How Modern Technology Affects Language Essay

Language and words are the most important intangible things we have as humans. Having the ability to communicate abstract ideas with others by making sounds with our mouths is what sets us apart from other Earth-walking animals, and is quite incredible when you think about it. However, when the times change, language changes right with it. We are now in what is called the â€Å"Age of Technology† and the major increase in use of the internet, mobile devices and TV has created a whole new set of words that are being looked at as detrimental to traditional language. I do not think the language of new media is corrupting communication but helping, and the idea that it is helping comes from a bias towards younger people. People are generally afraid of change. So it’s understandable why someone who grew up talking a certain way, would be quick to be against the way a new generation was talking. Older people feel as if the words that new media have introduced to our culture are â€Å"slang† and are making us dumb because it’s taking over the traditional way of speaking and writing English. If everyone had this mindset, we would still be speaking like Shakespeare. In the video â€Å"Tweets, Texts & Myths† by Professor David Crystal, he disproves the common myths of modern vernacular. Crystal talks about how this â€Å"new† language is not really used as much as believed, and that they do not hurt people’s ability to write and communicate in a formal setting. Through a classroom study, Crystal found that those students who used the language of new media the most actually received higher marks on written assignments. So perhaps new language is not hurting, but in fact helping. A big part of the movement against the new language that mass media and technology have created is a bias towards younger people, who are the ones that use it the most. People fail to realize that just because someone is young, does not mean what they are doing is wrong. Every group of people has their differences in how they say things, from rocket scientists to a sports team, yet because the young people are doing it, it’s labeled as â€Å"dumb and detrimental†. In the yellow packet we received in class, it reads â€Å"while ‘spaced out’, ‘hang’, or ‘lol’ are widespread and easily understood†¦this ‘teen argot’ is viewed as slang while the arguably even less-penetrable â€Å"’szujet’, ‘diegesis’, and ‘metalepsis’, are recognized as technically appropriate terms for professional literary theorists. (I think it’s ironic how when typing this, the â€Å"sophisticatedà ¢â‚¬  words all were not recognized by the computer). Language is very versatile and should be. At it’s core, language is nothing but a way to communicate, so why does it matter how it’s done as long as it’s done? If you’re saying the same exact thing, why should it matter if you abbreviate a few words or add a word that’s not in the dictionary as long as your audience understands? I think that we have to drop our biases when it comes to something like language and allow for everybody to do what works the best for them, because they are the only one that it effects.

Much Ado About Nothing Quotes

'Much Ado About Nothing' Quotes Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeares comedies, with one of the most popular romantic duos of all time. The play has wit, twists, turns - its a comedy. Here are a few quotes from the play. Act I He hath indeed better bettered expectation than you must expect of me to tell you how. (1.1) He is a very valiant trencher-man. (1.1) I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books. (1.1) In time the savage bull doth bear the yoke. (1.1) Act II Lord! I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face: I hath rather lie in the woollen. (2.1) He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man. (2.1) Speak low if you speak love. (2.1) Friendship is constant in all other thingsSave in the office and affairs of love:Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues;Let every eye negotiate for itselfAnd trust no agent. (2.1) There was a star danced, and under that was I born. (2.1) Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,Men were deceivers ever,-One foot in sea and one on shore,To one thing constant never. (2.3) Act III Our talk must only be of Benedick.When I do name him, let it by thy partTo praise him more than ever man did merit:My talk to thee must be how BenedickIs sick in love with Beatrice. Of this matterIs little Cupids crafty arrow made,That only wounds by hearsay. (3.1) Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps. (3.1) If I see any thing tonight why I should not marry her tomorrow, in the congregation, where I should wed, there will I shame her. (3.2) I tell this tale vilely- I should first tell thee how the Prince, Claudio, and my master, planted and placed and possessed by my master Don John, saw afar off in the orchard this amiable encounter. (3.3) Act IV There, Leonato, take her back again:Give not this rotten orange to your friend;Shes but the sign and semblance of her honor. (4.1) Your daughter here the princes left for dead,Let her awhile be secretly kept in,And publish it that she is dead indeed (4.1) She dying, as it must be so maintaind,Upon the instant that she was accusd,Shall be lamented, pitied, and excusdOf every hearer (4.1) I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest. (4.1) O that he were here to write me down an ass! But masters, remember that I am an ass: though it be not written down, yet forget not that I am an ass. (4.2) Act V I say thou has belied mine innocent child;Thy slander hath gone through and through her heart,And she lies buried with her ancestorsO! in a tomb where never scandal slept,Save this of hers, framd by thy villainy! (5.1) I have deceived even your very eyes: what your wisdoms could not discover, these shallow fools have brought to light, who in the night overheard me confessing to this man, how Don John your brother incensed me to slander the Lady Hero. (5.1) I have drunk poison while he utterd it. (5.1) Though and I are too wise to woo peaceably. (5.2) And when I livd I was your other wife;And when you lovd, you were my other husband. (5.4) One Hero died defild, but I do live,And surely as I live, I am a maid. (5.4) In brief, since I do purpose to marry, I will think nothing to any purpose that the world can say against it; and therefore never flout at me for what I have said against it; for man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion. (5.4)

