Friday, June 5, 2020

Theodore Roosevelt President of the United States - Free Essay Example

Some people know me for being a cattle rancher, hunter, and an explorer. But despite my rugged past, I had become the 26th President of the United States, I am Theodore Roosevelt. Also, being known for my excellent hunting skills I was known as â€Å"Telescope Teddy†. I had received this nickname because of my thick glasses and tiny telescope â€Å"eye†, and also just my skills of catching game, out west in 1902. My family has referred to me as â€Å"Teedie† as well, just as being a very sickly child. I have a very powerful personality, (of what people would say), this is what had led me into office. I once had quoted â€Å"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far,† I say this because of my forcing of going away from a dishonest financial adviser, I take this saying from a West African proverb. My ancestors come from a Dutch colony in New Amsterdam (New York) in the 1600s. I was born the 27th of October, in New York, I was the second out of four children. My father is named Theodore Sr. He worked as a businessman, causing our family to have plenty of money. My mother, Martha (Bulloch) Roosevelt was raised as a Southerner on plantation land. As a young boy, I suffered from asthma causing me to not to attend school. This made my parents insisted on a private tutor, and by the age of 18, I was accepted into Harvard. But, despite my breathing problems, I was attracted to many sports. As a young boy, I went on many trips with my family around Europe. These experiences this led me into the journeys becoming an explorer. Just months after graduating from Harvard in 1880, I married the love of my life, Alice Lee Hathaway. But tragically she passed away February 14, 1884, from Brights disease, leaving me all alone with our four-year-old daughter Alice. I was so devastated with the loss of my wife I have forbidden her name being said in the house, so I nicknamed my daughter Alice â€Å"Bamie†. One day on a trip to London, I reunited with my childhood friend Ethel Kermit Carow, later marrying her. Together Ethel and I built a life. We had five children together, Theodore Jr (1887), Kermit (1889), Ethel Carow (1891) Archibald Bulloch (1894), and my youngest son Quentin (1897). My military history consisted of the Civil Rights Service. Also being appointed being Lieutenant in the Spanish American War by President Mckinley. I created the Rough Riders which is the first Volunteer Cavalry. Before becoming president I wanted to become a Lawyer but dropping out later on. In 1886, I ran for New Yorks Governor, later winning. During my free time, I enjoy hunting and journaling. Did you know I was the youngest President to enter the office at the age of forty-two? The dates I served was from 1901-1909. Charles W. Fairbanks was my Vice President, Secretary of State; John Hay and Secretary of Treasure, Elihu Root (1905) and Robert Bacon (1909). People have considered me as the first modern President for my technique and skills in the office. I had completed many accomplishments in the Office. The Domestic Policy, which is a square deal domestic program involving the promise to battle the large Industrial combination, and in 1902 it had threatened to restrain trade. This has brought a successful suit in the Spanish American W ar. I had a Foreign Policy, which means I wanted to bring America out of its isolation and fulfill successful responsible. But sadly it didnt turn out as I expected. I had received the Medal of Honor, which means since for my hard work being a Rough Rider. The Rough Riders greatest victory formed at the Battle of San Juan Hill. I had helped the coal strike of 1902. The Coal Strike is when the mine workers had threatened to heat supplies at their own homes. I had begun to threatened the miners by the US Army to mine the coals and fire the mines and convinced both the miners and the owners to deal with it. After excelling at a great President I made many expeditions, as in exploring jungles with my wife for nine months. I had perished in my bed on January 2, 1919, at the age of 60. I died by a Pulmonary embolism, which is a blood clot in the lung. I was buried in Oyster Bay, New York. My legacy had brought excitement to the Office, with my strong personality I also brought power. I have many national memorials such as my birthplace in Sycamore Hill, being a mansion I lived in. Wilcox mansion Buffalo, New York, where I took an oath. T has several national parks named after me, and lets not forget Im on Mount Rushmore. I have made a Presid ent, rather than a Political Party, or Congress, which is the center of American Politics. I believe that a President should use only power, or all unless denied for a specific/ political, reason. Now I know, I Theodore Roosevelt, has changed America greatly in many ways as becoming a â€Å"modern president†.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Alzheimer s Disease A Progressive Neurodegenerative...

Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that results in dementia, disorientation, problems with speech, and behavioral issues within a person. This disease is detrimental and has no cure. Almost every single person knows someone that has this disease, or has known someone that has had this disease. That is the reason that I chose to research this particular topic. In 2013, my great uncle was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was the most down to earth man you would ever meet. He had a great sense of humor and always kept a smile on his face as well as the faces of the people that he was around. When he was diagnosed, we were devastated because we knew that this disease would eventually consume and take over his life. One of the very bold memories that I have of him after a year after his diagnosis was when we took a family trip to the mountains. We have a pretty large family, so we stayed in a mountain house. Well, the kids wound up sleeping down stairs together. On the second night that we were there. I woke up at 3 o’clock in the morning to yelling that was coming from the top of the stairs. I immediately recognized that it was my uncles voice and I began to get worried. Everyone was asleep, but I could hear him telling my aunt that he needed to go down stairs and make those kids stop playing basketball. I knew in that moment that his diagnosis was getting worse and worse by the day. This was the type of thing that scared me. Alzheimer’sShow MoreRelatedAlzheimer s A Progressive Neurodegenerative Disease860 Words   |  4 PagesAlzheimer’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that steadily destroys the memory and other important mental functions such as social skills, intellect, and memory (4). Although the exact cause of Alzheimer’s is not known, most cases of the disease are caused by genetic mutations passed from the parent to the child (1). There are several genes associated with Alzheimer’s one in particular is apolipoprotein E (1). The presence of one or more of these genes does not necessarily mean thatRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease : A Progressive Neurodegenerative Disease2372 Words   |  10 Pagesdementia is brought forward. