Sula By Toni Morrison Essays (931 words) - Sula, Slavery

Sula By Toni Morrison In the novel Sula all the characters have their roles that they're molded into just like everyone does in life. Based in the time that it takes place in and the fact that the vast majority of the characters are African-American their roles are pretty much forced for them to live by a predominately White- male society. The introduction to the novel starts off towards the end of slave times (the late 1800's). A good white farmer promised freedom and a piece of bottom land to his slave if he would perform some very difficult chores (pg. 5). The slave performs the chores and the White farmer tricks the slave into wanting the hilly land, which he gets. The hilly land is the worst land possible to have. Where Planting was backbreaking, where the soil slid down and washed away the seeds, and where the wind lingered all through the winter (pg. 5). Getting the worst land possible fit the slave's role perfectly. Because he was a slave he always got the worst end of everything and by getting the so-called ?bottom land? he got the worst end of the deal. Throughout the next few years the town of Medallion was formed. It was a poor town but the people who lived there made the best of it. Their roles in life in Medallion all seem to fit the poor town or poor neighborhood lifestyle perfectly almost as if we'd expect it too. The town of Medallion is a predominately black town, located in Ohio during the early 1900's. Blacks weren't expected to do much. No one really cared about them in a White-ran society. White people looked down on them and in society's eye they were at the very bottom of the social ladder. Almost all of the characters roles are roles that people would assume in their societies position. Shadrack's role in Medallion is that the community thinks he's kind of crazy. They just leave him to do his own thing. He is a World War One veteran and witnessed something horrible happen during one of the battles. Because of what he witnessed he realizes how much death is random and unpredictable, therefore he institutes a holiday every January 3rd. This holiday is called National Suicide Day. ?This was their only chance to kill themselves or each other.?(Pg. 14). The first year the townspeople were kind-of scared and thought Shadrack was crazy for doing it. But in the following years after the town accepted it and went along with it. This is the way the town saw Shadrack. This is the role he assumed. Eva's role is being the head of the Peace household, which consists of many people. It consists of her children, ?Hannah, the eldest, and Eva, whom she named after herself but called Pearl, and a son named Ralph, whom she called Plum.?(Pg. 32). The Peace household also consists of Eva's granddaughter, Sula, the Dewey's, Tar Baby, and young married couples. Eva's role is clearly set in this story. She is the head of the peace household and a mother with a husband who left her. Due to these circumstances she does what she can to provide for her children. She goes away for a while and comes back with only one leg and about ten thousand dollars to provide for her children. Losing her leg was clearly some type of self-sacrifice. She assumes this role as head of the Peace household until Sula has her put in a home because she sets her son Plum on fire. Plum's role in this world is cut short by his mother when she sets him on fire and sends him to his death. After he comes back from the military he becomes a heroin addict and starts stealing money from his mother so he can supply his addiction. She sets him on fire, kills him, and his role in life is over. Sula is the person who this novel is named after. She is a very free-spirited young African-American woman. She looks at the bottom and top of the social ladder as the same. Sula says, ?You say I'm a woman and colored. Ain't that the same as being a man (Pg. 142). She also says, ?I don't know everything, I just do everything.? (Pg. 143). She is the only person in the story who rejects the life given to them in the bottom. Her life takes a different route and she goes to college and lives in