Biography of William Bligh, Captain of the HMS Bounty

Biography of William Bligh, Captain of the HMS Bounty William Bligh (September 9, 1754–December 7, 1817) was a British mariner who had the bad luck, timing and temperament to be aboard two ships- HMS Bounty in 1789 and the HMS Director in 1791- on which the crew mutinied. Accounted in his own time as hero, villain, and then a hero, he retired as a Vice-Admiral to the Lambeth district in London and died peacefully. Fast Facts: William Bligh Known For: Captain of the HMS Bounty during the 1789 mutinyBorn: September 9, 1754 in Plymouth (or perhaps Cornwall), EnglandParents: Francis and Jane Pearce BlighDied: London on December 7, 1817 in LondonEducation: Shipped as captains servant at the age of 7Published Works: The Mutiny on Board HMS BountySpouse: Elizabeth Betsy Betham (m. 1781–his death)Children: Seven Early Life William Bligh was born on September 9, 1754, in Plymouth, England (or perhaps Cornwall), the only son of Francis and Jane Bligh. His father was Chief of Customs at Plymouth, and his mother died in 1770; Francis remarried twice more before dying himself in 1780. From an early age, Bligh was destined for a life at sea as his parents enlisted him as a captains servant to Captain Keith Stewart at the age of 7 years and 9 months. That wasnt a full-time position, that meant occasionally sailing aboard HMS Monmouth. This practice was fairly common as it allowed youngsters to quickly accrue the years of service needed in order to take the exam for lieutenant, and for a ships captain to make a bit of income while in port. Returning home in 1763, he quickly proved himself gifted at mathematics and navigation. After his mothers death, he re-entered the navy in 1770, at the age of 16. William Blighs Early Career Though meant to be a midshipman, Bligh was initially carried as an able seaman as there were no midshipmans vacancies on his ship, HMS Hunter. This soon changed and he received his midshipmans warrant the following year and later served aboard HMS Crescent and HMS Ranger. Quickly becoming well known for his navigation and sailing skills, Bligh was selected by explorer Captain James Cook to accompany his third expedition to the Pacific in 1776. After sitting for his lieutenants exam, Bligh accepted Cooks offer to be sailing master aboard HMS Resolution. On May 1, 1776, he was promoted to lieutenant. Expedition to the Pacific Departing in June 1776, Resolution and HMS Discovery sailed south and entered the Indian Ocean via the Cape of Good Hope. During the voyage, Blighs leg was injured, but he quickly recovered. While crossing the southern Indian Ocean, Cook discovered a small island, which he named Blighs Cap in honor of his sailing master. Over the next year, Cook and his men touched at Tasmania, New Zealand, Tonga, Tahiti, as well as explored the southern coast of Alaska and the Bering Straight. The purpose for his operations off Alaska was a failed search for the Northwest Passage. Returning south in 1778, Cook became the first European to visit Hawaii. He returned the following year and was killed on the Big Island after an altercation with the Hawaiians. During the fighting, Bligh was instrumental in recovering Resolutions foremast which had been taken ashore for repairs. With Cook dead, Captain Charles Clerke of Discovery took command and a final attempt to find the Northwest Passage was attempted. Throughout the voyage, Bligh performed well and lived up to his reputation as a navigator and a chart maker. The expedition returned to England in 1780. Return to England Returning home a hero, Bligh impressed his superiors with his performance in the Pacific. On February 4, 1781, he married Elizabeth (Betsy) Betham, the daughter of a customs collector from Manx: he and Betsy would eventually have seven children. Ten days later, Bligh was assigned to HMS Belle Poule as sailing master. That August, he saw action against the Dutch at the Battle of Dogger Bank. After the battle, he was made a lieutenant on HMS Berwick. Over the next two years, he saw regular service at sea until the end of the American War of Independence forced him onto the inactive list. Unemployed, Bligh served as a captain in the merchant service between 1783 and 1787. Voyage of the Bounty In 1787, Bligh was selected as the commander of His Majestys Armed Vessel Bounty and given the mission of sailing to the South Pacific to collect breadfruit trees. It was believed that these trees could be transplanted to the Caribbean to provide inexpensive food for slaves in British colonies. Departing on December 27, 1787, Bligh attempted to enter the Pacific via Cape Horn. After a month of trying, he turned and sailed east around the Cape of Good Hope. The voyage to Tahiti proved smooth and few punishments were given to the crew. As Bounty was rated as a cutter, Bligh was the only officer on board. To permit his men longer periods of uninterrupted sleep, he divided the crew into three watches. In addition, he raised Masters Mate Fletcher Christian to the rank of acting lieutenant so that he could oversee one of