Saturday, July 25, 2020

Travelogue Part Une

Travelogue Part Une After a stressful week of essays after essays, assignments after assignments, I decided to take a break by traveling to Bath in Somerset, UK. I arrived in Bath bright and early around 10am. That means waking up at 5 am and walking to the Cambridge train station in sub-zero temperature, say -10 °C (okay, I know I live in Cambridge, Massachusetts so I can take the cold, but still!) Then I took a train to London at 6am and another train from London to Bath around 8am. The most adventurous part of it is probably the 5am walk to the station; it sounds a little torturous/scary but it was kinda worth it. When I saw people cleaning the streets and emptying garbage bins in the cold, when the sun wasn’t even up yet, I felt really grateful. For everything. After having lived abroad for 7 years and visited many places, I thought I would get a little lazy and wouldn’t make an effort to travel. But every time I managed to drag myself out of my super warm electric blanket (hooray to Mommy who made me bring it to England) and went somewhere new, I was reminded of why I love traveling so much. Was it the unusual calmness of the bustling city of Bath that you can only see in the morning? Was it the break-taking architecture of Bath Abbey? Or was it the company of my fabulous traveling buddies? I think it’s the whole package. The highlights of our trip must be the Roman Bath and the fashion museum. I got a little bit unreasonably excited when I was explained about the formation and chemistry of the hot springs that have been supplying water for the bath for thousands of years (my course 5 friends will be so proud!) But I decided to keep it cool because I was kinda surrounded by friends who are future bankers, economists and media specialists. The fashion museum was rather entertaining because we could try on panniers, which are undergarments worn in the 18th century that extend the width of the skirts beyond your widest imagination. Yes, I did feel like Marie Antoinette. Yes, I did tiptoe and try to walk really fast in the most graceful manner possible. And yes, I did stumble, only a little bit (I recovered pretty well) Another wonderful aspect of traveling is making new friends! In this trip, I met a wonderful and charming chocolatier from France. Thanks to my three French classes at MIT, I managed to have a decent conversation with him! He talked to me about his chocolate creations, his hometown and how he met Nicolas Cage here at the store. The whole nicolas-cage-was-here was obviously a joke (or IS IT?); but you know, French humor. And everything else was really interesting! He really liked our feisty group of girls so he decided to give us this little pink pig made out of marzipan as a little souvenir! Our day ended with a visit to Sally Lunn’s house where the famous Sally Lunn Bun was sold. Sally Lunn was a young French refugee who baked this rich round generous bread, light and delicious, a very popular delicacy in Georgian England. It was an awesome weekend getaway; I was a little sad to go back to Cambridge and face with the mountain of essays and applications. BUT FRET NOT, something really exciting happened yesterday! Drum rolls… I attended a talk by a professor from MIT, here in Cambridge!!! How awesome is that? Meet Professor Angelika Amon, an HHMI investigator, who currently works at David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. When I saw a poster pasted on the Department of pathology’s notice board about her talk on aneuploidy, I just had to go. Firstly, I just learnt about aneuploidy in cancer in my lecture a few hours ago. Secondly, beaver love. Nuff said. It was a really cool talk, not only because it was right on the topic I was learning in class, but it really changes my perspective on posing the right questions in scientific enquiry. So aneuploidy is characterized by any deviation from an exact multiple of the haploid number of chromosomes (fewer or more). It’s different from polyploidy, which describes the state of having more than 2 sets of chromosomes. In humans, aneuploidy is the leading cause of miscarriages and mental retardation. Interestingly, it is also a key characteristic of cancer. More than 90 percent of all solid human tumors are aneuploid!!  I know both of these facts, but I haven’t never questioned why aneuploidy, a condition that is so deleterious in fetus, causing proteotoxic and energy stress, actually leads to cell proliferation and cancer in adults? If we can figure out how the proliferative ability of aneuploid cells comes about, we will gain a much greater understanding of evolution of tumor. And, perhaps, if we exaggerate the adverse effects of aneuploidy, say by inducing further energy stress, to eliminate the aneuploid cells, we can find new treatments of tumor!  How cool is that!! Needless to say, I was pretty excited by the end of the talk. During the reception afterwards, it’s even more inspiring to see Professor Amon talking to other researchers at Cambridge’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology who are working in the same field. She got really excited about the findings shared by these researchers that she pulled out her laptop to discuss further about those results she gathered!! Man, I felt incredibly lucky to be able to meet such a passionate and talented individual!! Thanks everyone for such a fantastic week :) and thanks to my dear friend Thu Hang from Warwick University, who took all those beautiful pictures of our trip to Bath!

