Foreign Aid

Prompt:

There are two words that politicians take care to avoid: foreign aid. Instead, decision makers often sidestep the issue. Many believe that it is the United States’ obligation as the wealthiest nation in the world to help those who are poorer. Others feel that charity begins at home and question whether the people of those countries that receive aid actually benefit directly. Furthermore, they question whether there are any benefits for the united states. In your view, is foreign aid helpful? To whom? Carefully explain the rationale for your position.

Essay:

Foreign aid is a controversial subject because it involves the spending of money on others. American people in the United States have a hard time understanding why their money is not being applied to improve conditions at home. This misunderstanding is because America is a wealthy nation, and so it is hard to imagine what living in a third world country is like. Foreign aid is helpful to poorer nations because the governments of those nations are unable to support their people. The United States has an obligation to provide foreign aid to those less fortunate, so that those nations can rise above the poverty.

In America, there are homeless people, people who cannot afford health care, and children who cannot afford to go to school. Individuals set up scholarships, charities, shelters, etc. to help these people succeed in life. These individuals don’t have to help, but they do. The United States is in the same situation. The United States has the ability to provide food, shelter, education, etc. for other less fortunate countries. To know the problem is there in the world and to not do anything about it is selfish.

The countries that receive the aid benefit directly. As with all things, results take time to surface. Supplying foreign aid and then expecting to see results immediately is impossible. In the example of the earthquake in Haiti that left millions homeless, they were unable to reconstruct their country without the aid of other countries. Even now, after a year, Haiti is still trying to rebuild their country. Results may not be largely noticeable, but the foreign aid is helping tremendously.

Helping Haiti, and any other countries that require aid, also helps the United States as a world power. Other countries see the United States as an example, as a leader of nations, and will follow the United States’ footsteps. This helps enforce the United States as a dominant nation.
In conclusion, the United States should continue to provide foreign aid to poorer countries because it benefits both parties. The poorer country is able to provide more for its people, creating a better world economy. The United States is able to remain a world leader among all nations.

Mergers

Prompt:

In recent years, there have been a number of mergers between firms in entertainment, communications, publishing, banking, automobile manufacturing, and other industries. Some think that mergers result in lower operating costs, greater efficiency, and increased productivity for businesses. Others think such mergers are beneficial because they result in enhanced services and lower costs for consumers. However, some argue that mergers are not beneficial for society because they often result in loss of jobs and may reduce people’s access to goods and information. In your view, are mergers beneficial? Carefully explain the rationale for your position.

Essay:

Everything has its pros and cons. Mergers between firms in entertainment, communications, publishing, banking, automobile manufacturing, and other industries are no different. There are benefits and costs to mergers. In the end, the benefits for merging companies outweigh the cons. Mergers are beneficial because they allow companies to operate more efficiently, they help failing companies succeed, and they allow new competitors to enter the markets.

When there are two firms running similar operations in the same industry, it is beneficial for both companies to merge because it creates efficiency and lower costs overall. Instead of two different accounting departments or two different marketing departments, there will be one merged department, which will follow the same guidelines as the rest of the merged company. This helps bring the best employees and the best practices from both companies together, creating an entirely new, improved, and efficient company that will be able to serve its customers.

In a merger there is always a strong firm and a weak firm. The strong firm will usually apply their company values and training systems throughout the merged company. The weaker company needed to merge or else, they would have been eliminated by their competition. That would cause the company to go under and thousands of people would lose their jobs. With a merged company, the less productive and less efficient employees would be let go. The weaker company would become strong once again.

When two firms merge into one, it allows newer firms to grow and compete in the same industry. The merged firm cannot serve every customer base out there, which allows smaller companies to grow larger and wider. The smaller companies will also be trying to compete in new ways in which the merged company will need to adapt to, and this allows the industry competition to mature. Smaller firms will emerge because it is much easier to compete with one large company than two.

In conclusion, mergers are beneficial to consumers, employees, and firms of all industries because it allows companies to operate more efficiently by eliminating weak areas. Mergers also help weak or failing companies succeed, allowing people to keep the jobs that they have. New competitors will see the merger of two companies into one, and see it as an opportunity to grow. Although everything has its pros and cons, mergers are more beneficial than they are harmful.

Computer Graded Essays

Prompt:

Most exams today require students to write an essay, much like this one. Because of the sheer number of essays to be graded, some universities are experimenting with a computerized grading system. Students feel that a machine cannot comprehend a student’s argument. On the other hand, the argument goes, a computer can determine whether the student addressed a specific question and can judge the essay’s structure. In your view, how can this situation be resolved? Carefully explain the rationale for your position.

Essay:

Essays are written to persuade a reader on a particular argument. Essays include facts and counterarguments that support the position the writer has taken. An essay is written from the heart and mind and therefore cannot be graded by a machine. A machine is only accurate when there is a right and wrong answer, which is not the case when it comes to essays. In addition, every student has a different way of thinking and writing essays. To get the most accurate results, essays should be read and graded by hand.

