Accounting Chapter free essay sample

Assumptions, principles, and constraints. Assumptions, principles, and constraints. Full disclosure principle. Accounting principles–comprehensive. Accounting principles–comprehensive. Conceptual framework–general. Conceptual framework–general. Objective of financial reporting. Qualitative characteristics. Revenue and expense recognition principles. Revenue and expense recognition principles. Expense recognition principle. Expense recognition principle. Expense recognition principle. Qualitative characteristics. Expense recognition principle. The relevant criteria for assessing materiality will depend upon the circumstances and the nature of the item and will vary greatly among companies. For example, an error in current assets or current liabilities will be more important for a company with a flow of funds problem than for one with adequate working capital. The effect upon net income (or earnings per share) is the most commonly used measure of materiality. This reflects the prime importance attached to net income by investors and other users of the statements. The effects upon assets and equities are also important as are misstatements of individual accounts and subtotals included in the financial statements. We will write a custom essay sample on Accounting Chapter or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The auditor will note the effects of misstatements on key ratios such as gross profit, the current ratio, or the debt/equity ratio and will consider such special circumstances as the effects on debt agreement covenants and the legality of dividend payments. 2-6 Copyright  © 2011 John Wiley Sons, Inc. Kieso, Intermediate Accounting, 14/e, Solutions Manual (For Instructor Use Only) Questions Chapter 2 (Continued) There are no rigid standards or guidelines for assessing materiality. The lower bound of materiality has been variously estimated at 5% to 20% of net income, but the determination will vary based upon the individual case and might not fall within these limits. Certain items, such as a questionable loan to a company officer, may be considered material even when minor amounts are involved. In contrast a large misclassification among expense accounts may not be deemed material if there is no misstatement of net income. 6. Enhancing qualities are qualitative characteristics that are complementary to the fundamental qualitative characteristics. These characteristics distinguish more-useful information from lessuseful information. Enhancing characteristics are comparability, verifiability, timeliness, and understandability. 7. In providing information to users of financial statements, the Board relies on general-purpose financial statements. The intent of such statements is to provide the most useful information possible at minimal cost to various user groups. Underlying these objectives is the notion that users need reasonable knowledge of business and financial accounting matters to understand the information contained in financial statements. This point is important; it means that in the preparation of financial statements a level of reasonable competence can be assumed; this has an impact on the way and the extent to which information is reported. 8. Comparability facilitates comparisons between information about two different enterprises at a particular point in time.

Free Essays on Alcohol And The Effects On The Body

Consuming alcohol has both a negative and a positive effect on the body. Most people when they think of drinking alcohol, only think of the bad things it does to one's body. But alcohol isn't always bad for a person. It does have some positive effects. The Old and the New Testament mention the benefits of drinking 191 times. At the turn of the century, there was evidence that moderate intake of alcohol was associated with the decrease of heart disease. It has been proven from 1900-1986 that moderate drinking showed a reduction in cardiovascular disease and coronary artery disease. This is very important because heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. Heart disease kills about one million Americans each and every year. This came from the Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association. Alcoholism is a chronic disease, progressive and often fatal; it is a primary disorder and not a symptom of other diseases or emotional problems. The chemistry of alcohol allows it to affect nearly every type of cell in the body, including those in the central nervous system. In the brain, alcohol interacts with centers responsible for pleasure and other desirable sensations. After prolonged exposure to alcohol, the brain adapts to the changes alcohol makes and becomes dependent on it. For people with alcoholism, drinking becomes the primary medium through which they can deal with people, work, and life. Alcohol dominates their thinking, emotions, and actions. The severity of this disease is influenced by factors such as genetics, psychology, culture, and response to physical pain. Moderate drinkers live longer than those you totally abstain from drinking and those who drink heavily. A Harvard study found the risk of death from all causes to 21-28% lower among men who drank alcohol in moderation as compared to those who did not drink any alcohol. Moderation would be described as one to thre... Free Essays on Alcohol And The Effects On The Body Free Essays on Alcohol And The Effects On The Body Consuming alcohol has both a negative and a positive effect on the body. Most people when they think of drinking alcohol, only think of the bad things it does to one's body. But alcohol isn't always bad for a person. It does have some positive effects. The Old and the New Testament mention the benefits of drinking 191 times. At the turn of the century, there was evidence that moderate intake of alcohol was associated with the decrease of heart disease. It has been proven from 1900-1986 that moderate drinking showed a reduction in cardiovascular disease and coronary artery disease. This is very important because heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. Heart disease kills about one million Americans each and every year. This came from the Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association. Alcoholism is a chronic disease, progressive and often fatal; it is a primary disorder and not a symptom of other diseases or emotional problems. The chemistry of alcohol allows it to affect nearly every type of cell in the body, including those in the central nervous system. In the brain, alcohol interacts with centers responsible for pleasure and other desirable sensations. After prolonged exposure to alcohol, the brain adapts to the changes alcohol makes and becomes dependent on it. For people with alcoholism, drinking becomes the primary medium through which they can deal with people, work, and life. Alcohol dominates their thinking, emotions, and actions. The severity of this disease is influenced by factors such as genetics, psychology, culture, and response to physical pain. Moderate drinkers live longer than those you totally abstain from drinking and those who drink heavily. A Harvard study found the risk of death from all causes to 21-28% lower among men who drank alcohol in moderation as compared to those who did not drink any alcohol. Moderation would be described as one to thre...

In what ways can marginalized perspectives enrich mainstream Essay

In what ways can marginalized perspectives enrich mainstream psychology - Essay Example A minority stress model is used to understand psychological well-being among lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals. Specifically, this model posits that lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and ethnic minorities may be at increased risk for mental distress because of exposure to stressors related to social antigay attitudes. There has also been increased attention to understanding psychological resilience and the ways in which lesbians, gay men, and ethnic minorities successfully cope with stress and stigma. In addition, assertiveness as a positive psychological process is demonstrated by different aspects of coming out as a lesbian, gay man, or bisexual: identity commitment, identity disclosure, and community involvement. Edward Sampson (1993) argues that the dissatisfaction expressed by minority groups about mainstream psychology can be explained in relation to the notion of identity politics. He defines identity politics as: â€Å"a politics based on the particular life experiences of people who seek to be in control of their own identities and subjectivities and who claim that socially dominant groups have denied them this opportunity† " (p. 1219). The ideology of identity politics may be admirable (or not), the reality is that, as often happens with ideology; the political movement has lost touch with the analytic meaning of its key concept. Just what is an identity The analytic potential needs to be extricated from ideologies of identity (Gainor, K. A. 2000). While the reduction of identity to power has its pitfalls, so too does an essentialist position. To argue that identity is race, or is sex, is to engage in a curious political maneuver. If identity is determined by an unchangeable characteristic of the self, then we have the basis for arguments of separatism. If I am my race or my gender, then all those who do not share my essential characteristic are alien and separate. It becomes very difficult to confront racism and sexism on any terms other than force or numbers. It is to argue that identity precedes existence. Current struggles over "difference feminism" reflect a great ambivalence over the political implications of this kind of argument. To juxtapose the essentialist argument to the thesis that identity is socially constructed through customs and conditioning is to be confronted with a contradiction. It is obvious that aspects of gender roles and racial stereotypes are socially constructed for reasons having to do with power, among other considerations. The implication of this proposition is that these roles and stereotypes can be deconstructed, as surely they can. But the question remains: what is left of identity when deconstruction has taken place Is there some primordial human essence Or is each individual, thus released from social constraint, free to assert whatever identity seems appealing If this is so, we are back to the self-centered individualism of classical liberal political theory. While images of autonomy and self-sufficiency have great appeal, they do not fit with what we know about the social interdependence that characterizes human nature.