Friday, May 22, 2020

Reflection On The Enlightenment - 967 Words

Enlightenment (Introduction†¦where are we going?) Enlightenment was a time of reasoning; a time where ideas/concepts opened many eyes around the world. The Enlightenment period brought many questions, but not so many answers. People also became more independent not only with their way of thinking, but also physically— spiritually—and emotionally. We often hear people talking about newton or Locke and their contribution to our society, but why are they so important? What exactly is â€Å"Enlightenment,† and what impact did it had in the world? Let’s find out together! (How would you define the Enlightenment in Europe?) A great description of Enlightenment in Europe to me would be eye opening! After reading chapter one and getting familiar the†¦show more content†¦Locke also said that this specific rights are not subject to government intervention. Our second idea was â€Å"reason of state† which is the idea that a â€Å"state should do anything ne cessary to advance its own well- being, including stealing, lying, or even murder.† (Carter Morris, 2017, p. 4) Finally, our third idea was â€Å"balance of power† which means that states are able to form alliances to protect themselves against other states. Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Roseau, NewtonXXXXXXXX were some of many influential thinkers of the time. (Carter Morris, 2017, p. 4) (Impact) During the Enlightenment period some of the most intelligent minds came out to prove a point. In the beginning society took it as if this intelligent minds were wrong because they did not want to face the facts. No one likes to be told that we need to think more because it makes us feel like we are not thinking enough. No one likes to be told how to raise their child because it makes us feel as we are not parenting right. During the enlightenment period, people that came out to say something could even be put to death. As more people like Locke came out, society began to question/reason. Some of this â€Å"Enlightenment Fathers† even wrote books that in now days are still read and used. I will never forget about the â€Å"Enlightenment Fathers† and their contribution to society. (Significance) The Enlightenment period was a very importantShow MoreRelatedCandide : A Reflection Of The Enlightenment1325 Words   |  6 Pages Candide: A Reflection of the Enlightenment Francois-Marie Arouet, otherwise known as Voltaire was an 18th century French philosopher and writer during the Enlightenment period. Voltaire’s most famous work of literature; Candide follows a young man who grows up in a Baron’s castle (Castle Thunder-ten-tronckh), under the instruction of Dr. Pangloss, a tutor and philosopher who worships optimism even under extreme circumstances. Throughout Voltaire’s novel, Candide and his companions encounter aRead MoreReflection About The Enlightenment1530 Words   |  7 PagesReacting to the Past Games first seemed to be a bit of an unusual way to approach learning information about the Enlightenment. In the past, I was often taught through the same repetitive and plain methods of factual memorization followed by exams. These techniques were both very dull and resulted in a â€Å"memory dump† of sorts. I was a bit afraid that this game would have a similar outcome. However, as the game progressed, I soon found i t more and more intriguing to learn about the time period andRead MoreReflection OnKnowing Others Is Wisdom, Mastering Yourself Is Enlightenment?966 Words   |  4 PagesI would like to begin with the quote â€Å"Knowing others is wisdom, mastering yourself is Enlightenment†. In this course I have discovered more about myself all through the class formally as well as informally. To my surprise few of the Management skills I was performing in my day to day life in a corporate environment without knowing it. And then there are some brand new skills I have learnt in the class such as Tuckman’s team model, Drexler/Sibbet team performance model. At first I was thinking IRead MoreThe Rings of Saturn by W.G. Sebald1335 Words   |  5 Pagesthesis draws specifically on their work The Dialectic of Enlightenment. The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that spread through Europe during the eighteenth century, which involved a radical change in the way that philosophers and others understood the role of reason. It valued independent thought and promoted reason to a higher status and for some came to replace faith. Intrinsic in Sebald’s work is the idea that the Enlightenment project was programmed by violent distrusts of the non-identicalRead More Was The Enlightenment Really The Age of Reason? Essay1569 Words   |  7 Pagesand constantly building on previous insights. The Enlightenment is a historical period referring to the intellectual movement that swept across Europe in the 18th century. To tackle this question, I will be looking at two texts. The essays, ‘An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenme nt’ by Immanuel Kant, an 18th century philosopher, and ‘What is Enlightenment’ by Michel Foucault, a 20th century philosopher. The texts show that the Enlightenment was the age of reason because it allowed individualsRead More Perception Dante Alighieri’s in The Inferno Essay1321 Words   |  6 Pages Dante not only learns about the sinners but he learns about himself when his journey is reflected by a living soul in hell. Dante successfully completes his journey of enlightenment though hell by learning through active observation and self-reflection about himself and his journey. With the beneficial observation and reflection, Dante learns from the sinners and gains knowledge about himself. There is a strong emphasis on perception throughout the novel. It is through sight that Dante acknowledgesRead MoreLiberalism in French Revolution Through Enlightenment1593 Words   |  7 Pages-UNDER THE IDEA OF ENLIGHTENMENT Dare to know! Have courage to use your own reason!-Kant Contents ENLIGHTENMENT AS AN IDEA: 3 FRENCH SOCIETY: 3 THE LIBERAL REVOLUTION: 3 CRITICISM ON THE IDEA OF LIBERALISM: 4 CONCLUSION 5 BIBLIOGRAPHY 6 ENLIGHTENMENT AS AN IDEA: â€Å"Enlightenment is mans emergence from his self-imposed nonage†¦ Sapere Aude! Dare to Know! Have the courage to use your own understanding is therefore the motto of the Enlightenment.† Immanuel Kant (ColumbiaRead MoreEssay on The Enlightenment Movement 1041 Words   |  5 PagesThe 18th-century Enlightenment was an era that symbolized the desire to change social order of Europe citizens. The Church was thought to have been the source of truth and condemned any person that went against it, but people were beginning to think separately and independently from the Church. Thinkers of the Enlightenment provided new ideas based on reason, science, and valued humanity. In addition, writers of the Enlightenment intended to alter the relationship of people and government. AlthoughRead MoreAnalysis Of David Henry Thoreau s Poem, Where I Lived And What You Lived For955 Words   |  4 PagesKant argues, â€Å"Enlightenment is man’s emergence from his self-incurred imm aturity† (An Answer to the Question). In an agreeance to Thoreau, man has become indolent and passive, ignoring the world around them, and that one must, â€Å"Have the courage to use your own understanding† (Kant). One, who focuses their time on the present, forgets the mere thought of the future and the hardship of what it may bring. Kant indicates right away that the way out , that characterizes Enlightenment, is a processRead MoreA Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful: Edmund Burke1299 Words   |  6 PagesTo talk about the Enlightenment taking current times into consideration, and more specifically to talk about an enlightened aesthetic, may seem unusual as the concept â€Å"enlightened† is usually identify with political regimes and scientific systems. But the truth is a return to the meaning of the concept of enlightenment and its aesthetic has never been so necessary for understanding the world that surrounds u s as now. At a time in which cultural marketing and culture industries and their products

