the old man and the sea Essay -- essays research papers

The Old Man and the Sea   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the timeless novel The Old Man and the Sea, the hero is undoubtedly the old man, Santiago, whom us as readers become very acquainted with. Santiago is a hard-worker and perseveres through every problem nature brings to him. He is in the midst of a horrendous fishing drought, during which the townspeople laugh and ridicule him. Santiago just lets the criticism pass him by because he is confident that the fish of his lifetime is coming soon. In a sense, Santiago represents the ideas of honor and pride. He is also a hero to a young boy named Manolin who conveys the image that the old man is whom he would rather live and spend time with rather than his biological father.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Santiago has many noteworthy character traits. He possesses a very strong sense of pride that will not allow him to give up on fishing even after eighty-four days without a single fish. He is also virtuous in that no matter what happens to him, he will not make up excuses or false accounts in an attempt to cover up his bad luck. He is also very unselfish for the reason that he never looks down on the boy or treats him unfairly. Everything they accomplish together, Manolin is given credit for, which I found unusual because more often than not, old men will try to hoard their achievements to try and hold on to their glory days. Instead, Santiago is trying to...

Dostoevsky: Psychiatric Genius?

The book Crime and Punishment and its author, Fyodor Dostoevsky, both came many years before their time. In the book, Dostoevsky clearly describes the medical disorders we now know today as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and dissociative identity disorder which is also known as multiple personality disorder. The book was first published in 1866, however, schizophrenia was first described officially in 1887 by Dr.Emile Kraepelin and not given the name â€Å"schizophrenia† until Eugene Bleuler coined the term in 1911 (The History of Schizophrenia). And it was not until the late 19th and early 20th century that Pierre Janet coined the term dissociative identity (Pendergrast). Bipolar Disorder was also a relatively new disorder being that it was officially described in 1854 (â€Å"A Brief History of Bipolar Disorder†).The character of Raskolnikov is a good example of these three disorders because of the way he acts towards others or towards himself and then suddenly has a change of feelings or mindset. Schizophrenia is defined as a common type of psychosis, characterized by abnormalities in perception, content of thought, and thought processes (hallucinations and delusions) and by extensive withdrawal of interest from other people and the outside world, with excessive focusing on one's own mental life (WebMD LLC).In the beginning of the book, the narrator talks about how Raskolnikov has â€Å"become so completely absorbed in himself, and isolated from his fellows that he dreaded meeting, not only his landlady, but anyone at all† (Dostoevsky 1). This is the first sign of schizophrenia that Dostoevsky shows in Raskolnikov, it is obvious that Raskolnikov has become isolated and does not want to be around any other people. Next, Raskolnikov’s illness is almost completely caused by his hallucinations, delusions, and dreams.This is seen in part two, chapter one after Raskolnikov has committed the murders â€Å"He sat down on the sofa in exh austion and was at once shaken by another unbearable fit of shivering†¦he covered himself up with his winter coat and once more sank into drowsiness and delirium. † (92). This is also seen in chapter three after he returns to his room and has a dream about his landlady being beaten, â€Å"He was not completely unconscious, however, all the time he was ill; he was in a feverish state, sometimes delirious, sometimes half conscious. † (120).Raskolnikov continues to focus on his own mental state throughout the novel and he does not truly become well until the end of the story when he confesses, suffers, and becomes educated. Raskolnikov also has many symptoms of dissociative identity disorder, which is defined as a severe form of dissociation, a mental process, which produces a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity. Dissociative identity