Kitkat-nestle Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Kitkat-nestle - Research Paper Example It has grown then in the entire region and operating companies has been opened in every country of Middle East except Iraq and Yemen. In these two countries, selling and distribution of products is done through agents. The regional head office of Nestle was established in Middle East in Dubai in the year 1997. Currently, the activities are focussed on 13 countries of Middle East. The chosen company is such that it is very difficult to consider its weakness in promoting their chocolate. The way in which Kit Kat Company is promoting its product is very strong. They make a discount when consumer buys large pieces. It also has many factories which increases and improves the sales of company. Maximizing the distribution of the product is very strong to achieve the goals for any company to have many consumers and gaining profits like the Kit Kat Company does. The way that retailers promote the Kit Kat chocolate is different. Good retailers should help the customers to observe the chocolate in the supermarket in a good way to sell more. For example, when we went to the see how supermarkets promote our product that we chose, we saw big differences in the amount of the Kit Kat chocolate in each store like in Al-Hadaf Supermarket, there are many sections provide different types of Kit Kat. Kit Kat chocolate is a familiar over the world because it has been produce for a long time. The company shows many advertisements and puts many billboards on groceries and big markets. Their slogan of Kit Kat â€Å"Have a Break, Have a Kit Kat† is very effective to the buyers because many workers and students like eating Kit Kat from what they see in the TV’s advertisement. The weakness that we saw is some supermarkets don’t promote the Kit Kat well. For instance, when we went to the Carrefour in the Manar Mall, we saw the Kit Kat chocolate that they want to sell is few and put it in one shelve. So, Kit Kat Company should know how the retailers promote the

Essay Questions from Reading Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Essay Questions from Reading - Case Study Example The path he takes is not as worn out as the other one, but they are same. The falling leaves on both paths look fresh.The speaker plans to take the road he did not take the other day and suspects that he may never come back. As an alternative, he will be talking of how his decision was ultimate and life changing, far off into his future. A lesson to learn from this story is that people are the opposite of what they appear to be. The people he thought were good actually took part in evils in the forest. Do not a judge a book by its cover. He gives a lesson of faith through his loss of faith and redemptive faith. He is tempted by the devil and gives in because of curiosity and his weak faith. Like Eve in Genesis, he cannot help himself knowing what is behind the forest’s mystery. â€Å"Happy is the man who wins her love! He could not find a better wife†. This was a quote used to describe the young girl. Her beauty and modesty were being praised by everyone and her gentle nature. They all thought she would make a good wife someday. â€Å"The rich, indeed, are happy. With money, it is possible to forget even the deepest sorrows. One can go where one pleases, and in travel find that distraction which is the surest cure for grief. Oh, if I were only rich!† This quote was describing the rich men slowly strolling around in the morning instead of being at work. In this poem, death is the principal subject. It describes the feeling of hollowness that is engulfing after the loss and describes the house after the loss of that dear person. It ,however, shows that life must go on and a recovery to normality. The priest mostly uses quotes to give a deeper and further meaning to his descriptions e.g. â€Å"only a man who knows nothing of reason talks of reasoning without strong, undisputed first principle.† It explains the deeper meaning the importance of reasoning. The Priest used three strategies to draw Valentin’s attention. One

Role Of Concurrent Engineering Information Technology Essay

Role Of Concurrent Engineering Information Technology Essay Concurrent engineering is basically a product development method and is quite different from the traditional development approach as it employs simultaneous rather than sequential process. The companies implementing CE feel that by completing tasks in parallel product development is accomplished more efficiently and it also saves cost. This is basically a management philosophy and any organization or company can implement this whether it small, medium or large. This is a systematic approach to the integrated concurrent design of products and their related processes including manufacture and support. The work is done through cross functional teams in which engineers and managers of different disciplines work together simultaneously in developing product and process design. Basic motive of this approach is that it cause the developers from the outset to consider all elements of the product life cycle from concept disposal which includes terms like quality, cost, schedule and user requirements. Concurrent engineering process is also known as iterative development method. It requires continual review of a teams progress and frequent revision of project plans. The rationale behind this creative thinking is forward looking approach which is beneficial because errors can be discovered easily and they are less costly to correct at initial stages. How to know whether the concurrent engineering is for a particular company or not? The following factors help to determine this:- If the company faces any kind of below given problem:- If there is competitive pressure to develop new products. If there exists any kind of delays in product launch. Budget of developing product is higher than acceptable. Customer requirements are not known clearly. No transfer of knowledge from one product development project to the next. Any kind of shifting of responsibility for product development from one function to another. Above were the factors that enable us to determine that whether the company requires adopting the process of concurrent engineering for product development or not. It is very important to know that whether the company has ability to implement the process in there company. Belows are the factors that help to learn that whether the organization will be able to implement the required process in there company or not. Is there willingness to change for improvement in the company? Is senior management that committed and dedicated to work? Able to encourage and support team work. DIAGRAMMTIC REPRESENTATION PRODUCT SPECIFICATION MARKETING CONCEPT ENGINEERI-NG DESIGN CONCURRENT PROCESS DETAIL ENGINEERI-NG DESIGN BUILD PRODUCT ENGINEERING TEST TEST ENGINEERING MANUFACTURE PURCHASING SELL SALES The above mentioned is the diagrammatic representation of process which includes product specification, concept, details, build-up, testing, manufacturing and selling too. The processes as shown in the diagram are two way processes errors are also simultaneously checked as thus its name is concurrent process. Key features of concurrent engineering DESCRIPTION OF CE This is a systematic approach to the integrated product development which emphasizes response to customer expectations and embodies team values of cooperation, trust and sharing in such a manner that decision making proceeds with large intervals of parallel working by all life-cycle perspectives synchronized, by comparatively brief exchanges. INCLUSIONS Things are done simultaneously Process is the main focus Company is open to change Needs of customers, suppliers, quality control, marketing, sales and manufacturers are balanced and prioritized. GOALS OF CE Great competition Leads to improved profits Sales and profits from new products are raised Leads to reduction of human and capital costs Maintains or increases product quality Promotes team spirit and different departments come together SCOPE OF CE The process change is implemented within 1-2 years. Involvement of people with stakes in new products Focus is basically on process improvements. STRATERGIC BENEFITS OF CONCURRENT ENGINEERING CE is a management philosophy which is dedicated to the improvement of customer satisfaction through improved quality and reduced costs. The development time also reduces. Time to market also reduces and leads to reconciliation of conflicting requirements in product development. DIFFICULTIES IN IMPLEMENTATION Below are the difficulties which companies normally face while implementing CE:- Implementation is a major challenge. Cross functional change initiatives have high rates of failures. It involves radical cultural change in an area that is extremely complex and pressurized. If management does not support the employees or there is inadequate reward systems or say customers or supplier involvement is not good. Computer aided designs and tools are no available. If there are inadequate training and expertise. If company faces difficulty in managing or controlling technical processes. SUCCESS FACTORS IN IMPLEMENTING CE Pilot projects Change agents Team enrolment Team engagement Gaining commitment of functional managers Realignment of organizational processes and structures. PILOT PROJECTS These projects are a popular way to achieve radical changes to current working practices on small organization, where conditions are controlled and are managed by seniors or project leaders. Introduction of pilot projects was done to reduce the scale of initial changes within organization and also to evaluate potential impact. By this method high levels of implementation cost, risk and time can be reduced. There are two sub-components of pilot projects. The first one is concerned with selection of right pilot. It is easier to select the appropriate project such that it is easy to demonstrate as success. But what happens in some organizations is that senior management is under time constraints and also sometimes the next project is classified as project. There are organizations that select pilot projects that are of low risk to organization and this is mainly done to reduce overall failure. The second sub component deals with the visibility and promotion of the project within the internal organization. Mostly the organizations consider pilot project as high profile. This leads to organizations profit margins, creates newness to market and senior managements efforts in internally symbolizing the project by the usage of posters, newsletters and all these activities improves overall competitive market position. CHANGE AGENTS Change agents demonstrate the senior management understanding of the amount of time and effort required in implementation of concurrent engineering successfully. Internal change agents include engineering champions, product champions, and organized change teams of individual from different levels of the organization containing both part time and full time members. Some have hierarchical change agents. It helps to change peoples values and behaviors. TEAM ENROLMENT Concurrent engineering involves the process of bringing together knowledge and expertise from different areas in early phases of product development process. Team development leads to improvement of informal communication and functional integration. The team members and leaders selection is done in informal and unstructured manner. This involves two important processes; team engagement is the very first process includes how team members and leaders are selected and how they are located to work as a team unit. The second process is of empowering the team to carry out its product development activities successfully. The two main elements are assignment of new roles and responsibilities for team members and leaders. TEAM ENGAGEMENT Tenure of Team Leader and Team Member Functional skills and expertise are not required at a consistent level throughout the project and in most organizations the combination of full-time and part time team members. Collocation The permanent collocation of core team members from different functional departments and the team leaders and dispersion of the extended team members was the most prevalent method of improving multi-disciplinary interaction. TEAM EMPOWERMENT Team empowerment incorporates clarifying team leaders and roles of team members and their responsibilities. Sometimes team leaders roles and responsibilities are generated through forma methods. The main purpose is to clarify the team members and leaders their roles and responsibilities within team working environment. In some of the organizations this is done basically to keep the employees focused and thus help them achieve there objective. This proves to be quite beneficial in the two early product development stages that are product specification and project plan. GAINING COMMITMENT OF FUNCTIONAL MANAGERS In organizations senior management and internal change agents tended to use functional managers to gain information. In some of the cases educators and informants of concurrent engineering are assigned home functions. REALIGNMENT OF ORGANISATIONAL PROCESSES AND STRUCTURES The changes are implemented in following areas:- Introduction to process improvement teams Education and training for teams Reward and recognition system Methods to transfer team knowledge EXTRA ROLES OF CONCURRENT ENGINEERING Over the last few years, there are many government sponsored and intiated studies have highlighted the need for the improvement of efficiency and competitiveness of the UK construction industry. This is done because it leads to reduce costs, project durations, improved quality, project procurement practices that are used in UK construction industry. It brings together multi disciplinary teams in which project developers from different areas work together and parallel. These cross functional contains systems engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, systems producibility. This process incorporates everything also the purchasing, marketing, production, quality assurance, the field and other functional groups. The implementation of CE involves three main areas which are people, process and technology. It includes major organizational changes because it requires the integration of people, business methods and technology. It has greater role in concurrent engineering in Weapon System Acquisition. There is greater role of concurrent engineering in human resource management. It is useful as a collaborative method for educational projects in engineering education. Role in education project is that it helps in setting up clear goal and define project boundaries for students and teachers, it helps define good structures for information handling, especially for supervisors and introduce a client role that continuously could define project requirements. There is greater role of concurrent engineering in the purchasing power. Companies that have implemented concurrent engineering report that they are producing higher quality products at lower costs and in less time than they were able to previously. It involves self management and leadership. CE plays an important role in product modeling. It also plays a vital role in system engineering management. EXAMPLES OF CONCURRENT ENGINEERING General electric aircraft engines divisions uses concurrent engineering for the development of engine. The teams achieved greater percentage reductions in design and procurement cycle times during full scale component tests. Second example is that of Boeings Ballistic Systems Division where concurrent engineering was used in 1988 to develop a mobile launcher and was able to reduce design by 40% and cost by 10% in building proto-type. Third example can be of Polaroids Corps Captiva instant camera which is again the result of concurrent engineering. ADVANTAGES Concurrent engineering practitioners claim that this design management system offers several benefits. Concurrent Engineering leads to: Improved customer satisfaction Improved quality Reduced cost Reduced new product development time Reduced time to market DISADVANTAGES There are some drawbacks associated with the initial implementation of concurrent engineering, including the need for considerable organizational restructuring and extensive retraining of workers. Such potentially disruptive changes and added work requirements may be met with resistance from managers and other employees. Also, there are usually considerable difficulties in transferring data among employees in different departments, which may require the additional tracking software applications. In addition to these significant up-front investments, organizations pursuing a concurrent engineering work model must typically wait several years before seeing the benefits of this transition.

