the realm of Secret and Sanctioned. Knott's main purpose in writing this book was to notify his audience that the age-old tradition of clandestine operations wasn't started with a new generation of politicians, but had been embedded within the political system since the beginning of the American Revolution. Knott worked with several well-educated professors in research of his book, he consulted many different sources such as Professor Dennis Hale, a chairman of the Political Science Department at Boston College and Arthur S. Hulnik a professor of International Relations at Boston College as his resources of information about American intelligence activity. Stephan F. Knott details several different cases in which covert operations were throughout the years. His first subject was the covert operations, which involved George Washington's plan to capture William the IVth, the heir to the throne of England while had authorized on his stay in the states in March of 1782. Washington had authorized three kidnappings, that of Benedict Arnold, Sir Henry C...

Theme and Narrative Elements in the Short Story Essay - 6

Theme and Narrative Elements in the Short Story - Essay Example of Phoenix illustrated her determination to attain her goals of medicine and paper windmill, which symbolized the frailty of the white mans gift of freedom. The plot and setting of A Worn Path depict the arduous journey of black slaves toward redemption from slavery. The exposition focuses on the character of Phoenix Jackson, who represents black slaves. The complication of the plot is the struggle of Phoenix against herself and her environment. First, she is already old, even too old for her journey, which she admits: â€Å"I the oldest people I ever know† (Welty, 1941, par. 25). She cannot even properly see where she is heading, yet she relies on her poor eyesight and memory to arrive at her destination. Her age stands for the length of time of the slaves struggle for freedom; she can no longer tell how long anymore. Her physical degradation, furthermore, represents the physical consequences of slavery. Second, Phoenix also struggles with her surroundings or society. The setting presents diverse obstacles to freedom. The â€Å"foxes, owls, beetles, jack rabbits, coons and wild animals† in her way represent all the kinds of people, whites and blacks alike, who oppose the slaves pursuit of freedom. The thorny bush is also an example of what the black race needed to endure in their â€Å"endless struggle† (Sykes, 1998, p.151). The climax occurs when it seems that Phoenix has forgotten her journeys purpose. This â€Å"forgetting† is a form of situational irony, where it would have been a great waste of time and effort, if Phoenix could not achieve her mission. This â€Å"forgetting† can also be paralleled to the passivity in the blacks â€Å"waiting† for their freedom. In a way, waiting patiently for their freedom also evokes a lackadaisical response from the whites. Situational irony takes place once more; the more patient the blacks were, the more the whites exploited them. The resolution of the plot takes place when Phoenix remembers her gift to her grandson, the

Essay 6 in one single spaced full page + the identifications

6 in one single spaced full page + the identifications - Essay Example Asians migrated to America many years ago because of galleon trade. American merchants traded with China through Canton port in 19th Century. The Chinese immigrants comprised of 10% population of California and 25% that of Idaho due to attraction from railway construction, mining and fishing industries. Japanese concentrated in farming in California, and their immigration to the United States evolved in 1880s. They lived in ethnic Clusters. Diplomacy of immigration was really concerned with the consequences of keeping some people out and therefore, diplomatic establishment was made in 1924 partially to facilitate immigration. Italian: Before 1850, the Italians immigrants from Mediterranean were widely disbursed but in a small population. Most of them were from Central and Northern Italy largely concentrating in New Orleans. After 1880, most of the Italians from Wales currently referred to as the Mezzogiorno of northwest Europe entered US through New York concentrating in New England, Chicago and Mid-Atlantic states. Greeks: Greeks who had strong ties with Greece brought their Orthodox Churches to America in 1890s although more than half returned to Greece. They created ethnic niches in the restaurant business. Arabs and Armenians: The Armenian population was larger around Turkish Genocide time in 1915 and only 2 mosques were built before 1930 by the small Muslim population. Most of these immigrants were Syrians and Lebanese. The Poles: more than 26 ethnic groups settled in cities of N.E and Great lakes e.g. Detroit, Cleveland and Chicago. These were especially Europeans peasants. Most of the immigrants were laborers Roman Catholics, but there were no Poland in the year 1795 to 1919. Before 1880, 250000 Jews fled to US because of religious persecution, most German descent and 50,000 from East Europe. By 1924, 4 million Jews had fled to US 3 million of Eastern European descent. Most of them were young

