Spring 2012

Achieving Diplomatic Goals through Humanitarian Means

Directly after World War II, programs such as the Marshall Plan served not only as a response to the humanitarian needs of crippled European nations, but also as a means of stabilizing economies and governments. These measures made European nations, “as a national security measure,” more resistant to communism (Atwood, Shleifer 381).

Balancing the Learning Equilibrium: To Reform the Educational Reform

Audience Analysis

Political Policy in the Reform of Sustainable Technologies

When it comes to the topic of sustainable energy, experts will readily agree that it is a pertinent discussion in today’s climate crisis. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is in the question of how it should be funded and paid for.

America Must Find Alternative Fuel Sources

Audience Analysis

The Ocean of Narcissus: Technology, Social Media, and Expression

Under the claxon call of the school-ending bell, my hand finally gave way. A long graphite streak was cut into the illegible gibberish of my English essay. As the rest of my fellow freshmen filed out to freedom, I remained behind to nurse my wounds. The problem lay not with the prompt, but with my palms. Even a writer with sublime rhetoric can be thwarted by the mutiny of peripheral neuropathy.

Projection, Empathy, and Propagation

Dot. Dot. Dot. My classmate’s examination paper was scattered on her desk, pencil tapping on a barren sheet.  Glancing up briefly from my work, I managed to catch her staring out of the classroom window, pencil revolving absentmindedly around her fingers. Briefly bemused, I suppressed the smirk that had spread across my face and returned my focus to the exam.

The Battle Over Manned Spaceflight

Rhetorical Situation

Beginning with John F. Kennedy’s historic goal of sending a man to the Moon, the United States began a rigorous space program in the formation of NASA. On July 20, 1969, the world watched anxiously as astronaut Neil Armstrong took the first human step on the Moon, fulfilling Kennedy’s fated words. Ever since, both the field of space exploration and humans’ understanding of the universe have expanded greatly.

The Role of Social Media in the January 2011 Egyptian Protests

The Egyptian protest movement of January 2011 has been called a “Facebook Revolt” (Giglio 1) and “A multi-media uprising” (Aljazeera).  Almost every day, news media churned out articles describing the influence of Facebook and Twitter on the protests.  “Since the rise of the Internet in the early 1990’s, the world’s networked population has grown from the low millions to the low billions” (Shirky 13).

To Assimilate or to Acculturate?

The United States of America has always been seen as a safe haven of opportunity. For this reason, many immigrants flock to this country in search for new beginnings and better lives. With this belief, when I was two, my family moved to the U.S. from India. My parents were the first of their generation to immigrate to America. Thus, they faced immense pressure getting accustomed to the new land.

Addressing Autism

Audience Analysis

American Security: Triumphs And Downfalls Of The Patriot Act

How is it that American citizens have supported, and even allowed the passing of, legislature that ignores the fourth amendment to the U.S. Constitution? The Patriot Act, originally passed in October 2001, is one of the most controversial topics regarding American citizens’ privacy and security. The Patriot Act has elevated the investigatory power of our nation’s government to a record high. While this legislation directly contradicts the fourth amendment, it has saved many lives.

Innate or Conditioned: Why So Few Women in STEM?

RHETORICAL SITUATION

In this paper I will discuss the low numbers of women entering and remaining in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The main focus will be the two most discussed opinions as to causes of this underrepresentation:  one being personal choice and the other conditioning, via early socialization and gender bias. Through experience, research, and testimonials, I will argue that the latter is the true cause.

The Danish Approach to Beating Homelessness

Imagine that you’re walking on the streets of New York City and you see a man curled up next to the curb. Although the temperature outside is well over eighty degrees, the man is bundled up with layer upon layer. You notice that most people pass him by with just one glance, probably feeling disturbed for a moment or two, and then they continue on with their day. However, some people stop and make an effort to pull out the change in their back pocket and throw it in the paper cup next to him.

The Ineffectiveness of Foreign Aid

America became known for foreign aid projects directly after World War II. These projects were meant to rebuild the economies of foreign nations that had collapsed after the war, in an effort to strengthen them against the influence of communism (Shleifer 381).

U.S.S. Privacy

Cardboard and duct tape.  Yes, cardboard and duct tape are currently holding my life in their hands.  Unfortunately, neither of them is known for having particularly strong hands.  Or any hands at all.  Thus, my predicament at the moment is likely not anyone’s ideal.  A corrugated cardboard box, which once held the 27-inch Samsung television now sitting on my bedroom dresser, is my punctured raft.