disorder is thought to stem from trauma experienced by the person with the dis order (WebMD LLC).Raskolnikov’s condition has obviously stemmed from the trauma Raskolnikov experienced after having committed the murders which is a major sign of dissociative identity disorder, and there are instances where Raskolnikov will do something and immediately completely regret his decision such as when he gives money to Marmeladov and then wants to go up to the room to take his money back â€Å"Raskolnikov had time to put his hand into his pocket, to snatch up the coppers he had received in exchange for his rouble in the tavern and to lay them unnoticed on the window.Afterwards, on the stairs he changed his mind and would have gone back† (Dostoevsky 26-27). Rakolnikov also has a form of dissociation because he gets into moods when he is thinking about certain things but disregarding other important details such as closing the door at the pawnbroker’s, locking his own door the night of the murder, and checking his clothes for blood. A third disorder t hat Dostoevsky describes through the character of Raskolnikov is bipolar disorder.Bipolar disorder is a major affective disorder, or mood disorder, characterized by dramatic mood swings. Bipolar disorder is a serious condition, when mania causes sleeplessness, sometimes for days, along with hallucinations, psychosis, grandiose delusions, and/or paranoid rage (WebMD LLC). Raskolnikov has many mood swings throughout the story. One of the first examples is when he is debating whether he should go talk to his friend Razumikhin, he changes his mind several times and then decides not to see him.Raskolnikov also switches moods about his â€Å"act† that he is planning to commit which we come to know is the murder of Alonya Ivanova. He switches his decision several times and finally commits to killing her when he finds out that she will be alone at seven o’ clock, â€Å"he felt suddenly in his whole being that he had no more freedom of thought, no will, and that everything was suddenly and irrevocable decided† (Dostoevsky 65). We also know that Raskolnikov suffered from hallucinations, delusions, and paranoid rage that he used to kill Alonya.These hallucinations included the dream of the horse getting beaten, the dream that his landlady was being beaten, and the nightmare when Raskolnikov is trying to kill the pawnbroker but she does not die, she only laughs. Dostoevsky helped to pave the way for other doctors and scientists to discover all of the symptoms of these mental illnesses we now know as schizophrenia, dissociative identity disorder, and bipolar disorder. This shows how much Dostoevsky knew about human nature. He was able to pick out tendencies that many mentally ill people have.Not only did he describe these three, he also described alcoholism very accurately by using the character Marmeladov to show that alcoholism only leads to suffering and the more one continues to drink, the more suffering they endure, â€Å"â€Å"the more I drink, the more I feel it. That’s why I drink too. I try to find sympathy and feeling in drink†¦. I drink so that I may suffer twice as much! † And as though in despair he laid his head down on the table† (14). Dostoevsky was a very extraordinary man and he gave mankind many contributions.Psychology was an important part of Crime and Punishment, but it is also clear that Dostoevsky is a very intelligent writer and incorporates many different themes into his works. ? Works Cited â€Å"A Brief History of Bipolar Disorder. † Today’s Caregiver. 2009. http://www. caregiver. com/channels/bipolar/articles/brief_history. htm. Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Ed. Bantam Classic Reissue. New York: Bantam Dell, 2003. â€Å"The History of Schizophrenia. † Schizophrenia. com. 2004. http://www. schizophrenia. com/history. htm .Pendergrast, Mark. Victims of Memory. Upper Access Books, 1996. â€Å"Schizophrenia. † Dictionary. com. 2009. http:// dictionary. reference. com/browse/schizophrenia. WebMD LLC. â€Å"Bipolar Disorder. † WebMD. 2009. http://www. webmd. com/depression/guide/bipolar-disorder-manic-depression. WebMD LLC. â€Å"Dissociative Identity Disorder. † WebMD. 2009. http://www. webmd. com/mental-health/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder. WebMD LLC. â€Å"Medical Dictionary: Schizophrenia. † WebMD. 2009. http://dictionary. webmd. com/terms/schizophrenia.