How To Write an Essay

How To Write an Essay Writing an essay is like making a hamburger. Think of the introduction and conclusion as the bun, with the meat of your argument in between. The introduction is where youll state your thesis, while the conclusion sums up your case. Both should be no more than a few sentences. The body of your essay, where youll present facts to support your position, must be much more substantial, usually three paragraphs. Like making a hamburger, writing a good essay takes preparation. Lets get started! Structuring the Essay (aka Building a Burger) Think about a hamburger for a moment. What are its three main components? Theres a bun on top and a bun on the bottom. In the middle, youll find the hamburger itself. So what does that have to do with an essay? Think of it this way: The top bun contains your introduction and topic statement. This paragraph begins with a hook, or factual statement intended to grab the readers attention. It is followed by a thesis statement, an assertion that you intend to prove in the body of the essay that follows.The meat in the middle, called the body of the essay, is where youll offer evidence in support of your topic or thesis. It should be three to five paragraphs in length, with each offering a main idea that is backed up by two or three statements of support.The bottom bun is the conclusion, which sums up the arguments youve made in the body of the essay. Like the two pieces of a hamburger bun, the introduction and conclusion should be similar in tone, brief enough to convey your topic but substantial enough to frame the issue that youll articulate in the meat, or body of the essay. Choosing a Topic Before you can begin writing, youll need to choose a topic for your essay, ideally one that youre already interested in.  Nothing is harder than trying to write about something you dont care about. Your topic should be broad or common enough that most people will know at least something about what youre discussing. Technology, for example, is a good topic because its something we can all relate to in one way or another. Once youve chosen a topic, you must narrow it down into a single  thesis or central idea. The thesis is the position youre taking in relation to your topic or a related issue. It should be specific enough that you can bolster it with just a few relevant facts and supporting statements. Think about an issue that most people can relate to, such as:  Technology is changing our lives. Drafting the Outline Once youve selected your topic and thesis, its time to create a roadmap for your essay that will guide you from the introduction to conclusion. This map, called an outline, serves as a diagram for writing each paragraph of the essay, listing the three or four most important ideas that you want to convey. These ideas dont need to be written as complete sentences in the outline; thats what the actual essay is for. Heres one way of diagramming an essay on how technology is changing our lives: Introductory Paragraph Hook: Statistics on home workersThesis: Technology has changed workLinks to main ideas to be developed in the essay: Technology has changed where, how and when we work Body Paragraph I Main idea: Technology has changed where we can workSupport: Work on the road exampleSupport: Work from home example statisticConclusion Body Paragraph II Main idea: Technology has changed how we workSupport: Technology allows us to do more on our own example of multitaskingSupport: Technology allows us to test our ideas in simulation example of digital weather forecastingConclusion Body Paragraph III Main idea: Technology has changed when we workSupport: Flexible work schedules example of telecommuters working 24/7Support: Technology allows us to work any time example of people teaching online from homeConclusion Concluding Paragraph Review of main ideas of each paragraphRestatement of thesis: Technology has changed how we workConcluding thought: Technology will continue to change us Note that the author uses only three or four main ideas per paragraph, each with a main idea, supporting statements, and a summary.   Creating the Introduction Once youve written and refined your outline, its time to write the essay. Begin with the  introductory paragraph. This is your opportunity to hook the readers interest in the very first sentence, which can be an interesting fact, a quotation, or a  rhetorical question, for instance. After this first sentence, add your thesis statement. The thesis clearly states what you hope to express in the essay. Follow that with a sentence to introduce your  body paragraphs. This not only gives the essay structure, but it also signals to the reader what is to come. For example: Forbes magazine reports that One in five Americans work from home. Does that number surprise you? Information technology has revolutionized the way we work. Not only can we work almost anywhere, we can also work at any hour of the day. Also, the way we work has changed greatly through the introduction of information technology into the workplace. Notice how the author uses a fact and addresses the reader directly to grab their attention. Writing the Body of the Essay Once youve written the introduction, its time to develop the meat of your thesis in three or four paragraphs. Each should contain a single main idea, following the outline you prepared earlier. Use two or three sentences to support the main idea, citing specific examples. Conclude each paragraph with a sentence that summarizes the argument youve made in the paragraph.   Lets consider how the location of where we work has changed. In the past, workers were required to commute to work. These days, many can choose to work from the home. From Portland, Ore., to Portland, Maine, you will find employees working for companies located hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Too, the use of robotics to manufacture products has led to employees spending more time behind a computer screen than on the production line. Whether its in the countryside or in the city, youll find people working everywhere they can get online. No wonder we see so many people working at cafes! In this case, the author continues to directly address the reader while offering examples to support their assertion. Concluding the Essay The summary paragraph summarizes your essay and is often a reverse of the introductory paragraph.  Begin the summary paragraph by quickly restating the principal ideas of your body paragraphs. The penultimate (next to last)  sentence should restate your basic thesis of the essay. Your final statement can be a future prediction based on what you have shown in the essay.   In this example, the author concludes by making a prediction based on the arguments made in the essay. Information technology has changed the time, place and manner in which we work. In short, information technology has made the computer into our office. As we continue to use new technologies, we will continue to see change. However, our need to work in order to lead happy and productive lives will never change. The where, when and how we work will never change the reason why we work.

