Essay Assignment Descriptive and Informative Profile

This assignment will give you practice in composing a descriptive and informative essay about a particular person. In an essay of approximately 600 to 800 words, compose a profile (or character sketch) of an individual whom you have interviewed and closely observed. The person may be either well-known in the community (a politician, a local media figure, the owner of a popular night spot) or relatively anonymous (a Red Cross volunteer, a server in a restaurant, a school teacher or college professor). The person should be someone of interest (or potential interest) not only to you but also to your readers. The purpose of this essay is to convey--through close observation and factual investigation--the distinct qualities of an individual. Getting Started One way to prepare for this assignment is to read some engaging character sketches. You might want to look at recent issues of any magazine that regularly publishes interviews and profiles. One magazine that is particularly well known for its profiles is The New Yorker. For instance, in the online archive of The New Yorker, youll find this profile of popular comedian Sarah Silverman: Quiet Depravity, by Dana Goodyear. Choosing a Subject Give some serious thought to your choice of a subject--and feel free to solicit advice from family, friends, and co-workers. Remember that youre not at all obliged to choose a person whos socially prominent or who has had an obviously exciting life. Your task is to bring out whats interesting about your subject--no matter how ordinary this individual may at first appear. Students in the past have written excellent profiles on a wide array of subjects, ranging from librarians and store detectives to card sharks and shrimpers. Keep in mind, however, that the present occupation of your subject may be inconsequential; the focus of the profile may instead be on your subjects involvement in some notable experience in the past: for example, a man who (as a youngster) sold vegetables door to door during the Depression, a woman who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, a woman whose family operated a successful moonshine operation, a school teacher who performed with a popular rock band in the 1970s. The truth is, wonderful subjects are all around us: the challenge is to get people talking about memorable experiences in their lives. Interviewing a Subject Stephanie J. Coopman of San Jose State University has prepared an excellent online tutorial on Conducting the Information Interview. For this assignment, two of the seven modules should be especially helpful: Module 4: Structuring the Interview and Module 5: Conducting the Interview. In addition, here are some tips that have been adapted from Chapter 12 (Writing about People: The Interview) of William Zinssers book On Writing Well (HarperCollins, 2006): Choose as your subject someone whose job [or experience] is so important or so interesting or so unusual that the average reader would want to read about that person. In other words, choose someone who touches some corner of the readers life.Before the interview, make a list of questions to ask your subject.Get people talking. Learn to ask questions that will elicit answers about what is most interesting or vivid in their lives.Take notes during the interview. If you have trouble keeping up with your subject, just say, Hold it a minute, please, and write until you catch up.Use a combination of direct quotations and summaries. If the speakers conversation is ragged, . . . the writer has no choice but to clean up the English and provide the missing links. . . . Whats wrong . . . is to fabricate quotes or to surmise what someone might have said.To get the facts right, remember that you can call [or revisit] the person you interviewed. Drafting Your first rough draft may simply be a word-processed transcript of your interview session(s). Your next step will be to supplement these remarks with descriptive and informative details based on your observations and research. Revising In moving from transcripts to profile, you face the task of how to focus your approach to the subject. Dont try to provide a life story in 600-800 words: attend to key details, incidents, experiences. But be prepared to let your readers know what your subject looks like and sounds like. The essay should be built on direct quotations from your subject as well as factual observations and other informative details. Editing In addition to the usual strategies that you follow when editing, examine all the direct quotations in your profile to see if any could be shortened without sacrificing significant information. By eliminating one sentence from a three-sentence quotation, for instance, your readers may find it easier to recognize the key point that you want to get across. Self-Evaluation Following your essay, provide a brief self-evaluation by responding as specifically as you can to these four questions: What part of writing this profile took the most time?What is the most significant difference between your first draft and this final version?What do you think is the best part of your profile, and why?What part of this essay could still be improved?