College Sports :: essays research papers

Are things equal between the sexes in college sports? "Monday night football won't be shown this week, instead women's field hockey will be aired." Monday night football has been a long lasting American pastime and a change like this would tend to really shock and upset millions of dedicated football fans. This group, made up of mostly men gather round the tube each week for a chance to watch men running around a field carrying a ball and running into each other. The situation I stated earlier probably won't happen, at least not in the near future. Men's sports still seem to dominate, and in order to allow this to be changed, certain steps must be taken. First of all, the situation needs to be addressed as a serious problem, then those people affected need to be determined. Next, the cause of the problem needs to be addressed and finally, it is time to think of solutions. So, first of all, is there really a problem? Why does it matter that men get all the attention in sports? That's the way it has been for hundreds of years dating back to the first Olympics. But then again why should men get all the attention, women work just as hard as men at their sports, why not give them some credit? Men and women are treated differently in sports ranging from the size of budgets, the number of scholarships given, and in how many athletes are participating in sports. Men's athletic budgets are without a doubt a lot higher than women's athletic budgets. On average men's athletic budgets are nearly five times that of women's (Moline 18). An example of this is at schools that offer women's sports of field hockey and volleyball that have budgets less than 20% of that which is allocated for men's sports. Overall operating funds for women's sports are about three times that of men's. Funding for individual sports is different but when all added together men receive a lot more money for their sports than women. Another difference between men's and women's sports is the number of athletic scholarships given to athletes of differing sexes. Male athletes, as a whole, receive twice the number of scholarships that women athletes receive. In a survey conducted by the NCAA( national collegiate athletic association) of 253 division 1 schools, athletic scholarship funding was 69.5% for men and 30. College Sports :: essays research papers Are things equal between the sexes in college sports? "Monday night football won't be shown this week, instead women's field hockey will be aired." Monday night football has been a long lasting American pastime and a change like this would tend to really shock and upset millions of dedicated football fans. This group, made up of mostly men gather round the tube each week for a chance to watch men running around a field carrying a ball and running into each other. The situation I stated earlier probably won't happen, at least not in the near future. Men's sports still seem to dominate, and in order to allow this to be changed, certain steps must be taken. First of all, the situation needs to be addressed as a serious problem, then those people affected need to be determined. Next, the cause of the problem needs to be addressed and finally, it is time to think of solutions. So, first of all, is there really a problem? Why does it matter that men get all the attention in sports? That's the way it has been for hundreds of years dating back to the first Olympics. But then again why should men get all the attention, women work just as hard as men at their sports, why not give them some credit? Men and women are treated differently in sports ranging from the size of budgets, the number of scholarships given, and in how many athletes are participating in sports. Men's athletic budgets are without a doubt a lot higher than women's athletic budgets. On average men's athletic budgets are nearly five times that of women's (Moline 18). An example of this is at schools that offer women's sports of field hockey and volleyball that have budgets less than 20% of that which is allocated for men's sports. Overall operating funds for women's sports are about three times that of men's. Funding for individual sports is different but when all added together men receive a lot more money for their sports than women. Another difference between men's and women's sports is the number of athletic scholarships given to athletes of differing sexes. Male athletes, as a whole, receive twice the number of scholarships that women athletes receive. In a survey conducted by the NCAA( national collegiate athletic association) of 253 division 1 schools, athletic scholarship funding was 69.5% for men and 30.

Analysis Same Love Essay

Same Love Medium: Song Composer: Macklemore features vocals by Mary Lambert. Year: 2012 Publisher: Ryan Lewis Analysis: This song is written and sung by Macklemore and has featured vocals by Mary Lambert. Macklemore’s real name is Ben Haggerty. Macklemore’s Uncle is gay and he had wanted to write a song about gay rights and homophobia within the hip-hop community and the world. Macklemore was fuelled by the issue of marriage equality and the flagrant use of ‘gay’ as a derogative term in the hip-hop industry, and the world. He would also use and say ‘that’s gay’ himself because it is so embedded in our culture. It was not until he was caught out saying it by friends that he realised that he had to stop. He wanted to make an impact on his fellow musicians, rappers and hip-hop artists and express his concerns for the use of words such as ‘faggot’ and ‘that’s gay’ as just another lyric. The song ‘Same Love’ has lyrics that hopefully makes people second guess their language. Macklemore’s positive stance against marriage equality, homosexuality and the queer population has gained an overwhelming acceptance. He is the first male mainstream hip-hop artist who has rapped positively about homosexuality. More and more pro-gay artist are coming out in support of the gay community. Proving that popular culture can turn the tide of peoples use of derogative comments, opinions and challenge our ways of thinking in regards to our gay community. He says ‘he simply enjoys writing songs that get people thinking’. Many of the lyrics in the song ‘Same Love’ have made me stop and think about what they really mean. I have Uncles, Aunties, cousins and friends who are gay so my choice of words are often corrected by my parent and peers. But nothing is more powerful then the words in a song that is of pop culture and because I believe it’s accurate for a generation more accepting, tolerant and knowledgeable of homosexuality. Its human rights for everybody, there is no difference! Live on and be yourself. These lyrics from the song, stayed in my mind when I wrote this assessment because I believe it should be how we should all live, as we are all equal. Macklemore says â€Å"I write songs that challenge myself, they challenge listeners, they might be controversial to some people, songs that push the boundaries of what a rap song sounds like or the subject matter that might be in a rap song. † Being young and influenced by pop culture, I relate to his point of pushing the boundaries as I would always want to be able to grow, learn and challenge myself to become a better person in my community.