Friday, May 8, 2020

Prostitution Is A Worldwide Dilemma - 3053 Words

Introduction Wherever one has been born and raised throughout the world, prostitution has always been prevalent. Prostitution is a worldwide dilemma that occurs on a day-to-day basis with the opposite sex, as well as with the same sex. Prostitution, as many describe it, is the world s oldest profession, which is defined as the exchange of sex for money demonstrating that it has always existed and will continue to exist (Shannon, 2010, p.1388). Prostitution itself is a cycle; having sex with clients, getting arrested, going to jail, paying fines, and then returning to the streets and starting it all over again. Although the timeline of getting arrested varies dramatically between city to city, some go weeks/months without an arrest and†¦show more content†¦In this paper I will explain prostitution in Canada as a whole as well what should be done next to increase the safety and livelihoods for fellow Canadians. Explanation of Prostitution The exchange of sexual services for monetary considerations, the act that is referred to as â€Å"prostitution† or â€Å"sex work† that is done by prostitutes or sex workers (Corriveau Greco, 2014, p.347). Although prostitution sounds to be straightforward; one has sex for money. There is an intricate business behind what is commonly seen than just the prostitutes on the streets; there are, in fact, many different types of prostitution. With the several that I will explain, they come along with their own dangers and different business models. First, starting with the most basic, although not the most common, this one is the street employee. The street employee is one that walks around the streets but usually waits on a street corner for a potentially interested client to stop by and negotiate the prostitute s terms, and if they both agree on a price for whatever the client wants, then they will proceed to carry out the act either in the clie nt s car or a spot they boy decide on. Street employees earn relatively minuscule amounts of money and are most vulnerable to abuse. This includes theft, assault, rape, harassment, robbery and brutalities from clients. In

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Negative Effects of the Internet Free Essays