Open Veins of Latin America by Eduardo Galeano - 1585 Words

Since it was first discovered by European explorers, Latin America has supplied raw materials and labor to Europe and other locations around the world. Eduardo Galeano writes about the exploitation of native Latin Americans in his 1973 book Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent. Galeano takes a historical approach and examines colonial and post-colonial interactions between Europeans and Latin Americans. He asserts that the native Latin Americans were essentially powerless to fight this exploitation because of the dominance of the European powers. In his 2008 book Andean Cocaine: The Making of a Global Drug, Paul Gootenberg writes about the discovery of cocaine and its transition from a regional good†¦show more content†¦The European colonizers, primarily Spaniards, killed native people either by force during the invasion or indirectly via various diseases, such as â€Å"smallpox and tetanus, various lung, intestinal, and venereal dis eases, trachoma, typhus, leprosy, yellow fever, and teeth-rotting caries.†1 The natives who survived the invasion and the diseases were forced to work in the mines that extracted silver and other precious raw materials for the Spanish crown. Galeano depicts these atrocities committed against the native Latin Americans to show the dominance of the Europeans over less powerful countries. He clearly supports World Systems Theory through his emphasis on two tiers of power in the world economic state. This theory, also known as Dependency Theory, was developed by Andrà © Gunder Frank; it suggests that all economic activity in the world marketplace is divided into two major groups of countries: the core and the periphery. The core constitutes the more dominant economic force and relies on the periphery for raw materials and relatively cheap labor. The periphery, on the other hand, is less economically independent and depends on the core for processed goods and economic decisi ons related to the raw materials it produces. In relation to the colonial period, Galeano views Europe as the core and Latin America, among other locations, as the periphery. He writes, in relation to theShow MoreRelatedOpen Veins Of Latin America By Eduardo Galeano Essay2023 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å"Open Veins of Latin America† by Eduardo Galeano primarily focuses on historical events following the â€Å"discovery† and colonization of Latin America. This book however, unlike many others has very distinct and contrasting ideas. In his historical piece, Galeano incorporates many peculiar ideas that have since caused controversy following the publishing of the book in the year 1973. As we examine the cover, the subtitle (â€Å"Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent†) gives us an antecedent of ourRead MoreOpen Veins Of Latin America By Eduardo Galeano1734 Words   |  7 Pageshistory of Latin America and the influence that European powers had on the Ame ricas. One of the many books written that has discussed the various aspects of Latin American history is the book, Open Veins of Latin America written by Eduardo Galeano. In his book, Eduardo Galeano reviewed the influences that European powers had in Latin America. The majority of the book focused on the ways in which countries in Latin America were exploited throughout their history. The overarching theme of Eduardo Galeano’sRead MoreOpen Veins Of Latin America By Eduardo Galeano2063 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å"Open Veins of Latin America†, by Eduardo Galeano tells the story of the history of both Latin America and parts of the Caribbean throughout the years and their struggle with poverty and the powers who exploited the countries throughout their existence from the day they were conquer by Europeans and as the years went by. The book begins with the history of the conquest of the new land and the search for both gold and silver, how the Europeans enslaved of the Native Americans and how their populationRead MoreEssay on Latin American Veins are Still Open and Wounded1584 Words   |  7 PagesOctober 4, 2013 Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent Book Review Latin American Veins are Still Open and Wounded Open Veins of Latin America is the book to remember. Uruguayan author Eduardo Galeano is responsible for the creation of this relevant and controversial masterpiece, which follows the history of Latin America and the Caribbean through centuries of struggle against poverty and those imperial powers who abused of Latin American resourcesRead MoreEssay on Latin American Dictatorship872 Words   |  4 PagesLatin American Dictatorship It is impossible to separate the history of military dictatorships in Latin America from the history of economic exploitation and of US intervention in the region. The history of slavery and other forced labor in the pursuit of large-scale agriculture and resource extraction in the time of the colonies has created a legacy of economic exploitation. This poverty and inequality has in many cases led to popular uprisings and calls for reform, which provided the reasonRead MoreThe Impact Of The Atlantic Slave Trade Influence Europe Economic Growth And Market Development Essay786 Words   |  4 Pagesinvolved in all three sides of the triangle trade that allowed the transportation of slaves from Europe to Africa where goods were traded for slaves and then those slaves were brought to the Americas for the cultivation food crops and other raw materials; these later were brought back to Europe, Africa and the Americas to be sold. Resistance and revolts against the trade of slave was stronge r in African areas where european demographic power was lower but â€Å"It was not until 1780s that increasing europeanRead MoreThe Lexus And The Olive Tree1118 Words   |  5 PagesDistinguishing between liberalism and political economic parts between â€Å"The Lexus and Olive Tree† and the â€Å"Open veins of Latin America† according to these two writers they both distinguish the concept about the future. The two writer view globalization and how it will benefit the countries. Political economics is the branch of knowledge discipline. In the two book capitalism is the trade and industry that is controlled by private owners for profit as being done so by the countries. The two booksRead MoreThe Inequality Of Latin America1673 Words   |  7 Pagesand fields and who served them, too, at table and in bed† (Chasteen 5). Many people would say this is where inequality in Latin America began, with colonization. However, colonization is just a small piece of the ro ots of inequality of the region, which actually started with the natives of the lands such as the Incas, Aztecs and Mayans. These three empires ruled most of the Latin American region and did so by conquering other native groups or tribes. The Empires had a ruling class or king that wasRead MoreThe Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics1412 Words   |  6 Pagesname of Eduardo Galeano writes about this concept of inclusion through writing in his book Open Veins of Latin America. He makes the argument that the reason authors write is to make sure that underrepresented voices are heard. In his words, â€Å"One writes, in reality, for the people whose luck or misfortune one identifies with - the hungry, the sleepless, the rebels, and the wretched of this earth - and the majority of them are illiterate. (p.12 Galeano)[3]. It is authors like Galeano describesRead MoreThe cure for ills of Democracy is More Democracy2828 Words   |  12 Pagesissues has become harder because we dont have th e necessary means to do it. Public opinion just simply does not exist because media is privatized and only represents an elite group. It is necessary to look at the case of North America from the outside. Comparing North America with Europe we can observe the big difference in the independent media. Independent media is not common in the US and it has to keep a low profile if it wants to exist. The majority of Television Networks have to be associated