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a brain disease, is the most common type of dementia, and affects majority of people 60 years or older (1,14). It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, which only continues to worsen over time. Each individual is affected differently with symptoms and the progression. As of right now there is no cure for it (14). Biology of Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, which attacks the brain. It is not knownRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease : A Progressive And Neurodegenerative Form Of Dementia2437 Words   |  10 PagesAlzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive and neurodegenerative form of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, reasoning, judgement and decision-making, recognizing, as well as behavior, and is serious enough to interfere with daily life and activities, that eventually leads to profound physical as well as mental disabilities, resulting in the need for institutional care (Hoyer Roodin, 2009). AD is most widespread in senior population aged 65 and over, which constitutes approximatelyRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease : A Progressive And Fatal Neurodegenerative Condition2426 Words   |  10 PagesAlzheimer’s disease is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative condition that is characterized by a decline in the individual’s memory and cognitio n, problems with carrying out daily living skills. There are no exact imaging tests or laboratory tests we can use to diagnose Alzheimer’s. The only way to 100% diagnose Alzheimer’s are when the person dies and has a brain biopsy. The best treatment we have now is medication to help slow the progression and different types of therapy. Caregivers willRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease And Its Effects On The Lives Of Millions Americans Essay1714 Words   |  7 Pages â€Æ' Introduction Neurodegenerative diseases continue to affect the lives of millions Americans each year, with incidence and prevalence rates ever increasing. These diseases cause degeneration or death of nerve cells in the brain. These diseases can cause a financial and emotional burden on not only patients themselves, but also family members and care givers as well. Molecular mechanisms that underlie these diseases have remained relatively unclear, despite much research. Understanding the mechanismsRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease : A Common Neurodegenerative Disease1110 Words   |  5 PagesAlzheimer’s disease is a common neurodegenerative disease. It is the most common form of dementia which is a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life (Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia). Dementia and Alzheimer’s have been around for centuries, but Alzheimer’s disease wasn’t first described until 1906 by Dr. Aloysius Alz heimer. In the past, there was a stigma for elderly people with the disease. People with dementia and Alzheimer’s wereRead MoreHealth Care and Stage Dementia Support Essay example1302 Words   |  6 Pagesin Australia every year. Harris, Nagy and Vardaxis (2006) stated  ¡Ã‚ ®dementia is a progressive organic mental disorder characterised by chronic personality disintegration, confusion, disorientation, stupor, deterioration of intellectual capacity and function, and impairment of control of memory £Ã‚ ¬ judgement and impulses. ¡Ã‚ ¯ (p.501) Brown Edwards (2005) noted that the decline in cognitive functions affect individual ¡Ã‚ ¯s ability to work and therefore they are not able to complete the tasks. In an aetiologyRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease : A Progressive Disease925 Words   |  4 PagesAlzheimer s disease is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other vital mental functions. Alzheimer s disease is the most common cause of dementia, a group of brain di sorders that cause the loss of intellectual and social skills. AD can eventually render a person unable to function in society and to even care for themselves. Since the disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States constant research is being done to try to prevent it and to find a cure. Alzheimer s diseaseRead MoreMedical Management Decisions And The Plan Of Care Decisions Essay1102 Words   |  5 PagesAlzheimer’s is a chronic medical neurodegenerative disease, therefore is a neurological illness which departures the brain cells, causing it to act in memory loss and mental failure. Early-onsets Alzheimer’s can be noticed in an individual beginning from ages 40-50s. Statistics show that of the 5.4 million Americans with Alzheimer s, an estimated 5.2 million people are age 65 and older, and approximately 200,000 individuals are under age 65 (Alzheimer’s Association, n.d.). The course of this disorderRead MoreEffects Of The Brain On Alzheimer s Disease1467 Words   |  6 PagesChanges in the brain may a play role in Alzheimer’s disease Introduction â€Å"Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks individuals with AD may start having symptoms their mid-60s† (nih.gov). AD is a multifactorial and progressive neurodegenerative disease. â€Å"Parts of AD, for example, increased oxidative state, amyloid plaque deposition, and neurofibrillary tangle of tau

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Why Do Students Cheat - 997 Words

â€Å"It is not a question of who cheats, it is a question of who cheats the most†. If everybody does it then why does it matter if you cheat every once in a while to get by. If students successfully pull it off then they easily slip by on a test or homework assignment without having to do anything, giving them more time to do leisurely activities. The reason some students cheat is deeper than that most of the time, with college requirements becoming higher, students struggle to reach those requirements without a little help sometimes. Students resort to cheating due to GPA’s, the pressure, and the reward. To start, GPA’s are simple, the higher the grade you get the higher your GPA will be. To be able to play in any high school athletics a†¦show more content†¦Those big colleges that everybody has wanted to go to at least once in their life only accept kids with 4.2’s and a 34 or higher on the ACT. Some kids are looking at a 3.8 and havent taken the ACT yet thinking to themselves, how can i get my grades up so i can have a 4.2 so i can go to the college of my dreams with the least amount of work possible, and the answer is simple, to cheat. If they cheat they can bring their grades up causing their GPA to go up with it, and cheating takes less time than actually doing the homework giving the kids more time to study for the ACT to get a better score or to do the volunteer work that most of those colleges require. â€Å"The pressure to complete all of the work within the given time frame can make cheating look like a saving grace† (Wood). The list of pressur es to cheat is a mile long and can be checked off easily by cheating, and kids are always