How to Find the Perfect Tattoo Design 100+ Ideas and 17 Styles

How to Find the Perfect Tattoo Design 100+ Ideas and 17 Styles SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Considering a tattoo? Want tons of tattoo ideas and designs to choose from? This is the perfect guide for you. Body art can be an fun way to show off your personality, but you want to make sure to pick a tattoo design you really love. I'll explain the different styles of tattooing and common sources of inspiration to help you brainstorm awesome tattoo ideas. We'll cover 17 awesome styles that are popular worldwide. The tips and pictures in this post will guide you through envisioning a tattoo design that you'll be happy to display on your body for years to come. Why Get a Tattoo? Tattoos have exploded in popularity over the course of the past few years. In more and more instances, they're accepted in the workplace and in society in general as a common form of creative self-expression. Tattoos can serve as permanent reminders of something that’s meaningful to you or just decorations to spice up the blank canvas of your body. Tattoo artists have developed all kinds of different styles and techniques to create unique pieces that are personal to each client. This guide will teach you all about the different subtypes of tattoo ideas and designs. I’ve divided them into four larger categories: abstract, illustrative, realistic, and lettering. Keep in mind that these aren't rigid categories - the styles often blend together and overlap, which is what makes creating your own personalized tattoo so much fun. After you review the different tattoo designs and consider which ones appeal to you, you can brainstorm your own tattoo ideas. In the second part of the guide, I’ve included a list of various themes that may inspire you in your quest for a tattoo that perfectly compliments your personality! Tattoo Ideas: 17 Cool Styles This section contains a list of every possible tattoo style in categories that range from the completely abstract to the photorealistic. Use these styles as a jumping off point to think about which type of imagery will fit best with the content of your personalized tattoo idea. Here's a table of contents for what we'll cover: Abstract Tattoos Biomechanical and Bio-organic Blackwork and Tribal Dotwork and Pointillism Geometric Watercolor Illustrative American Traditional Japanese New School Sketch Work Surrealism Realistic Neo-Traditional Neo-Japanese Portraiture Black and Grey Horror Trash Polka Lettering Abstract Tattoos These tattoo ideas are comprised of shapes, patterns, dots, and splashes of color. While some of them may also include figurative elements, they are based in a spirit of freeform art and are usually concerned more with aesthetics than with conveying a specific meaning. Style #1: Biomechanical and Bio-Organic Biomechanical and bio-organic tattoos are designed based on the natural flow of systems in the human body. Biomechanical tattoo designs mimic the inner workings of the body through patterns that evoke some sort of half-cyborg alien creature. Bio-organic tattoos are similar to biomechanical tattoos except they feature patterns reminiscent of organic organisms rather than machines. These tattoos are often extremely intricate, creating 3-D illusions that make it appear as though your skin has been ripped open to reveal the strange being within. They're great for sci-fi nerds, people who are interested in machines and robots, or anyone who is fascinated by the functioning of the human body. Style #2: Blackwork (and Tribal Tattoos) Blackwork tattoo ideas use only black ink to render images, designs or patterns. The style uses thick and bold black lines in a variety of geometric shapes. Blackwork tattoos are popular for their elegance and versatility and often come in the form of mandalas or other elaborate patterns. Blackwork tattoo designs derived from figurative line drawings are also common because the bold contrast created by the ink leads to a simple but powerful image. Blackwork tattoo designs originally emerged out of the cultural tradition of tribal tattoos. These tattoos mainly come from the symbolism of Polynesian tribal peoples, including Maori and Samoans. You can make tribal tattoos more relevant to your identity if you find specific symbols that mean something to you to incorporate into the tattoo. Style #3: Dotwork/Pointillism This is a style of tattooing that renders images, designs and patterns entirely through the use of dots. Shading and depth is created by varying the distances between the dots. Though I've decided to put it in the abstract category, dotwork can be either abstract or realistic. Common imagery includes sacred geometry and portraiture. Like blackwork, this tattoo idea is a sophisticated and minimalist approach to tattooing. Style #4: Geometric Geometric tattoo designs are created using only lines and geometric shapes. They differ from blackwork because color is typically incorporated into the design. These types of tattoo designs can vary dramatically in their look and feel, ranging from simple designs of single shapes to sleeves of intricate interlocking forms. They can make very powerful statements in subtle ways. Style #5: Watercolor Watercolor tattoos use splashes and streaks of color to give the impression of paint on canvas or paper. They lack all outlines and imitate the aesthetics of watercolor paintings. They are sometimes combined with realism or solid outlines and typically display bright colors and natural themes. These tattoos have gained popularity recently for their traditional artistic flair and delicate beauty. Illustrative Tattoos This category includes tattoo ideas that depict recognizable objects in exaggerated or stylized forms. These styles provide an awesome means of customizing your own unique tattoo ideas. Style #1: American Traditional This style uses bold black outlines and a well-saturated color palette consisting mainly of primary colors. It was originally popularized by men in the US Navy. This is what most people picture when they imagine classic tattoos (think "Mom" in a heart on the bicep of an enormous dude). Style #2: Traditional Japanese (Irezumi) Like American traditional, the Japanese tattoo style is based on bold black outlines and minimal shading, but it typically features images inspired by traditional Japanese art and nature as well as creatures and characters from Japanese folklore. Imagery typically consists of lotus flowers, koi fish, tigers, warriors and waves. This is a sophisticated, intricate style of tattooing that can look beautiful and peaceful or totally badass (or even both at the same time!). Style #3: New School New School is an animated, exaggerated style of tattooing. Images are usually caricatures of characters doing unexpected things and are influenced by graffiti and hip-hop artistic techniques and styles. That means bright colors and amplified dimensions and features. If you love cartoons and want a really fun and unusual tattoo idea, this might be a good tattoo design style for you. Style #4: Sketch Work Sketch work tattoos imitate the rough aesthetic of an artist’s sketchbook. They usually show unfinished images or designs including partially colored in sections and unclear outlines. If you’re really into comic books and the sketchy style of that world, you could get a tattoo that adopts the same style. Style #5: Surrealism This style consists of imaginary images, mashed up styles, and fantastical creations. If you’re familiar with surrealist artists (Salvador Dali being the most famous) you can see how this style has evolved as a byproduct of their work. Surrealism is different from New School because it’s rarely cartoonish. It’s just strange combinations of objects or portraits that may be rendered in a realistic style but are combined in nonsensical ways. If you want a tattoo design that’s unnerving but not outright horrific you might look at surreal tattoos for inspiration. Realistic Tattoos Realism is a tattoo design style that recreates images as they would appear in life. It lacks the bold outlines found in more traditional forms of tattooing and instead uses shading and color contrasts to render the image. Some of the types of tattoos mentioned above may incorporate realistic elements, but the styles in this section are the ones that are most prone to using realism. Style #1: Neo-Traditional This is a modern twist on American traditional tattooing in which more realistic depth, shading, color and detail are added to traditional conventions. They present similar subject matter to traditional tattoos but with an updated stylistic flair. If you like American traditional tattoos but want to sport something that’s a bit more unique and up-to-date, you should investigate this style. Style #2: Neo-Japanese This is the same as neo-traditional tattooing except it’s an update to traditional Japanese tattoos. Again, more realistic depth, shading, color, and detail are added to traditional Japanese style conventions. Similarly, if you like traditional Japanese tattoos but want a little more realism to make the images really pop, you should look into this style. Style #3: Portraiture In portraiture, a portrait of someone is recreated as a tattoo. Realistic portraits can be created either in color or black and grey. They’re often made by using a stencil over a pre-existing photograph or image in order to get an exact likeness. Portraiture is used to memorialize people or depict iconic celebrities or personal heroes. Tattoo portraits are really tough to do well, so you should conduct quite a bit of research before settling on an artist that you trust. Style #4: Black and Grey Black and grey tattooing only uses black ink and water. Tattooists water down the black ink to make it softer and more grey so they can create shades, hues and color contrasts. Some artists also use actual grey ink and white ink for highlights. Black and grey tattoos can be very evocative and creepy, so if you’re going with a more serious theme this is a good style tattoo idea. Style #5: Horror These are tattoos dealing with dark or morbid subject matter. Subjects include portraits of characters from horror films, freehanded monsters, and many other forms of creepy imagery. Typically, black and grey horror is done on a large scale as a full sleeve (like in the image below) or back piece. If you’re a big horror fan and want to make yourself look kinda scary, check out these cool tattoo ideas. Style #6: Trash Polka Trash polka tattoos feature black and red color schemes characterized by collage-like images featuring moments of realism, lettering, and abstract or geometric shapes. They include painterly elements like smears and smudges as well as surreal and realistic images to create a chaotic look. These tattoos are more about the overall look than the deeper meaning- they are often pure decorative pieces from the mind of the tattoo artist. This is a divisive new style, but some people really love it because it makes such a bold statement. Lettering or Script Tattoos Lettering ranges from simple tattoos of letters and words in standard fonts to highly stylized custom pieces. You can do many, many different things with script depending on how long the message is. Some lettering tattoos are so elaborate that the words become art pieces that only read as letters when you look more closely. Others are just plain printing without any extra flair. It all depends on your personal style! Brainstorming: What Are You Looking for in a Tattoo? A tattoo idea doesn’t have to have deep metaphorical significance, but you should definitely make sure it’s something you're thrilled to display on your body indefinitely. Plenty of people get tattoos just because they look cool, and there’s nothing wrong with that! Think about exactly why you want a tattoo and what you hope to get out of it. Here’s a list of some themes and aesthetic qualities that you might consider incorporating into your tattoo design depending on what you want it to mean to you: Depiction of a Hobby or Passion Symbols of the activities you love can make great tattoos because these passions are unlikely to change too much throughout your life. For example, if you really enjoy kayaking, you could get a tattoo of a paddle. If you love knitting, you could get a tattoo of a yarn ball (and eventually be a super cool grandma). Reminder of a Fun Experience Tattoos can be a way to preserve memories of great times in your life. For example, if you and your friends went on an awesome hiking and camping trip, you could get a tattoo of the outline of the mountain range. If you went to Paris, you could get a little croissant tattoo (or a tattoo of a creepy mime if you’re weird like me). The tattoo idea could also be a reference to an experience from your childhood that you’ve treasured over the years. Your Favorite [Fill in the Blank] Favorite things make fun tattoos that can have all kinds of different connotations. Think about your favorite animal, food, flower, place, fictional character, book, movie, team, or game. Branch out from there to come up with a way of depicting your favorite thing in tattoo form. You can even decide to combine several favorite things into one tattoo design. If your favorite animal is a wolf, your favorite food is steak, and your favorite basketball team is the Miami Heat, you could get a tattoo of a wolf eating steak and wearing a Miami Heat hat. The more unique the better! Honoring a Child, Friend, or Relative Some people get tattoos as tributes to others who have made strong impacts on their lives. These tattoos often consist of portraits, significant dates (birth or death), or that person’s favorite animal or some other icon associated with them. A tattoo can help in the grieving process for a loved one, or it can celebrate new life. Showing Pride in Your Identity or Struggles You’ve Overcome Many people get tattoos to commemorate personal breakthroughs or turning points in their lives. This might mean a symbol of recovery from addiction or mental health problems or a marker of another positive achievement in your life like graduating from college or embracing your sexuality. This theme ties into tattoo designs that are about identity. These could include religious iconography, the flag of your home country or a symbol of the state in which you were born, a symbol of your ancestral heritage, the symbol of a group you belong to or support, or an astrological sign. A Significant Phrase or Quote Is there a quote that you feel sums up your life philosophy (or your goals for your life philosophy)? Many people get lettering tattoos of quotes or meaningful sayings to remind them of what they stand for and how they hope to approach challenges in their lives. These quotes or sayings might be verses from religious texts, a quote from a favorite author or thinker, an adage, or a song lyric. Pure Aesthetics Maybe your more interested in a tattoo that just looks a certain way? There are a lot of different aesthetics for tattoo designs - you can choose whichever appeals to you. Something Beautiful or Cute If you just want your tattoo to look pretty, you have many options. Choosing an image from nature is usually a safe bet if you want the tattoo to have staying power. You might consider koi fish, birds, roses or other flowers, trees, a moon or sun, a dreamcatcher, a butterfly, a wave, or anything else you can think of that looks cute. When you’re judging tattoo ideas based on aesthetics it’s a good idea to search extensively for inspiration so you can get an idea of what different images look like in certain places on the body. Something Funny or Goofy Maybe you’re looking for tattoo ideas that take themselves a little less seriously. Cartoonish monsters, animals wearing clothing, or other surreal tattoos that are more amusing than creepy are all fun options. Just make sure you're confident that it will still be funny a few years from now! Jokes usually have expiration dates, but tattoos definitely don't. Something Badass, Scary, or Just Plain Awesome Want to terrify people and/or leave them completely awestruck? Tattoo artists can create crazy horror scenes that incorporate many different elements (or subtler small but scary tattoos if you’re less of a showman). Some elements you might consider weaving into these types of tattoos are skulls and skeletons, weapons, vicious animals, zombies, the grim reaper and other symbols of death (gravestones, etc), clocks, pentagrams, your favorite horror characters, haunted houses, eyeballs, insects and other creepy crawlies, demons and gargoyles, dragons, and more! Abstract Designs Designs make great tattoos even if they’re just random creations from the mind of the artist. If you want this type of tattoo, think about whether you would like it to be black and white or in color. If it’s in color, which colors do you want to include? Do you want a design that evokes organic flow and movement or a more rigid geometric or mechanical design? Do you just want the design, or would you like to incorporate figurative elements into the tattoo as well? Even very simple abstract tattoos can be extremely cool, like this one: Practical Concerns for Tattoo Ideas Style and content aren't the only things you should take into account if you're considering getting a tattoo. Ensuring that the procedure is within your budget and the tattoo has staying power are factors that are less fun to think about but are just as crucial if you want to avoid buyer's remorse in an industry where there are no easy returns. Pricing The cost of a tattoo can vary depending on the artist, the tattoo's location, the number of colors that are used, and the size. Some tattoo artists charge more than others because they can afford to do so based on their reputations. Usually, tattoo artists in big cities charge more than those who are less centrally located. Established tattoo artists typically charge at least $150 an hour for their work, and in most cases you will have to pay the fee for one hour regardless of whether it takes the artist the full 60 minutes to complete your design. Even if you go to a beginner tattoo artist, you'll probably spend at least $80 on your tattoo. The more colorful the tattoo design, the more expensive it will be. Incorporating lots of colors means more time, and most tattoo artists charge by the hour in case a project takes longer than anticipated. If you want a cheaper tattoo, you should go with blackwork. Tattoos that are done on sensitive areas of the body are also more expensive because the tattoo artist has to be more careful. Sensitive areas include your hands, feet, neck, sternum, and genitals. Perhaps the biggest factor that will impact the cost of the tattoo is its size and level of detail. A full back tattoo with a ton of detail will obviously take way more time than a tattoo of a couple of triangles on your arm.' Longevity There's a reason why some tattoos last longer than others. Darker colors are less likely to fade over time while very vibrant and very pale colors will fade more quickly (like in the picture below). In general, warm colors fade faster than cool colors. However, any tattoo can fade if you don't take good care of it. Listening to the tattoo artist and providing the correct aftercare for your tattoo is extremely important if you want the colors to pop for a long time. If you're a fan of tanning, you should also know that tattoos fade more quickly with exposure to the sun. The location of the tattoo also plays a part in how well it ages - tattoos on the legs, upper arms, and chest are most likely to get warped with age because these are the areas of your body that change the most over time. Tattoos on your fingers can also fade because we use our hands so frequently and the skin is closer to the bone, so if you're planning to get a cute little hipster triangle on your finger, you should keep this in mind. Size can also play a part in a tattoo's longevity. A common mistake that people make with their first tattoo is that they get it too small. If a tattoo is really small, especially if it involves lettering, it can all start to mush together over time and look like nothing. Don't shy away from making your tattoo a little bigger and bolder so that it won't become a random splotch years down the road. Deciding on a Tattoo Design Hopefully this article gave you some inspiration for the design of what is sure to be your latest and greatest tattoo! If you've come up with a tattoo idea you love, you can start searching for tattoo artists in your area and ask for a consultation to see if they have any suggestions for improving your design. If you're not ready to take that step quite yet, you can experiment with temporary tattoos to see how you feel about your design and how it looks on your body without making a long-term commitment. Some people think about a tattoo idea for years before actually going through with it. It's always smart to put a lot of thought into the process so that you end up with a tattoo that's meaningful to you (and also makes your friends incredibly jealous).

