Praying Mantis Sex and Cannibalism

Asking Mantis Sex and Cannibalism The female asking mantis is frequently painted as an insidious enchantress, a barbarian darling that baits guys nearer, just to eat them subsequent to mating. Is her notoriety merited? Does supplicating mantis sex consistently end in savagery of the male? Female Mantis Shaming or Truth? Gossipy tidbits about the asking mantis inhuman inclinations started when researchers watched their mating conduct in a lab situation. Entomologists would offer a hostage female a likely mate and would regularly be stunned to watch the female nibble the head or legs off the littler male-some of the time even before mating. After the male had filled his copulatory need, he didn't be anything in excess of a decent dinner for the female and her up and coming posterity. For quite a while, these perceptions of asking mantis sex in the lab were believed to be the status quo in the mantid world.â Considerably Less Common in the Wild After researchers began watching imploring mantis sex in a characteristic setting, the story had an alternate closure, which is useful for the guys. At the point when unconfined by research facility terrariums (and not starving), most of asking mantis mating closes with the male taking off safe. By most gauges, sexual barbarianism by supplicating mantis females happens under 30 percent of the time outside the lab. Those are preferred chances for the colleagues over what had been found in the lab. Asking mantis sex, it turns out, is actually a fairly sentimental arrangement of romance ceremonies and moves that regularly closes agreeably and securely for the two gatherings included. How Males Choose Females Given a decision between females, male imploring mantises will advance toward females seen as less forceful (i.e., ones they hadnt just observed eating another male) more frequently than the more forceful females. The guys additionally will in general want to mate with females that seem fatter and more very much took care of than others, as the skinnier and hungrier mantises are bound to eat their mates during or after sex. This could likewise highlight the guys being more pulled in to females that are more beneficial, for the advancement of their offspring.â Focal points of Beheading Your Mate There is a chosen advantage for the female on the off chance that she chooses to execute her darling. The asking mantis cerebrum, situated in his mind, controls hindrance, while a ganglion in the mid-region controls the movements of intercourse. Missing his head, a male asking mantis will lose every one of his hindrances and consummate his relationship with wild relinquish. Furthermore, imagine a scenario in which shes hungry. For certain, a moderate moving and purposeful predator like the asking mantis won't leave behind a simple supper. On the off chance that a male settles on the disastrous decision of an eager female for a mate, hes most likely going to be toast after theyve mated. Whichever way Could Benefit the Males A contort: Being eaten by the female incomprehensibly may imply that that specific male has a greater amount of his hereditary qualities making it to the nextâ generationâ if a greater amount of his sperm prepare his mates eggs while she is eating portions of him. More eggs are laid by females who eat their mates too (88 versus 37.5 in one investigation). In any case, if a male can mate more than once, that likewise expands his chances of having his hereditary qualities passed on.

Chemistry Energy Levels Essay