looking for the easy way out. Finally the rewards for cheating could make a list a mile long but there are a few that stick out. One big reward of cheating is it takes less time than actually studying, giving students more time to do leisurely activities and go out and be young and have fun. Students can get higher grades because of cheating, if they get a picture of a key they can get whatever score they want to bring their grade up. Their parents might give them money or presents for getting good grades. The pressureShow MoreRelatedWhy Do Students Cheat?1065 Words   |  5 PagesWhy do students cheat? It is a rare individual who actively chooses to be dishonest. But why do a few students make compromising choices? What can lead people to act in ways that they aren t proud of? Below are some underlying beliefs and confusions which students at Carnegie Mellon give as explanations for slipping standards of integrity. A Victimless Crime? Students generally are familiar with the disciplinary actions and penalties for getting caught. However, they may fail to understandRead MoreWhy Do College Students Cheat?1832 Words   |  8 PagesMarch 2008 Why Do College Students Cheat? Cheating among students in college has worsened over the years and not much is being done to stop it. Where is the line drawn when it comes to cheating in the classroom? And why do kids do it? In today’s world people are growing lazier and always looking for ways to do less work and a lot of that has to do with improved technology. Improved technology has also made cheating easier. Students can send each other e-mail’s back andRead MoreWhy Students Cheat : Cheating1469 Words   |  6 PagesWhy Students Cheat Cheating by students no matter their grade level has been a prevalent problem among schools for several years. One discouraging fact for academic institutions is that cheating has only gotten worse not better. Cheating can be carried out in a plethora of ways, such as copying off of other students during a test, copying another students homework, using a cell phone to either text answers or look them up, using crib notes or even copy and pasting whole written works and tryingRead MoreWhy Should Students From A Respected University Cheat?1014 Words   |  5 Pagesalways wonder why. Why would students from a respected university cheat? Who should we put the blame on? A lot of people are quick to assume that it is the student s personal morals, which causes them to cheat. I realized why a lot of student’s cheat, and how certain articles that I read, proposed we fix the cheating issue. The main goal is to prevent future cheating, and you start preventing cheating by looking at w hat the source of that cheating is. In the articles, â€Å"Harvard Students in CheatingRead MoreStudent Cheating And Its Effects On Society1138 Words   |  5 PagesStudent Cheating Academic dishonesty is a common concept that occurs in multiple institutions across the United States. A student who engages in academic dishonestly simply cheats on material but cheats by primarily plagiarizing their work. The bulk of students who cheat simply cheat by using technology. As technology advances, student cheating advances. Students are fixated with technology and technology, is a vast reason why cheating has became effortless to accomplish. However, that does not triggerRead MoreCheating on College Examinations980 Words   |  4 Pagesespecially college exams. Does it really happen? Sure it does. We argue that many college students cheat during examinations because of several reasons. They can be nervous that is why they cheat, it can also be a reason of time management wherein some college students also work while taking time to attend school classes or, maybe they are just lazy enough to study ahead of examination date. There are a lot of reasons why cheating on col lege exams happens and along with it, there are numerous effects outRead MoreThe Ethical Journey Of Views Of College Students891 Words   |  4 PagesMany students leave for college and are excited to begin a new journey or chapter in their life. Many had a long road to make it through high school while some found it easy. This paper will be discussing the Ethical journey of views of college students. What make some cheat while other are honest and how is cheating or academic dishonesty viewed by the American people. What are ethics and how they do apply to the college student, and how does the college student s apply it to the world. EthicsRead MoreIs Cheating At School Getting Out Of Control?872 Words   |  4 PagesControl? The clock is ticking at 1:00am and Joe is sitting in front of his computer trying to study for his Math test. â€Å"The test will be tomorrow at 7am. I don t understand any of this. I can’t even remember the formulas. What should I do?† Joe thought. But, why is he doing this at the last minute? Was it because of the addicting game â€Å"Battle Front† that he could not get enough of? Or, was it maybe because his girlfriend wanted to hangout yesterday? No matter how much he tried to makeup excusesRead MoreShould Cheating Be Academic Dishonesty? Essay1071 Words   |  5 Pagesconsequences yet many students continue to cheat. I do not find it surprising that students cheat in college or university. McCabe, Trevino Butterfield (2001) offer many explanations as in why students commit academic dishonesty, such as peer influences. Although the findings of this study still can be applied today I argue a new study should consider the use of technology in regards to a cademic dishonesty. With the rise of technology, it has become much easier for students to cheat on exams and papersRead MoreThe Effects Of Academic Cheating On Students888 Words   |  4 PagesResearch conducted shows that 95 percent of high school students admit to having cheated at some point in their education and about half of all college students have admitted to plagiarizing. Academic cheating has become a norm for many students during their years in school, whether it is in middle or high school. The question now becomes why kids in this generation cheat, do they cheat because they re just that lazy to do work or just don t understand what s going on in class and are too scared

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Internet Technologies CryptographyBased Scheme