When taking a multiple-choice test, students are to choose the correct answer. There is only one correct answer and the rest of the options are incorrect. This is the ideal situation for using a computer to grade students’ understanding. A computer can only be programmed to determine what is right and what is wrong. A computer cannot think or understand the content in an essay. A computer cannot determine whether a student addressed a specific question because there are different ways to answer a question.

No two people are alike. There are many different answers and solutions to the same problem. Because of this, essays should be graded by hand. A person reading an essay can comprehend a student’s argument much better than a computer. A person would never ask a computer to write an essay. Why? It is impossible for a computer to write an argument in a cohesive manner. Computers are filled with information that humans put into it. A computer has to be told what to do with all the information because a computer will never be able to think on its own and comprehend what the information means. Since computers cannot write essays, why should they be used to grade them? The results would be inaccurate and poor.

Only a human being should grade essays, not a computer. Computers should only be used to grade questions that have a right answer and wrong answer. Computers were created to make our lives easier, but not to take over our lives. An argument in an essay cannot be understood by a machine, and so therefore, essays cannot be accurately graded by a computer.

Cloning

Prompt:

There are numerous viewpoints on the subject of cloning. One side feels that the long-term benefits of cloning – primarily a search for medical cures – is worth the effort, but with some restrictions. Others argue that there is a strong potential for abuse in this era of corporate corruption, dishonesty, and misunderstanding. In your view, aside from religious and moral considerations, who should best make the determination whether cloning is legalized: doctors, politicians, or religious leaders? Carefully explain the rationale for your position.

Essay:

Cloning has long been a controversial subject. Some argue that people will misuse and abuse the power to clone. Others argue that the medical gains from cloning are extraordinary. Doctors, politicians, and religious leaders all argue different positions. Aside from religious and moral considerations, doctors will best make the determination whether cloning is legalized. Doctors have the most knowledge about the human body. Doctors are trusted by those who seek their advice. Doctors also know diseases better than politicians and religious leaders. With someone knowledgeable about the human body available, corporate corruption, dishonesty, and misunderstanding will be close to nonexistent.

When a person is sick, whether it is the flu or cancer, they go seek the professional diagnosis of their symptoms from a doctor. Doctors have studied the human body and disease. They know that a runny nose and a sore throat is more likely to be because of a cold, not a stomach infection. Because of this, doctors are able to determine whether a patient would benefit from cloning. Politicians and religious leaders were not educated in the fields of medicine or science. They are not the best decision makers when it comes to legalizing cloning.

Doctors know the most about diseases and what causes them. They are the best group of people to judge whether or not cloning is necessary and what types of cloning procedures are most beneficial. In many cases, cloning can help cure patients for the long-term.

With doctors making the decision to legalize cloning, there will also be less corporate corruption and dishonesty. Politicians argue for the people and are influenced by the people. Corporations fund a lot of political campaigns and so politicians are heavily influence by corporations. This allows corporate corruption to occur on a wider scale than with religious leaders or doctors. It is also possible for politicians to argue views that are in favor of their financial supporters. Religious leaders do not argue for the people and are uneducated in the areas of medicine and science. They don’t have the understanding of the exact affects of cloning. When patients get advice from doctors, they also have the freedom to go to multiple doctors to get different opinions. This eliminates all dishonesty and misunderstanding.

In conclusion, doctors are the best decision makers in the case of legalizing cloning. They are the most knowledgeable group of professionals in the areas of human medicine and science.

Entertainers in Politics

Prompt 1
In today’s political environment, we have seen the emergence of popular entertainers – singers, musicians, movie stars, and so on – taking center stage to promote and raise money for the candidates of their choice. Some people feel that these entertainers should stick to their own business, while others believe that they have a right, and perhaps even an obligation, to speak their minds. In your view, what do you think the role of entertainers should be in politics? Do they exert undue influence because of their popularity and easy access to the media? Carefully explain the rationale for your position.

In America, we have the freedom to speak about issues we feel strongly about. A political candidate campaigning across the nation welcomes any support from American citizens. Popular entertainers - singers, musicians, and movie stars - are American citizens. They have the same right as anyone else to support a political candidate. Popular entertainers can promote and raise money for their candidate more effectively because people already know and trust them.

Because of their popularity and media exposure, popular entertainers can reach more people. A political candidate cannot be in multiple places at once. It is much more effective if a well known entertainer can go to the areas where the political candidate cannot be, rather than an unknown citizen. Larger amounts of people will turn up to the event hosted by the entertainer to listen to what they have to say. The more people you reach, the more funds you can raise and the more you can promote the candidate. The promotion of political candidates is also volunteer based so you know the entertainers who are doing the promotion really believe in the person they are promoting.

In the past we have also seen popular entertainers taking the political stage as a candidate. Ronald Reagan became president of the United States. Arnold Schwarzenegger became Governor of California. Popular entertainers should not be limited in the political realm. If politics is something they are passionate about, they should be allowed to pursue it.