Growing up in a small town

Greg has completed his final tour of duty with the armed services and is glad to be returning home. He is grateful that he was able to accomplish the goals he set for himself: (1) complete basic training; (2) use his newly learned skills to support his unit with honor; (3) stay healthy; and (4) return home so he can use his veteran’s benefits to complete his education. As he begins his life as a civilian, he realizes that he will no longer have an officer giving him orders and directing his every movement.He must begin to define the orders for himself and use the discipline he learned in the service to his advantage as a civilian. Greg wonders where and how to begin since his time in the military conditioned him to follow orders and work with a team to achieve the mission. Greg realizes that now he must take control of his own personal mission †¦ to succeed in completing his degree. Greg recalls that he has given it some thought. He begins to reflect on what it would take for him to accomplish his ultimate goalof earning a degree.He thinks back to his time in basic training and remembers the phrase of the instructor, â€Å"success begins with one step at a time. † Greg keeps that thought foremost in his mind as he starts to prepare a list of goals (the steps he will need to take on the path to his ultimate goal). He remembers that he performs best when he is able to write his goals/steps down and recalls the satisfaction and motivation he gets when he is able to check them off as he completes each one. It makes him feel good to be able to see what he has accomplished on the list and have a visual picture of his movement toward his ultimate goal.This is a new beginning for him and he needs to ensure he gets the tools to help him be successful. He remembers that his advisor, Wanda, recommended a template for him to use to create a goal list as he began his first class. He wishes he had paid more attention to her because he sure could use that t emplate. He recalls she sent it to him in an email. He searches his emails and locates the template which includes helpful reminders. Click here to download the SMART Goals template.He begins to complete the template and vows to update it after every session to ensure he stays on track to complete his goals and accomplish the dream of earning his degree. In the case above, Greg realized that he needed to set specific goals so he had a plan to guide his steps toward completing his degree. He began by finding a resource that would help him create his goals. Now that you are completing UNIV103, what are your next steps? This assignment will give you an opportunity to create a personal goal template to use as a resource moving forward into your program.Specifically, you will: 1. Reflect upon the ideas you had as you completed the application process. 2. Create the ultimate SMART goal you would like to achieve considering the ideas you had as a starting point. 3. Using the template that Greg’s advisor provided, create at least 3 (immediate, mid-range, long-range) SMART goals each for your personal, academic, and professional life that will step you toward achieving your ultimate goal. Be sure to list advantages, disadvantages, and ultimate costs.

101 Peer Review Professor Ramos Blog

101 Peer Review Speed Review Quick Write What questions do you have about the essay? Speed Review What story are you analyzing? What are you looking at in the story? What scenes are you looking at? In-Text Citations One author: (Ramos 23). Two Authors: (Ramos and Smith 23). Three or more authors: (Ramos et al. 23). Quote from the article â€Å"Sandra Cisneros’s Modern Malinche: A Reconsideration of Feminine Archetypes in  Woman Hollering Creek† by  Alexandra Fitts: Cisneros reevaluates, and in a way revalues, the three most prevalent representations of Mexican womanhood: the passive virgin, the sinful seductress, and the traitorous mother, idolized in the figures of the Virgin of Guadalupe, La Malinche, and La Llorona. Peer Review Keep these things in mind. Peer edit the same way you revise your own work. Be specific in identifying problems or opportunities. Offer suggestions for improvement. Praise what is genuinely good in the paper. Peer Workshop Workshop looking for structure and evidence, â€Å"Chips and Salsa.† Find the chips for your essay and the salsa to make it good. Make sure you have the right amount of salsa for each chip.

Gradualism vs. Punctuated Equilibrium

Gradualism vs. Punctuated Equilibrium Evolution takes a very long time to become visible. Generation after generation can come and go before any changes in a species are observed. There is some debate in the scientific community as to how quickly evolution occurs. The two generally accepted ideas for rates of evolution are called gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Gradualism Based on geology and the findings of James Hutton and Charles Lyell, gradualism states that large changes are actually the culmination very small changes that build up over time. Scientists have found evidence of gradualism in  geologic processes, which the  Prince Edward Island Department of education  describes as the ...processes at work in the earths landforms and surfaces. The mechanisms involved, weathering, erosion, and plate tectonics, combine processes that are in some respects destructive and in others constructive. Geologic processes are long, slow changes that occur over thousands or even millions of years. When Charles Darwin first began formulating his theory of evolution, he adopted this idea. The fossil record is evidence that supports this view. There are many transitional fossils that show structural adaptations of species as they transform into new species. Proponents of gradualism say that the geologic time scale helps show how species have changed over the different eras since life began on Earth. Punctuated Equilibrium Punctuated equilibrium, by contrast, is based on the idea that since you cannot see changes in a species, there must be very long periods when no changes occur. Punctuated equilibrium asserts that evolution occurs in short bursts followed long periods of equilibrium.  Put another way, long periods of equilibrium (no change) are punctuated by short periods of rapid change. Proponents of punctuated equilibrium included such scientists as  William Bateson, a strong opponent of Darwins views,  who argued that species do not evolve gradually. This camp of scientists believes that change happens very rapidly with long periods of stability and no change in between. Usually, the driving force of evolution is some sort of change in the environment that necessitates a need for quick change, they argue. Fossils Key to Both Views Strangely enough, scientists in both camps cite the fossil record as evidence to support their views. Proponents of punctuated equilibrium point out that there are many  missing links  in the fossil record. If gradualism is the correct model for the rate of evolution, they argue, there should be fossil records that show evidence of slow, gradual change. Those links never really existed, to begin with, say the proponents of punctuated equilibrium, so that removes the issue of missing links in evolution. Darwin also pointed to fossil evidence that showed slight changes in the body structure of the species over time, often leading to  vestigial structures. Of course, the fossil record is incomplete, leading to the problem of the missing links. Currently, neither hypothesis is considered more accurate. More evidence will be needed before gradualism or punctuated equilibrium is declared the actual mechanism for the rate of evolution.