Question: Describe about the Internet Technologies for Hybrid Wireless Mesh Protocol . Answer: In Ipv4 TCP/IP protocol is used or sending and receiving packets of data and the IPv6 is the future of the IP addressing. It have advantage over IPv4 and the IPv4 framework is changed to develop the IPv6 by the Internet Engineering Task Force. The advantages of the IPv6 over IPv4 are described as follows: It has a huge range of IP address- IPv6 contains 128 bit address but when compared with the IPv4 it have 32 bit address and thus it results in availability of IP address and accommodate more number of users. End to End Connection- The need of NAT is eliminated with the implementation of IPv6 and better peer to peer connection is created (Matousek, Skacan Korenek, 2013) Built-in Security- The interoperability improves with the implementation of IPv6. In IPv4 the IP address is separated in 8 bit boundaries but in IPv6 the address is separated using 16 bit boundary and the representation is called colon hexadecimal. IP Version Address size IPv4 32 bit and it allows 232 and 4294967296 number of possible address (Wu et al., 2013) IPv6 128 bits that allows 2128 and 340282366920938463374607431768211456(3.4*1038) number of possible address The transition of IPv4 to IPv6 required formal strategies and each of the strategies are described in the below table. Method of Transition Description Dual stacking method Most of the network devices such as the PC and the routers runs on IPv4 and IPv6 and thus two set of address can be used for the transition. Manual IPv4 to IPv6 (4-6) tunneling IPv4 packets can be tunneled in the IPv6 network and vice versa by encapsulating them in the necessary packets (Matousek, Skacan Korenek, 2013). The requirement for these techniques is that the routers in the network should be configured with dual stack method. Dynamic 6 4 tunneling This method allows IPv6 locality to connect to IPv6 using IPv4 network as a backbone. In this method, a unique IPv6 prefix is added locally and retrieval of the address information is eliminated. Intra site automatic tunnel addressing protocol (ISATAP) tunneling VPN can be used for connecting IPv6 with the IPv4 network automatically. The boundary routers are required to be configured using dual stack method. Teredo Tunneling With the implementation of Tedro tunnel, the use of routers to tunnel the packets of data can be eliminated (Wu et al., 2013). The host server is required to be configured with dual stack method and the packet of data can thus move using the IPv4 address translation device. NAT proxying and translation (NAT-PT) It uses a address translation device for translating the Ipv4 and IPv6 address. The bit rate of the for the 4.2 MHZ bandwidth system can be calculated using the following formula. C= B log2 (1+SNR) (Ji et al., 2014) = 4.2 * 106 log2 (1+170) = 2.23Mbps The upper limit is 2.23 Mbps The Shannon formula gives 2.23 Mbps, the upper limit and thus for better performance something lower is chosen and the nyquist formula is applied for finding the levels of signal. 2Mbps= 2 * 4.2 MHz * log2 2 L= 2.52 The difference between the centralized and decentralized peer-to-peer network are discussed as follows: Centralized system In this system the server maintains the directories that are stored in the peer of the computer. The central server directs the connection between the peers and thus for establishing the connection between the peers the central server is necessary. Decentralized system In decentralized system, the peer connects between himself and herself directly without being directed by a server (Wu et al., 2013). These are large network, the connection is repeated, and a number of layers of computers are there for passing the message to the client. Advantage: It is easy to install and configure the network connections All the contents and the resources are shared by the peers in the decentralized system but the centralized system only shares the contents and the resources. Peer to peer connection in decentralized system is more because there is no central dependency. Failure of one of the peer does not affect the other peer (Bryan et al., 2016). In case of the centralized model if the central goes down the whole network is affected. The need of full time system administrator is eliminated the users of the network can control the resources. The cost of maintaining the network and addition of nodes is comparatively less. Disadvantage: In decentralized system the system administrator faces difficulty in administrating the network because the determination of the accessibility of the system is difficult. The system is less secure because virus, spyware and Trojan can be implemented from any source. Backup and data recovery is difficult because data is decentralized and the data are required to be backed up in the own systems Latency = processing time + queuing time + transmission time + propagation time Processing time = 12 2 s = 24 s = 0.000024 s Queuing time = 12 4 s = 48 s = 0.000048 s Transmission time = 5,000,000 / (5 Mbps) = 1 s Propagation time = (2600 Km) / (2.2108 m/s) = 0.01 s Latency = 0.000024 + 0.000048 + 1 + 0.01 = 1.010072 s The transmission time is dominant here because the packet size is huge, and processing time and queuing time are negligible. FTP (File Transfer protocol) is used for transferring files between one computer to another in a same network. The below figure demonstrate the working of FTP where FTP works with an active internet connection. One command is used for sending and receiving data and the other command is used for establishing a secure connection (Sharma Nandal, 2014). A standard PORT is used for communicating with the Internet Protocol and the PORT number is 21. Figure 1: FTP work flow diagram (Source: Sharma Nandal, 2014) SCP (Secure copy protocol) differs from FTP (File Transfer Protocol) because it helps to send file a file to the server and retrieve file from the server. The security is more in the FTP because it SSH protocol for authentication. The files transmission speed in SCP is much faster when compared with FTP (Ben?Othman Saavedra Benitez, 2013). Directory listings can be implemented for accessing the source file and the destination folder. It also supports larger file for transfers and it can also resume the transfer of files. For establishing a FTP connection an FTP client is required to be installed on the client PC and information about the FTP server is required like server address, username, password, etc. A connection is established using the server address and the user name password and the files can be uploaded or downloaded using the FTP file manager. References Ben?Othman, J., Saavedra Benitez, Y. I. (2013). IBC?HWMP: a novel secure identity?based cryptography?based scheme for Hybrid Wireless Mesh Protocol for IEEE 802.11 s.Concurrency and Computation: Practice and Experience,25(5), 686-700. Bryan, D., Matthews, P., Shim, E., Dawkins, S., Willis, D. (2016). Concepts and terminology for peer to peer sip. Ji, R., Duan, L. Y., Chen, J., Huang, T., Gao, W. (2014). Mining compact bag-of-patterns for low bit rate mobile visual search.IEEE Transactions on Image Processing,23(7), 3099-3113. Matousek, J., Skacan, M., Korenek, J. (2013, April). Towards hardware architecture for memory efficient IPv4/IPv6 Lookup in 100 Gbps networks. InDesign and Diagnostics of Electronic Circuits Systems (DDECS), 2013 IEEE 16th International Symposium on(pp. 108-111). IEEE. Sharma, S., Nandal, V. (2014). FTP Server Hacking: Brute Force Algorithm. Wu, P., Cui, Y., Wu, J., Liu, J., Metz, C. (2013). Transition from IPv4 to IPv6: A state-of-the-art survey.IEEE Communications Surveys Tutorials,15(3), 1407-1424. Wu, X., Tavildar, S., Shakkottai, S., Richardson, T., Li, J., Laroia, R., Jovicic, A. (2013). FlashLinQ: A synchronous distributed scheduler for peer-to-peer ad hoc networks.IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking (TON),21(4), 1215-1228.