The vitality of the subshell increments as follows:4s<4p<4d<4f * â€Å"4s† has the best likelihood of being near the core * Subshells are constrained to # of electrons they can hold ( 2 electrons for each orbital) s=21s orbital d=105d orbital p=63p orbitals f=147f orbitals Assessment * what number p subshells are in the fourth vitality level (n=4)? 34px 4py 4pz * What is the most extreme number of electrons that can involve the 4p subshell? every p subshell can hold 2 electrons and hence there are 3p orbitals with 2 electrons * What is the greatest number of electrons that can possess the fourth vitality 322n2=2(4)2 =2(16) =32 Creating Energy Level Diagrams * Used to show the general energies of electrons in different orbitals under typical conditions * Each orbital is demonstrated by a different circle/square * All orbitals of a given subshell have a similar vitality. Ie. The 3p orbitals in the 3p sublevels have a similar vitality * The separating between progressive subshells diminishes as the quantity of subshells expands covering of shells having various estimations of n. Appraisal 1. What number of d orbitals exist? †5 2. What number of electrons can exist in the 3d orbitals? †10-2 in every one of the 5d orbitals 3. What number of electrons can exist in the n=2 level? 8-recollect 2n2=2(2)2=8 4. What number of electrons can one 4f orbital hold? 14-2 in every one of the 7f orbitals 5. Which has a higher vitality a px, py, or pz orbital? They all have a similar vitality. 6. Which electron can be discovered farthest from the nucleus:2s or 3s? 3s electrons 7. Which electrons can be discovered uttermost from the nucleus:2s or 2p. 2p is further. Fig. 3. 19 Bolt Orbital Notation Aka Orbital Diagrams * Use circles or squares for the orbitals and bolts for the electrons * RULES: * The Aufbau Principal-electrons will possess most minimal accessible vitality level * Pauli Exclusion Principal-no two electrons have a similar quantum numbers * Hund’s Rule †electrons stay unpaired for whatever length of time that conceivable. Ex: One electrons goes in every Px, Py, Pz, before they begin to match up Fig 3. 21 Electron Configuration †Gives a similar data as a vitality level chart yet in a progressively succinct configuration. * Li: 1s2 2s1 C:1s2 2s2 2p2 * Ne: 1s2 2s2 2p? Utilize the accompanying idea guide to assist with deciding the taking care of request of the orbitals: * The closeness among components inside gatherings and the structure of the intermittent table can be clarified by electron arrangement * Li: 1s2 2s1 * Na: 1s2 2s2 2p? 3s1 Short Hand Notation - Use image of honorable gas with a similar center electron setup: Ex. Na [1s2 2s2 2p? ]3s1 Or [Ne] 3s1 Some startling Electron Configuration * Model: Cru and Cu Expected Actual Cr: [Ar] 4s2 3d? [Ar] 4s1 3d? Cu: [Ar] 4s2 3d? [Ar] 4s1 3d10 For each situation, an electron is obtained from the 4s subshell and set in the 3d subshell. * Cr-3d subshell turns out to be half-filled * Cu-3d subshell turns out to be full * Half-filled and completely filled subshells will in general be progressively steady * Other desires: Ag: [Kr] 4s2 3d10 Au: [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s1 Explaining Ion Charges * Remember s electrons are lost before d electrons when managing change metals. Ex1. Zn: [Ar] 4s2 3d10 Zn2+: [Ar] 3d10 (4s electrons are lost so the 3d orbital stays full) Ex2. Pb: [Xe] 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p2 Pb2+: [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6p2 (The 6s electrons are lost) Pb4+: [Xe] 4f14 5d10 (The 6p electrons are lost just as the 6s electrons) Quantum Numbers * Electron waves (orbitals) can be described by a set quantum numbers, n, l, ml, ms Principle quantum number (n): * Identifies the vitality of an electron in an orbital * All orbitals that have a similar estimation of n are supposed to be in a similar shell * Range from n=1 to n=infinity * Determines the size of the electron wave how far the wave reaches out from the core * As n expands the energies of the orbitals additionally increment Secondary quantum number (l): Partitions the shells into littler gatherings called subshells * n decides the estimations of l * for some random n, l may go from l=0 to l=n-1 * distinguishes the state of the orbital Value of l| 0| 1| 2| 3| Letter designation| s(shape)| p(principle)| d(diffuse)| f(fundamental)| Magnetic quantum number (ml): * parts the subshells into singular circles * recognizes the direction of the orbital * for some random estimation of l, ml has a worth going from +l to â€l * e. g. On the off chance that l=0, ml=0; for l=1, ml=+1, 0, - 1 which relate to the x, y and z directions of the p orbitals.