the watches. The delay off Cape Horn led to a five-month delay in Tahiti, as they had to wait for the breadfruit trees to mature enough to transport. Over this period, naval discipline began to break down as the crew took native wives and enjoyed the islands warm sun. At one point, three crewmen attempted to desert but were captured. Though they were punished, it was less severe than recommended. Mutiny In addition to the behavior of the crew, several of the senior warrant officers, such as the boatswain and sailmaker, were negligent in their duties. On April 4, 1789, Bounty departed Tahiti, much to the displeasure of many of the crew. On the night of April 28, Fletcher Christian and 18 of the crew surprised and bound Bligh in his cabin. Dragging him on deck, Christian bloodlessly took control of the ship despite the fact that most of the crew sided with the captain. Bligh and 18 loyalists were forced over the side into Bountys cutter and given a sextant, four cutlasses, and several days food and water. Voyage to Timor As Bounty turned to return to Tahiti, Bligh set course for the nearest European outpost at Timor. Though dangerously overloaded, Bligh succeeded in sailing the cutter first to Tofua for supplies, then on to Timor. After sailing 3,618 miles, Bligh arrived at Timor after a 47-day voyage. Only one man was lost during the ordeal when he was killed by natives on Tofua. Moving on to Batavia, Bligh was able to secure transport back to England. In October 1790, Bligh was honorably acquitted for the loss of Bounty and records show him to have been a compassionate commander who frequently spared the lash. Subsequent Career In 1791, Bligh returned to Tahiti aboard HMS Providence to complete the breadfruit mission. The plants were successfully delivered to the Caribbean without any trouble. Five years later, Bligh was promoted to captain and given command of HMS Director. While aboard, his crew mutinied as part of the greater Spithead and Nore mutinies which occurred over the Royal Navys handling of pay and prize money. Standing by his crew, Bligh was commended by both sides for his handling of the situation. In October of that year, Bligh commanded Director at the Battle of Camperdown and successfully fought three Dutch ships at once. Leaving Director, Bligh was given HMS Glatton. Participating in the 1801 Battle of Copenhagen, Bligh played a key role when he elected to continue flying Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelsons signal for battle rather than hoisting Admiral Sir Hyde Parkers signal to break off the fight. In 1805, Bligh was made governor of New South Wales (Australia) and tasked with ending the illegal rum trade in the area. Arriving in Australia, he made enemies of the army and several of the locals by fighting the rum trade and aiding distressed farmers. This discontent led to Bligh being deposed in the 1808 Rum Rebellion. Death After spending over a year collecting evidence, he returned home in 1810  and was vindicated by the government. Promoted to rear admiral in 1810, and vice-admiral fours years later, Bligh never held another sea command. He died while visiting his doctor on Bond Street in London on December 7, 1817. Sources Alexander, Caroline. The Bounty: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty. New York: Penguin Books, 2003.Bligh, William and Edward Christian. The Bounty Mutiny. New York: Penguin, 2001.Daly, Gerald J. Captain William Bligh in Dublin, 1800-1801. Dublin Historical Record 44.1 (1991): 20–33. OMara, Richard. â€Å"Voyages of the Bounty.† The Sewanee Review 115.3 (2007):462–469.  Salmond, Anne. Bligh: William Bligh in the South Seas. Santa Barbara: University of California Press, 2011.

Problems Analysis and Solutions for Akiko Sushi Bar Research Paper

Problems Analysis and Solutions for Akiko Sushi Bar - Research Paper Example Given the high competition in the food industry, it is important that the bar implement the best practices in the industry. Akiko Sushi bar is small eatery, with one waitress and a chef. The main problem facing the bar is the quality of its services. The bar has about three tables and a few seats and hence the customers that visit the bar expect personalized service. However, contrary to their expectation, the services are not personalized, and this has left many of them dissatisfied with the quality of the service. Some of the customers have opted never to visit the bar again. The project attempts to understand why there are poor services in the bar, and how to improve the services. In particular, the research project will look at how the staff can handle the customers professionally, and how to reduce the time that lapses before a customer is served. The project will be of great benefit to the bar, as its recommendation will enable the bar to compete with other eateries in the area. The bar is facing a problem of the poor services. Data from the customers is required to enable the research understand why the bar services are poor and how to improve them. The research project needed to analysis the customers’ experiences when they visit the bar and look at how customers rate the services. The research project used data from the Yelp website (www.yelp.com). The yelp website offers a customer the ability to write a review of a business services and rate them. The customer can rate the services on a scale of one to five, with five being the best rating. Moreover, the rating and reviews can be done by elite members, and this improves the credibility of the data provided by the website. The data was grouped into two; i.e., the rating and reviews. The rating was from 304 people, which gave a good sample for the research. The reviews offered insight on why the customers regarded the services to be poor. The customers explained what they experienced in the bar.