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Voting Participation in the U.S. Presidential Elections

Introduction Recent studies of political attitudes and voting patterns in the United States presidential elections demonstrate that voter loyalties and voting trends have undergone a major shift since the original large-scale voting studies were initiated in the 1940s and 1950s (Guterbock, 1980).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Voting Participation in the U.S. Presidential Elections specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the American context, the presidential elections are often a hotly contested affair between the traditionally business-oriented Republicans and the labor-oriented Democrats (Gelman, Kenworthy Su, 2010). However, as suggested by Gonzalez (2012), U.S. presidential elections are won on a number of platforms other than the philosophical leanings of the candidates or party interests. In this regard, it is important to evaluate the determinants of voting participation in the U.S. presidential el ections not only to assist political parties to polish their campaigns during the electioneering period, but also to inform policy decisions at the party level. While it is a well known fact that most Americans consider themselves as Republican or Democrat, a strand of existing political literature (e.g., Newman, 2001; Pasek et al., 2009; Weisberg, 2007) demonstrates that presidential election results are paradoxically predicated upon a multiplicity of factors other than partisan voting. While these studies exhibit rekindled interest in the existence of factors outside party identification that are intrinsically involved in determining the results of the presidential election (Holbrook McClurg, 2005), less attention has been devoted to examining the mechanisms by which these factors activate or deactivate partisanship and mobilize core supporters toward voting for a particular presidential candidate Wildavsky, 2011). Interestingly, many of these studies tend to deal with individual factors to understand voting patterns in U.S. presidential elections though common practice demonstrates that a number of factors are involved in efforts to shape the voting discourse and trajectory. The present study aims to fill this research gap by analyzing four possible determinants of voting participation in U.S. presidential elections: media, religion, social economic status and level of education. A comprehensive review of these factors is presented in the subsequent sections.Advertising Looking for research paper on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Available literature demonstrates that the media (print, electronic, Internet) has an agenda-setting capacity or â€Å"the ability to influence not what people think, but what they think about† (Newton Brynin, 2001 p. 225). This view is reinforced by Gonzalez (2012), who acknowledges that most modern media platforms have the capacity to prime or frame is sues in a manner that leads the audience or users to think about them in one way rather than another. Extending and supporting the work in this nascent area of research, Newman (2001) claims that victory in the U.S. presidential election often goes to the candidate who wages the best marketing campaign using available media platforms not only to make an emotional connection with the people, but also to project an image of honesty, compassion and toughness in the minds and hearts of the American people. Other scholars note that â€Å"both candidates and voters have increased their use of the Internet for political campaigns† (Robertson, Vatrapu Medina, 2010 p. 11). Presidential candidates, according to these authors, have adopted many Internet-based tools to communicate with voters, collect contributions, foster community and organize political campaigns, whereas voters have adopted Internet tools to relate to the presidential candidates, engage in political discourse, follow activist causes, and share information. The relationship between religion and the U.S. presidential elections has been investigated by a number of scholars. In his seminal work on religious identity and the U.S. presidency, Gonzalez (2012) found that â€Å"the relationship between religion and the presidency impacts both the viability of candidates and the manner in which decisions are made in the voting booth† (p. 568). In the 2012 presidential elections, for instance, Republican candidate Mitt Romney suffered considerable stigma from the American voters due to his close association with Mormon religious doctrines (Gonzalez, 2012).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Voting Participation in the U.S. Presidential Elections specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Manza and Brooks (1997) are of the opinion that in the U.S political landscape, religious-oriented cleavages may have been a more fundamental fact or for understanding the social roots of voter alignments than the class cleavage owing to the fact that Americans normally claim higher levels of church membership and attendance at religious gatherings and hence are more likely to believe in God and claim that religion is of substantial importance in their lives. Social economic status has been shown as a possible determinant of voting participation in the U.S. presidential elections. A study by Southwell (2004) shows that unemployed and economically-disadvantaged people are less likely to take part in voting, whereas their employed and rich counterparts derive much satisfaction from participating in presidential elections. This author further explains that persons experiencing financial difficulties are â€Å"less likely to participate in elections because the stressful nature of economic adversity forces a preoccupation with personal economic problems and makes the individual withdraw from political or community matters as a re sult† (p. 237-238). Guterbock (1980) used ecological data from the Midwestern city of Middletown to demonstrate that although there is a perceived weakening of the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and electoral choices, a considerable number of eligible Americans continue to vote along class and racial lines. According to the researcher, wealthy people and those in white-collar occupations continue to vote for Republican candidates to maintain the status quo, while middle class (working class) voters and immigrants vote for Democrat candidates because the policies projected by the Democratic Party are perceived as more responsive to their interests. Lastly, a number of research studies have investigated the relationship between a voter’s level of education and his or her voting participation in the U.S. presidential elections. Although the results are not conclusive, Coley and Sum (2012) â€Å"reveal a startling stratification at the nation’s poll ing stations, from a voting rate of 3.5 percent for voting-age high school dropouts to 80.5 percent for well-off, advanced-degree holders between the ages of 55 and 64† (p. 2).Advertising Looking for research paper on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These authors found a significant association between the level of education and civic engagement (e.g., participating in elections), leading to the conclusion that the nation’s less-educated, lower-income eligible voters have willingly disenfranchised themselves form the voting process. One Canadian study analyzing the last federal election found that â€Å"the voting rate among people with a university degree was 78% compared with rates of 60% or lower among those with a high school education or less† (Uppal LaRochelle-Cote, 2012 para. 12). These figures demonstrate that education may have a ‘positive effect’ on voting patterns not only in the U.S. but also internationally. The present study is interested in testing the following hypotheses. The first hypothesis is that voters with high media exposure (TV) are more likely to participate in U.S. presidential elections than voters with low media exposure. The second hypothesis is that voters with a solid religious orientation are more likely to determine the outcomes of the U.S. presidential election than voters with a secular orientation. he third hypothesis is that social economic status is a strong predictor in determining the probability of voting in the U.S. presidential elections. The last hypothesis is that voters with low levels of education are less likely to take part in presidential elections than voters with