I wholly disagree with the notion that â€Å"When you give everyone a voice and everyone power, the system usually ends up in a really good place†. This idea is not only naive and foolish but simply untrue. Cyber bullying , cyber stalking and cyber paedophilia are threats that have sprung up in recent years in tandem with the modern phenomenon that is social media where everybody’s voice and opinion can be heard (well, read ) no matter how inappropriate illegal or damaging it may be to another person or even a group of people. We will write a custom essay sample on The Negative Effects of the Internet or any similar topic only for you Order Now Along with these cyber space based problems, content shared or posted online can often step over the threshold of the internet and affect somebody’s day to day life. However, seldom the voice and power given by the internet and social media is responsible for awareness campaigns such as â€Å"Kony 2012†. Unfortunately the harsh and brutal reality is, when people can hide behind computer screens, even gain anonymity if they wish, the darker side of a person quite often shines through and the system does not end up in â€Å"a really good place†. Cyber bulling, the scourge of my generation and many generations to come is vicious, devastating and unapologetic. Before the days of social media and even widespread mobile phone ownership, let’s say pre 2000 bullying would generally take place in school corridors, maybe within clubs or organisations and within the workplace. Even though bullying was and always will be a traumatic experience, in those days it was escapable, a victim of bullying could go home, or to a friends house or anywhere really out side where they were being bullied and be free of it. With the advent of social networking and text messages the torment of bullying has been made inescapable. Poisonously worded text messages, tormenting wall posts and mocking comments being fired at a person night and day by a coward hiding behind a computer screen is taking bullying to a whole new extreme. In my opinion cyber bullying is far more detrimental, vicious and calculated then ordinary bullying , because of the power a person can feel hiding behind a computer screen punching out letters, words ,sentences at a rapid pace not even facing the person the toxic words are aimed at. Internet famous â€Å" former â€Å"site model† and myspace girl Leda Muir admitted she has been a victim of hurtful ,offensive and threatening messages on the internet and in the past was also guilty of sending them to other people. She describes the â€Å"instant rush† sending offensive messages gave her, and how she simply forgot about it minutes later. When she talks about receiving comments and messages similar to the ones she herself once sent, it is an entirely different experience. She describes how each derogatory comment and message she received stayed with her for weeks, and how it made her feel belittled, humiliated and depressed even when she didn’t know any of the bullies personally. These bullies probably felt a similar rush to the one Leda described ,which probably comes from feeling â€Å"drunk on power† after all power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. In the year two thousand and twelve cyber stalking was more common then physical harassment. While in certain aspects it is similar to cyber bullying it is more disturbing, it is based on a twisted obsession with usually a single person with a determined and perverse want to control that person in some aspect. Unlike cyber bullies, cyber stalkers are not chasing an instant power high; they desire something much darker. The aim of a cyber stalker is to get their victim to yield to them in one way or another and may involve other people in this plan. Social media enables these individuals to obtain information such as where you live, work and even who your family members are which in turn gives them the power to make threats to you online using this information. As extreme as it sounds anyone could be cyber stalked, even as it turns out, Mark Zuckerburg himself who probably has the most heavily protected profile on facebook. His stalker Pradeep Manukonda attempted to contact both Zuckerburg and his sister Randi requesting money. When the police told him to cease contacting Zuckerburg , he ignored them and continued to send the facebook Ceo e-mails, hand written letters(in one of which he describes the â€Å"power to communicate) and flowers. He even went to the extent of travelling to face book’s main offices and even Mark Zuckerburg’s house. This was evidently a traumatic experience for Zuckerburg has he took out a restraining order against his stalker , this is a prime example of when everyone is given power buy information obtained on the internet, things do not end in a good place. Finally the most sickening and disturbing threat on the internet, cyber paedophilia. 99% of children between the ages of twelve and seventeen have access to the internet and this is something cyber predators are well aware of. Using chat rooms, web cam and an array of social networks paedophiles have the power to seek out potential victims. For example in two thousand and three , a man posted a message in a chat room requesting sexual favours in exchange for money, out of curiosity a pair of fourteen year old girls responded to this message and they were both violated. The man also texted the victims in order to intimidate and threaten them. This clearly illustrates how somebody can abuse the voice and power given to them by cyberspace to horrific effect. When everyone is given a voice, and given power it is up to the person themselves how they use that power. Some my raise awareness, some my rise to fabled â€Å"internet fame† and some may just spend twenty minutes browsing their news feed. However the idea of the whole system ending up in a good place is one of fantasy, some people can turn into power hungry monsters online while others may abuse their voice and power for disturbing reasons. When you give every one a voice and everyone power, the system won’t end up in a really good place. How to cite The Negative Effects of the Internet, Papers