Consumer behaviour in the ethnic food market Personal Statement

Consumer behaviour in the ethnic food market - Personal Statement Example This kind of liberty has somehow made the process intimidating. Writing a dissertation primarily entails the hard task of simultaneously coming up with a significant design. At the start, I have to let myself be open to every input such as lectures and class discussions, books and articles I read, might as well to journals I encountered. To refrain from losing the important facts and information, I have to put things that interest me into a journal. I've also tried doing some sort of research or survey wherein I have asked elder students and even faculties on what types of topics did they have for dissertation and have let them share their experiences as they come along the process. Their stories have somehow served as my inspiration and a challenge to do my best with such tedious and get fulfilling task. These motivations and the knowledge that my study could be of great contribution and significance in the future researches had kept me going. With my limited knowledge on major scholarly topics that are most important in my field, and having the great topics already used up; I have to do some general reading in the field to come up with a significant and original topic. ... Considering the scope manageability and the significance of the continuously rising Halal market particularly in Tesco retail setting, we have agreed that I should focus on that topic. With the help of my tutor, I manage to have a firm grasp of the facts in my case, and have been dedicated to answer vital "why" and "how" questions within the topic. Trends and outcomes in ethic food marketing, as well as their causes must be dealt with despite their apparent unavailability. Dissertation involves series of intricate process that needs full attention, hard work, and consistency. Coming up with the mere title is rather challenging. The author must come up with a clear, succinct, simple yet fully explanatory and can perfectly reflect the content of the whole document. After long reflection, several rejections and experts advice, I finally came up with the title "Consumer Behavior in the Ethnic Food Market", believing that it will best suit my topic in the clearest and simplest manner. This is then succeeded with review of literature, a considerably long part of the whole paper that supposed to provide the reader with a summary of the current knowledge related to the topic to be studied. I have learned to utilize all great facilities in the universities. After filing some initial paperwork from graduate school, I immediately began with my review of literature. Reading thru all the files I have gathered, I was somewhat disappointed to find out that some of it was actually irrelevant if not far from what I should focus on. I must have been very eager to gather an enormous information by only looking at their titles and carelessly browsing its contents, that I have failed to realize that I those would just take me out of my topic.

The History Of Why Bother?

The History Of Why Bother? The Temperatures are rising, carbon emissions are increasing, ice caps are melting at a faster rate than most scientists expected and planet earth is experiencing ecological and environmental issues due to global warming. Earth as we know it might change drastically in the next couple of decades and it is our responsibility to preserve the environment and preserve earth. Michael Pollans Why Bother opens the readers eyes in a powerful manor to global warming and related environmental issues. Pollan uses rhetorical strategies such as current and past events, logos and pathos to persuade the reader to bother(218) and start thinking of the environment as an issue that involves all of the people. Pollan approaches the reader from different standing points as he addresses each counter argument and gives the reasons of why people should bother. Pollan argues that despite the fact that our plant is at risk because of carbon emissions, we(the people) have not done anything to stop it. It is this passive attitude, Pollan argues, that prevents us from helping our planet. Michael Pollen quotes Wendell Berry saying that the deep standing problem behind all the other problems of industrial civilization is specialization(87). It is this specialization that causes people to play only one role in society and that they cannot expand to other field which they are not familiar with. In other words, people do not waste their time on environmental issues because they do not believe that it is their job to do so. The author urges the reader to liberate from the cheap-energy mind (120) and for once try to make a difference in the world. Pollan suggests that the best way of being green is to plant a garden. Although Pollan suggests many other ways of being green in his article such as purchasing a hybrid car, walking to work, or even changin g your light bulbs to candescent type like Al Gore suggested in An Inconvenient Truth, none of these ideas will reduce [peoples] sense of dependence (182) or reduce carbon footprint as much as a garden would! Pollan hopes that a persons decision of being green would influence another person which in turn would create a huge chain reaction. Pollan effectively uses examples of current and past events throughout the article to show the reader how big the problem is. He uses Al Gores An Inconvenient Truth which is a familiar documentary to most readers to support his argument and to give the reader a hint about what his article is going to be about. Pollan makes a connection with the reader when he describes his own feeling about the documentary when saying Al Gore scared the hell out of me, constructing an utterly convincing case that the very survival of life on earth as we know it is threatened by climate change.(4) Pollan also references the analysis of Wendell Berry, a Kentucky farmer and writer, to support his argument of the peoples dependency for solutions on specialists. He points to the people who fund and support environmental organizations while polluting the environment in their everyday life. Pollan notes that the people will not change and think about the environment unless they overcome the double personali ties in their believes and behaviors. All this comes down to the moral prospective of each person and his inner consciousness to identify clearly what is wrong around him with regard to the impact on the environment. Pollan uses logos in a powerful manor to convince the reader of adopting a green life-style. He tries to influence the reader by presenting the scientists projections about global warming that seemed dire a decade ago to have been unduly optimistic.(48) as the melting of the ice caps are occurring at a faster rate than expected. Pollan effectively uses a set of words to describe the boost of the rate of change to the melting down of the ice caps such as terrifying, threatening and scary to influence the reader and think more seriously about global warming. Pollan then ends with a question to keep the reader thinking about global warming, he says have you looked into the eyes of a climate scientist recently? They look really scared.(53) Another strategy which Pollan excels is the use of pathos to convey his point and to reinforce and strengthen his argument. Pollan engages with the reader in a set of counter arguments of why not to bother throughout his article. He presents many questions that are common and familiar to the reader such as the evil twin(15) that lives halfway around the world and is eager to replace every last pound of CO2 [a person] is struggling no longer to emit.(18) This way, Pollan makes a connection between the reader and himself in a manner that ties the reader to his analytical thoughts. Pollan addresses each question throughout his article until he reaches to a conclusion of why to bother.(218) Pollan states that thinking about the environment and at least planting a garden have sweeter reasons(218) than just benefiting the environment. These reasons consist of healing the split between what you think and what you do(219) and re-engaging with neighbors. These reasons might influence other pe ople to follow the same path in dealing with environment and create a chain reaction that grows to outside of ones community. Michael Pollans Why Bother opens the readers eyes in a powerful manor to global warming and related environmental crises. He uses many rhetorical strategies to convey his argument such as past and current event, logos and pathos to persuade the reader to bother(218) and start thinking of global warming and related environmental issues as a serious matter that involves all of the people. Pollan approaches the reader from different standing points as he addresses each counter argument and gives the reasons of why to bother.(218)

