Video games Essay Example for Free

Video games Essay â€Å"What Video Games Have to teach us about Learning and Literacy† I’m sure that we all are, or were at one time, around video games whether we were playing the game or someone we know was playing. Most adults think children spend too much time playing video games. I know my mom is constantly yelling at my 10 15-year-old brothers to get off. My mom thinks that video games for so long will eventually ruin their eyesight. My brothers are video game addicts. My brothers always complain when my mom tells them to get off. Maybe my mom is wrong about video games. Maybe they could actually help my brothers. James Gee has a different thought than my mom and most parents. James Gee is also a father of his 11-year-old son, which made Gee â€Å"immigrate† to the world of video games. James would sit there with his son and play with him, until one day he decided that he would play on his own. After playing by him, James realized that there is a lot more to video games and they can actually in a way be positive. James sees video games as a way for children to use their brains. You have to learn how to play the game before you play it or else you will not be able to move forward in the game. Most games have a goal that you have to learn how to get there. By the children learning how to play, it is positive and in scary way actually benefits the children even though parents would never think it. Gee and Prensky’s views are similar. In Prensky’s essay he says that he thinks it would be the right time for us to advance our educational system because as we can see, technology is now a big part of our generation and it is only going to grow. Prensky referred to the students of the world today as â€Å"digital natives† because we grew up with digital technology. Growing up into the world of technology made us adjust and get used to using it so quickly. The teachers don’t know as much as the â€Å"digital natives† (students) do about new technology. In my opinion, I think technology is a great thing in the world today. As a student in college, technology plays a huge part. I use my computer for 99% of my schoolwork. I use it in class, to take notes, for homework, for research, to print, etc. I’m sure I am not the only one that doesn’t like to read, so instead of us students using the library to use books for research, we can do it on our computers. I personally do not play video games and cannot see myself sitting there like my brothers for countless hours learning how to play. I definitely do agree with Gee, and can see video games benefiting people of all ages.

War PropagandaPast, Present and Future Essay -- Essays Paspers

War PropagandaPast, Present and Future Part 1: An In-depth Look at War Propaganda Propaganda consists of the planned use of any form of public of mass-produced communication designed to affect the minds and emotions of a given group for a specific purpose, whether military, economic, or political. -Linebarger, Paul Myron Anthony In every aspect of life, there tends to be a desire to have others see things the way we see them. In theory, if we all share the same views and opinions, we can unite for common goals. Propaganda consists of a communicators objective to impose or manipulate a person, or group of people into adopting his ideals. Perhaps the most common place that Propaganda is used is during times of war. Given the choice, most people would most likely not express a love for war. Some are passionately against it, others, though not in love with the idea, support it when it’s necessary. Due to the raw nature of war and people’s reactions to it, there seems to be some force working to mask the negative feelings towards war and unite people in support of it. With regard to war, the purpose of propaganda is to make a particular group of people forget that another group is human. By focusing on a few, simple target ideas that reinforce the notion that another group of people are harmful and inhumane, propaganda is able to unite people in an unrealistic mindset. Understandably, however, governments have a priority to nurture the morale of its people and the armed forces that represent it by intimidating the enemy with the force of natural will. The question of whether or not we choose to accept this harsh reality remains ambiguous, as there will always be two sides to the argument. So as it stands, it is... ...11. Starick, Paul. Iraq War Propaganda; War of Words- the Battle for Hearts and Minds. The Advertiser. March 29, 2003. 12. http://www.disinfopedia.org Propaganda Versus Democracy 13. www.globalissues.org Shah, Anup. War, Propaganda and the Media. August 2004. 14. www.independent.org Horten, Gerd. Radio Goes to War: The Politics of Propaganda World War II. 15. www.medialens.org Miller, David. Eliminating Truth: The Development of War Propaganda 16. www.onlinejournal.com 17. www.propagandacritic.com 18. www.socialistworker.org Pro-war Propaganda Machine. March 2003. 19. www.stentorian.com/propagan.html Levinson, William A. An Introduction to Propaganda. 1999. 20. www.truthout.org Morgan, David. Critic Accuses Media of Aiding US War Propaganda. May 2, 2003. 21. www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk

Marijuana Legalization Outline

The Legalization of Marijuana Thesis Statement: The legalization of marijuana in the United States would create a drastic change by forming a more productive society through all of the positive uses of cannabis, physically, economically, and socially. I. Examination of the plant A. The other common names—hemp, cannabis, bud, and weed B. Society’s views on the plant are very stereotypical 1. Known as harmful, deathly, and hazardous 2. It is said that one’s attitude can be alarming and harmful to others C. Marijuana can be consumed in baked goods, vaporized, or even brewed 1. Brownies can be cooked with marijuana . Tea or coffee can be brewed with the plant D. THC is the main chemical 1. The amount can be regulated 2. It determines the strength of the high E. Marijuana has been proved to help and cure many diseases and health problems 1. Glaucoma, epilepsy, arthritis, chronic pain, and depression can be cured and prevented with the use of marijuana 2. Marijuana can even help one with aids II. Past legality in the United States A. At one point in time, it was 100% legal 1. It was one of the largest agricultural crops in the world 2. The first law to exist in the U. S. was a law demanding the U. S. armers to grow hemp B. In 1920, cannabis, hemp, and marijuana became illegal 1. It remained illegal until World War II 2. In 1948, all forms of marijuana were illegal again and still remains to be illegal. III. The United States’ debt and taxation A. As of February of 2013, the national debt was $16,797,828,899,087. B. The death rates are more common for other abused substances 1. 50,000 people each year die from alcohol poisoning. 2. More than 400,000 deaths are attributed to tobacco smoking. 3. There are zero deaths related to the use of cannabis. C. The amount of Americans who smoke is substantial . 25 million Americans smoke marijuana in the past year. 2. More than 14 million people smoke regularly. D. Enforcing marijuana prohibition costs taxpayers an estimated $10 billion annually. 1. More than 750,000 individuals are arrested per year 2. The amount of money taxpayers pay to equip the state and federal prison facilities is substantial and would decrease with the legalization of marijuana IV. Regulations in stores vs. on the streets A. Cigarettes and alcohol are monitored 1. One must be 18 to purchase any tobacco product 2. One must be 21 to purchase an alcoholic beverage B.Marijuana is sold on the streets to anyone who wishes to purchase it 1. The legalization could help prevent the smoking of underage teens 2. Crime rates would decrease, as well as drug cartels V. Dangers A. Studies of the harm to the body caused by marijuana 1. It shows no sign of brain cell damage 2. Not one case of lung cancer has been found caused solely by marijuana B. Overdose will not occur if one smoked too much 1. One would have to smoke 750 joints in about 20 minutes 2. One wouldn’t die from smoking marijuana where the death would be caused from carbon monoxide poisoning VI.California A. Decriminalized Marijuana 1. California was the first state to decriminalize it 2. The crime percentage dropped by 24% VII. Legalization in Colorado and Washington A. Illegal to anyone under the age of 21 1. An adult can legally possess up to 1oz of dried marijuana, 16oz of marijuana solids (edibles), and 72oz of cannabis infused liquids 2. Minors are still arrested and/or charged and will face sentencing B. Public consumption would remain a violation in both states, but a civil, not criminal, one 1. Crime rates have decreased 2. Debt has decreased

Moral of Washington Irvings The Legend of Sleepy Hollow...