American Revolution Short Free Essays

During the American Revolution what caused the people to make radical changes The American Revolution was radical in the ideals established throughout the revolution. The American Revolution had significant effects on American society as a whole radically changing certain aspects including its social, political, economic, and religious contexts. Also, the status of women, slaves, and Loyalists were radically changed. We will write a custom essay sample on American Revolution Short or any similar topic only for you Order Now A new democratized political system was formed through the constitution, which incorporated radical ideals such as the equality of all men, the separation of church and state, religious freedom/tolerance. The first successful English settlement on the American continent was established in 1607. And from then on, until 1732, thirteen English colonies settled on the continent. Great Britain was the first and the only country to send its people as colonists and to settle in that part of the continent. The Colonists had two reasons to leave England and it was to make money. But the major part of the colonists was running away from religious persecutions. However they managed to develop their colonies and to make money. But how did Great Britain regard this development? England, which was trying to enlarge its empire did not stay unemotional in front of this new development of prosperity, and in need of money, it reacted first, by imposing taxes to its colonies. But, the colonists were not still subjects of the crown and following different influences they began to want their own freedom. And by the way they reached an expected war with England. How to cite American Revolution Short, Papers

Riverpoint Writer free essay sample

Tarron Khemraj Article analysis In understanding economics first summarize what is economics. No universally definition of economics. Although it defined as the study of how individuals and groups make decisions with limited resources, coordinate their wants and desires, given the decision mechanisms, social custom, and political realities of the society. Economic are operative in aspect of lives, market forces of goods sold in a market but supply and demand also used to analyzes situation in which economic forces operate. In addition to the study of economics, coordination refers to how the three central problems facing any economy solve. These central problem are what and how much, to produce, how to produce it, and for whom to produce it. We find economies as inevitably individuals want more than is available, given how much they are willing to work. The economic theory divided into two parts, stated that as microeconomics is the study of individual choice and how that choice is influenced economic forces, microeconomics studies things as the pricing policies of firms, households’ decisions on what to buy and how markets allocate resources among alternative ends. The invisible hand theory comes from microeconomics that states that economists call the invisible hand theory, a market economy, through the price mechanism will tend to allocate resources efficiently. Good economic policy analysis is objective; it keeps the value judgments separate from the analysis. The distinction between objective and subjective analysis, economists has divided economic into three categories, positive economics, normative economics, and the art of economics. Positive economics is the study of what is and how the economy works, Normative economics is the study of what the goods of the economy should be, and the art of economics called the political economy is the application of the knowledge learned in positive economics to the achievement of the goals one has determined in normative economics. To express the law of demand is to the invisible hand ability to coordinate individuals’ desires, as prices change, people change, and their willing to buy. The law of demand states the quantity demanded of a good is inversely relate to the price of those good, other thing constant. As the price of a good goes up, the quantity demanded goes down, so the demand curve is downward sloping if the price of demand goes up, people will tend to buy less of it and buy another product instead. In addition, the law of supply corresponds to the law of demand states the law of supply, is quantity supplies rises as prices rises, other things constant or alternatively, quantity supplied falls as price falls, other things constant whereas the price determines quantity supplied just determines quantity demanded. Likewise, the law of demand, the law of supply is the market ability to coordinate individuals’ action. While the law of supply firm’s ability to switch from producing one well to another that is to substitute. The price of a good a person or firm supplies raises individuals and firms can rearrange their activities in order to supply more of that Good to the market. As those higher profit leads to increase output as price rises, a supply curve is the graphical representation of the relationship between price and quantity supplied. The terms that matter about supply and demand is not the label, but how the concepts interact. In which neither suppliers nor consumer collude and in which