How to Start a College Essay Perfectly

How to Start a College Essay Perfectly SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’ve been sitting in front of a blank screen, unsure of exactly how to start a personal statement for college, then believe me- I feel your pain. A great college essay introduction is key to making your essay stand out, so there’s a lot of pressure to get it right. Luckily, being able to craft the perfect beginning for your admissions essay is just like many other writing skills- something you can get better at with practice and by learning from examples. In this article, I’ll walk you through exactly how to start a college essay. We'll cover what makes a great personal statement introduction and how the first part of your essay should be structured. We'll also look at several great examples of essay beginnings and explain why they work, how they work, and what you can learn from them. What Is the College Essay Introduction For? Before we talk about how to start a college essay, let's discuss the role of the introduction. Just as your college essay is your chance to introduce yourself to the admissions office of your target college, your essay's beginning is your chance to introduce your writing. Wait, Back Up- Why Do Colleges Want Personal Statements? In general, college essays make it easier to get to know the parts of you not in your transcript- these include your personality, outlook on life, passions, and experiences. You're not writing for yourself but for a very specific kind of reader. Picture it: your audience is an admissions officer who has read thousands and thousands of essays. This person is disposed to be friendly and curious, but if she hasn’t already seen it all she's probably seen a good portion of it. Your essay's job is to entertain and impress this person, and to make you memorable so you don't merely blend into the sea of other personal statements. Like all attempts at charm, you must be slightly bold and out of the ordinary- but you must also stay away from crossing the line into offensiveness or bad taste. What Role Does the Introduction Play in a College Essay? The personal statement introduction is basically the wriggly worm that baits the hook to catch your reader. It's vital to grab attention from the get-go- the more awake and eager your audience is, the more likely it is that what you say will really land. How do you go about crafting an introduction that successfully hooks your reader? Let’s talk about how to structure the beginning of your college essay. Teenagers hard at work on their college applications. How to Structure a Personal Statement Introduction To see how the introduction fits into an essay, let's look at the big structural picture first and then zoom in. College Essay Structure Overview Even though they’re called essays, personal statements are really more like a mix of a short story and a philosophy or psychology class that's all about you. Usually, how this translates is that you start with a really good (and very short) story about something arresting, unusual, or important that happened to you. This is not to say that the story has to be about something important or unusual in the grand scheme of things- it just has to be a moment that stands out to you as defining in some way, or an explanation of why you are the way you are. You then pivot to an explanation of why this story is an accurate illustration of one of your core qualities, values, or beliefs. The story typically comes in the first half of the essay, and the insightful explanation comes second - but, of course, all rules were made to be broken, and some great essays flip this more traditional order. College Essay Introduction Components Now, let’s zero in on the first part of the college essay. What are the ingredients of a great personal statement introduction? I'll list them here and then dissect them one by one in the next section: A killer first sentence: This hook grabs your readers' attention and whets their appetite for your story. A vivid, detailed story that illustrates your eventual insight: To make up for how short your story will be, you must insert effective sensory information to immerse the reader. An insightful pivot toward the greater point you're making in your essay: This vital piece of the essay connects the short story part to the part where you explain what the experience has taught you about yourself, how you've matured, and how it has ultimately shaped you as a person. You've got your reader's attention when you see its furry ears extended †¦ No, wait. Squirrel. You've got your squirrel's attention. Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: How to Write a College Essay Introduction Here’s a weird secret that’s true for most written work: just because it'll end up at the beginning doesn’t mean you have to write it first. For example, in this case, you can’t know what your killer first sentence will be until you’ve figured out the following details: The story you want to tell The point you want that story to make The trait/maturity level/background about you that your essay will reveal So my suggestion is to work in reverse order! Writing your essay will be much easier if you can figure out the entirety of it first and then go back and work out exactly how it should start. This means that before you can craft your ideal first sentence, the way the short story experience of your life will play out on the page, and the perfect pivoting moment that transitions from your story to your insight, you must work out a general idea about which life event you will share and what you expect that life event to demonstrate to the reader about you and the kind of person you are. If you're having trouble coming up with a topic, check out our guide on brainstorming college essay ideas. It might also be helpful to read our guides to specific application essays, such as picking your best Common App prompt and writing a perfect University of California personal statement. In the next sections of this article, I'll talk about how to work backwards on the introduction, moving from bigger to smaller elements: starting with the first section of the essay in general and then honing your pivot sentence and your first sentence. Don't get too excited about working in reverse- not all activities are safe to do backwards. (Jackie/Flickr) How to Write the First Section of Your College Essay In a 500-word essay, this section will take up about the first half of the essay and will mostly consist of a brief story that illuminates a key experience, an important character trait, a moment of transition or transformation, or a step toward maturity. Once you've figured out your topic and zeroed in on the experience you want to highlight in the beginning of your essay, here are 2 great approaches to making it into a story: Talking it out, storyteller style (while recording yourself): Imagine that you're sitting with a group of people at a campfire, or that you're stuck on a long flight sitting next to someone you want to befriend. Now tell that story. What does someone who doesn’t know you need to know in order for the story to make sense? What details do you need to provide to put them in the story with you? What background information do they need in order to understand the stakes or importance of the story? Record yourself telling your story to friends and then chatting about it: What do they need clarified? What questions do they have? Which parts of your story didn’t make sense or follow logically for them? Do they want to know more, or less? Is part of your story interesting to them but not interesting to you? Is a piece of your story secretly boring, even though you think it’s interesting? Later, as you listen to the recorded story to try to get a sense of how to write it, you can also get a sense of the tone with which you want to tell your story. Are you being funny as you talk? Sad? Trying to shock, surprise, or astound your audience? The way you most naturally tell your story is the way you should write it. After you've done this storyteller exercise, write down the salient points of what you learned. What is the story your essay will tell? What is the point about your life, point of view, or personality it will make? What tone will you tell it with? Sketch out a detailed outline so that you can start filling in the pieces as we work through how to write the introductory sections. Baron Munchausen didn't know whether to tell his story sad that his horse had been cut in half, or delighted by knowing what would happen if half a horse drank from a fountain. How to Write the First Sentence of Your College Essay In general, your essay's first sentence should be either a mini-cliffhanger that sets up a situation the reader would like to see resolved, or really lush scene-setting that situates your audience in a place and time they can readily visualize. The former builds expectations and evokes curiosity, and the latter stimulates the imagination and creates a connection with the author. In both cases, you hit your goal of greater reader engagement. Now, I’m going to show you how these principles work for all types of first sentences, whether in college essays or in famous works of fiction. First Sentence Idea 1: Line of Quoted Direct Speech "Mum, I'm gay." (Ahmad Ashraf '17 for Connecticut College) The experience of coming out is raw and emotional, and the issue of LGBTQ rights is an important facet of modern life. This three-word sentence immediately sums up an enormous background of the personal and political. "You can handle it, Matt," said Mr. Wolf, my fourth-grade band teacher, as he lifted the heavy tuba and put it into my arms. (Matt Coppo ’07 for Hamilton College) This sentence conjures up a funny image- we can immediately picture the larger adult standing next to a little kid holding a giant tuba. It also does a little play on words: "handle it" can refer to both the literal tuba Matt is being asked to hold and the figurative stress of playing the instrument. First Sentence Idea 2: Punchy Short Sentence With One Grabby Detail I live alone- I always have since elementary school. (Kevin Zevallos '16 for Connecticut College) This opener definitely makes us want to know more. Why was he alone? Where were the protective grown-ups who surround most kids? How on earth could a little kid of 8-10 years old survive on his own? I have old hands. (First line from a student in Stanford’s class of 2012) There’s nothing but questions here. What are "old" hands? Are they old-looking? Arthritic? How has having these hands affected the author? There was no possibility of taking a walk that day. (Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre) There’s immediately a feeling of disappointment and the stifled desire for action here. Who wanted to go for a walk? And why was this person being prevented from going? First Sentence Idea 3: Lyrical, Adjective-Rich Description of a Setting We met for lunch at El Burrito Mexicano, a tiny Mexican lunch counter under the Red Line "El" tracks. (Ted Mullin ’06 for Carleton College) Look at how much specificity this sentence packs in less than 20 words. Each noun and adjective is chosen for its ability to convey yet another detail. "Tiny" instead of "small" gives readers a sense of being uncomfortably close to other people and sitting at tables that don't quite have enough room for the plates. "Counter" instead of "restaurant" lets us immediately picture this work surface, the server standing behind it, and the general atmosphere. "Under the tracks" is a location deeply associated with being run down, borderline seedy, and maybe even dangerous. Maybe it's because I live in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, where Brett Favre draws more of a crowd on Sunday than any religious service, cheese is a staple food, it's sub-zero during global warming, current "fashions" come three years after they've hit it big with the rest of the world, and where all children by the age of ten can use a 12-gauge like it's their job. (Riley Smith '12 for Hamilton College) This sentence manages to hit every stereotype about Wisconsin held by