Microbiology Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7500 words

Microbiology - Lab Report Example We went through intricate aseptic techniques for preparing microbial cultures from the commensal population of microbes in the GI tract isolated from the diabetic and normal rats for recording their count from the extent of lactate, acetate, and glucose production based on four kinds of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteriaceae sp, Lactobacillus sp, and Enterococcus sp. The basic kinds of agar displays that were used included, Mannitol Salt Agar for Staphylococcus aureus, MacConkey Agar for Enterobacteriaceae sp, Slanetz & Bartley agar for Enterococcus sp and MRS Agar for Lactobacillus sp. Subsequently we observed the commensal microbial growth in 4 and 8 week diabetic rats along with that in normal rats for obtaining comparative figures through a number of confirmation tests including Catalase test, Coagulase Test, RAPIDEC Staph Test, Oxidase test and API 20E Test. Significant findings showed that the diabetic rats weighed more than the normal rats. The stool of the Ileum and colon of normal and diabetic rats were sent to investigate the microbial aberrancies, after the induction of streptozotocin. Consequently there was an incidental increase in GI tract microbes. The results showed that diabetes in rats were caused 3 days after streptozotocin. Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)is a condition where the level of blood glucose rises due to absence of insulin. Here either insulin is not formed or if formed then the amount is very little. This condition usually occurs under the age of 30 and the patient requires insulin injections for life. Type 1 Diabetes is known as insulin dependent and juvenile onset diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is associated with a number of autoimmune conditions. The strongest association is with Celiac disease, Hashimoto's disease, or hypothyroidism; Graves' disease, or hyperthyroidism; Addison's disease, or adrenal failure, and Pernicious anemia The link between the GI tract immune system and T1D has been suggested by studies that have demonstrated that dietary factors modify the disease in animal models of autoimmune diabetes(Vaarala, 2004). These microbial organisms play an essential role in the anerobic breakdown of carbohydrates and protein molecules, thereby affecting the energy storage mechanism in the hosts. Indigestible dietary fibers are broken into Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA) by these commensal microbes and polysaccharides are efficiently broken down to monosaccharide units prior to be absorbed from the lumen of the gastro intestinal tract for subsequent hepatic lipogenesis (Backhed et al., 2004). These metabolites that are end products of bacterial degradation are important for colonal activity causing motility and secretion during digestive processes (Scheppach, 1994). The commensal microbes in the GI tract also induce the expression of certain genes coding proteins necessary for cellular functions in the system. There are significant evidences to prove that the Ang4 expression in the small intestine is controlled by the microbial flora. The GI tract bacteria are also responsible for causing faster Ang4 processes in the intestine, which results in innate immune

Case study p565 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Case study p565 - Essay Example The risk associated with oral health includes xerostomia, sipping coffee, and minor diabetes. On the next appointment, the selected patient brought back the 24-hour recall food diary without mentioning specific foods so as not to create a bias. â€Å"The caries promotion potential of diet â€Å"calculated was eight, which considered a moderated risk for caries. For xerostomia patients, this understanding could be significant if it comes from intake of drugs and undergoing treatment. If a patient has a mouth that is dry, they would be prone to damages of the tongue and a risk of dental caries infection. Base on the dental charting, the patient has an obligation to ensure that she maintains good health for her dental structure. More so, the O’Leary score was low. Another health concern in dental caries was using of hard brush wrongly. Application of much energy when brushing using hard brush may result to fractures in the gums and teeth. The doctor instructed the patient to switch to chewing sugar free gum and take water that has fluoride. Fluoridated water does not only maintain the health of a patient’s teeth but can also ensure that the patient does not suffer from having a dry mouth. The doctor recommended â€Å"Nutrition and your Oral Health† and â€Å"Caries Risk† pamphlets for the patient to get more information about dental health. On the third appointment, the patient acknowledged the doctor’s recommendation during the previous appointments. She had started chewing sugar free gum and enhanced on the intake of water every day. This nutritional counseling project is essential to me as a learner because I realized that every case is different. The recommendation resulted from what the patient needed and was a modified base on scientific evidence. It motivated the patient and enhanced her dental