prices promote the forces of supply and demand interact to arrive at equilibrium, a concept in which opposing dynamic forces cancel each other out. Although the Equilibrium price is the price toward which the invisible hand drives the market, the equilibrium price, quantity demanded equals quantity supplied. When quantity supplied do not equal quantity demanded the outcome is either excess supply or excess demand, and a tendency for price to change. As this happen the consumers will increase their quantity demanded, and the movement toward equilibrium caused by excess supply is both the supply and demand sides. When the excess supply occur quantity supplied is greater than quantity demanded. While the reverse of excess demand quantity demanded is greater than quantity supplied. The excess demand pushes prices upwards in decreasing the quantity demanded and increasing the quantity supplied. This movement takes place along both the supply curve and the demand curve. The price adjusts to rise when the quantity demanded exceeds the quantity supplied and for price to fall when the quantity supplied exceeds the quantity demanded is a central elements to supply and demand. Although individuals tendencies to change prices exist as quantity supplied and quantity demanded differ the changes in price brings the law of supply and demand into play. Whenever the quantity supplied and quantity demanded are unequal, price will stay the same cause no one will have an incentive to change. One thing to remember equilibrium is not the model framework they use to look at the world. Although to establishing the current value of a consumer product Economics has evolved through the centuries there are a few factors that led to a change in supply and a change in demand. Whereas, the demand side, prices of a substitute or complimentary good can cause demand to change. For example, the cost of chicken goes up, consumer shifts toward turkey. Also in general, peoples preferences, which can be influence by marketing and surroundings will influence demand. Another example would be of a report that a famous celebrity went on defence, as saying that beef cause cancer; can imagine what happen to demand for beef While the supply side, look for things like the availability of resources used to make a good, perhaps the discovery of a natural resource or if a good becomes less expensive to make. For instance, if an environmentally company discovers a million dollar may expect the cost of gas to go down. The cost of silicon goes down, it might drive down the cost of computers, as silicon is use to make CPUs and Motherboards, the main components in computer hardware. Price fluctuations, is a strong factor affecting supply and demand. When a product arrives at expensive enough that the average consumer no longer believe it is worth it to buy the product, the demand declines. This leads to cuts in production that will stabilize the products value. Lowering the price of a product may increase demand, indicating that the public think the product is suddenly a value. This may also cause changes in production to increase to keep up with the demand (Lee Morgan). Another, factor that lead to a change in supply and a change in demand were changed in income level and credit availability can affect supply and demand in a major way. The housing market is an example of this type of impact. During a recession when there are fewer jobs available, and there is less money to spend, the price of homes tends to drop. Also the availability of credit may be less because of the average person inability to qualify for a loan. To help encourage those who can afford to buy, prices fall and lower interest rates appear to help boost the sales. When there is an economic boom, unemployment is very low and people are spending money, the price of homes and other major purchases tends to rise and so do interest rate. The seasons can affect supply and demand drastically. The supply and demand for toys peaks around Christmas, and turkey sells like crazy at Thanksgiving. Fireworks experience a boom at the Fourth of July in America. Meanwhile, economists say economics a science, cause, a branch of moral philosophy has developed over time to become a discipline that emphasizes a scientific approach to understanding how economies work. As social scientists, along with sociologists, psychologists and political scientists, economists employ scientific methods to the study of how societies allocate scarce resources to meet their needs and wants. According to Harvard economist N. Gregory Mankiw, author of Principles of Economics and a former White House adviser, calls the scientific method, which requires the development and testing of theories, the essence of science. In economics, this means developing theories about such questions as what causes inflation why people save or consume. To explain these and other economic issues, an economist develops hypotheses collect and analyzes data, and formulates theories based on their results. Economists may revise or refine existing theories in response to further examination and analysis that advances (Shane Hall) In conclusion, Economists develop their theories about how the worlds of economics and finance work based on extensive observation of real-world activities.