Literary Analysis- All Summer in a Day

Jeremy Olsen Mrs. Harvan Art of Writing 12 April 2010 All Summer in a Day Most children grow up not knowing how the world works around them. They don’t understand why people are different from one other and they react differently to with jealousy or cruelty when someone is not like they are. In All Summer in a Day, by Ray Bradbury, the children are jealous and angry with Margot because she has experienced things in life they have not, so the kids treat her unfairly because of it. From the beginning of the story the kids never liked Margot and treated her cruelly. When she starts to tell the kids in her class how the sun is â€Å"like a fire in a stove† (Bradbury 1) she is cut off by a boy and told â€Å"you’re lying you don’t remember† (2). Another instance when she is treated horribly by the kids is when she is told to â€Å"speak when spoken to†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (3) by one of the boys in the class. When the time comes close to when the sun was going to come out the kids in the class say â€Å"Hey let’s put her in the closet before teacher comes back† (4) and all Margot could say was no. After they put her in the closet the sun came out and they all ran outside and forgot her until one of the kids says â€Å"she’s still in the closet where we locked her. †(5) this shows how unimportant she is to the kids and also how the kids can just go on after possibly ruining the girls life. At the end of the story when the kids realize they left Margot in the closet one of the girls says â€Å"well? † to the boy who put her in there and he didn’t even have a response because he felt horrible about what he did.