Dell's Product Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Dell's Product Policy - Essay Example This translates to their system having low cash conversion cycle hence cash is generated steadily. However, the system has its limitations. The low inventory held means shortage is a possibility in cases where manufacturers delay in supplying the PC chips, like in 1996. The very high dependence on on-time component supply by manufacturers poses a major threat to steady supply. In addition, changes in product means an overhaul in processes which is an expensive venture. This means that working capital can be funded through the management of inventory and cash flow cuts (Ruback & Sesia 2003). Working capital is the measure of efficiency and liquidity in a company. To obtain the computation, one needs to subtract current liabilities from the firm’s current assets. Inventory process For comparison, we assume that the cost of goods sold by the competitors remains constant. We observe that the carrying costs only depend on the DSI (Ruback & Sesia 2003). For 1995, the cost of sales = $2737, equivalent to a daily COS of 2737/365= $7.5% We make a comparison with the highest observed DSI of the competitor, Compaq, 73. Hence the inventory Compaq holds over dell is (73-32)*75=$307.5 m This means that for Compaq to acquire new goods, it has to sell its old inventory. Since new technology is 30% cheaper, Compaq incurs and an opportunity loss, given by 0.3*307.5=$92.25m Cash funding This provides a simple way for the company to grow its assets in the short term without borrowing long term. Assume we want to grow the cash by 52% for 1996 internally. The total assets denoted TA for 1995 is computed as follows: TA (1995) =1594-484=1110. As a fraction of sales, 1110/3475=0.3194 or 31.94%. Assuming that they want to hold this for 1996, the required increase in the total assets without long term investment is given by 0.3194*0.52*3475=579.37m. This should be done without the increasing account payables (as this is an external means). This means that the cumulative liabilities should be computed excluding these payables, i.e. for CL (cumulative liabilities) for 1995=1594-403 and for 1996=2184-466. The change in current assets not factoring in accounts payable is the difference in the two values, yielding a value $491m. Assuming the company adopts the same strategy of maintaining the profit generated, the net profit to sales ratio should remain constant. This value computed as 149/3475=0.0429 or 4.29%. We can determine the cash flow from net profit for 1996 by holding the sales value constant, computed as shown, .0429*1.52*3475=$226.89m, surpassing the debt level as the total cash inflow which is the sum of the net profit and the increase in liabilities against the cash outflow required for 1996 Fund growth for 1997 The increase in total assets, TA for 1996, 2148-591=1557 as ratio of sales, 1557/5296=0.294 or 29.4 %.Assuming a growth of 50% is desired, the increase in 1997 is given by 0.294*0.5*5296=778.51m. For cumulative liabilities, CA as a ratio of th e sales value is given as (2148-466)/5296=0.316 or 31.6%. Hence the cash flow from the change in the current assets in 1997 is given by 2523-(2148-466) =841m. The net profit as a ratio of sales in1996 =272/5296 = 0.0514 or 5.14%. Hence the cash flow from operating profit for 1997 is given as 0.0514*1.5*5296=408.32m.This means that Dell Corporation has the ability to fund itself in 1997 internally without external injection of capital. (Ruback & Sesia 2003) Aventis