high levels of education. Methods The data for this study were extracted from a larger database known as the General Social Survey (GSS), which is basically a nationwide survey intended to capture the demographic, behavioral and attitudinal views of Americans on a wide range of issues. The GSS is a probability sampling national survey completed through personal questionnaires targeted at non-institutionalized individuals over the age of 18 years. Information from the GSS official website shows that â€Å"the 1972-2012 GSS has 5,545 variables, time-trends for 2,072 v ariables, and 268 trends having 20+ data points† (General Social Survey, 2013 para. 2). The 1996 data set was used in this study, and the sample size drawn for analysis consisted of 1,419 Americans. Data relevant to the dependent and the independent variables were used to test the hypotheses. Questions were posed to the participants and the responses entered into the corresponding categories in line with a quantitative approach. However, some items were not operationalized and required the respondents to give their responses in an open-ended manner. These responses were later operationalized by the researcher around underlying themes and then analyzed quantitatively using the IBM SPSS Statistics program. While the ordinal level of measurement was mostly used when values for the responses represented categories with some intrinsic ranking, the nominal level of measurement was used when values for the responses showed no form of intrinsic ranking, whereas the scale level of meas urement was employed when values for the responses represented ordered categories demonstrating a meaningful metric (Balnaves Caputi, 2001). For this study, the independent variables include respondent’s highest level of education (measured using ordinal level by ranking participants against the intrinsic categories for educational achievement), TV hours and Internet hours (measured using scale level by stating the number of hours respondents use per day watching TV), respondents income for the last year (measured using ordinal level by entering the respondent’s income for the last year into predetermined intrinsic categories), and belief in life after death (measured using nominal level as a â€Å"YES/NO† response). The dependent variable is whether the respondents voted in the 1996 U.S. presidential election. As already mentioned, the sample size for this study is 1,419. Quantitative techniques were employed to analyze the data with the view to testing the st ated hypotheses. Descriptive statistics (frequency distributions and cross tabulations) were used to demonstrate the frequency of occurrence and the relationships between the dependent and independent variables. Chi-square tests were also done for purposes of identifying which frequencies and relationships could be considered statistically significant. The results are presented in the following section. Results Table 1 shows the cross-tabulation of the number of number of hours per day respondents spent watching TV and if they voted in the 1996 presidential elections. It is imperative to note that over two-thirds (67.9%) of respondents who spent a minimum of two hours per day watching the TV voted against only 118 (25.1%) who spent the same number of hours but did not vote. Similarly, 205 (67.9%) of respondents who spent 3-5 hours watching the news voted in the 1996 general elections against 23 (27.6%) who spent similar number of hours but did not vote. The Pearson Chi-Square test s howed a df of 45 and two-sided significance of 0.290, while the Spearman Correlation Coefficient showed an approximate significance of 0.082. Consequently, the level of occurrences and relationship is significant enough to prove that voters with high media exposure are more likely to participate in voting than voters with low media exposure. Table 1: Hours spent watching TV and Participation in 1996 General Elections Hours per day watching TV (n=880) Did Respondent Vote in 1996 General Election Voted Did not Vote Ineligible Refused to Answer Total 0-2 hrs 319 (67.9) 118 (25.1) 33 (7.0) 0 470 (53.4) 3-5 hrs 205 (64.3) 88 (27.6) 25 (7.8) 1 (0.3) 319 (36.3) 6-8 hrs 33 (55.9) 23 (39.0) 3 (5.1) 0 59 (6.7) Over 8 hrs 17 (53.1) 15 (46.9) 0 0 32 (3.6) Total 574 (65.2) 244 (27.7) 61 (6.9) 1(0.9) 880 (100) N.B: Row percentages are presented in parenthesis Table 2 shows the cross-tabulation of perceptions of belief in life after death (to demonstrate religiosity) and if res pondents voted in the 1996 presidential elections. From the cross-tabulation, it is clear that out of 521 valid cases of respondents who voted in the 1996 presidential elections, 449 (86.2%) believed in life after death (religiosity) while only 72 (13.8%) of those who voted said there was no life after death. The Pearson Chi square and linear-by-linear association showed a weak relationship between the independent and dependent variable (0.003 and 0.004 respectively at 0.05 significance level) but the high occurrence of those who voted in the 1996 election and demonstrated a faith or belief in life after death proves that voters with a solid religious orientation are more likely to determine the outcomes of the U.S. presidential election than voters with a secular orientation. Table 2: Belief in Life after Death and Participation in the 1996 Presidential Elections Belief in Life after Death (n=807) Did Respondent Vote in 1996 General Election Voted Did not Vote Ineligible Total Yes 449 (86.2) 181 (78.3) 40 ( 72.7) 670 (83.0) No 72 (13.8) 50 (21.7) 15 (27.3) 137 (17.0) Total 521 (64.6) 231 (28.6) 55 (6.8) 807 (100) N.B: Column percentages are presented in parenthesis Table 3 demonstrates the cross-tabulation between the social economic status (measured by income for last year) of respondents and if they voted in the 1996 presidential elections. From the cross-tabulation, it is evident that of the 573 respondents who participated in the 1996 presidential election, 105 (18.3 %) earned a salary of up to $12,999 per year, 341(59.5%) respondents earned between $12,500 and $49,000, and a further 127 (22.2%) earned $50,000 or more per year. The Pearson Chi-square and linear-by-linear association (both at 0.000 at 0.05 significance level) demonstrated no significant association that could have given credence to the hypothesis in symmetric measures. However, the cross-tabulation analysis proves that social economic status (as measured by respondents†™ income for the previous year) is a strong predictor for participation during presidential elections. Table 3 Respondents Income for Last Year and Participation in 1996 Presidential Election Income for Last Year (n=905) Did Respondent Vote in 1996 General Election Voted Did not Vote Ineligible Total Under $3,999 38 (6.6) 20 (7.1) 20 (39.2) 78 (8.6) $4000-6,999 24 (4.9) 16 (5.7) 9 (17.7) 49 (5.4) $7000-12,499 43 (7.5) 34 (12.1) 5 (9.8) 82 (9.1) $12,500-19,999 70 (12.2) 62 (22.1) 6 (11.8) 138 (15.3) $20,000-29,999 90 (15.7) 65 (23.1) 3 (5.9) 158 (17.5) $30,000-49,999 181 (31.6) 58 (20.6) 5 (9.8) 244 (26.9) $50,000-89,999 100 (17.5) 22 (7.8) 2 (3.9) 124 (13.7) $90,000 and above 27 (4.7) 4 (1.4) 1 (2.0) 32 (3.5) Total 573 (63.3) 281 (31.1) 51 (5.6) 905 (100.0) N.B: Column percentages are presented in parenthesis Table 4 shows the cross-tabulation analysis of the respondents’ highest level of education and participation in the 1996 presidential elect ion. The Pearson chi-square analysis and linear-by-linear association both demonstrated that there was a significant relationship between level of education and participation in presidential voting (Pearson Chi-square = 103.702, df-6, p =.004; linear-by-linear association = 93.526, df = 1, p = 0.000). The Lambda measure of association revealed a strong association between variables (0.774). Table 4: Educational Level and Participation in 1996 Presidential Election Educational Level (degree) (n=1366) Did Respondent Vote in 1996 General Election Voted Did not Vote Ineligible Total Less than high school 95 (10.8) 99 (25.1) 32 (36.0) 226 (16.5) High School 441 (49.9) 218 (55.3) 45 (50.6) 704 (51.5) Junior College or More 347 (39.3) 77 (19.5) 12 (13.5) 436 (32.0) Total 883 (64.6) 394 (28.8) 89 (6.5) 1366 (100.0) N.B: Row percentages are presented in parenthesis The cross-tabulation above demonstrates that out of the 883 respondents who participated in the 1996 president ial voting, 778 (89.2%) had a high school degree and above. This analysis together with the measures of association and significance proves that voters