Civil Liability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Civil Liability - Essay Example Without an adequately stated cause of action the plaintiff's case can be dismissed at the outset. It is not sufficient merely to state that certain events occurred that entitle the plaintiff to relief. All the elements of each cause of action must be detailed in the complaint. The claims must be supported by the facts, the law, and a conclusion that flows from the application of the law to those facts.2 To prove a cause of action for negligence, you need to prove the four elements of the tort. The four elements of a tort are the following: a) the existence of a legal duty owed by a person to others which is usually provided by common or statutory laws; b) the breach of the duty by one person (or the negligence itself); c) the breach of the duty being the proximate cause of damages suffered by a person; and, d) damages incurred by a person. In a car accident for example, you need to prove the following to hold the driver who caused the crash liable for negligence; a duty to operate the vehicle properly, that they breached that duty by driving improperly, that the breach of the duty by the offending driver caused the accident; and, that the person was damaged by the accident, in the form of injuries.3 In general, a party who has caused an injury or loss to another as a consequence of his negligence is responsible for all the consequences.4 The usual penalty for negligence is the payment of damages. Damages, in a legal sense, are the sum of money the law imposes for a breach of some duty or violation of some right.5 It place a monetary value on harm done following the principle of restitution in interim (Lain term for "restoration to the original condition. Thus, for most purposes connected with the quantification of damages, the degree of culpability in the breach of the duty is irrelevant. Once the breach of duty is established, the only requirement is to compensate the victim. One main test that is posed when deliberating whether a defendant is entitled for damages is the "reasonable person" test. This answers the question: would a reasonable person (to be determined by a judge or a jury) be damaged by the breach of duty This test is important in deciding whether or not a defen dant is entitled to compensation for negligence or tort. Generally, there are two types of damages: compensatory and punitive. The term "damages" typically includes categories, but the term "actual damages" is synonymous with compensatory damages, and excludes punitive damages. Compensatory damages, like the name suggests, are intended to compensate the injured party for his loss or injury. This may include past and future economic losses, including medical expenses and loss of wages, and general damages such as such as pain, suffering, and mental anguish.6 Each of the four elements of a tort typically must be present to be compensated. Slip and Fall Accident A typical source of cause of action because of negligence in the United Kingdom is the slip and fall accident. This happens when a person slips and falls over a private or public property because of the wet, rough, or oily floor or due to the dangerous condition of the place that resulted to injury. It is normal to slip and fall, however, if the accident was caused by negligence of the property owner (or occupier), then he can be held liable for the injuries sustained by a person, whether the victim is an expected

MARKETING Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

MARKETING - Term Paper Example 24 to 32 km/hr. It has been apparently observed that the usage of e-bikes has been increased drastically in recent business context. This is owing to the reason that e-bikes deliver extreme mobility as well as health benefits to the disable or older people. Moreover, the e-bikes have become a better substitute for cars that is quite cost-efficient as well as effective. It has been viewed that the business market of e-bikes is growing tremendously in Australia that is mostly used by the youths, older people and retirees among others as an effective transportation system. With regard to determine the current market situation in Australia, it has been viewed that the regulatory authorities belonging to Australia have challenged towards the execution of e-bikes. It is obvious to the fact that e-bikes consume considerable portion of energy in comparison with any conventional bike (Electric Vehicles Pty Ltd., 2010). Market Description With regard to determine the market situation of e-bikes in Australia, it has been viewed that the growth rate of the usage of bicycles amid the people aged 9 and above has been recorded to 37.5% which is quite less as compared to previous 25 years. Moreover, it has also been observed that the intensification of bicycle trips has reached to a level of 20.9% which is nearly a third of population growth in Australia (Scribeworks, 2011). On the basis of the above discussion, it can be stated that Stealth Electric Bicycle should introduce its broad assortment of products in the business market of New South Wales and Queensland in Australia concerning the market situation of e-bikes and presence of the chief market competitors. Product Review The different products of Stealth Electric Bicycles can be reviewed by focusing upon certain important dimensions that include Frame, Motor, Transmission and Front Suspension. Frame One of the products of Stealth Electric Bicycles is Fighter Electric Bike which is improved by alertness and of less weight in structure. Accordingly, the frame is smaller and less heavy in comparison to other products like Bomber. The Fighter electric bikes also claim a less weight in swing and torque arms with adaptable wheelbase for comfortable riding (Stealth Electric Bikes USA, 2011) Motor The company manufactures the DC hub brushless motor having only a single stirring part which is between the m otor and the ground that facilitates control, efficiency and reliability without sound radiation (Stealth Electric Bikes USA, 2011) Transmission Pedal power of Fighter electric bikes is conducted through gearing interior support from bottom. gear shifting that provide a speed from low to high. The floating drive train eradicates the requirement of maintenance and provides less sound effects as well as increases efficiency of the pedal power (Stealth Electric Bikes USA, 2011) Front Suspension The company provides the facet of front suspension in all of its products especially for the riders who are adventurous. It aims to develop its customer base by introducing such quality features in its every product (Stealth Electric Bikes USA, 2011). Competitive Review The competitors in the markets of Australia relating to e-bikes are many. The competitors in the bicycle industry include Australian Electric Vehicles and Electric Bicycle Co. that provides ample competition in the market. It has been observed that Australian Electr

How Should our Society Assign Value to Human Life?