Biography of John Sutter, Landowner During Gold Rush

Biography of John Sutter, Landowner During Gold Rush John Sutter (born Johann August Suter; February 23, 1803–June 18, 1880) was a Swiss immigrant in California whose sawmill was the launching spot for the California Gold Rush. Sutter was a prosperous pioneer and land baron when one of his sawmill workers found a nugget of gold at the mill, on January 24, 1848. Despite the rush for gold and fortune that ensued on his land, Sutter himself was driven into poverty. Fast Facts: John Sutter Known For:  Sutter was a settler and founder of California and his mill was the launching spot for the California Gold Rush.Also Known As:  John Augustus Sutter, Johann August SuterBorn:  February 23, 1803 in Kandern, Baden, GermanyDied:  June 18, 1880 in Washington, D.C.Education: Possibly a Swiss military academySpouse: Annette DuboldChildren: 5Notable Quote: After having proved the metal with aqua fortis, which I found in my apothecary shop, likewise with other experiments, and read the long article â€Å"gold† in the Encyclopedia Americana, I declared this to be gold of the finest quality, of at least 23 carats. Early Life Johann August Suter was a Swiss citizen born on February 23, 1803, in Kandern, Baden, Germany. He went to school in Switzerland and possibly served in the Swiss Army. He married Annette Dubold in 1826 and had five children. Leaving Switzerland In early 1834, with his shop failing in Burgdorf, Switzerland, Suter abandoned his family and set off for America. He arrived in New York City and changed his name to John Sutter. Sutter claimed a military background, saying he had been a captain in the Royal Swiss Guard of the French king. This claim has not been proven by historians, but as â€Å"Captain John Sutter,† he soon joined a caravan headed for Missouri. Traveling West In 1835, Sutter was moving farther westward, in a wagon train headed for Santa Fe, New Mexico. For the next few years, he engaged in several businesses, herding horses back to Missouri and then guiding travelers out to the West. Always close to being bankrupt, he heard about opportunity and land in remote regions of the West and joined an expedition to the Cascade Mountains. Sutters Peculiar Route to California Sutter loved the adventure of travel, which took him to Vancouver. He wanted to reach California, which would have been difficult to do overland, so he first sailed to Hawaii. He hoped to catch a ship in Honolulu bound for San Francisco. In Hawaii, his plans unraveled. There were no ships bound for San Francisco. But, trading on his purported military credentials, he was able to raise funds for a California expedition which, oddly, went by way of Alaska. In June 1839, he took a ship from a fur trading settlement at what is today Sitka, Alaska to San Francisco, finally arriving on July 1, 1839. Sutter Talked His Way Into Opportunity At that time, California was part of Mexican territory. Sutter approached Governor Juan Alvarado and impressed him enough to obtain a land grant. Sutter was given the opportunity to find a suitable location where he could begin a settlement. If the settlement was successful, Sutter could eventually apply for Mexican citizenship. What  Sutter had talked himself into was not a guaranteed success. The central valley of California at that time was inhabited by Native American tribes who were very hostile to white settlers. Other colonies in the area had already failed. Fort Sutter Sutter set out with a band of settlers in late 1839. Finding a favorable spot where the American and Sacramento Rivers came together, on the site of present-day Sacramento, Sutter began building a fort. Sutter dubbed the little colony Nueva Helvetia (or New Switzerland). Over the following decade, this settlement absorbed various trappers, immigrants, and wanderers who were also seeking fortune or adventure in California. Sutter Became a Casualty of Good Fortune Sutter built up a huge estate and by the mid-1840s, the former shopkeeper from Switzerland was known as â€Å"General Sutter.† He was involved in various political intrigues, including disputes with another power player in early California, John C.  Frà ©mont. Sutter emerged unscathed from these troubles and his fortune seemed assured. Yet the discovery of gold on his property by one of his workers on January 24, 1848, led to his downfall. Discovery of Gold Sutter attempted to keep the discovery of gold on his land secret. But when word leaked out,  the workers in  Sutters settlement deserted him to search for gold in the hills. Before long, word had spread worldwide of the gold discovery in California. Crowds of gold seekers came streaming into  California and squatters encroached on Sutters lands, destroying his crops, herds, and settlements. By 1852, Sutter  was bankrupt. Death Sutter eventually returned East, living in a Moravian colony in Lititz, Pennsylvania. He traveled to Washington, D.C. to petition Congress for reimbursement for his losses. While his relief bill was bottled up in the Senate, Sutter died in a Washington hotel on June 18, 1880. Legacy The New York Times published a lengthy obituary of Sutter two days after his death. The newspaper noted that Sutter had risen from poverty to being the wealthiest man in the Pacific coast. And despite his eventual slide back into poverty, the obituary noted that he remained courtly and dignified. An article about Sutters burial in Pennsylvania noted that  John C.  Frà ©mont  was one of his pallbearers, and he spoke of their friendship back in California decades earlier. Sutter is known as one of the founders of California, whose Fort Sutter was the site of present-day Sacramento, California. His rise from poverty to wealth and his descent back to poverty is marked by a profound irony. The gold strike that created so many fortunes was a curse for the man on whose land it began and led to his ultimate ruin. Sources Discovery of Gold, by John A. Sutter - 1848.Hurtado, Albert, L. John Sutter: A Life on the North American Frontier,  University of Oklahoma Press, 2006.