Neurological Effects of Marijuana

The recreational use of marijuana has become an almost mainstream part of our society today, so mainstream in fact that 16. 8% of Canadians older than 15 use it. In government, the debate to legalize marijuana has long gone back and forth yet never coming to a conclusion. But in this debate is the government really examining the psychological effects of the drug, or are they just concerned with the money aspect. In one study of the neuropsychological effects of marijuana it was concluded that â€Å"The low dose produced generalized impairment of all mental processes (concept formation, memory, tactile form discrimination and motor function). † The research question of this essay is â€Å"Are the short and long term neuropsychological effects of marijuana severe enough to leave lasting impressions on our society? † Purpose The thesis of this essay is â€Å"the neuropsychological effects of marijuana are ery apparent through experimental research and the deficits caused by marijuana could become visible in our society and create problems down the road. † The essay will proceed in the order of first examining a case of neuropsychological effects on heavy marijuana users, then we will examine some of these effects and they way they impact teenage marijuana users. It will also be examined how marijuana may be seen as a cause of psychotic disorders, and also the way marijuana affects aggression. Argument The use of marijuana affects the brain and our neuropsychological functions such as memory. But how memory is affected; is it long term or short term memory and is this a lasting effect or not. In a study performed by Kanayama, Rogowska, Pope , Gruber , and Yurgelun-Todd (2003), 12 heavy cannabis smokers, and a control group of 10 others were to completed a spatial working memory paradigm that included two tasks: a perception task and a short-delay working memory task while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging. The results showed that the recent cannabis users displayed greater and more widespread brain activation than normal subjects when attempting to perform the aforementioned task. This suggests that the recent cannabis users may experience some neuropsychological deficits and they compensate for these deficits by calling upon different regions of the brain to help out in completing the task. This study shows that for a heavy cannabis user, simple tasks require extra effort from different regions of the brain in order to accomplish said task. This experimental study was well conducted and provided significant findings regarding the neuropsychological functions of a heavy cannabis user. These findings show that the heavy cannabis users had to work harder to accomplish the task at hand, and even though they still managed to accomplish the task, the neurological deficits shown through this study could leave them crippled or handicapped later in life with continued use of the drug. The debate continues in that people are unsure whether neurological deficits associated with cannabis last only as long as the drug does or if the continue afterwards and are more permanent. For example, Fried (2005; cited in Murray, Morrison, Henquet, Di Forti 2007) et al. found no evidence of cognitive deficits in cannabis users after three months of abstention66, whereas Bolla (2005; cited in Murray, Morrison, Henquet, Di Forti 2007) et al. found persisting deficits in decision-making and brain activity among heavy cannabis users who had been abstinent for 25 days. This inconsistency could be due to the age of participants or any number of other variables, which is why this sort of experiments can be unclear and inconclusive at times. One aspect of the age variable is that most experiments of this type are performed on adult participants and so does not show how the neurological effects of cannabis might affect the growing mind of a teenager. In a study performed by Harvey, Sellman, Porter, and Frampton (2007), 70 adolescents aged 13-18 were recruited, and after a 12 hour abstinence from marijuana performed several test. These tests included a demographics questionnaire, a Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB) questionnaire for drug use in the past 28 days. Intelligence was measured using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence. The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery was used and the tests administered were: Motor screening (visual and movement problems), Rapid visual information processing (attention and memory), Spatial working memory (memory and strategy), Intradimensional extradimentional shift (attention), and Paired Associates learning (visuo-spatial and spatial span). The pen and paper cognitive tests used were Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test, and Symbol Digit Modalities Test. Psychiatric functioning measures used were: Visual Analogue Scale for Mood (present mood), Beck Depression Inventory II, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Conduct Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The Timeline Follow-Back showed that 68. 5% of participants had used marijuana in the last 28 days. The results found from this well conducted study show that adolescents who were regular cannabis users showed a significantly worse performance on four measures of cognitive functions; attention, spatial working, memory, and learning. These results suggest that the young mind could be more susceptible to the neuropsychological deficits experienced through frequent use of marijuana. This is very negative considering 68. 5% of participants use marijuana frequently and thus has neurological deficits when it comes to attention, spatial working, memory and learning. If this sample is a close representation of the teenage population then our society could have problems down the road. If these teenagers continue to consume cannabis regularly through to adulthood then we could see these neurological deficits etting worse and worse as these teens earn more responsibility as they progress through life. Another possibility of problems that could come from this is the possibility that cannabis use could lead to psychosis or schizophrenia. It is unclear whether this is true or not but, but in some cases cannabis has been deemed a causal risk factor for schizophrenia. Richard Reading (2004) examined the evidence behind these claims and identified five studies that included a well-defined sample drawn from population-based registers or cohorts and used prospective measures of cannabis use and adult psychosis. After examining these cases thoroughly he concluded that cannabis is a component cause to psychosis. It is part of a complex mix of different factors which lead to psychosis down the road. Through these findings Reading deemed that cases of psychotic disorder could be minimized by discouraging cannabis use to vulnerable youth. Considering how 16. 8% of Canadians use marijuana on a regular basis, this is a very negative finding. Even if marijuana is only one little factor which contributes with many other factors to the chance of a psychotic disorder, then having this many people partaking could increase the number of psychotic disorders in Canada by quite a bit. We also know that a very large part of teenagers use cannabis as a social activity, and when used frequently for long periods of time these teenagers could develop psychotic disorders early on in life, making it difficult for them to contribute to our society to their full potential. On the other hand however marijuana could possibly give some positive to our society as well. In an earlier study conducted by Myerscough and Taylor (1985), the aggression levels of thirty male college students were examined while under the influence of either a light, medium, or heavy dose of marijuana. Since the U. S. government released â€Å"Reefer Madness† in 1936, it has been in question whether marijuana really does drive people crazy and amps up their aggression. The subjects were given either a low, medium, or high dose of marijuana then were sat in booth which corresponded with the booth of another participant. They were told that by pressing on one of eleven buttons they could choose the intensity of an electric shock that would be administered to their corresponding subject and vice versa. The person who completed this task faster would not be administered the shock but would find out what level of shock the other had picked for him. When the participants would see the aggressiveness of the other’s choices and receive shocks they would perhaps become more aggressive themselves. In concluding the data they had gathered showed that people in the low dose group tended to respond more aggressively than those in the mid to high level groups. Those participants in the high dose group were for the most part non-aggressive throughout the entire experiment. These findings indicate that when people are on marijuana they tend to be more calm and relaxed, and less easily aggravated. This could benefit many people by helping to ease stress. It could also help to lessen the aggravation behind many acts of crime, and violence in our society. Unfortunately we could not really use these findings to our advantage because we are unable to control who does what, and when. This does help shed some light on the benefits marijuana could have for our society. Conclusion The mainstream use of marijuana as a â€Å"party drug† or social tool in our society has started to get out of hand. Adults and teenagers alike take part in this illegal habit, but what are the consequences. As we see throughout this paper marijuana causes deficits in the neurological processes of adults by making the brain work harder to accomplish certain tasks. Also in teenagers the mental processes of memory, spatial working, attention, and learning were slowed by the frequent use of marijuana and showed deficits that could be worsened with time. It has also been shown here that marijuana could be a causal factor in the development of psychotic disorders. Though all of these experiments and research show how marijuana negatively influences people in our society there are many discrepancies in the research done on marijuana, and some do show no negativities whatsoever. Though the limited and controversial data we have on marijuana’s effect on psychological processes is incomplete, it is hard to say if it will have a lasting negative impression, however we know that marijuana is not having any useful positive effects on our society.