How Should our Society Assign Value to Human Life? Sample Student Essays The Value of Life Writing Assignment So far in this assignment sequence, we have heard a number of different voices giving insights into the value of life. Hamlets soliloquy offers an emotional, metaphor-laden glimpse into the thinking of a young man contemplating suicide. Lance Armstrongs autobiography uses storytelling from a first-person perspective to get across how the famed cyclist thinks about life. Amanda Ripleys article from Time magazine provides insight into the problems involved in translating the concept of valuing life from abstract terms into actual dollars and cents. The Human Life Value Calculator establishes specific criteria for assigning monetary value to a persons life. You might not fully agree or disagree with any of the texts essential claims about the value of life. This makes your voice an important contribution to this discussion about how we should value human life. Where do your ideas fit into the terrain mapped by the other texts we have read? Is it right to assign dollar values to a persons life? Do suffering and illness impact how we should value life? Assume that the audience for your piece consists of intelligent citizens interested in this issue-the same types of people, for instance, who would read Time magazine. As you write your essay, think about the different ways the authors we have read make their points about valuing life. Depending on the points you are trying to make, you might want to use some metaphors for life, as Hamlet does, or tell some stories the way Armstrong does. You may choose to include some words from people you interview, as Ripley does in her article, or you might even choose to establish some criteria for how human life should be calculated in monetary terms. As you construct your essay, make conscious choices about the ways you can represent your ideas to your reader. Be sure to refer to and cite the readings. You may also use examples from your personal experience or observations. The sample student essays that follow reflect the EPT Scoring Guides criteria. Sample student essay with a score of 6: The Value of Life Should people put the value of life into monetary value or should life be kept solely as an emotional quantity? People and societies throughout the ages have been trying to answer the problem of putting the value of life into terms of dollar bills. The ancient Egyptians buried their dead with all of their worldly belongings. They believed a persons monetary worth on Earth was over, and they should take all of that earthly worth with them to the afterlife. Modern day Americans are different from the Egyptians. Today people believe that the families of the dead should be compensated for their loss. It is true that life is a precious commodity much like a diamond. But unlike a diamond, life has no set monetary value. But todays government is trying to change that. After the tragedies of September 11, 2002, the federal government started a federal fund to help the victims and families of victims of the attacks. This fund would give priority to people who were injured in the attacks, then to the spouse, and then to the parents. Sounds great doesnt it? Your husband dies and now you just lost your income, and the government is going to pay you for your loss. Well dont jump on the bandwagon so fast now. This might sound great now, but once you are knee deep in the program, it wont be so fun. To figure out how much money a person will receive from this fund is determined by a multi-step process. First they figure out how much an individual would have earned had there been no attacks. This would mean that a bankers family would earn far more than the family of a janitor in the building s. Is it true that a banker is worth more to society than a janitor? Is a lawyer more important than a desk clerk? Then the fund adds $250,000 as a base cover, and then another $50,000 for a spouse and each child (Ripley 12). This would imply that a married man who has 6 kids in more important than a married man with no children at all. Is it more important in society to make babies than it is to just live your life? What about people who havent yet had a chance to start a family because their lives were cut so short? Now all that money sounds like a blessing, doesnt it? Well now that you have your foundation money, now you have to subtract the money you get from life insurance, pension, Social Security death benefits, and workers compensation. After these little subtractions, you now have the total that you are going to receive from the governments fund. Now you are going to be hit with new questions after all this, for example is a rich man with high life insurance, high pension, and no children worth less than a poor man with no life insurance, no job, and ten children (Ripley 13)? The answer to all these questions is no. The lives of all people should be valued at the same price, if you are to set a price at all. A rich man should be the same as a poor man; a woman with no children should have the same life value as a woman with seven kids. The point is that if the government is going to put a monetary value of a human life, than it should be the same for everyone. We hold these truths to self-evidence: that all men are created equal (King Jr.). There are many arguments against putting a money value on human life and two of the most impressive come from Alephonsion Deng and Lance Armstrong. Alephonsion Deng is one of the Sudanese Lost Boys. We crossed a thousand miles of war ravaged country without the hope of sanctuary. Bullets replaced food, medicine, shelter and my loving parents. I lived on wild vegetable, ate mud from Mother Earth, and drank urine from my own body (Deng 16). He had to walk across an entire country from refugee camp to refugee camp, always with the thought of death behind him. He didnt have the luxury of being able to go down to the grocery store when he ran out of food. He had to scavenge for what ever he could get his hands on. If Mr. Deng was asked about the governments 9/11 victims fund, which is set to put a monetary value on life, he would probably be outraged. After what he had been through he would probably say that it is impossible to turn something as valuable as life into terms of money. Lance Armstrong survived a long battle with cancer, and after this battle came out with a new outlook on life. When I was 25, I got testicular cancer and nearly died. I was given less than a 40 percent chance of surviving, and frankly, some of my doctors were just being kind when they gave me those odds (Armstrong 1). Before having the ordeal with cancer his out look on life was just live it fast, everything was fast for him. After surviving the unbeatable he came out with a brand new outlook on his value of life. He now preached that life can end very quickly and that everyone should live their lives to the fullest terms possible. If someone asked Lance Armstrong about the government trying to put life into terms of dollars, bills, he would have a heart attack. Much like Mr. Deng, he would think that life is precious and the government should not demean it by trying to bring money into the same picture frame as life. Should life be put into monetary values? The answer is no. Life is way too precious of a commodity to put into terms of money. People who have been on the brink of death would all say that you cannot put a value on the natural high that is known as life. To go back to an earlier metaphor, life truly is like the most precious and valuable of gems. They are similar in rareness and beauty, but are different in the fact that gems have a set money value, but life is a lot more stupendous than any gem on Earth. That is why life doesnt have a monetary value and never should. Work Cited Armstrong, Lance, and Sally Jenkins. Its Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to life. New York: Penguin Putnam, 2001. Deng, Alephonsion. I have Had to Learn to Live With Peace. Newsweek 31 October 2005: 16. King, Jr., Martin Luther. I Have A Dream. Mephis Educational Computer Connectivity Alliance. 