Monday, April 27, 2020

White Squall Essay free essay sample

Decisions wont always be as simple as chocolate or vanilla; there will be times when decisions can change the path of life. In Riddle Coots film White Squall, characters made difficult decisions that couldve changed the path of their lives. When decisions are hard to make, there are three ways to get on the right track: make good choices that will make us happy, not making decisions based on fear or anger, and finding a support system that will understand us. Life wont always be perfect, but if we know that there is someone or something that can bring right back on track, we have a Geiger chance of making the right decision.Making decisions that will make us happy, not others can make a huge difference with the outcome of our decision, At the beginning of the film, Chuck made the decision of going on a boat school, the Albatross. We will write a custom essay sample on White Squall Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page At the same time, his father was questioning him if it was a good idea because a lot of schools did not recognize the Albatross. Deep inside, Chuck knew that it was a good idea, and at the same time he also wanted it. In the end, Chuck made the right decision of going. He learned things there that he couldnt have learned at a regular high school, and those things were reminders and teamwork.Even though some people might not support our decisions, we will not regret the choice because It was made based on what our hearts were saying. Making a mature decision based on truth is better than making a decision based on our emotions. An example of a decision based on emotions was when Frank killed the dolphin. He was angry and tired because of what his father had done to him. His father was very controlling and mean, and he wanted Frank to be someone else he didnt want to, With that, he killed the dolphin, which led him to the consequence of getting kicked out of the boat.On the other hand, a decision based on truth was when Frank rang the bell at court. Chuck told Frank that he had to do what he had to ad and Frank did as told. He realized that the accident was not Skippers fault, if it was someones fault, it would be everyones. Storms are inevitable and unpredictable, and no one could stop it. With that, everyone stood up and started to support each other. Decisions based on emotions will usually result to something regretful, but decisions based on the truth will usually result to happiness. A support system that will understand our joy and pain is an important thing to eave.Dean got into the Albatross with cheating. During an exam, Chuck and Gill confronted him because of cheating on an exam. With that, he confessed that he was having a rough time and he told the truth. Then, Chuck, Gill, and Frank made a small pact together with Dean, so he could do better at school. The pact made Dean excel at school. There was even a time when he did better than Chuck and GIG. Because of the pact, Dean learned that making the right choice was not hard as long he had a support system that backed him up. Support systems are crucial, and it should be used and accommodated.With support systems, making the right choice is easier. But without it, making the right choice is more complicated. Making the right choice is easy, but at the same time making the right choice is also difficult. Recognizing support systems and making decisions based on truth will influence our decisions, the outcome of the decision might not be as good as the outcome of a decision based on the truth. These three steps are crucial when it comes to getting on the right track. It is our choice if we want to recognize our support systems and emotions to make the right choice. White Squall Essay free essay sample Decisions won’t always be as simple as chocolate or vanilla; there will be times when decisions can change the path of life. In Ridley Scott’s film White Squall, characters made difficult decisions that could’ve changed the path of their lives. When decisions are hard to make, there are three ways to get on the right track: make good choices that will make us happy, not making decisions based on fear or anger, and finding a support system that will understand us. Life won’t always be perfect, but if we know that there is someone or something that can bring right back on track, we have a higher chance of making the right decision. Making decisions that will make us happy, not others can make a huge difference with the outcome of our decision. At the beginning of the film, Chuck made the decision of going on a boat school, the Albatross. We will write a custom essay sample on White Squall Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page At the same time, his father was questioning him if it was a good idea because a lot of schools did not recognize the Albatross. Deep inside, Chuck knew that it was a good idea, and at the same time he also wanted it. In the end, Chuck made the right decision of going. He learned things there that he couldn’t have learned at a regular high school, and those things were friendship and teamwork. Even though some people might not support our decisions, we will not regret the choice because it was made based on what our hearts were saying. Making a mature decision based on truth is better than making a decision based on our emotions. An example of a decision based on emotions was when Frank killed the dolphin. He was angry and tired because of what his father had done to him. His father was very controlling and mean, and he wanted Frank to be someone else he didn’t want to. With that, he killed the dolphin, which led him to the consequence of getting kicked out of the boat. On the other hand, a decision based on truth was when Frank rang the bell at court. Chuck told Frank that â€Å"he had to do what he had to do† and Frank did as told. He realized that the accident was not Skipper’s fault, if it was someone’s fault, it would be everyone’s. Storms are inevitable and unpredictable, and no one could stop it. With that, everyone stood up and started to support each other. Decisions based on emotions will usually result to something regretful, but decisions based on the truth will usually result to happiness. A support system that will understand our joy and pain is an important thing to have. Dean got into the Albatross with cheating. During an exam, Chuck and Gil confronted him because of cheating on an exam. With that, he confessed that he was having a rough time and he told the truth. Then, Chuck, Gil, and Frank made a small pact together with Dean, so he could do better at school. The pact made Dean excel at school. There was even a time when he did better than Chuck and Gil. Because of the pact, Dean learned that making the right choice was not hard as long he had a support system that backed him up. Support systems are crucial, and it should be used and accommodated. With support systems, making the right choice is easier. But without it, making the right choice is more complicated. Making the right choice is easy, but at the same time making the right choice is also difficult. Recognizing support systems and making decisions based on truth will make us feel more secure with making the right choice. If we let our emotions influence our decisions, the outcome of the decision might not be as good as the outcome of a decision based on the truth. These three steps are crucial when it comes to getting on the right track. It is our choice if we want to recognize our support systems and emotions to make the right choice.