Piracy Threat in Somalia

Piracy Threat in Somalia SGT Figueras, Diego Piracy has steadily been on the rise along the Horn of Africa primarily along the coast of Somalia. In recent years, piracy has gained the attention from the United States (U.S.) and the international community about its consistent and ever increasing threat. A well-known example of Somalias rampant piracy threat occur in April of 2009, when Somalian pirates forcibly captured the shipping vessel Maersk Alabamas skipper, Richard Phillips, as a hostage (Boot, 2009). The situation ended when U.S. Navy Seals, conducted a rescue operation that freed Captain Phillips. The media coverage that followed revealed to the U.S. that piracy is and will be continue to be a source of conflict without U.S. assistance and East African Naval cooperation. Second order of effects The Captain Phillips rescue led to the U.S. and East African nations (EAN) developing anti-piracy procedures. However, even with the new procedures the U.S. and EAN still failed to recognize piracy as a legitimate concern in the region. The lack of action from the U.S. and EAN allowed piracy to flourish. From 2009 through 2011, there was an estimated 850 attacks on military and commercial vessels costing $6.6 -$6.9 billion dollars in damage and ransoms. The Somali piracy threat reached its climax in 2011, where Somali pirates began affecting shipping lanes, causing the cost of goods, such as, (oil, food, technology) to rise worldwide (Mueller, 2013). At the end of 2011, the U.S. and EAN finally recognized the severity of the Somali piracy threat. Third order of effects In 2012, the U.S. Navy began being more active against the threat posed by Somali pirates. The U.S. sent naval ships such as, destroyers and cruises to begin patrolling and responding to ships under duress from Somali pirates. The increased presence and timely reaction by the U.S. Navy, has caused a significant decrease in piracy activity in the region. From 2012 through 2015, there were only estimated 264 attacks from Somali pirates (Fiorelli, 2014). That is a 68% decrease of pirate attacks since the height of Somali piracy from 2009 through 2011. The threat posed by the U.S. Navy to the Somali pirates has been a significant detergent against piracy. Predictive assessment The threat posed from Somali pirates is steadily decreasing each passing year. In order to eliminate the threat posed by Somali pirates, the U.S. Navy will require more assistance and cooperation from EAN. The U.S. Navy will not always be able to defend the international shipping lanes from Somali pirate attacks. In addition, because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. populace will not be supportive to another long-term U.S. military commitment. EAN and their naval forces must began taking a more active role and eventually spearhead the anti-piracy effort to effectively eliminate piracy. However, I assess that EAN will not be able to meet the demands require to effectively counter piracy along the Horn of Africa. Because, EAN does not have financial means, logistical support, equipment require nor the trained personnel to effectively sustain long-term anti-piracy operations unlike the U.S. If the U.S. Navy were to cease anti-piracy operations, piracy would reappear, potent ially return to its climax seen in 2011 and once again cause havoc in the international shipping lanes. The Al Shabaab threat to Somalia Al Shabaab is currently East Africas largest and most active terrorist organization. In the past decade, Al Shabaab has successfully gained an area of operations that covers the entire Horn of Africa. In 2014, Somali security forces and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) began conducting counter insurgency operations against Al Shabaab. However, three years of counterterrorism operations has yielded little results in disrupting Al Shabaab operations. Al Shabaab still controls a vast majority of southern and central Somalia and within the past year, has been becoming more active in Somalia. In January 2016, Al Shabaab conducted a complex attack that resulted in overrunning an AMISOM base near the Kenya-Somalia border. Al Shabaab claims to have killed more than 100 AMISOM Soldiers; however, that number has yet to be confirm even a one year later. In addition, in the past seven months, Al-Shabaab has successfully overran two additional AMISOM bases and plundered equipment, ve hicles and weaponry. The equipment and resources retrieved from AMISOM bases have not only strengthen Al Shabaab military capabilities, but also asserted themselves as a legitimate threat to Somalias sovereignty. Second order of effects Al Shabaabs recent success has increased their confidence to operate openly as a legitimate form of government in southern and central Somalia. However, their inability to act as a legitimate government has significant consequences to the Somali citizens within its territory. Southern and central Somalia suffer from extreme drought, which has cause a famine in the region. International surveys suggest that roughly, 3.6 million Somali citizens suffer from starvation and many more suffer from life threatening medical issues as a result. Al Shabaab government and leadership is not prepared to handle this current crisis let alone provide for the citizens basic needs. To make matters worse, the Al Shabaab government has banned all Western and United Nations humanitarian aid organizations access to its territory. Their Islamic counterparts, the Islamic Relief, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent are all limited in their capabilities to combat the spread of famine. In addition, are not able to provide the medical relief and food aid desperately required by the Somali citizens. References Boot, M., 2009. Pirates, Then and Now: How Piracy Was Defeated in the Past and Can Be Again. Foreign Affairs Journal. 88. no. 4: 94-107. Besley, T., Fetzer, T. and Mueller, H. 2013. The welfare cost of lawlessness: Evidence from Somali piracy. VOX: Research-based policy analysis and commentary from leading economists. Retrieved 04 February 2017 (http://www.voxeu.org/article/welfare-cost-lawlessness-evidence-somali-piracy). Fiorelli, M., 2014. Piracy in Africa: The case of the Gulf of Guinea. Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center. No. 37: 1-16.

Contemporary Societys Crisis of Masculinity Essay -- Papers Men Mascu

Contemporary Society's Crisis of Masculinity Works Cited Not Included Masculinity is the word used to describe the broad stereotyped traits traditionally ascribed to all males in British society and the notion of how men should appear and behave. It is more accurate to refer to 'masculinities', to reflect the complexity and diversity of masculinity today. There are important differences made between 'hegemonic' and 'subordinate' masculinities; hegemonic masculinity is the dominant western image - white, heterosexual and middle class, subordinate the diverse masculinities - homosexual men, black men and the working class. David Beckham is a modern icon who has expressed and challenged some of the dominant assumptions of masculinity and identity. He is a talented and committed footballer yet his experiments with fashion and his posing for shoots are taken by some as an affront to the conventionalities of traditional masculine behaviour. Rutherford stated that 'the reality of men's heterosexual identities is that their endurance is contingent upon an array of structures and institutions'. He believes that if these structures are threatened or weakened then masculine identities can be threatened or weakened. Rutherford thinks that five changes have undermined the male dominance of certain structures and institutions. These changes are 1) working-class masculinities threatened by the decline of heavy manual industry. Male unemployment has risen while female employment has increased. 2) Violent and sexual abuse of women and children has become more widely publicised and less tolerated. 3) Men's roles within the family have been questioned.... ... genuine rise in male dissatisfaction for which there are numerous causes. The growing assertiveness of women and the lack of women prepared to be the property of patriarchal men. Male power is being overthrown. There may be a crisis of masculinity, but 'Men still outnumber women in positions of power across the globe, still glower downwards through the glass ceiling, still strut the cabinet and boardrooms in every developed country in the world, the seeming masters of their fate and everybody else's. In the developing world the situation is even more unequal. The gender disparity in sharing the burden of unpaid work is stark, and for all the talk of equality women throughout the world continue to work longer hours than men and are paid very much less for it. The colonists are still in command.' (Clare, 2000)