What is freedom and what does it mean to you Essay

What is freedom and what does it mean to you - Essay Example If the government oversteps its bounds, as outlined in the Constitution, the people can and loyal patriots would dismantle the government then build another that adhered to the peoples will. Freedom is a concept that requires a continual effort to preserve whether fighting on the battlefield, speaking at city council meetings or by simply voting. The meaning of freedom is broad but my personal viewpoint narrow and defined. Simply put, an American has unrestricted personal freedoms. Of course the ‘your rights stop at my nose’ clichà © applies as does the ‘no harm no foul’ rule. My conception of freedom was drawn from those who offered their definition in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. The government, by law, should be allowed only to enact legislation that follows the ‘no harm’ rule. Those who cause harm to others should be justly punished but those who are excising personal freedom, their constitutionally guaranteed right, should be allowed to pursue happiness in whatever manner they choose. Overwhelmingly, lawmakers and the public have approved the substitution of money for freedom as quickly as they have sacrificed liberty for security in the ‘war on terror.’ Subjects such as euthanasia and abortion are but two of the more high profile issues surrounding personal freedoms. Seatbelt and helmet laws, prostitution, bigamy, and gambling are other examples of ‘no harm’ laws. The justification for seatbelt/helmet laws is that fewer and less severe injuries are sustained as a result of the law which, when properly enforced, ultimately lowers the cost of health care for everyone. Prostitution laws are ridiculous. What else can yo u give away but can’t legally sell? Gambling is illegal and immoral unless the state does it and calls it lottery. Other activities popularly trumpeted under the personal freedom umbrella such as smoking in public, carrying concealed firearms or