11/21/05. http://www.mecca.org/~crights/dream.html. Ripley, Amanda. What is Life Worth? Time December 2002: 12-13. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992. Unknown, Human Life Value Calculator. Life and Insurance Foundation for Education. November 14, 2005ÂÂ   http://www.life-line.org/life_human.html. Commentary This essay illustrates the EPT Scoring Guides criteria for a score of 6. The superior response indicates that the writer is very well prepared to handle college-level reading and writing. Because this prompt asks for an edited (that is, revised and polished) essay, student papers should reflect the appropriate degree of organization, content, and editing. The writer addresses the entire topic and responds fully to all aspects of the prompt. The writer demonstrates a thorough critical understanding of the readings by incorporating them into the argument and by quoting them extensively, accurately, and, generally, in correct MLA format; occasional dropped in quotations indicate that the writer has not yet fully mastered this process. The writer uses rhetorical questions to undercut the assumptions made by sources with whose opinions the writer disagrees; rhetorical questions are occasionally overused, but the writer attempts to mitigate them with details from the reading. The writer has a smooth and easy writers voice, addressing the reader directly and confidently. The essay uses a sophisticated inductive strategy, marshaling evidence first and saving the conclusions for later. The essay remains focused throughout. The essay makes use of source material beyond the readings; it also ties different types of support material together nicely. The writer avoids a formulaic essay approach and brings the reader full circle at the end by returning to the opening idea (the gem). Errors are rare and do not detract from meaning. Sample student essay with a score of 5: The Value of Life People often question how we should measure the value of life. Can life be calculated into dollars and cents? Should ones value be determined by their lifes accomplishments? Or does the value of ones life depend solely upon how much that individual embraces and loves their existence? In my personal experience I have found the latter to be true. Life is given value and meaning by one enjoying and accepting it. Someone once said You should not fear death, but fear the unlived life. This means that one should not fear the end of a journey, but enjoy the trip. To me this is absolutely true. Why should we spend our time fearing the inevitable? We are given only a few short years to experience the world, friendships, loves, and losses. Even the bad experiences teach us to appreciate the good ones. This doesnt mean we should all go out and be terrible people just so we will appreciate our good experiences, but rather that we should learn from our mistakes. Lance Armstrongs view of life is similar to this; he says that sometimes life is fun, and great, and other times it is horrible, but whether good or bad our experiences make us stronger people. It is these experiences which give our lives meaning. Meaning and value however, are completely different issues. So how can the value of ones entire life and worth be translated into monetary values? The people at most life insurance companies will tell you it is a simple mathematical process based on age, physical health, and income. Subtract $1000 for every year over 40, subtract for any diseases, or illnesses, add 50 times their yearly income and voila! Youll have the value of anyones life calculated in an instant! Unfortunately, this process cannot be applied to memories and experiences. You cant subtract points for every bad experience, lost love, and abandoned friendship and even the bad memories are carried around with us forever. Amanda Ripleys article, from TIME magazine, outlines, some of the problems with calculating the monetary value of life. Many people view the amount of money they receive as a measure of their loved ones value, which creates problems for the people who have to award the money. Calculating the value of l ife in dollar worth can be a complicated issue involving tough emotional and moral dilemmas. Value is something which each individual assigns to their life depending on how much meaning it has to them self and others. A life is not a self contained object; it is a network which is shared with others. All people have value not just to themselves but to others as well. If you died tomorrow you entire network of friends and family would surely mourn for you. All of the people whose lives you have touched would mourn for you. In Hamlets soliloquy, he neglected to consider what effect his life had on his family and friends. Everyone whether they realize it or not, has some kind of effect on the people around them. Hamlet thought of his own life as worthless and thought everyone else did too. Lifes value cannot be determined by dollar value, popularity or even by ones accomplishments. If one doesnt value life them self then they will be unhappy therefore making people around them unhappy. People must depend on themselves to make their lives valuable and meaningful. Ultimately it is peoples own ability and willingness to value life which gives them worth. Bibliography Armstrong, Lance, and Sally Jenkins. Itss Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to life. New York: Penguin Putnam, 2001. Ripley, Amanda. What is Life Worth? Time December 2002: 12-13. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992. Unknown, Human Life Value Calculator. Life and Insurance Foundation for Education. November 14, 2005 http://www.life-line.org/life_human.html. Commentary This essay illustrates the EPT Scoring Guides criteria for a score of 5. The clear competence of the essay indicates that this writer is quite ready to handle college-level reading and writing. Because this prompt asks for an edited (that is, revised and polished) essay, student papers should reflect the appropriate degree of organization, content, and editing. The essay thoroughly addresses the prompt and raises the pertinent question of the difference between value and money. The writer remains focused throughout the essay, offers a clear thesis about enjoyment and acceptance, and pursues that thesis throughout the supporting paragraphs. The writer uses transitions to guide the reader, such as the sentence that ends the second paragraph, It is these experiences which give our lives meaning, which transitions to the opening sentence of the third paragraph, Meaning and value however, are completely different issues. Occasional shifts in diction (for example, one in first paragraph, to we in the second, to you in third) are distracting; the essay mainly uses a conversational tone that works very well for this writer. The writer makes a lovely case in the fourth paragraph for life as a network rather than a self-contained object. The essays second half begins to repeat itself, particularly in the final two paragraphs, although the writer