Week 5 disc 2 Can Government Create an Economic Recovery Essay

Week 5 plate 2 Can Government Create an Economic Recovery - Essay Example The financial emergency during his residency was brought about by among different variables; the breakdown of the Stock Exchange in October 1929; disappointment of the banks to pad customers’ cash by guaranteeing the money; decreased buying influence; and dry spell (Robbins, 2007). As indicated by Robbins (2007), President Hoover’s organization declared viable and moderate plans meant to adjust the Federal spending; change the budgetary division; lessen charges; and increment open works financial plan. Despite the fact that, these means were slow they could possibly pivot the American economy over the long haul, instead of the New Deal under FDR. The Great Depression of 1930s and the Great Recession of (2007-2009) are comparative as in they prompted huge employment cuts and a debilitated private area (Grabell, 2012). The government’s reaction eight decades prior attracts similitudes to the current financial upgrade programs planned for enabling the private area by making more openings for work and breathing life into the private division back, immediately. In spite of the fact that, the two projects are accepted to have facilitated spending deficiencies, particularly for the private division as a method of setting off the production of more openings for work, government spending isn't the best method to manage a significant downturn. The New Deal was increasingly compelling in reestablishing economy, since it was more

Florida's Multicultural Community And Political Processes In Cuba Research Proposal

Florida's Multicultural Community And Political Processes In Cuba - Research Proposal Example Experts in Cuba underline the criticalness of creating proper political relationship and detailing of phenomenal international strategies (Buffington 2012). This encourages praiseworthy execution and global exchange relations particularly in the trading of sugar that the country delivers in enormous amounts. Despite the fact that Cuba had friendly political and outside relations with the Soviet Union, the country had adversarial relations with the US. The separation and opposing relations were obvious because of contrasts in political arrangements (Buffington 2012). The US was against the nation’s developing relations with the Soviet Union and the selection of socialism. The approaches neglected to advance popularity based discretionary procedure and resistance for developing restriction pioneers. The unusual approaches provoked the US under the administration of John F. Kennedy to force exchange sanctions against Cuba (Buffington 2012). The approvals were intended to cut outside commitment between the countries and guarantee that the Cuban heads embrace ideal monetary strategies that are manageable. Experts in Florida have embraced severe measures to guarantee that the expectations of the authorizations are accomplished. The specialists occupied with thoughts to propel Cuban authorities to annihilate socialist strategies and support vote based political procedures. The authority’s express that tasks between the two locales will be additionally imperiled if Cuba neglects to receive present day law based works on (Clendinning 2008). The authorities are downright that Cuban workers won't be permitted in California. The offbeat popularity based practices and the socialist rules seriously influenced the nation’s monetary headway. The practices likewise ended the acknowledgment of genial relations that are feasible through the selection of well disposed remote policies.This paper assesses the job of Florida' s multi-social network in keeping up America's assents against Cuba.

Investment Appraisal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Venture Appraisal - Essay Example Venture Appraisal The capital planning choices are relating to venture choices which will make resources which will thusly make items/administrations which make the benefits. By and large, current resources are not procuring resources yet they go about as a cradle for the smooth tasks of the business. In any case, the drawn out speculation choices incorporates the crucial dreams of the organization and subsequently is of vital significance. There are different strategies accessible for the examination of speculation proposition. They incorporate the customary strategies, limited income techniques. Be that as it may, as of late there is a propensity to move to esteem the executives models and adjusted forms of DCF models is reflected among organizations. This exposition clarifies the idea of every strategy for examination and furthermore discloses the ongoing patterns to utilize the worth administration models with models. For considering this proposition the administration can utilize the venture examination strategies which can be isolated into two gatherings, first gathering containing customary techniques, for example, compensation period strategy and normal pace of return technique and second gathering involving time balanced techniques/limited money flow(DCF) strategies, for example, net present worth technique, inner pace of return strategy, net terminal worth strategy and productivity list technique. The recompense time frame technique is the least complex all things considered and it addresses the fundamental inquiry, how long will it take for the money advantages to pay the first expense of venture. Money benefits under this technique speak to CFAT disregarding premium installment. The restitution time of the venture is contrasted and the recompense time frame foreordained by the administration in advance. On the off chance that the proposition has a compensation period not exactly the foreordained restitution, at that point the speculation proposition is chosen. The significant favorable position with this strategy is that it is easy to comprehend and figure. Be that as it may, the genuine downside here is that it disregards all the money inflows after the restitution time frame and it doesn't separate between the tasks dependent on the planning and size of incomes. The following strategy is the Accounting pace of return (ARR) technique. The ARR is determined as (Average yearly benefits after charges/Average venture) x 100. In the event that the Average pace of return is higher than the foreordained least pace of return then the speculation proposition is chosen. The benefit of