with low levels of education are less likely to take part in presidential elections than voters with high levels of education. Discussion The findings of this study demonstrate that media exposure, religion, social economic status and level of education are important determinants of voter participation in the U.S. presidential elections. Consequently, the present study reinforces findings of other studies that have evaluated individuals attributes (variables) and found them to have a significant influence on voting behaviors and patterns. In this study, media exposure has been found to be positively associated with a high likelihood of participating in presidential elections. This can be explained in terms of the capacity of media platforms to set the agenda of political campaigns with the view to influencing what the voters think ab out (Newton Brynin, 2001), and also in terms media’s capacity to prime or frame political issues in a manner that will lead the audience to see the need for casting their vote on the election day (Gonzalez, 2012). Through priming and framing of issues in Television channels, candidates are able to not only project an appealing image to the audience, but also create an emotional bond with viewers (Robertson et al., 2010, hence sustaining the audience’ desire to participate in elections. This study has also demonstrated how religious orientation is critical to informing voter decision to participate in presidential elections. However, as insinuated by Manza and Brooks (1997) that religious-oriented cleavages may have been a more fundamental factor for understanding the social roots of voter alignments than the class cleavage, the present study found both variables to be equally important in influencing voter participation in U.S. presidential election. In social class, this study reinforces the findings of other previous studies (e.g., Guterbock, 1980; Southwell, 2004) that economically disadvantaged Americans are less likely to vote than their well-off counterparts. The level of education has also being shown as a strong predictor to voting participation during the presidential elections, with findings demonstrating that eligible voters who have been unable to graduate from high school are less likely to vote than high school graduates and diploma/degree holders. Although the voting pattern (3.5% for eligible high school dropouts to 80.5% for well-off, advanced degree holders) demonstrated by Cole and Sum (2012) has not been replicated in this study, the view that uneducated voters are less likely to participate in elections than more educated voters has been well reinforced. There exist some limitations to the present study. First, the use of secondary data has brought difficulties in operationalizing some variables such as religion. The researc her had to rely on evaluating if respondents believed in life after death to determine their religious orientation. However, common knowledge demonstrates that not all people who believe in life after death are religious and not all religious people believe in life after death. The case of missing data values also presented a challenge during data analysis. Additionally, it can be said that some of the variables used are limited in scope and therefore could not be relied upon in a rigorous scientific research. Because presidential elections are a closely contested affair in the United States, it is imperative for policy makers and political players to know the factors that determine the participation of voters in the election. Knowledge of such determinants (media, social economic status, religion, and level of education) will not only help in prioritizing campaign needs for political parties, but also in ensuring that effective strategies are employed to woo voters to participate i n elections. It should be remembered that presidential candidate Mitt Romney lost considerable number of votes due to poor understanding of religious orientation as an important underpinning in U.S. elections. It is therefore suggested that more research needs to be done to analyze the dynamics of these determinants and how they are played out in party politics. References Balnaves, M., Caputi, P. (2001). Introduction to quantitative research methods: An investigative approach. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Coley, R.J., Sum, A. (2012). Fault lines in our democracy: Civic knowledge, voting behavior, and civic engagement in the United States. Retrieved from http://www.ets.org/s/research/19386/rsc/pdf/18719_fault_lines_report.pdf Gelman, A., Kenworthy, L., Su, Y.S. (2010). Income inequality and partisan voting in the United States. Social Science Quarterly, 91(5), 1203-1219. Retrieved from http://www.stat.columbia.edu/~gelman/research/published/ssqfinal.pdf General Social Su rvey. (2013). Retrieved from http://www3.norc.org/gss+website/ Gonzalez, M.A. (2012). Religion and the US presidency: Politics, the media, and religious identity. Political Theology, 13(5), 565-585. Guterbock, T.M. (1980). Social class and voting choices in Middletown. Social Forces, 58(4), 1044-1056. Holbrook, T.M., McClurg, S.D. (2005). The mobilization of core supporters: Campaigns, turnout, and electoral composition in United States elections. American Journal of Political Science, 49(4), 689-703. Manza, J., Brooks, C. (1997). The religious factor in U.S. presidential elections, 1960-1992. AJS, 103(1), 38-81. Retrieved from http://as.nyu.edu/docs/IO/3858/The_Religious_Factor_in_U.S._Presidential_Elections.pdf Newman, B.I. (2001). An assessment of the 2000 US presidential election: A set of political marketing guidelines. Journal of Public Affairs, 1(3), 210-216. Newton, K., Brynin, M. (2001). The national press and party voting in the UK. Political Studies, 49(2), 265-285. Pa sek, J., Tahk, A., Lelkes, Y., Krosnick, J.A., Payne, B.K., Akhter, O., Tompson, T. (2009). Determinants of turnout and candidate choice in the 2008 U.S. presidential election: Illuminating the impact of racial prejudice and other considerations. Public Opinion Quarterly, 73(5), 943-994. Retrieved from https://www.stanford.edu/dept/communication/faculty/krosnick/docs/2008/2008_poq_pasek_determinants.pdf Robertson, S.P., Vatrapu, R.K., Medina, R. (2010). Off the wall political discourse: Facebook use in the 2008 U.S, presidential election. Information Polity: The International Journal of Government Democracy in the Information Age, 15(1/2), 11-31. Southwell, P. (2004). Economic voting in volatile times. Journal of Political Military Sociology, 32(2), 237-247. Uppal, S., LaRochelle-Cote, S. (2012). Factors associated with voting. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75-001-x/2012001/article/11629-eng.htm Weisberg, H.F. (2007). The one thing you need to know about voting in American presidential elections. Retrieved from http://www.rochester.edu/college/psc/conferences/niemi2007/pdf/Voting%20in%20Presidential%20Elections.pdf Wildavsky, A. (2011). Presidential elections: Strategies and structures of American politics. New York, NY: Rowman Littlefield Publishers. This research paper on Voting Participation in the U.S. Presidential Elections was written and submitted by user Brylee Franklin to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Are the Effects of the Digital World and Internet on Our Modern Life Style Negative or Positive