The Problem of Drug Abuse Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

The Problem of Drug Abuse - Term Paper Example Among the most rampant type of illegal drugs proliferated on the streets is cocaine. Cocaine is described as a potent drug that primarily stimulates the brain and causes intense addiction. The two forms include hydrochloride salt and freebase which can be taken intravenously or through snorting. The type which can be smoked is what is referred to on the streets as crack. Its mixture of alcohol is among the most common causes of substance-related deaths (Medline Plus, 2009). The current upsurge of the number of people using cocaine had increased severely over the past years. No longer is it concentrated on the streets and on urban jungles but had reached the suburbs and its inhibitors. They range from nondescript suburban teenagers to other members of the household. The study titled, â€Å"Patients’ Perspective on the Process of Change in Substance Abuse Treatment† conducted in 1995 is included among the researchers funded by NIDA. The bearing of the study is that it focuses on the perspective of the patients and their own opinion of their recovery and the process of change they will have to undertake. This is a different approach as we are often more focused on the treatment itself and the estimation that they should quit right away or go cold turkey. This is perhaps one of the root causes why many patients relapse as there are loopholes in the popular withdrawal programs as implemented. Preconceived notions of the welfare of the patients place a barrier that could properly lead to their overall welfare. The study proves to be timely as the current figures of cocaine users have increased and there is much need to address this appropriately for a long-term commitment to keeping users clean and understanding their views.

Economic inflation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Economic inflation - Essay Example Inflation is the consistent and sustained general price increase of commodities over a period of time leading to fewer goods being purchased with every unit of the current currency. Inflation indicates a loss in the purchasing power based on each unit of money within an economy. This is measured through the consumer price index over specified duration of time (Hart, 2009). There are two major causes of inflation in any economy which are the demand-pull inflation and the cost-push inflation both of which will be discussed below in detail and their effects explained as well. Causes The demand-pull inflation occurs when the demand of the goods or services exceed the ability to produce them or exceed the supply. Suppliers start increasing the prices of the reduced goods and services when they start realizing its diminishing supply. If this continues, the central bank starts increasing the supply of money as a reaction to the aggregate demand. With the increase in money supply in circulat ion, businesses cannot increase the production and hence supply remains constant for a short while but this leads in the long run to an increase in equilibrium and prices rise resulting therefore to inflation (Tucker, 2012). According to the illustration, Demand moves from D0 to D1, the supply remains constant for a while but then the equilibrium shifts from A to B leading to price increase and hence inflation. Source: http://econrsrch/wklyltr/2000/el2000-21.html. The cost-push inflation is the other cause of inflation where there is an increase in cost of production which ultimately leads to an increase in the prices of raw materials and wages. This increased cost by the firms is passed on to consumers. The cost-push inflation is caused by a monopoly company, inflation in the wages, natural disasters, when the natural resources deplete, when the foreign exchange rates fall leading to a reduction in the imports or by the government when it increases its taxation (Tucker, 2012). All the above mentioned situations lead to a reduction in supplies. In the illustration, when the production cost increases caused by any of the above mentioned factors, the supply reduces from S0 to S1. The high demand and the reduced supply leads to a shift in the equilibrium and ultimately an increase in the price level from Z to Y causing inflation to take place. Source: http://econrsrch/wklyltr/2000/el2000-21.html. Effects There are positive and negative effects of inflation. The positive effects of inflation include the fact that with inflation, the central banks adjust the interest rates as a way to mitigate the economic recession. This then leads to a ripple effect as banks also adjust their interest rates causing more people to take up loans and mortgages in a bid to deal with the consistently increasing prices and diminished supply. The banks therefore benefit from all this even though mainly it is for a short while depending on how long the inflation last (if it lasts for lon g, the loose as people will be unable to repay the loans and mortgages). The other positive effect is that with the inflation looming, investment is directed to non-monetary projects which otherwise suffer when there is no inflation as people do not get time to invest their time and energy on them but with inflation they become able to (Dwivedi, 2010). The negative effects however surpass the positive ones. These negative effects range from loss of employment leading to massive unemployment as companies which cannot afford to pay wages dismisses their workforce leaving only a few who are overworked with no pay increase while others close their doors as they declare bankruptcy. There is also the fact that people start reducing their spending and usage rates as commodities become rare or the money to buy them dwindles causing a change in the number of meals per day, others go hungry and homeless as they fail to repay to mortgages or their other debts