this strategy over the compensation time frame technique is that it considers whole incomes over the existence time of the undertaking not at all like the previous. Be that as it may, the significant disadvantage here is that it takes the bookkeeping salary for the examination yet not the incomes. Like the recompense time frame technique additionally doesn't consider the time estimation of cash. At the point when the time estimation of cash isn't mulled over while assessing venture recommendations the odds of picking an inappropriate proposition are more. From the data gave Subsequently, the Time balanced techniques/limited income (DCF) strategies are generally utilized for settling on choices in enterprises. The Net present worth strategy is portrayed as the summation of the current estimations of money continues (CFAT) in every year short the summation of the current estimations of the net money outpourings in every year. The choice principle for this technique is that when NPV> zero, acknowledge the prpoposal and if NPV < zero, dismiss the proposition. The as a matter of first importance favorable position of this

Culture Essay Example For Free - Free Essay Example

Youth culture in Paris Introductions Culture is defined as a way of living that has been adopted by people depending on certain factors such as races and beliefs. Age is also a factor that determines the culture that has been adopted by the people in a certain age bracket. It has been noted that different age groups adopt different cultures which satisfy their lives and make them enjoy it to their fullest. When we focus on the youths, they are seen to have a different culture than all the other people (Steinberg, Parmar Richard, 2006). The reason for this is because they are still young and are trying to explore all the different aspects of life. Most of them do not really care about what is good or what is bad as long as it makes them happy. The youth’s culture differs from one city to another and the urban youth culture is different from the rural youth culture. France has its economy flailing and its politics are in the correct line. It has also been noted that th e youth culture is catching up with that of the world so that the sleepy arrondissements that once existed in the north-eastern part of Paris, have been transformed by both social and economic forces making it more vibrant and with many activities going on. Other businesses such as clubs have also been established in this place and this has opened up room for the social activities by the youths. This has been an improvement from their previous way of doing things and the drastic change has been noted by many people (In Gullotta In Plant In Evans, 2014). The museum that exists in the middle of the town has also seen rapid changes as many activities have been invented and especially by the multinational corporations since some Parisians do not want to be associated with some places. A globalized youth culture exists in all towns including in Paris. The youths want to have some connection with those of their neighboring cities and also adopt some practices that are present in their cultures. The adopted practices are then incorporated in their daily activities adding up to their culture. The reason why they do this is in the efforts to create their own identity and become different from others in different cities. It is true that the youths are the susceptible group that is so much into borrowing culture and in some cases the borrowed ways affect the production of a city either positively or negatively (Stecker, 1996). Some of these cultural practices include dress codes, aesthetics, language and ideologies. For example Japanese punk has revolved to the hip hop of Australia, and this has shown that youth subcultures are implicitly rebellious. They are seen to have a rejection of the culture of those who have been before them and want to create an identity of their own different from all the others there before. In this case, childhood has been seen to mean acceptance, adulthood to mean conservatism and youth to mean rebelliousness. What has brought all these changes in the youth culture is the cultural industry which deals with the production of the cultural commodities, marketing them and then distributing them to their potential customers and in this case, the youths. The youths have thus been in the front line to pick what they feel is good for their lives so that they can look as if they are advancing and living up to their age. This has however made them make the wrong decisions and thus contaminating their cultures. The buying of what is not necessary for their age has been happening and this has created the wrong picture of who the youths really are because their behavior does define them with a lot of pessimism. According to research, producers are not only making good thing for the youths but also things that will ruin their lives as they aim to impress them( In Gullotta,   In Plant In Evans, 2014). The youths however are straining to find out things that please them and make them get the recognition from others. In Paris, the youths are seen to have a different way of life as compared to the children and the adults. For example in cases of education, job and the specific culture pursuits the youths are seen to be more dominating than the adults and children. The youths are said to be the ones between the ages of 15 to 24 years and this means that at this stage, they are undergoing a transition from childhood to adulthood and the transition shapes them in a way that they become different and in most cases rebellious so that anything said against them is an offence (Steinberg, Parmar Richard, 2006). They want things to be done their way and never against them. They feel that all they do is right and no one should have a say on how they should live. The youths are then seen to have some powers that the adults and children do not have. In this sense, they are able to enjoy certain privileges that no other age group can enjoy. They are seen to have a special relationship with the labor market so that they even receive favors. At this age, they prefer the agency relationship so that things are done for them by other people on their behalf. The number of youths in the education centers is large and this denotes that they dominate these places and development of their cultures is greatly influenced by this environment. It is seen as one of the incubation centers