attempts to mitigate this repetition by using the Hamlet example. Errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics are minor; the writer could use some practice with commas. Sample student essay with a score of 4: The Value of Life The value of life. What is it exactly? We will never know the true definition of the value of life because there are so many different perspectives in this world and everyone will think their perspective is right. According to the Human Life Calculator, our value is based on the amount of money we will make in our lives and nothing more. It depends on the money we make, how many children we have, and how much we spend on ourselves each month. Some people find it fair to actually compare the value of life to the dollar amount they are worth. They might even look into it so much that people choose their partner according to their monetary values and not the emotional attachment. There are many people like that these days that only worry about money and what society thinks of them instead of wanted to be truly happy. I dont agree with the Human Life Value Calculator what so ever. No persons life should be estimated on their monetary worth. It should go deeper then that. It all depends on how they want to live there life and if they think they live it to the fullest. If they live it to only become rich and die rich then so be it that is their own personal value. But to assume that every person values their life that way is completely and utterly wrong When it comes to Hamlet, he wonders if there is even a value to life. To be, or not to be-that is the question: that is his main issue throughout the entire play. He pretty much loses everything that means anything to him in his life so he cant help but wonder if there is even a point anymore. Anything he truly valued, such as his father and Ophelia, was taken from him. He has nothing to value so why should he question the value of life? Life has many hardships no matter who you are, even if you are Hamlet. It still has a value to it. It teaches you to value you what you have because you never know when or they may not be there. Lance Armstrong is a whole different story. He looks at life in such a positive perspective now unlike before. Unlike many people, he was given a second chance to live his life. He values every single thing because he never knows when it will be his time to go. He was luck the first time but no one know if he will be next time, if there is a next time. He learned the hard way not to take life for granted but to take advantage of it and live everyday as though it were your last. Not everyone is as lucky as Lance Armstrong. He now realizes how valuable his life and everyone in it is but thats because he was given a second chance. There are so many people out there who wish they would have realized how valuable everything was before it was too late because they didnt get that second chance. We may not realize it until it happens but when we or a loved one goes through suffering or illness it truly impacts how we value life. It makes us face the reality that not everyday is guaranteed and people will not stay with us forever no matter how much we wish they would. I think, as a society, we should value life not by how much money we have or how much we are worth but by how much we enjoy life and everyone in it. It shouldnt take the death of a loved one for us to realize everyday is valuable. We should wake up everyday realizing its a new day and be thankful for it. Im not saying to wake up and say today might be my last but realize it, embrace it. Take nothing fro granted and live everyday to its fullest. If you love someone then tell them. If you want to start a business then do what it take to start one. Do whatever you have to so that when you leave this world you are happy with who you are and what you accomplished. Dont expect to have no regrets or make no mistakes because those are what helped to form you to the person you become over time. I admit I am far fro perfect but that is what makes me and I am happy with myself. I love my life and everyone in it who helps to form it. I wouldnt take anything back or do anything over because if I did I wouldnt be the intelligent, free spirited, young woman I am today. I value my life to the fullest and it will never be based on money or praying to be given a second change because I didnt live it right the first time. Works Cited Armstrong, Lance and Sally Jenkins. Its Not About The Bike: My Journey Back To Life.New York: Berkley Trade, 1991. Human Life Value Calculator Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Alan Durband. London: Hutchinson and Co., 1986. Commentary This essay illustrates the EPT Scoring Guides criteria for a score of 4; however, it is a strong 4. This adequate response to the topic suggests that the writer should be able to handle college-level reading and writing. Because this prompt asks for an edited (that is, revised and polished) essay, student papers should reflect the appropriate degree of organization, content, and editing. The essay is a classic befuddling 4 paper; it wobbles between a 5 paper and a 3 paper, never really settling in either camp. The writer opens with a rhetorical question and then moves quickly to a clear, if simplistic, thesis. The writer attempts to integrate the readings by including supporting detail, although the essay offers only a single direct quotation. The works cited list provides a quasi-MLA format for sources. The logic in the third paragraph fails to persuade; the writer opens by showing Hamlet questioning lifes value and then closes with the question, He has nothing to value so why should he question the value of life? The essay is somewhat repetitive, restating the idea of personal satisfaction as the best gauge of lifes value. The essay lacks transitions in general, although the opening sentence of the penultimate paragraph, Not everyone is as lucky as Lance Armstrong, is an exception. The writer opens each paragraph with a statement that focuses on the reading; however, the second half of each paragraph, which features the writers own experience and opinions, generally becomes repetitive, rambles, or offers a cliched conclusion. The writer struggles with usage (than/then, there/their, everyday/every day), mechanics (especially punctuation), and grammar, although such instances do not greatly detract from meaning; the shifts in person in paragraph six, however, are quite distracting. Sample student essay with a score of 3: Extreme Life What is life? I dont know, but I know it is full of obstacles. Sometimes they are small, sometimes they arent. I dont think there is a point to it, but who knows? Another thing I know, everybody dies at the end, so why wont people live it to the maxim instead of just sitting on their bums and doing nothing, Being alive to me is to experience new adventures and to have fun. Life is worth living for as long as you can. As Lance Armstrong said, I want to die at a hundred years old with an American Flag on my back on the star of Texas on my helmet. It is very fun living out to your maximum, doing extreme sports like bungi jumping. I think that life should be extreme. It is also nice to come back home to someone who loves you and cares about you. I love food; I think its another great thing to spend time with friends, especially when you can dig in and pig out. Its nice to have friends that are there for you when you have problems, and you know that they will help you out. Life is just a great things, but it doesnt always feel like it. To be or not