Friday, May 23, 2008

Persuasion Essay Final Copy

In 2003, the country of Iraq was assaulted by U.S. troops. The reason for this was because our government claimed that Saddam Hussein was holding weapons of mass destruction. So far, no such weapons have been found and we have every reason to believe that the government made up this idea. Today, most do not approve of our president’s false statements about our situation in the Middle East. It is clear that the only reason the United States is involved with the conflict in Iraq is because of our need for oil.

Vice President Dick Cheney stated this, “Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us.” Because no weapons have actually been found, it makes the citizens of the U.S. wonder whether or not we are really there to stop the Middle East from using them.

President George W. Bush’s father ran a successful military plan called desert storm in the past. There is no doubt that our president is trying to carry out the same successful conflict. If one were to think of this, there is no reason to carry out a pointless attack such as this just for the sake of one man. This leads people to think that the conflict in Iraq is to claim oil for our own.

As the gas prices rise, we need more and more oil. Currently, our country is in one of the biggest (if not the biggest) needs for fuel. Since we are the only ones with that great of a need, and holding an oil rich country, it is very suspicious for an onlooker to see. Unfortunately, one can never know for sure what the government is thinking. Perhaps some good has come out of this conflict.

Apart from taking oil, the good thing that has come out of this struggle is capturing Saddam Hussein. He has performed many acts that are commonly looked down upon in the U.S. Women in Iraq were treated as if they served little to no purpose in life. Along with that, he punished all who stood before him. Although the main reason many think we went to Iraq was for oil, one good thing that came out of this was stopping Saddam Hussein’s tyranny over his country.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

persuasion rough draft

In 2003, the country of Iraq was assaulted by U.S. troops. The reason for this was because our government claimed that Saddam Hussein was holding weapons of mass destruction. So far, no such weapons have been found and we have every reason to believe that the government made up this idea. Today, most do not approve of our president’s false statements about our situation in the Middle East. It is clear that the only reason the United States is involved with the conflict in Iraq is because of our need for oil.

Vice President Dick Cheney stated this, “Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us.” Because no weapons have actually been found, it makes the citizens of the U.S. wonder whether or not we are really there to stop the Middle East from using them.

President George W. Bush’s father ran a successful military plan called desert storm in the past. There is no doubt that our president is trying to carry out the same successful conflict. If one were to think of this, there is no reason to carry out a pointless attack such as this just for the sake of one man. This leads people to think that the conflict in Iraq is to claim oil for our own.

As the gas prices rise, we need more and more oil. Currently, our country is in one of the biggest (if not the biggest) needs for fuel. Since we are the only ones with that great of a need, and holding an oil rich country, it is very suspicious for an onlooker to see. Unfortunately, one can never know for sure what the government is thinking. Perhaps some good has come out of this conflict.

Apart from taking oil, the good thing that has come out of this struggle is capturing Saddam Hussein. He has performed many acts that are commonly looked down upon in the U.S. Women in Iraq were treated as if they served little to no purpose in life. Along with that, he punished all who stood before him. Although the main reason many think we went to Iraq was for oil, one good thing that came out of this was stopping Saddam Hussein’s tyranny over his country.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

persuasion essay thesis

It is clear that the only reason the United States is involved with the conflict in Iraq is because of our need for oil.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

persuasion essay citation

"Bringing the Federal Budget Home." National Priorities Project. 23 May 2008 .

"IVAV Updates." Iraq Veterans Against the War. 23 May 2008 .

"President Bush Discusses Iraq." The White House. 23 May 2008 .

Walsh, Kenneth T. "Bush Vows to Stay the Course in Iraq; The Big Cheney Shrug-Off; Democratic Race Turning Into A Schoolyard Squabble; PHOTO OP: 11:15 a.m., March 25, Olathe, Kan." U.S. News & World Report 144.10 (April 7, 2008): 16. Professional Collection. Gale. Marshall Sr. High Library. 23 May 2008 .

Friday, May 9, 2008

cause and effect essay

Global warming is supposedly the largest problem on the face of this earth today. Each day, we are putting more and more carbon into the atmosphere causing the temperature of the earth to slowly increase. As these gases build up, it makes it harder for the earth to release the heat built up from the sun. Eventually, the ice caps from the north will start to melt, causing major flooding. This wasn’t much of a problem in the past, but now we are to blame for this catastrophe.