for the cultures associated with the youth. In these educational institutions, creation of groups happens so that in these groups, the students try to identify themselves and create a foundation of their youth life and their future life (Stecker, 1996). It has been that most issues associated with character change are experienced during the school life of most youths. The teachers and lecturers have a huge task of trying to shape the lives of these kids through guiding them towards the right direction. Though they face some kind of opposition from the youths, it still remains their obligation. Through t he media, youths from Paris are able to get so much that they have not incorporated in their cultures. This is mostly through music that they listen to and watch on televisions. It has been noted that the youths have been allowed to listen to music that was prohibited in the past generations. Even though efforts have been made to ensure that they listen to the right type of music, they have failed as they spend very little time with their parents since most of the time they are in school or out with their friends (In Gullotta, In Plant In Evans, 2014). The message behind the music is a factor that triggers some hormones in the minds of many youths so that they yearn to change their way of living and try to live in the music world. The musicians influence these youths and especially through their attitude in life. They admire the musicians in a way that they want to be like them whether moral or immoral figures in the society. Not only does the music influence these people bu t also their way of viewing politics, corporate morality, personal morality and their sexuality as well. This is because of the voice of the musicians who are said to be the key players in the world of music. The youths therefore aim to look for fame through the musician’s way of life and words. They start changing their old ways of life and adopt the new ways learnt through the music (Steinberg, Parmar Richard, 2006). This has also enabled many youths to have the desire to sing with these musicians being their role models so that they adopt their ways fully. Every musician has the message that they want to drive home and some of them might be spreading their views or attitudes towards certain aspects of life. Through adopting such attitudes, the youths abandon their old ways and cultures and adopt new cultures. They live a life that is not theirs but they feel that they get the satisfaction that they need in their lives. Parisian youths have neglected their other inf luences such as the family and religion. It has been noted that most of them are in fact against their families and religion. In matters related with religion, these youths are more interested with what they can see rather than what is spiritual. Their spiritual growth has been deterred by their attitude about religion. They view religion as something that limits the extent of their happiness through prohibiting them from doing some things that are said to be evil in the believers’ realm (Steinberg, Parmar Richard, 2006). The religion is then abandoned and they try to look for other things that seem more satisfying such as music. In the past, the families played an important role in shaping the life of their youths. For example watching TVs, having computers, playing video games and others are things that used to keep the youths at home with their families and this strengthened the family bond. Today, the youths are detached from these things and have other things that t hey call important to do such as clubbing, parties and such. This has made them have a different view of things and thus changed their cultures. Clothing is another factor that has contributed to the youth culture. When a young person is able to dress to the occasion, they feel comfortable both in public and when associating with their colleagues who are their age mates in most cases. They view this as a way of attaining their personal identity and building their confidence in the presence of their fellows. With such a mentality, it is therefore clear that they will go for the newest fashions in town whether presentable or not, decent or indecent. They no longer care about what their clothes say about them as long as they feel good in them (Steinberg, Parmar Richard, 2006). Their clothes are not without labels which communicate a message about them. Their hairstyles also talk so much about which groups they belong to and who they associate with. The shoes that they wear also show that they are in a certain group in the peer society. Their minds have been dominated by being like others and not being unique in their own ways. Through such a misconception, they have changed their cultures and others have completely abandoned theirs so as to be like others. According to psychologists, the life of a person goes through stages before one is mature. These stages represent different characteristics and it is seen that the most crucial stage is the adolescent stage which represents a time of identity crises. It is the time when youths want to explore everything for example ideas, their appearances and friends. The potential outcome of personal identification is identity diffusion or in other cases identity achievement. Identity achievement is where one is able to successfully develop their self esteem and is able to perform well in life (Stecker, 1996). Identity diffusion is then characterized by low self esteem, trouble when one is trying to make friend s and very little or no success at all. The youths who belong to the category of identity diffusion have poor skills in solving problems and thus live a miserable life. It is at this stage that youths pull away from their parents and try to identify themselves with others for example their school mates. It is also at this stage that youths want to change their lives and live their way. They end up wanting to make decisions on their own without consulting anyone and it is in this stage that some get lost in some cultures that they adopt. According to studies, parents are seen to be overprotective of the female gender than the male gender and this has resulted to the males being given privileges such as driving when they are still young. This has also led to the male generation being independent of their parents when they are still young while the female are dependent on their parents. It is thus clear that the males are more affected by the change in cultures through trying to ide ntify their position in the society. They go through so many challenges that make them look for ways to adapt in the new environment within which they operate or are supposed to live in. On the other hand, the females are looked after by their parents and this limits them to enjoy their youth (Jin, 2011).  . Therefore, when they get a chance to do so, they overdo things and gain the rebellious spirit against their parents, adopt new living styles as well as cultures. This is another factor that has in a big way affected the cultures of youths. The struggle to keep their girls away from the so called bad living styles, have bore no fruits to many parents as they cannot be with their kids throughout their entire lives. This has thus led to change in the cultures of the youths from the original which is the one they have been brought up with to the current which is the way they want to live. Social economic factors also affect the youth culture so that some youths will always want to have all that they want in life at their disposal. In this case, those from a high social class are thus able to do all that they treasure since they have the resources that they need for such products. They go ahead to make others feel inferior since they don’t rank in the same position. This makes them have their culture as they are also able to associate with the so called best crews in their schools or colleges for example. On the other hand those that may not have the resources to acquire them all that they need, may try in all ways to have a social class in which they do not fit (Stecker, 1996). They thus end up engaging in activities that are out of the ways of their cultures which means that they attain a new identity and a new way of life. Money is a determinant to the youth culture adopted by different individuals in Paris. It has also been noted that the social classes that these youths have created are a wheel to their cultures. This means that they fo rm cultures depending on their social classes and live up to this culture which may be against their parents and the society. Social media has been a contributing factor to the youth culture in Paris. Through this media, connections are created with many different people from different nations and races. When the young people are exposed to all these different ways of living, they are then left with no option but to try and be like their friends from other countries. Such media includes face book, twitter instagram among others. They are therefore able to share their opinions and advice each other on how to tackle life without consulting their elders (In Gullotta, In Plant in Evans, 2014). They then go ahead to trying these new ways of life as they are advised by their friends, dress like they do and associate with such people as their friends. This has strengthened the youth power so that going against them is a major problem whether by parents or the governments. They beli eve that they are always right and should be given the go ahead to exercise their culture irrespective of its fitness in their society. It is thus through social media that the youth culture is spreading at a high rate and dynamically being adopted all over the world. The youth stage is quite critical and it is still the same time when both males and females are in the process of mingling so that they can be in relationships with those that they love whether friends or soul mates.    In the process of relationship identification, they are faced with many challenges as they want to be up to the level of their friends in a way that they want to do as per their expectations in this process of building up relationships, the youths in most cases have to change their old ways and try to adopt the new ways which align with those of their friends (Jin, 2011). They need to show that they belong to a certain class and can do all that they wish and for that reason, they have to try and keep up to the ways of the new friends or those that they relate with. The building up of this identity is a process which requires time before it is fully developed.   It also takes them a lot of commitment to maintain these relationships which then means that they have to leave some ways of living and have a new lifestyle hence a new culture. Role models are another factor that affects the youth culture so that the choice of their heroes and heroine determine the kind of life that they will live. This is because the lives of their role models are the same ones that they want to lead and live (Steinberg, Parmar Richard, 2006). They want to be similar to their role models and achieve the fame or prominence that they have in their lives. Through striving to have such a life, they end up having to adopt some of their ways in their lives so that their cultures go through rapid changes.   It has also been noted that marital status of individuals affects their cultures and this is much to do with the youth so that those who are still single go out of their way to do things their own way which pleases them while the married ones are bound to their families and observe the family culture. In conclusion, youth culture has gone through advancements and rapid changes which have been caused by the needs and wants of a satisfying culture by the young generation in Paris. They strive to have the best kind of life through the things that they do which are then translated in their culture which they have adopted (Jin, 2011).  . Since the youth stage is a transition from childhood to adulthood, they then feel that their culture should be unique and having certain characteristics that are not present in the other ages. Local factors as well as global factors have then contributed to the youth culture either positively or negatively depending on how individuals are able to cope with the changes. References In Gullotta, T. P., In Plant, R. W., In Evans, M. A . (2014).  Handbook of adolescent behavioral problems: Evidence-based approaches to prevention and treatment. Jin, D. Y. (2011).  Global media convergence and cultural transformation: Emerging social patterns and characteristics. Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference. Stecker, P. (1996).  The fashion design manual. Melbourne: Macmillan Education Australia. Steinberg, S. R., Parmar, P., Richard, B. (2006).  Contemporary youth culture: An international encyclopedia. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press.