Thursday, March 19, 2020

The Bible and Archaeology

The Bible and Archaeology An important step forward in scientific archaeological research, and a 19th-century outgrowth of the previous centurys Enlightenment  was the search for the truth of the events written about in the ancient historical accounts of the past. The main truth of the Bible, Torah, Koran, and the Buddhist sacred texts among many others is (of course) not a scientific one but a truth of faith and religion. The roots of the scientific study of archaeology are deeply planted in the establishment of the boundaries of that truth. Is the Bible Fact or Fiction? This is one of the most common questions I get asked as an archaeologist and it is one for which I have yet to find a good answer. And yet the question is at the absolute heart of archaeology, central to the growth and development of archaeology, and it is the one that gets more archaeologists into trouble than any other. And, more to the point, it brings us back to the history of archaeology. Many if not most citizens of the world are naturally curious about ancient texts. After all, they form the basis of all human culture, philosophy, and religion. As discussed in the earlier parts of this series, at the end of the Enlightenment, many archaeologists began actively searching for the cities and cultures described in the available ancient texts and histories, such as Homer and the Bible, Gilgamesh, Confucian texts, and the Vedic manuscripts. Schliemann sought Homers Troy, Botta sought Nineveh, Kathleen Kenyon sought Jericho, Li Chi sought An-Yang, Arthur Evans at Mycenae, Koldewey at Babylon, and Woolley at Ur of the Chaldees. All of these scholars and more sought archaeological events in the ancient texts. Ancient Texts and Archaeological Studies But using ancient texts as the basis for historical investigation was- and still is- fraught with peril in any culture: and not just because the truth is hard to parse out. Governments and religious leaders have vested interests in seeing that religious texts and nationalistic myths remain unchanged and unchallenged- other parties might learn to see the ancient ruins as blasphemous. Nationalistic mythologies demand that there is a special state of grace for a particular culture, that the ancient texts are received wisdom, that their specific country and people are the center of the creative world. No Planet-Wide Floods When early geological investigations proved without a doubt that there was no planet-wide flood as described in the Old Testament of the Bible, there was a great cry of outrage. Early archaeologists fought against and lost battles of this sort time and again. The results of David Randal-McIvers excavations at Great Zimbabwe, an important trading site in southeastern Africa, were suppressed by the local colonial governments who wanted to believe that the site was Phoenician in derivation and not African. The beautiful effigy mounds found throughout North America by Euroamerican settlers were wrongly attributed to either the mound builders or a lost tribe of Israel. The fact of the matter is that ancient texts are renditions of ancient culture which may be partly reflected in the archaeological record and partly will not be- not fiction nor fact, but culture. Better Questions So, lets not ask if the Bible is true or false. Instead, lets ask a series of different questions: Did the places and cultures that are mentioned in the Bible and the other ancient texts exist? Yes, in many cases, they did. Archaeologists have found evidence for many of the locations and cultures mentioned in the ancient texts.Did the events that are described in these texts happen? Some of them did; archaeological evidence in the form of physical evidence or supporting documents from other sources can be found for some of the battles, the political struggles, and the building and collapse of cities.Did the mystical things that are described in the texts occur? Its not my area of expertise, but if I were to hazard a guess, if there were miracles that occurred, they wouldnt leave archaeological evidence.Since the places and the cultures and some of the events that are described in these texts happened, shouldnt we just assume that the mysterious parts also happened? No. Not any more than since Atlanta burned, Scarlett OHara really was dumped by Rhett Butler. There are so many ancient texts and stories about how the world began and many are at variance with one another. From a global human standpoint, why should one ancient text be more accepted than any other? The mysteries of the Bible and other ancient texts are just that: mysteries. It is not, and never has been, within the archaeological purview to prove or disprove their reality. That is a question of faith, not science.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