Are the Effects of the Digital World and Internet on Our Modern Life Style Negative or Positive How do you feel when your laptop requires repairing, your Internet connection is broken, and your iPhone is left at home? Such perspectives seem to be too dangerous for you? If it is so, you are a representative of a modern digital nation which lives in our digital world.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Are the Effects of the Digital World and Internet on Our Modern Life Style Negative or Positive? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More What are the main peculiarities of this world? Why do the representatives of the digital nation differ from the people of, for instance, the 1970th 1980th period? The information is the main concept of the digital world, and the value of the information technologies is the main peculiar feature of the digital nation. Today it is impossible to imagine our society without the Internet, mobile phones, and other technologies which give us the opportunity to access to the great amounts of the information at any place and at any time. New conditions of life which depend on the development of the information technologies create a new pattern of the public’s life style. It is possible to say that the effects of the digital world on our modern life style can be considered as predominantly negative because the progress of the information technologies involves the changes in the typical life style of many people, influences their activities, their consciousness, and relations with the other persons. The debates on the influence of the Internet on the young people’s minds develop since the time when the Internet became such an ordinary part of our everyday life as the television. Nevertheless, it was rather difficult to predict such an expansion of the Internet round the world and determining Web as the giant database or a library which can function as cinema, theatre, and museums at once. According to Adam Gopnik, â€Å"the Internet is just a loud and unlimi ted library in which we now live – as if one went to sleep every night in the college stacks, surrounded by pamphlets and polemics and possibilities† (Gopnik). It is only several years ago researchers began to speak openly about such issues as the negative effects of the Internet on the public’s minds and to develop the necessary investigations. The results of their researches accentuate the fact that every time when we use the Internet connection in order to find the necessary information or to participate in the virtual reality we experience the great impact which is provided by the information from the Internet. This impact is considered as negative because our brains begin to function atypically in order to cope with a lot of the information of different kinds. This controversial information along with the discussion of many other provocative aspects is presented in the project created by Rachel Dretzin and Douglas Rushkoff which and known as Digital Nation ( â€Å"Digital Nation†).Advertising Looking for assessment on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, those processes which can be observed in our brains when we are involved in the virtual reality are still not examined properly, but those findings which are available to the public provide rather pessimistic perspectives on the question of the influence of the Internet on our minds, intelligence, and consciousness. In his article â€Å"The Information†, Adam Gopnik also focuses on the fact that â€Å"the Internet breaks down our capacity for reflective thought† (Gopnik). Thus, a lot of the information which is offered in the Internet is given as the facts which do not stimulate the public’s critical thinking. Moreover, people are always at risks to perceive the information which is not reliable without analyzing its main points and credibility. The other aspect of t he influence of the Internet on the public’s minds is the special physical and moral state which is often the result of the everyday involvement in the virtual life. Thus, Adam Gopnik emphasizes the fact that many people when they describe their state while using the Internet are inclined to depict it in such words as â€Å"disassociation and fragmentation† and moreover, he states that â€Å"life was once whole, continuous, stable; now it is fragmented, multi-part, shimmering around us, unstable and impossible to fix† (Gopnik). Paying attention to those effects which the Internet has on the people’s minds and consciousness, it is not surprising to accentuate the numerous facts of the public’s addiction from the Internet. Today many young people choose to spend all their spare time in the virtual reality which provides them with virtual friends, a lot of emotions and feelings. The level of the social activity of those persons who spend their days in front of their laptops is low because almost all their interactions take place in the space of the Internet. Are their any dangerous effects in such a behavior or we should not worry? Ben Turner concentrates on the psychologists’ investigations and concludes that there is â€Å"a link between the disinterest in public participation in local and national affairs and the increase of instances of Internet addiction† (Turner). The Internet addiction hides a lot of risks for young people which are connected with the character of their social interactions, real communication, and being aware of themselves as the part of the real society, bit not the virtual reality. The Internet addiction can be considered as the abstract notion which will not be associated with us, but with somebody else. Nevertheless, according to the data from Digital Nation, today many young people in such a developed country as South Korea have to get rid of the Internet addiction (â€Å"Digital Natio n†). The Internet addiction is interdependent with the feeling of the catastrophic loneliness which is typical for those people who made the Internet the major part of their life. In spite of the fact they spend much time communicating online with the help of chats and social networks, the feeling of loneliness which is the result of the real communication’s lack is too painful for them. Many young people are inclined to check their e-mails and Facebook instead of communicating with the members of their family.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Are the Effects of the Digital World and Internet on Our Modern Life Style Negative or Positive? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More When they reject the real interactions with real emotions they create their own illusion of communication in the Internet. The Internet communication is effective for solving business matters, but it is rather unsuccessful for perso nal relations. Sharing interests in music and movie with our virtual friends, we become more and more distant from our relatives and real friends. In the most dangerous cases this situation can lead to the public’s isolation. To conclude, it is necessary to state that the rapid development of the digital world provides a lot of issues for our modern digital nation. To overcome all the provocative and controversial aspects of this process, it is significant to pay attention to the negative effects of the situation. It is impossible to imagine our life without the Internet, but it is possible to avoid the extremes in involving it in our life style. â€Å"Digital Nation: Life on the Virtual Frontier†. PBS Frontline. 2 Feb. 2010. Video. Web. Gopnik, Adam. â€Å"The Information†. The New Yorker. 14 Feb. 2011. Web. Turner, Ben. The Internet’s Effect on Relationships: Detrimental or Beneficial? 18 Mar. 2010. Web.

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Controversy analysis essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Controversy analysis - Essay Example The research question that interests me much is the one that tries to explore the positive and negative effects of abortion (Do the pros of abortion outweigh the cons of abortion to support its legality?) The most interesting thing observed a legal limit of 24 weeks that is safe for abortion. The most convenient time is said to be 12 weeks after conception. This is further explained in that the longer the pregnancy is, the harder the process of abortion becomes. 1. What is something interesting you read in the first article that you didn’t know before? The most interesting thing learnt on the first article on abortion is that most of the modern methods of abortion are safe and do not cause health issues such as infertility and mental health to the person involved. This is as compared to the traditional methods which caused even death of both the mother and the fetus.These methods also give the option to terminate pregnancies, which are viewed to have abnormalities. 2. What is something interesting you read in the second article that you didn’t know before? Both heterosexuals and homosexuals should be given equal rights .this is further explained in that sexual orientation is more determined by nature rather than nurture. Individuals in both do not have any control in the way they are sexually oriented. Both of these topics (abortion, gay rights) are controversial since they seem to go against the rules and regulations of morality in the society. They are usually not easily accepted in the society as they seem to go against the norms or what people view to be right or wrong. Few people can go publicly advocating them or confess to involve in any of the two. The age at which an individual can undergo the process of abortion without exposing her to health problems, the views that teenagers have on abortion and reproductive health and how they