The idea of core identity through paintings and photography Research Proposal

The idea of core identity through paintings and photography - Research Proposal Example The essay "The idea of ‘core identity’ through paintings and photography" analyzes the concept of "core identity" in the context of art and photography. Sociological imagination is the way in which we stratify ourselves within our society and plays a large role in how we create our own identity. By linking our own personal experience with the collective understanding of what that represents, we classify not only ourselves but others within specific social groups. An example of how this process works is found in the writings of Edward Said. Said makes three observations. The first one centers on the idea that the term ‘Orient’ refers not to the truth of the geographical region, but rather to an idea that has been developed in the minds of Europeans. This idea tends to group all individuals of the Middle East and East as belonging to a single cultural and religious sector. Although not based on actual truth, this concept is naturally present in the European cu lture in the form of academic and other social institutions, the established vocabulary, the imagery utilized and the colonial styles. Secondly, ‘the Orient’ has been established as the Other, allowing the Europeans to define themselves as a colonizing country against the inferior culture they had themselves defined. Finally, building off of the ideas proposed by Michel Foucault, these distinctions made between Orient and Occident as well as the vocabulary, imagery and other sanctioned discussion regarding it, has confined the Orient.

Reviewing for Les Miserables Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reviewing for Les Miserables - Movie Review Example e, listening to the basic songs of the main characters of the play is a profound understanding of the essence of the Parisian underworld, where dwellers are full of courage, dignity and bravery. The actions of these people from the underworld sound louder than words. This song reflects daily troubles of the poor. The singers are a foreman, workers, a girl and Fantine. They sing about their daily troubles and a secret of Fantine is revealed. She sends money to her illegally borne child and the workers are demanding her to be thrown away. The end of the day is a miserable time for poor and workers, because they think about coming death, overall hunger on the lands. They are thankful that they have an opportunity to work and to feed their children and a place to sleep. Fantine is afraid of revelation and her secret about her child becomes well-known to the rest of the workers. A girl is in a real despair and women start to fight until Valjean pacify them. Fantine tells to the women that she has a child, which lives with an innkeeper and his wife and she has to earn money and send it to her daughter. In this solo song a real despair of a woman can be heard. She wants to return back to happy times and she does not realize what happened wrong in her life and why life is so cruel with her. She dreams about another life, where men were kind and the world was an exciting song. Fantine dreams about everlasting love in a peaceful world. She dreams about returning her love though she understands that these dreams cannot come true. This song is a choral piece and the final song of Act 1. Every singer sings his own part before joining the chorus. Valjean follows the melody of "Who Am I?", Marius, Cosette and Éponine continue their song in the melody "I Dreamed a Dream". A key melody is slow and it can be heard that different characters of musical unite their voices to make the effect of the song even more tragic. We can hear different songs of the main characters and it is

The purpose of higher education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The purpose of higher education - Essay Example So in order to secure a good position in a company, higher education is often a requisite. In relation to landing a dream job, higher education is also viewed as a magnet for good money. In an interview conducted, one student asserted that those with higher education are more likely to possess higher income potential. With more earnings, one is able to provide for his needs and even afford luxuries like expensive vacations, beautiful home or nice cars. In the interviewee's case, with more money pouring in he would be able to provide for his children's basic needs including better education. In addition, he would be able to financially aid his parents if need be. As a believer of education, I totally agree with the arguments given above. Pursuing higher education may be instrumental in being accepted to a prestigious firm. Although one may lack job related experience, a degree would certainly have a signaling effect to employers. A higher education would communicate to them that an applicant has learned vital skills needed to perform a particular job effectively. With this, everything else follows - higher salary, better life, brighter future. However, it is apparent that the said arguments revolve around the financial benefits derived from higher education.