We have recently passed the point of no return for this issue. Those who have studied global warming have warned us against adding to the greenhouse gases that are destroying our environment. Since the United States and several other countries fail to realize the significance of this issue, the gases will continue to build up, and global warming is inevitable.

It is no doubt that we face the biggest threat of our lifetime. Once the process of global warming is complete, it will possibly turn into another ice age. Each country needs to join as one in order to slow this process down and to reduce the damage it may cause. The future of this world depends on us.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is of most importance when it comes to education and the work force. Each decision we make whether it's choosing the right answer on a test, or choosing a career to get into, always involves thinking critically. Not being able to do so may result in poor decisions being made.

In my life, I only think critically in school because I don't have a job. Whenever I take a test I have to really think back to what I've learned in order to come up with the correct answer. If a class is too easy, I'm not thinking critically. As a result, I'm not learning anything. Once I'm through with college and I want to choose a career to get into, I'll have to think critically about which areas I'm skilled in. If I simply choose one based on how much money I'll get, I may end up regretting the decision I made if I turn out to be unhappy in the end.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Thinking essay

"According to Kant, thinking is 'talking with oneself...hence also inwardly listening'". This is a quote from Hannah Arendt from Volume 1 of The Life of the Mind. Looking deeper into this quote, in order to think, we must communicate and listen to ourselves at the same time. I agree with this essay. Not in the sense that I sit at my house and talk to myself, but for the fact that in order to make a decision, I have to have words going through my mind. Because of this, thinking is indeed the process of communicating and listening to yourself.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Excellence Essay

"No man ever reached excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation". This is a quote from an ancient Roman poet named Horace. It tells you that excellence isn't just something that happens, but something that is acheived over time with hard work and effort. Because of the amount of work required to acheive excellence, some find it too difficult to obtain.


A real life experience I had related to acheiving excellence was my first 4.0 gpa. This happened in 7th grade, and it was the only 4.0 i've ever received up to date. The time I spent in 7th grade was mostly studying for my classes and reading books in my free time. Instead of being with friends every day like some people did, I was reading a textbook. This is a form of excellence because I put so much effort into getting an A in every class.

An article titled "Reading between the lies: a young reporter who stole and made up stories forces the New York Times to take stock" is an example of excellence written by Nancy Gibbs. An African American had been stealing other's stories and revising them to make them seem more interesting. His main goal was to acheive excellence through lies and deceit. Of course, this only worked until he was caught and his life was ruined. The lesson to be learned from this is not to cheat your way to acheive excellence.

Another example is from the story, Lord of the Rings. A halfling named Frodo Baggins was set off on a journey to destroy an evil ring of power. Before the temptation of this power totally consumed him, he was able to accomplish this task. Even though this job was brought up upon him by the work of others, he still acheived excellence and superiority over others. My point in this story is simply excellence can be obtained even when it is not necessarily wanted.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

what is education? works cited

Dead Poets Society. Dir. Peter Weir. Perf. Robin Williams. DVD. Touchstone Pictures, 1989.
Malcolm X, and Alex Haley. How I Discovered Words: a Homemade Education.
Twain, Mark. Two Ways of Seeing the River.

What is education?

What Is Education?

According to dictionary.com, “education is the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life”. In my perspective, education is learning anything on your own time, or in a school. The education I’ve received includes basic skills right after being born, and learning in schools once I turned 6. Malcolm X is a good example of a self-taught education, since he spent many years studying on his own in prison. An example of a forced education is from the movie, Dead Poets Society. Also, Mark Twain’s “Two ways of seeing a river” describes his point of view on learning. It is through these examples that we learn that education is really the knowledge gained by any means necessary.
In the short story, “How I Discovered Words: A Homemade Education” by Malcolm X, we learn a great deal about his lack of education in the English language. Every time he picked up a book to read, he had such a hard time understanding them that they “might as well have been in Chinese”. He began telling of a time when he was in the Norfolk Prison Colony. He spent day after day writing every single word from the dictionary onto tablets. Eventually after writing and reviewing, he finished writing his last word. Not only did he learn words, he also learned about important names in history. This is why Malcolm X describes the dictionary as being “like a miniature encyclopedia”. It was after he finished the words in the dictionary that he was able to pick up a book and actually understand what he was reading. To Malcolm X, the ability to read awoke “some long dormant craving to be mentally alive” inside of him. The things he learned on his own is a great example of how education could be.
In the movie, The Dead Poets Society, a story is told about a private school where everyone is restricted to the studies the school sets for them. The main character, Neil Perry, does really well in this school, but his interests lie in acting. It is his English teacher, Mr. Keating, who opens his mind and tells him to do things he wants to do. Neil’s father is completely against his wishes of becoming an actor and tries to force him to become a doctor. This causes many issues with Neil and he eventually takes his own life away. This is a prime example of how forcing someone to achieve a goal they don’t want may lead to health issues such as this.
Mark Twain describes how to learn more information by reading a book more than once in “Two ways of seeing a river”. In order to learn more information by reading the same book more than once, you must be able to see it from a different point of view. While reading a book, he was able to notice things that he didn’t realize before because of this strategy. Although this method of self-education does work, eventually he wouldn’t be able to learn anything new because there are only so many ways to read it.
Since education is the process of learning, it is by far the most important thing needed for growing up. Whether it is self-taught like Malcolm X or Mark Twain, or strict like The Dead Poets Society, all of us must follow through with it in order to function in society.