outsiders- football, cheese, polar winters, backwardness, and guns- and this piling on gives us a good sense of place while also creating enough hyperbole to be funny. At the same time, the sentence raises the tantalizing question: maybe what is because of Wisconsin? High, high above the North Pole, on the first day of 1969, two professors of English Literature approached each other at a combined velocity of 1200 miles per hour. (David Lodge, Changing Places) This sentence is structured in the highly specific style of a math problem, which makes it funny. However, at the heart of this sentence lies a mystery that grabs the reader's interest: why on earth would these two people be doing this? First Sentence Idea 4: Counterintuitive Statement To avoid falling into generalities with this one, make sure you're really creating an argument or debate with your counterintuitive sentence. If no one would argue with what you've said, then you aren't making an argument. ("The world is a wonderful place" and "Life is worth living" don't make the cut.) If string theory is really true, then the entire world is made up of strings, and I cannot tie a single one. (Joanna ’18 for Johns Hopkins University) There’s a great switch here from the sub-microscopic strings that make up string theory to the actual physical strings you can tie in real life. This sentence hints that the rest of the essay will continue playing with linked, albeit not typically connected, concepts. All children, except one, grow up. (J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan) In just six words, this sentence upends everything we think we know about what happens to human beings. First Sentence Idea 5: The End- Making the Rest of the Essay a Flashback I’ve recently come to the realization that community service just isn’t for me. (Kyla ’19 for Johns Hopkins University) This seems pretty bold- aren’t we supposed to be super into community service? Is this person about to declare herself to be totally selfish and uncaring about the less fortunate? We want to know the story that would lead someone to this kind of conclusion. Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendà ­a was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice. (Gabriel Garcà ­a Mrquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude) So many amazing details here. Why is the Colonel being executed? What does "discovering" ice entail? How does he go from ice-discoverer to military commander of some sort to someone condemned to capital punishment? First Sentence Idea 6: Direct Question to the Reader To work well, your question should be especially specific, come out of left field, or pose a surprising hypothetical. How does an agnostic Jew living in the Diaspora connect to Israel? (Essay #3 from Carleton College’s sample essays) This is a thorny opening, raising questions about the difference between being an ethnic Jew and practicing the religion of Judaism, and the obligations of Jews who live outside of Israel to those who live in Israel and vice versa. There's a lot of meat to this question, setting up a philosophically interesting, politically important, and personally meaningful essay. While traveling through the daily path of life, have you ever stumbled upon a hidden pocket of the universe? (First line from a student in Stanford’s class of 2012) There’s a dreamy and sci-fi element to this first sentence, as it tries to find the sublime ("the universe") inside the prosaic ("daily path of life"). First Sentence Idea 7: Lesson You Learned From the Story You’re Telling One way to think about how to do this kind of opening sentence well is to model it on the morals that ended each Aesop's fable. The lesson you learned should be slightly surprising (not necessarily intuitive) and something that someone else might disagree with. Perhaps it wasn't wise to chew and swallow a handful of sand the day I was given my first sandbox, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. (Meagan Spooner ’07 for Hamilton College) The best part of this hilarious sentence is that even in retrospect, eating a handful of sand is only possibly an unwise idea- a qualifier achieved through that great "perhaps." So does that mean it was wise in at least some way to eat the sand? The reader wants to know more. All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. (Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina) This immediately sets readers to mentally flip through every unhappy family they’ve ever known to double-check the narrator’s assertion. Did he draw the right conclusion here? How did he come to this realization? The implication that he will tell us all about some dysfunctional drama also has a rubbernecking draw. Now go! And let your first sentences soar like the Wright Brothers' first airplane! How to Write a Pivot Sentence in Your College Essay This is the place in your essay where you go from small to big- from the life experience you describe in detail to the bigger point this experience illustrates about your world and yourself. Typically, the pivot sentence will come at the end of your introductory section, about halfway through the essay. I say sentence, but this section could be more than one sentence (though ideally no longer than two or three). So how do you make the turn? Usually you indicate in your pivot sentence itself that you are moving from one part of the essay to another. This is called signposting, and it's a great way to keep readers updated on where they are in the flow of the essay and your argument. Here are three ways to do this, with real-life examples from college essays published by colleges. Pivot Idea 1: Expand the Time Frame In this pivot, you gesture out from the specific experience you describe to the overarching realization you had during it. Think of helper phrases such as "that was the moment I realized" and "never again would I." Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I’d been in this type of situation before. In fact, I’d been born into this type of situation. (Stephen '19 for Johns Hopkins University) This is a pretty great pivot, neatly connecting the story Stephen's been telling (about having to break into a car on a volunteering trip) and his general reliance on his own resourcefulness and ability to roll with whatever life throws at him. It's a double bonus that he accomplishes the pivot with a play on the word "click," which here means both the literal clicking of the car door latch and the figurative clicking his brain does. Note also how the pivot crystallizes the moment of epiphany through the word "suddenly," which implies instant insight. But in that moment I realized that the self-deprecating jokes were there for a reason. When attempting to climb the mountain of comedic success, I didn't just fall and then continue on my journey, but I fell so many times that I befriended the ground and realized that the middle of the metaphorical mountain made for a better campsite. Not because I had let my failures get the best of me, but because I had learned to make the best of my failures. (Rachel Schwartzbaum '19 for Connecticut College) This pivot similarly focuses on a "that moment" of illuminated clarity. In this case, it broadens Rachel's experience of stage fright before her standup comedy sets to the way she has more generally not allowed failures to stop her progress- and has instead been able to use them as learning experiences. Not only does she describe her humor as "self-deprecating," but she also demonstrates what she means with that great "befriended the ground" line. It was on this first educational assignment that I realized how much could be accomplished through an animal education program- more, in some cases, than the aggregate efforts of all of the rehabilitators. I found that I had been naive in my assumption that most people knew as much about wildlife as I did, and that they shared my respect for animals. (J.P. Maloney '07 for Hamilton College) This is another classically constructed pivot, as J.P. segues from his negative expectations about using a rehabilitated wild owl as an educational animal to his understanding of how much this kind of education could contribute to forming future environmentalists and nature lovers. The widening of scope happens at once as we go from a highly specific "first educational assignment" to the more general realization that "much" could be accomplished through these kinds of programs. Pivot Idea 2: Link the Described Experience With Others In this pivot, you draw a parallel between the life event that you've been describing in your very short story and other events that were similar in some significant way. Helpful phrases include "now I see how x is really just one of the many x’s I have faced," "in a way, x is a good example of the x-like situations I see daily," and "and from then on every time I ..." This state of discovery is something I strive for on a daily basis. My goal is to make all the ideas in my mind fit together like the gears of a Swiss watch. Whether it's learning a new concept in linear algebra, talking to someone about a programming problem, or simply zoning out while I read, there is always some part of my day that pushes me towards this place of cohesion: an idea that binds together some set of the unsolved mysteries in my mind. (Aubrey Anderson '19 for Tufts University) After cataloging and detailing the many interesting thoughts that flow through her brain in a specific hour, Aubrey uses the pivot to explain that this is what every waking hour is like for her "on a daily basis." She loves learning different things and finds a variety of fields fascinating. And her pivot lets us know that her example is a demonstration of how her mind works generally. This was the first time I’ve been to New Mexico since he died. Our return brought so much back for me. I remembered all the times we’d visited when I was younger, certain events highlighted by the things we did: Dad haggling with the jewelry sellers, his minute examination of pots at a trading post, the affection he had for chilies. I was scared that my love for the place would be tainted by his death, diminished without him there as my guide. That fear was part of what kept my mother and me away for so long. Once there, though, I was relieved to realize that Albuquerque still brings me closer to my father. (Essay #1 from Carleton College’s sample essays) In this pivot, one very painful experience of visiting a place filled with sorrowful memories is used as a way to think about "all the other times" the author had been to New Mexico. The previously described trip after the father's death pivots into a sense of the continuity of memory. Even though he is no longer there to "guide," the author's love for the place itself remains. Pivot Idea 3: Extract and Underline a Trait or Value In this type of pivot, you use the experience you've described to demonstrate its importance in developing or zooming in on one key attribute. Here are some ways to think about making this transition: "I could not have done it without characteristic y, which has helped me through many other difficult moments," or "this is how I came to appreciate the importance of value z, both in myself and in those around me." My true reward of having Stanley is that he opened the door to the world of botany. I would never have invested so much time learning about the molecular structure or chemical balance of plants if not for taking care of him. (Michaela '19 for Johns Hopkins University) In this tongue-in-cheek essay in which Michaela writes about Stanley, a beloved cactus, as if "he" has human qualities and is her child, the pivot explains what makes this plant so meaningful to its owner. Without having to "take care of him," Michaela "would never have invested so much time learning" about plant biology. She has a deep affinity for the natural sciences and attributes her interest at least partly to her cactus. By leaving me free to make mistakes and chase wild dreams, my father was always able to help ground me back in reality. Personal responsibilities, priorities and commitments are all values that are etched into my mind, just as they are within my father’s. (Olivia Rabbitt '16 for Connecticut College) In Olivia's essay about her father's role in her life, the pivot discusses his importance by explaining his deep impact on her values. Olivia has spent the story part of her essay describing her father's background and their relationship. Now, she is free to show how without his influence, she would not be so strongly committed to "personal responsibilities, priorities and commitments." Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. A great pivot is like great parkour- sharp, fast, and coming on a slightly unexpected curve. (Peter Waterman/Flickr) College Essay Introduction Examples We've collected many examples of college essays published by colleges and offered a breakdown of how several of them are put together. Now, let's check out a couple of examples of actual college essay beginnings to show you how and why they work. Sample Intro 1 A blue seventh place athletic ribbon hangs from my mantel. Every day, as I walk into my living room, the award mockingly congratulates me as I smile. Ironically, the blue seventh place ribbon resembles the first place ribbon in color; so, if I just cover up the tip of the seven, I may convince myself that I championed the fourth heat. But, I never dare to wipe away the memory of my seventh place swim; I need that daily reminder of my imperfection. I need that seventh place. Two years ago, I joined the no-cut swim team. That winter, my coach unexpectedly assigned me to swim the 500 freestyle. After stressing for hours about swimming 20 laps in a competition, I mounted the blocks, took my mark, and swam. Around lap 14, I looked around at the other lanes and did not see anyone. "I must be winning!" I thought to myself. However, as I finally completed my race and lifted my arms up in victory to the eager applause of the fans, I looked up at the score board. I had finished my race in last place. In fact, I left the pool two minutes after the second-to-last competitor, who now stood with her friends, wearing all her clothes. (From "The Unathletic Department" by Meghan ’17 for Johns Hopkins University) Why Intro Sample 1 Works Here are some of the main reasons that this essay's introduction is super effective. #1: It's Got a Great First Sentence The sentence is short but still does some scene setting with the descriptive "blue" and the location "from my mantel." It introduces a funny element with "seventh place"- why would that bad of a showing even get a ribbon? It dangles information just out of reach, making the reader want to know more: what was this an award for? Why does this definitively non-winning ribbon hang in such a prominent place of pride? #2: It Has Lots of Detail In the intro, we get physical actions: "cover up the tip," "mounted the blocks," "looked around at the other lanes," "lifted my arms up," and "stood with her friends, wearing all her clothes." We also get words conveying emotion: "mockingly congratulates me as I smile," "unexpectedly assigned," and "stressing for hours." Finally, we get descriptive specificity in the precise word choice: "from my mantel" and "my living room" instead of simply "in my house," and "lap 14" instead of "toward the end of the race." #3: It Explains the Stakes Even though everyone can imagine the lap pool, not everyone knows exactly what the "500 freestyle" race is. Meghan elegantly explains the difficulty by describing herself freaking out over "swimming 20 laps in a competition," which helps us to picture the swimmer going back and forth many times. #4: It Has Great Storytelling We basically get a sports commentary play-by-play here. Even though we already know the conclusion- Meghan came in 7th- she still builds suspense by narrating the race from her point of view as she was swimming it. She's nervous for a while, and then she starts the race. Close to the end, she starts to think everything is going well ("I looked around at the other lanes and did not see anyone. 'I must be winning!' I thought to myself."). Everything builds to an expected moment of great triumph ("I finally completed my race and lifted my arms up in victory to the eager applause of the fans") but ends in total defeat ("I had finished my race in last place"). Not only that, but the mildly clichà ©d sports hype is hilariously undercut by reality ("I left the pool two minutes after the second-to-last competitor, who now stood with her friends, wearing all her clothes"). #5: It Uses a Pivot Sentence This essay uses the time expansion method of pivoting: "But, I never dare to wipe away the memory of my seventh place swim; I need that daily reminder of my imperfection. I need that seventh place." Coming last in the race was something that happened once, but the award is now an everyday experience of humility. The rest of the essay explores what it means for Meghan to constantly see this reminder of failure and to transform it into a sense of acceptance of her imperfections. Notice also that in this essay, the pivot comes before the main story, helping us "hear" the narrative in the way she wants us to. Sample Intro 2 "Biogeochemical. It’s a word, I promise!" There are shrieks and shouts in protest and support. Unacceptable insults are thrown, degrees and qualifications are questioned, I think even a piece of my grandmother’s famously flakey parantha whizzes past my ear. Everyone is too lazy to take out a dictionary (or even their phones) to look it up, so we just hash it out. And then, I am crowned the victor, a true success in the Merchant household. But it is fleeting, as the small, glossy, plastic tiles, perfectly connected to form my winning word, are snatched out from under me and thrown in a pile with all the disgraced, "unwinning" tiles as we mix for our next game of Bananagrams. It’s a similar donnybrook, this time ending with my father arguing that it is okay to use "Rambo" as a word (it totally is not). Words and communicating have always been of tremendous importance in my life: from silly games like Bananagrams and our road-trip favorite "word game," to stunted communication between opposing grandparents, each speaking a different Indian language; from trying to understand the cheesemonger behind the counter with a deep southern drawl (I just want some Camembert!), to shaping a script to make people laugh. Words are moving and changing; they have influence and substance. From an Essay by Shaan Merchant ‘19 for Tufts University Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: Why Intro Sample 2 Works Let's take a look at what qualities make this essay's introduction particularly memorable. #1: It's Got a Great First Sentence With the first sentence, we are immediately thrust into the middle of the action- into an exciting part of an argument about whether "biogeochemical" is really a word. We're also immediately challenged. Is this a word? Have I ever heard it before? Does a scientific neologism count as a word? #2: It Shows Rather Than Tells Since the whole essay is going to be about words, it makes sense for Shaan to demonstrate his comfort with all different kinds of language: Complex, elevated vocabulary, such as "biogeochemical" and "donnybrook" Foreign words, such as "parantha" and "Camembert" Colorful descriptive words, such as "shrieks and shouts," "famously flakey, "whizzes past," and "hash it out" "Fake" words, such as "unwinning" and "Rambo" What’s great is that Shaan is able to seamlessly mix the different tones and registers these words imply, going from cerebral to funny and back again. #3: It Uses a Pivot Sentence This essay uses the value-extraction style of pivot: "Words and communicating have always been of tremendous importance in my life." After we see an experience linking Shaan’s clear love of his family with an interest in word games, he clarifies that this is exactly what the essay will be about- using a very straightforward pivoting sentence. #4: It Piles On Examples to Avoid Vagueness The danger of this kind of pivot sentence is slipping into vague, uninformative statements, such as "I love words." To avoid making a generalization the tells us nothing, the essay builds a list of examples of times when Shaan saw the way that words connect people: games ("Bananagrams and our road-trip favorite ‘word game,’"), his mixed-language family ("grandparents, each speaking a different Indian language"), encounters with strangers ("from trying to understand the cheesemonger"), and finally the more active experience of performing ("shaping a script to make people laugh"). But the essay stops short of giving so many examples that the reader drowns. I'd say three to five examples is a good range- as long as they're all different kinds of the same thing. Several keys offer a good chance of unlocking a door; a giant pile of keys is its own unsolvable maze. The Bottom Line: How to Start a College Essay The college essay introduction should hook your reader and make her want to know more and read more. Good personal statement introductions will contain the following features: A killer first line A detailed description of an experience from your life A pivot to the bigger picture, in which you explain why and how this experience has shaped you, your point of view, and/or your values. You don’t have to write the introduction first, and you certainly don’t have to write your first sentence first. Instead, start by developing your story by telling it out loud to a friend. You can then work on your first sentence and your pivot. The first sentence should either be short, punchy, and carry some ambiguity or questions, or be a detailed and beautiful description setting an easily pictured scene. The pivot, on the other hand, should answer the question, "How does the story you’ve told connect to a larger truth or insight about you?" What’s Next? Wondering what to make of the Common Application essay prompts? We have the complete list of this year’s Common App prompts with explanations of what each is asking as well as a guide to picking the Common App prompt that’s perfect for you. Thinking of applying to the University of California system? Check out our detailed guide on how to approach their essay prompts and craft your ideal UC essay. If you’re in the middle of the essay-writing process, you’ll want to see our suggestions on what essay pitfalls to avoid. Working on the rest of your college application? Read what admissions officers wish applicants knew before applying. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Canadian Multiculturalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Canadian Multiculturalism - Essay Example The emphasis that we look upon the theoretical foundations is of the policies instead of focusing on their historical roots. Another important theory and policy would be that of Interculturalism which involves the acceptance of a multicultural fact and tries to effectively exist in a society thus promoting dialogue and interaction between cultures (Garcea et al, 2008). The constant criticism it has brought forth of the existing policies of multiculturalism and maintains the ideology that multiculturalism failed to include different cultures within our society, and instead it has divided society and has isolated and accentuated their specificity e. g. Quà ©bec. The question that arises in particular; Is Canadian Multiculturalism the same as it was before? Therefore, the primary goal of this paper is to outline multicultural policies in Canada in an historical context. Thus this will relate to the change from the ‘new nationalism’ to a philosophy of multiculturalism as the basis of the national identities of English-speaking Canada. Afterwards, this paper will dive into the exploration of the issues ensuing Quà ©bec’s Interculturalism and its discriminatory rights and religious persecution of immigration. The change in context influences the government’s policies towards migrants, which integration to a multicultural policy is the basis of the approach in Canada. Looking further at some benefits of multiculturalism, the policies that it encourages migrants to be able to retain their culture thus benefitting a new national culture in Canada.