Entertainers should be allowed to speak their minds and promote a political candidate they believe in. Entertainers should also be allowed to run for any political office and not be limited to the entertainment industry. The role of entertainers in politics is just like any other citizen's role. Any qualified citizen can become a political candidate and any citizen should have the right to promote a candidate they believe in.

“All art is an imitation of nature.”

3. Essay Prompt:

Consider carefully the following quotation. Then read the assignment below it and plan and write your essay as directed.

“All art is an imitation of nature.”

—Seneca, Roman philosopher, c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 65

Assignment: Do you agree with this statement? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your position on this issue. Support your point of view with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Nature consists of the most beautiful creatures and scenery. We see many artists try to capture what they see in the form of sculptures, paintings, drawings, and film, as well as other various forms of media. To say that all art is an imitation of nature, though, is a mistake. Artists create as a means to express themselves. Nature sometimes inspires artistic creation, but artists do not imitate nature. There are similarities between nature and art because artists also tend to copy what they see is perfection. Also, besides nature, there are other influences of inspiration to artists, such as the events in their lives.

When you go to a museum, you can see many renderings of landscape sceneries, plants, animals, and people.

Also, when you are just learning a new task, or just starting a new job, you will require training. Who trains you? It is someone with the expertise and the knowledge. In life, there are always those people you meet that are successful in your eyes. They know more, have more experience than you. They are the greatest people to learn from. In art that applies as well. Artists imitate better artists to get to where they want to me. Mother Nature is the greatest artist of all. The world is filled with her sculptures and creations. For an artist trying to improve his work, She is the best teacher, the greatest artist to imitate. Each flower, each animal, is so unique and detailed.

Being surrounded in Mother Nature, away from the people and the city, can also have an effect on people. It can change people. In the city, it has been proven that people are less prone to obesity because they walk more and have busier lives than people who live in the country. The studies that have been done to prove this reveal the different lifestyles of different parts of the country. An artist who lives in the city, taking a vacation in the countryside, will change. That change will affect the artist's work as well.

Artists create as a means of self expression. The mediums and materials they use are all ways of expressing thought and emotion. All art is not an imitation of nature. Nature is just one form of inspiration. Artists are also inspired by their environment and events that affect their lives. Look at Salvador Dali's work. There are things in his paintings that cannot be seen in nature. It is from his imagination that those paintings were created.

“It is as difficult to start things as it is to finish things.”

Essay Prompt:

Consider carefully the following statement. Then read the assignment below it and plan and write your essay as directed.

“It is as difficult to start things as it is to finish things.”

Assignment: Do you agree with this statement? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your position on this issue. Support your point of view with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

People today are fulfilling various roles at the same time. Mothers are sisters are daughters are teachers. Managers are friends are spouses are parents. People are constantly juggling multiple jobs whether they realize it or not. Each job involved different projects with different timelines. It is as difficult to start new things as it is to finish new things because we all have multiple events going on in our lives.

To start something, you need to have the inspiration, the motivation, and the planning to be able to get the ball rolling. For example, when someone decides to lose weight, that idea came from somewhere. They saw a picture in a magazine, or they were inspired by stories of others who have achieved a goal. This initially inspires and motivates a person to decide to lose weight. Next is the difficult step. How to lose weight? To lose weight, one must plan to go to the gym or to go to a park to exercise. It is difficult for someone to start losing weight because they are so used to their current routine. Starting a new routine also takes people out of their comfort zone, out of an environment they are used to, and that makes people shy and scared.

After you have started something and gotten in the rhythm of your new routine, you have the challenge of staying focused. Most times, when people start to see results, they feel like, ok, I can stop. They haven't reached their goal yet and they want to quit because they think they have done enough. It is also challenging to continue to stay motivated while reaching your goals. For example when someone is trying to lose weight, they might slack off in the process. You exercise three times a week, so once in a while you feel like you can take a day off. Or when someone is trying to lose weight and they start to see noticeable loss, they will stop because they are content with where they are right now. They don't realize that not continuing with the new routine will just bring them back to where they were before they started exercising.

That is why it is hard to finish. When you become used to a routine, you start to see less change and more repetition. You feel like what you are doing isn't helping anymore so you want to quit. It is easier to just stop what you are doing than to continue. When you are taking classes in school, many times you just want to drop the class because it is too difficult. It is much easier to stop studying and to withdraw from the class, but anyone can do that.

You have to mentally prepare yourself when you decide to start something new. You have to be motivated and set goals for yourself. Starting something new takes you into a new environment, which makes people uncomfortable and uneasy, so that is why starting something new is difficult. Once you have started, you need to continue to motivate yourself and continue on the path towards your goal. When you start something new, you tend to see change dramatically, but when your body becomes used to the routine, the change seems almost stagnant. Perseverance is a quality not many people have. Not many people have this quality because starting and finishing things is difficult. It is challenging.