The Power of Anecdote Creative Strategies for Academic Writing

Aristotle and Me Many of the freshmen I instruct at CUNY enter the first few sessions of my Expository Writing class wearing metaphorical top hats and monocles, armed with—and comforted by—the five-paragraph essay structure and other basic compositional building blocks. College-level essay writing, in their understanding, requires a stuffy, exacting formality—a holding in of one’s breath. By sublimating their individual perspectives and voices, these writers are, in fact, setting aside their most effective argumentative tools. Aristotle and Me Think of the most inspirational presidential addresses of the few decades, or, to be especially timely, of Oprah’s rousing Golden Globes acceptance speech. These speakers went far beyond oatmeal summation of why their issues were worthy of attention. Oprah, for example, began by vividly recounting her experience of watching Sidney Poitier win his Oscar when she was a child in 1964, going as far to describe the linoleum floor on which she was sitting. By setting herself squarely in the center of her argument about equality and inclusivity, many viewers were emotionally moved; some Twitter users were even galvanized into championing her presidential candidacy. I encourage my students to research and write about topics they’re interested and invested in, which I’ve found immediately enlivens their argumentation. Caring about a subject is three-quarters of the battle, but because freshmen enter college with certain staid notions of academic writing—that, put concisely, it is more science than art—they forget the power of the personal. Rhetoricians teach the argumentative tenets of ethos, logos, and pathos, but contemporary college students often feel alienated by Aristotelian terminology. In high school, students learned about logos—the appeal to logic that the five-paragraph essay was born to satisfy—in essence, if not by name, as they focused on building clear, fact-based arguments. In so doing, and by attempting to adhere to vague notions of maturity or professionalism, many banished the first-person point of view from their writing entirely. This self-imposed restriction only serves to mute their authorial voices, and inevitably robs their essays of pathos, or emotional appeal. Supporting reasoning with concrete examples is indeed crucial to effective argumentation, but showing professors why students care about a subject proves that their argument matters. This achievement both makes for a powerful and memorable essay. For professors who are very likely reading hundreds of papers over the course of the semester, distinctiveness, too, counts. The Art of the Anecdote The decision to include an anecdote also allows students access into more expressive modes of writing. As a poet and an academic, I am especially positioned to bemoan the draining of authorial individuality that some high school writing classes catalyze. Again, the ability to organize and articulate one’s thinking with effective examples is integral to the college essay, but good writing also requires a more refined linguistic acumen. Because of their past adherence to the five-paragraph expository essay form, my students tend to look at the writing of anecdotes as a creative exercise, inevitably divorced from the more methodical approach of paper writing. As warm-ups in my classes, I often task students with jotting down personal experiences that relate to the issues discusses in their assigned reading. As they reacquaint themselves with the first person—with their individual authorial Is—their hands loosen around their pens, and in flood in their distinctive writerly voices. To many students, creative writing has a different base set of requirements. In their anecdotes, they provide sensorial information, evocative visual details, and emotional depth and positioning. More often than not, their vocabulary expands exponentially as the tight grip of their academic diction loosens. In short, they become better writers—their arguments find their footing, and their language develops resonance and texture. It’s a Balance Some students become so enlivened by the permission to break with the tyranny of high school writing standards, they forget that, though strictures have loosened, they are still expected to provide a balance between pathos and logos in their writing. Is it compelling that you’ve seen the effects of gentrification first-hand in your city? Absolutely! But I also expect statistics, academic and peer-reviewed sources, and other relevant objective information. Anecdote cannot convince in a vacuum—but it can serve to guide students toward both more persuasive and more expressive writing. Looking for support on your academic writing? ; Want to read more on the subject? Essential Components to the Personal Statement: How to Tell Your Story The Best Ways to Prepare for an Essay Exam Turn Back the Clock on that Grade! How to Revise a Bad College Paper