to be is Hamlets famous quote. I bet every single person on earth has come to this decision. Besides the great things in life, you come across difficulties. For example losing the loved one. I think that hurts the most. Another thing is when you dont feel loved or accepted. Thats when people come out of their limit and start doing bad stuff like drugs. When it gets really out of hand, they try to commit suicide. I believe that anybody who tried it or attempts suicide it are failures in life. As Lance Armstrong said, Why dont we all just stop and lie down where we are? what is we just do it? Its just an easy way out of life, escaping all the obstacles and pain. There is a lot of it. You friend can stab you in the back, your family member can die, there are just too many to name. You should just love life enough to struggle through the painful times. Why would I want to change, even for a day, the most important and shaping event in my life? Lance Armstrongs words. Express how I feel. I would not give me life up for anything. I have made many of bad mistakes that I should not have done, but those mistakes make me the person I am today. I wouldnt want to look or be any different than I am right now. I love my life, and I hope everyone else does too because its the only one weve got. You will have to start loving it or that only one wont be a good one. Commentary This essay illustrates the EPT Scoring Guides criteria for a score of 3. Although the essay suggests developing competence, it is flawed in significant ways that suggest the writer needs additional practice before being able to succeed in college-level reading and writing. Because this prompt asks for an edited (that is, revised and polished) essay, student papers should reflect the appropriate degree of organization, content, and editing. The essay responds to the prompt at the opening, although it moves away from the prompt later. The writer attempts to define life itself rather than discuss the value of life. The writer offers a thesis about adventures and fun but does little to offer support for that thesis. The essays paragraphs, although short, are overworked in that they contain several ideas competing for space; the essay does not attempt to separate paragraphs into discrete ideas. The paragraph about eating and hanging out with friends struggles with logic, perhaps because the writer is still trying to connect the evidence to the thesis; by the third paragraph, the writer seems willing to move away from the thesis completely. The opening of the third paragraph (To be or not to be is Hamlets famous quote. I bet every single person on earth has come to this decision) makes neither logical nor rhetorical sense. The writer attempts to quote texts directly but lacks the skill to incorporate quoted material properly. The writer shows a limited syntactic repertoire; the first paragraph, for example, contains four rhetorical questions out of six sentences. Errors of grammar, usage, and mechanics accumulate to detract from meaning; there are several missing apostrophes and fragments (see the second sentence of the final paragraph, for example). Sample student essay with a score of 2: Value of Life This is a question that runs through everybodys mind. What would somebody pay for a life? What would you do if your life ended tomorrow? Would you tell someone that you cared about the most that you loved them? What would you do for your final hours? How do you think the people aboard the 9/11 plane attack felt as soon as they knew that they werent going to see their families anymore? These questions are all very goods questions but the most important one is Have you been living the life that you wanted to live? Humans always follow others ways of posture and ways of thinking. People picking up laughs, looks, even the way they think about other people. Think of it this wayif someone put a gun to year head and they said, Give me three reasons why I should not pull this trigger? What would you say? It might sound like a harsh, blunt question but if you think about it. where you living your life to the fullest? Posers always get on everybodys nerves. They are going to look back on their lives and think what they did was really stupid. Their values of life are following somebodys elses footstep, following others stories, what they like, dont like because they cant think for themselves. They rely on other people to make their decisions for them. The final thought is the toughest thought of all. Things all bundled up inside your head. The only thing to realize is that people dont make you who you are. You make the decisions that will lead your life, the rest of your life. What would your family get if you died? Tack on an extra $50,000 in pain and suffering for a spouse and for each child. Thats what you would get. Now think to yourself, are you living your life to the fullest, what you think is good? Ripley, Amanda. What is a life worth? Time: 11 Feb. 2002. Commentary This essay illustrates the EPT Scoring Guides criteria for a score of 2. The serious flaws here indicate that this writer will need considerable additional practice before being able to succeed in college-level reading and writing. Because this prompt asks for an edited (that is, revised and polished) essay, student papers should reflect the appropriate degree of organization, content, and editing. The essay opens with a statement about questions, followed by six rhetorical questions in a row. The writer seriously overuses the questioning strategy, with three additional questions in the second paragraph and two in the fourth (concluding) paragraph; the essay itself finishes with a question. The essay neglects the prompt; it discusses values rather than the value of life. The final paragraph attempts to approach the prompt by quoting Ripley (although the writer does not attribute the quoted material), but the quotation is ineffectively dropped into the concluding text. The essay does not demonstrate any discernible organizational strategy. Some sentences make no sense at all, such as People picking up laughs, looks, even the way they think about other people. Errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics are present but not all that profound; lack of logic and content is the issue with this essay. Sample student essay with a score of 1: The Value of Life People put a money aspect on people for example, when people have money then we need them, we dont even care about anyone unless they have money. When disaters like sunamis happen, people want to find there family but dont understand the water infected and no one nos whats happening to any one any where. Katrina for example. They (the army) use colors were dead are, yellow were sick are, green x marking the spot were people who are worth saving were. We help people every where in the world but no our own people, to save them, even the army was there making every one get out of there house if they wanted to or not, they might get shot if not. People have always come here to make a new lives and this is what happens? Its way messed up. Is this how to value people? Shakespeare new how bad life can be. To be or not to be said Hamlet who thought not. We have to find out a way to help and over come what might happen next so every one is not so discouraged because money is not the answer or stocks or bonds or jewelers but only love. Commentary This essay illustrates the EPT Scoring Guides criteria for a score of 1. The fundamental deficiencies here indicate that this writer will need a great deal of additional practice before being