A List of the Best Topic Ideas for Narrative Writing

A List of the Best Topic Ideas for Narrative Writing Topic Ideas for a Narrative Essay: Choose from the Best! Often, when a tutor asks to complete a narrative essay, students think that they must talk about their personal life, hardships and emotions. However, it may not be the case. You can always make up a situation, describe an interesting event or simply tell about a person you consider your role model. If you want to create a piece of art, don’t be in a hurry and choose a proper topic. Luckily, there are multiple ideas available online and you can choose a good one. Before you choose a single topic, it is important to get familiar with a list of outstanding ideas for a narrative essay, which can boost your imagination and inspire. When you pick a topic, make sure you research it and check whether the content is completely unique. You may be tempted to copy samples online to save lots of your time but try to write the paper from scratch and include sources according to requirements. Concentrate on the topic and lead the audience through your memory. If you let your words flow, you will see how simple it is to create a memorable story! When all of these elements come together, you are doomed to make a solid impression on the audience. Why a great narrative essay topic is so important? When you should deliver a narrative paper, it is necessary to choose whether to write on a topic, proposed by your teacher or to create your own. Take this stage seriously, because topic selection influences the success of your future essay. In case you can’t choose it on your own, there are always professional writers ready to help! Not depending what topic you choose, your essay should always be interesting and easy to read. That is why you should be passionate about the matter. Remember, a narrative essay is the best assignment to show how creative you are, pushing your imagination to its limits. When working on this sort of an essay, you have a chance not to follow all the regulations of a particular style. This makes narrative essays one of the most popular assignments among students. It may be quite challenging for a writer to invent a topic without any side help. You may find yourself stuck when asked to write about your own experience or feelings. That is why many students make a big mistake and stop their search on the first idea, which comes to their mind. However, the chosen topic should light your inner fire and interest the reader. That is why we have collected the most recent ideas for narrative essays, considering your academic background and required subject. Ideas for your narrative essay on experience The goal of any narrative essay is to help you render your stories through the paper, using various literary tools and instruments. That is why you should first think of all the events from your past, whether they are good or bad ones. Make sure you provide maximum details to give the reader a chance to dive into your word and live those emotions together with you. Topic examples on experience The story of your success; An awkward situation you remember; What was the scariest thing you have ever experienced? Memorable family events; A situation that made you value your life more; Unpleasant experience from your past; Event, which made you fight your fears; A thing, which made you appreciate life even more; Event, which influenced your life values; Facts, which made you who you are. Ideas on childhood Childhood is the time of new impressions and experiences when we are still very sincere and naà ¯ve. Often that makes children become a part of ridiculous and funny situations. Every person has plenty of stories to share about childhood, so the next list of topics will help you boost your memory and think of the past events from the childhood, which can turn into a great narrative essay. A day you got a trauma, when playing in the street; Your favorite childhood game and why; What profession you wanted to master when you were a child? Share a story about the most memorable birthday of yours; Experience from childhood, which made you grow up at once; Did you ever get hurt, when playing with friends? What happened? What fairytale do you like the most? What did you like to do, when you were a child? Your favorite childhood belongings; What you miss the most about your childhood? Topics on school years School is a sort of bridge between the childhood and the adult life, where children get new skills, experience and knowledge. School years are filled with lots of challenges, which push the personality to new limits. All of these challenges are unique, and every child or teenager has plenty of stories to share. That is why, if you stop your choice on a school years topic, your essay will surely be original. The most awful event, which has ever happened in your class; When was the first time you participated in a school event? What was your favorite school subject? Why? Did you have any role models among teachers? Did teachers influence your personality? What school events made you who you are? Do you want to remain friends with a particular teacher? What did you like to study most of all at an elementary school? Who was your primary school best friend? What is your strongest school year memory? Topics on relationships We are all connected with other people: our relatives, friends, spouses. Every day we interact with other people, which cause positive or negative emotions. Your stories about people you love or hate are very personalized, which means that relationships are always a great source of inspiration! Did you break up with a close friend? Why? Who are you scared to lose most of all? When was the last time you were rejected? What was the funniest relationship misunderstanding you have ever experienced? Do you have loyal friends? What was the most awful argument in your life? Can you love one person for a lifetime? What impact did your first love have on you? The funniest times you had with your grandparents; Do you have many friends at school or college? Morality topics While every country has its own laws and regulations, there are laws, which regulate the lives of people across every continent and are called laws of morality and ethics. This topic is quite controversial and has lots of debatable issues, because every person is looking at the topic from