Soya-bean Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Soya-bean - Essay Example However, now doubts have been raised by scientists, doctors and nutritionists that soy is not that healthy after all and that soy poses special health risk A very interesting account of the historical travel of the soy plant in the Western world has been documented by Hymowitz (1990). While his idea that the soy plant was a saviour, or manna from heaven itself, for many people can be and is subjected to much debate, the historical account of the origin of the plant is well worth a read. Soya bean is a gift to the new world from the ancient oriental (Chinese , Japanese civilization). Before we take up the issue of the actual debate of the nutrient value and the positive and negative effects of this miracle plant, it would be worthwhile to have a brief glimpse into the origin and historical path travelled by it. Recorded history traces of its origin dates back to 2838 BC in China and to 6th century in Japan. Ibn Europe the records show an introduction of the plant as late as the 17th century , with America eventually catching up. Nonetheless, the USA produces one-third of the world's supply and indeed has seen a rise in the actual sales of soy product by nearly 3 times in the past decade. Like most legumes and beans, soy bean... Interestingly they also contain a high proportion of fat, however since this is mostly unsaturated fat, the effects of such lipid forms are mostly beneficial for an individual. However it is important to address that this nutrient content profile is applicable to Whole Foods and not Supplements. Much of the research to date has examined dietary soy in the form of whole foods such as tofu, "soymilk," or as soy protein added to foods, and the public health community mostly concurs that these whole foods can be worthwhile additions to a healthy diet. The recently raised concerns, however, focus on specific components of soy, such as the soy isoflavones daidzein and genistein, not the whole food or intact soy protein. In this respct we need to understand the nutrient content of soy been at the micronutrient level. This is also important since there has been an increase in chemicals, available over the counter in pills and powders, which are both, advertised and marketed as dietary supplements for use by women to help lessen menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. While it may be possible that soy bean, in whole food has some efficacy for improving a lot of diseased condition, it is imperative to understand that teasing out individual chemicals would not be a good practice. This problem has been very accurately summarised by Wood; "There are probably hundreds of protective compounds in soy [foods]. It's just too big a leap to assume that a pill could do the same thing" (Woods, 2000). The need to exercise caution hence is clear and care must be taken in hailing soy as the food that can do only good. Nonetheless, there is much effect in the literature which supports the increased prevalence of soy bean as a health food. C Soybean as Food While not every form