Monday, April 7, 2008

practice personal statement

Ever since the beginning of my senior year in 2007, I've been hearing about a place called arctic glacier. My friends would talk about working many hours there during the summer. This is when my interests turned to packing ice for a summer opportunity. Some may wonder why I chose this over a simpler job that doesn't require such a workout. The answer is that I simply enjoy lifting and I have no problem doing so even though many do.


I used to have a job that can relate to the one I am applying for this summer. When I worked at Hy-vee, I would always have to lift things and move them around. Also, I spent much of my time cleaning in the freezer. Because of this, I know what cold feels like in the work environment. I think this job has allowed me to develop many skills that would help me out with this new job. Some of them include dealing with continuous physical work, cooperating with co-workers, and being able to get things done in a timely manner.

I believe I have overcome difficulties in the past such as customer complaints. The best thing I could do was let them know that I was sorry for the inconvenience and that I would do everything I could to make things work for them. If I ever come across a situation at Arctic Glacier, I would do the same thing. I am aware of the importance of this job and I plan on taking it as seriously as though it were a matter of pass or fail. I hope I get the chance to be a part of the working environment and will do much to make it work out.

practice cover letter

153 Industrial ave.
Marshall, MN 56258
April 7, 2008




Mr. Rick Johnson
Employer
Arctic Glacier
Marshall, MN 56258


Dear Mr. Johnson:

I wrote this on behalf of the resume I sent along with this letter. I found this job from an article in the newspaper on April 2nd. I believe I do have the skills needed to haul ice to different places throughout the day. I lift weights every day and even my former job required much physical labor. Also, my former job has prepared me for cooperating with co-workers and perhaps customers I may face during this job. Since I think this job will be a great opportunity for what is to come in the future, I hope I would be honored to meet you for an interview some day.

Sincerely,
Spencer Thomas

Thursday, April 3, 2008

practice resume

Spencer R. Thomas

101 Lone Tree Ave., Marshall, MN 56258

(507) 530-2579







Objective: Summer job that helps prepare for college

Education: Senior at Marshall High School, Marshall, MN
GPA - 3.3


Activities
and Skills: Member of track and field freshman through junior year
-placed 10th in polevault at state meet
-placed 3rd in polevault at meet in Mankato



Work
Experience: Hy-vee kitchen, Marshall, MN. July 2006 - Sept
2007.
-washed dishes, the walls, the floor, and the ceiling.
-served food to customers
-fried foods

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

exercise 46: gather details for your resume

I go to the marshall high school in Marshall, MN

I expect to graduate in 2 months

What is unusual about my high school experience is that I had a bad start my freshman year, but by the time my senior year came, I am more than caught up. My special course of study would have to be Chemistry. It is what I intend to major in once i go to college.

I have not had any courses or training outside of high school. I would rather save it for the activities and skills section anyway.

I was involved in track "& field, and just about every band activity possible.

I have had one minimum wage job at Hy-vee food store in Marshall, MN. I worked in the kitchen.

exercise 45: state an objective; choose a job

For this job, I have had much experience in customer service, and I've had much interest in this type of work. Because of this, the job I am applying for will be my career for the rest of my life.

The job i have decided is a garbage truck driver.

Skills required: driving skills, resistance to strong odors, ability to lift approximately 50 pounds.
Skills/experiences i have: semi-resistance to strong odors, ablility to lift 50 lbs, lifting garbage bags every once in awhile in previous job.