Christopher Columbus a Hero?

In the 1500’s, people were curious about the world and wanted to advance so they explored, the explorers who discovered different things were regarded as hero’s but even though Christopher Columbus found America, he was no hero. Christopher Columbus unintentionally discovered America, when he landed in the Caribbean Islands, while looking for a direct sea route to Asia. Columbus was a selfish and untrustworthy man but was given honor. He was the cause of slavery, oppression, and mass genocide in the Americas and Africa. Obviously, Columbus was not a hero but the exact opposite. The first fact about Columbus being a villain is that he deculturalized people. When Columbus met the Tainos in North America, he wanted to make them just like Europeans, he was trying to make them all Christian. He forced them to find gold where there was none, and if they did not find any Columbus would kill them. Columbus also forced the natives to become slaves, most of the natives died on their way to Spain. Columbus and his men threw natives corpses over the side of the boat and into the ocean. The natives that did not become slaves worked on plantations or mines where they too would die from the hard working conditions. After they greeted the Europeans to their land with open arms, they were thrown aside like animals. Another important fact that makes Columbus not a hero is lying. Columbus lied to the queen about the explored island, He said that there's a lot of gold and spices, and people there would share anything with anyone. Columbus also lied that he reached Asia, which was his destination spot and then insisted that he discovered this land when the Taino were found their. He said all those things to make the queen believe that he's a good man and to save himself from the death. This doesn't only make him a liar but it also makes him selfish, he even took the prize of reaching the Bahamas from one of his crew mates in order to pay off a debt. The worst thing that Columbus did to gain a â€Å"bad character† name is genocide. When Columbus went to America second time, he brought a lot of Indians back with him to make them slaves to work for his queen. A lot of people died on the way to Columbus's country, and others were dying because they worked hard as slaves in mines and fields, which were hard and dangerous, or they wee sick with a disease, but he wasn’t the cause of not just one genocide but two. The African Americans were mistreated just as much if not worse, his reason for this was a shortage of Indian slaves. He enslaved these people after they were betrayed by their own and trade for guns. There were many deaths and the lives of the Africans were beyond comprehension and this was all thank to Christopher Columbus. Without a doubt, Columbus was a terrible man and doesn’t deserve the recognition of a hero but a villain. An entire culture was ruined when it has been alive for maybe hundreds of years before Columbus arrived. Columbus betrayed his crew and the native after they were being kind and generous to him, just to cover for the lies he told. The Natives and Africans were killed, raped, and enslaved all because Columbus. Many men and women are thought of as hero and they do this by accomplishing something for the greater good of people but this is the opposite of what he has done.