his or her point of view. That is why such topics always cause interest and make the audience want to go on reading your essay. The most choice you had to make; Do you try to avoid strangers? Do you often lie? Examples of a situation, when you acted like a coward; What are the most disturbing morality problems for you? When and why did you break the rules? Do you often have to face ethics challenges? Do you regularly overhear other people talk? What is the biggest morality challenge you experience right now? A situation, when you helped your close friend to overcome a difficult morality issue. Ideas to talk about interests Our interests make up who we are because they occupy lots of our time. Our personal interests are made up of interesting events and hobbies, which is always a great topic to discuss. When writing a narrative essay on interests, you can tell about your music tastes, the ways how you like to spend leisure and so on. Write your essay passionately and you will surely get a high grade. What was the most remarkable movie you have ever seen? The most touching song you have ever heard; What talent do you dream to possess? Are you good at sports? Are there celebrities you would like to have dinner with? What book character you want to be? What talents have you already discovered in yourself? Are there book characters, which you associate yourself with? If there was a chance to shoot a movie, what it would be about? Did you ever want to write a book? Traveling topics It is almost impossible to find a teenager, who isn’t fond of traveling and discovering new places. When you are traveling, every moment is filled with new emotions and impressions. Even if every person in your class has visited Paris, you still have your own experience to share. There are plenty of ideas for writing a great narrative essay! Do you have a friend from abroad? What is your favorite vacation place? When was the first time you have visited a countryside or a big city (depending on where you are from)? What is your favorite way of traveling? Things you always take with you when traveling; If you owned a million dollars, where would you go to? The most memorable trip; If you had a chance to go to a camp again, what would you change there? Tell about your bad experience, when traveling; What do you like more: family vacations or trips with friends? College life topics Being a college or university student is completely different from being in school. It has more challenges and adventures because you need to meet lots of new people, learn massive amounts of information and adjust to new rules and laws. This makes college stories a great plot for a narrative essay. College years are called the best in every person’s life, so there are definitely plenty of stories to share! What was the most difficult exam? Lecture, which impressed you the most; Describe your first day at the university/college; The best party you have attended; The most awful event, which happened to you in college; People, who influenced you the most during college years; Do you communicate with foreign students? Are there are any role models among your teachers? Your favorite college subject; Why did you choose the particular college? Imagine if Often students are asked to write on a topic, which starts with words like ‘Imagine if..’ Such assignments usually require writing about things that may be possible in the future. This kind of topics is definitely one of the most popular ones because students can make up literally anything without revealing their personality much. The only limit is your imagination! Imagine if you invented the time machine. Where would you go? Imagine if you could be an animal. Who would you be? Imagine yourself a billionaire. How would you spend money? Imagine if you were a comic-book character. What power would you choose? The most recent and fresh topics Finding a topic, which would reflect your personality and still be interesting for the reader is quite a challenging task. That is why we have carefully examined the most popular subjects and categories to make a list of topics, which may inspire you the most! How would you spend millions of dollars, won in a lottery? If you could change only one thing in your life, what would it be? Your first job; If you could only turn back the time, what would you change? The most awful thing you have seen in your life; Your first time facing fear; Everyday issues, which bother you the most; An achievement you are proud of the most; Thing in your character, which annoys you the most; Do you have any family traditions? What makes you different from other family members; What do you like most about your teachers and why? Did you ever have to face the police? What was the case? Are you good at managing time and planning beforehand? Do you devote enough time to yourself? What was the most important lesson you have ever learned? Do you feel pressure to get a perfect appearance and body? Next step Once you find the most suitable topic, which meets all of your expectations, you need to get familiar with the tutor’s recommendations and guidelines. Make sure you know what length your essay should be and whether any sources are required. We are happy to provide you with the most important tips on writing a great narrative essay: Concentrate on things, which are important for the coverage of your topic. If possible, avoid irrelevant details and unnecessary information, which will only harm your essay; Instead of making up facts or lying to sound more interesting, try to explore the topic. Your audience will value your honesty; To make your text sound as a single piece, use transition words and phrases to sound logical. Connect all of your ideas and interlink paragraphs; Always write a conclusion. Although a narrative essay may have a free structure, it should still contain a summary of your work; Always reread the text and make sure that it is interesting. If you don’t like reading it yourself, others will hardly find it worth their time and attention; There should always be limits not to bore the reader. Of course, you may be tempted to tell the audience as much as possible. However, try to concentrate on main details; Remain creative, applying various stylistic instruments; Carefully follow tutor’s guidelines. Although a narrative essay is quite a free genre, it should still follow a certain pattern.