Moral of Washington Irvings The Legend of Sleepy Hollow In Washington Irving’s short story â€Å"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,† the conflict between Enlightenment and Romantic ideals is narrativized. Irving’s story is an exploration of the conflict between these two schools of thought. Irving uses his setting, his characters, and his â€Å"moral† (or lack thereof) to critique the Enlightenment. At first reading, â€Å"Sleepy Hollow† may seem no more than a dreamy folk tale. But when read in the context of the emerging resistance to Enlightenment thinking, it reveals itself to be a striking denunciation of the ideals of the Enlightenment. The Age of Enlightenment was characterized by the reign of reason. Enlightenment thinkers believed†¦show more content†¦Sleepy Hollow is described first of all as â€Å"one of the quietest places in the whole world.† (p. 379) The absence of noise, particularly of the noise of human activity, is clearly important. Irving goes on to note that the settlers of this place are descended from the original Dutch settlers, who have maintained traditions and ways of life that predate the Enlightenment. Also, as members of a local, rustic, Dutch community, the inhabitants are placed distinctly outside the dominant English culture. Irving then creates the aesthetic atmosphere that will dominate the story, which is the atmosphere of the Gothic. Sleepy Hollow is characterized as a place that exudes a magical, languid ambience, a place where imagination rules and reason fails: Certain it is, the place still continues under the sway of some witching power, that holds a spell over the minds of the good people, causing them to walk in a continual reverie. They are given to all kinds of marvellous beliefs; are subject to trances and visions; and frequently see strange sights, and hear music and voices in the air. The whole neighborhood abounds with local tales, haunted spots, and twilight superstitions; stars shoot and meteors glare oftener across the valley than in any other part of the country, and the nightmare, with herShow MoreRelatedWashington Irving s The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow Essay1604 Words   |  7 PagesWashington Irving was born in New York City on April 3, 1783 (â€Å"Washington Irvingâ € ). As a teenager, he traveled through Europe for seventeen years (â€Å"Washington Irving†). The experience gave him an appreciation for a culture deeply rooted in a rich history (â€Å"Washington Irving†). His distinguished list of works became well known in America and in England, and his success allowed him to be recognized as â€Å"the father of American Literature† (â€Å"Washington Irving†). Irving was the first American writer toRead MoreSleepy Hollow: The Film and The Story Essay1473 Words   |  6 PagesWashington Irving’s short story, â€Å"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,† was adapted into a movie titled â€Å"Sleepy Hollow† directed by Tim Burton nearly two centuries after the original publication. When the story was adapted as a film, several extensive changes were made. A short story easily read in one sitting was turned into a nearly two-hour thriller, mystery, and horror movie by incorporating new details and modify ing the original version of the story. The short story relates the failed courtship of KatrinaRead MoreThe Romantic American Male in Cooper’s Last of the Mohicans and Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow3375 Words   |  14 PagesRomantic American Male in Cooper’s Last of the Mohicans and Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow James Fenimore Cooper’s Last of the Mohicans and Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow are valuable examples of literary heavyweights of the Romantic era, but in addition, can also be used to chart sociological changes within the male gender during pre-Romantic and Romantic years. But because neither Cooper nor Irving’s works should be distanced from their cultural backdrops whenRead MoreA Brief Look at Washington Irving1441 Words   |  6 PagesWashington Irving Washington Irving was considered to be the first professional man of letters and was influential in the development of short stories. He was the first author to sell his stories abroad other than America. Washington Irving was born and raised in New York City on April 3, 1783, and he was the youngest of eleven children. Washington Irving was the first American to make a living as an author during his career in the early 1800’s. His short stories left a lasting and of most influentialRead MoreBlackness and Gothic depictions in American Literature1666 Words   |  7 Pageswriting. Washington Irving and Herman Melville involve the occupation of lawyers and Justices to bring in a patriotic element to influence residents of the young country as a way to share their concerns and inspire ambition. Their usage of metaphors and metonymy subtly convey a message of hope to white residents while, deflating the optimism of the soon to be freed slaves. This essay will prove that a critica l reading of Melville’s â€Å"Bartleby, the Scrivener,† and Irving’s â€Å"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow†Read MoreSupernatural Elements Of The Nineteenth Century1693 Words   |  7 Pagesotherwise known as the Supernatural. Through using supernatural elements, they created phantasmal characters, situations, places and objects to give the human mind an alternative perception of the world around them, differing from the traditional moral and social patterns and taboos. Additionally, by employing the supernatural, Romantic authors took for granted the reader’s â€Å"faith† or disposition to believe in the situations they proposed. Through their writings, they offered readers the possibilityRead MoreThe Legend Of Sleepy Hollow2025 Words   |  9 Pagesof the Headless Horseman, described in â€Å"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow† is well-known in American folklore. It is a scary story that many children tell around the campfire in an attempt t o scare one another, saying that if someone is not careful, the Headless Horseman will come for them. However, many Americans do not realize that this legend originated from a story that appears in Washington Irving’s book, The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. Washington Irving was born to a Scottish immigrant familyRead MoreThe Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Summary and Analysis11462 Words   |  46 PagesThe Legend of Sleepy Hollow Summary and Analysis Major Themes Veracity in Storytelling Veracity in storytelling is a defining theme of â€Å"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.† The story is distantly removed from the reader—Crayon has found the story in Diedrich Knickerbocker’s papers, who is dead, and who at the end of the story writes that he heard it from an old gentleman, who claimed to not have even believed half of it himself, ultimately getting much of the story from primary or even other secondaryRead MoreHistory of the Development of the Short Story.3660 Words   |  15 Pagesthe story. Short sections of verse might focus on individual narratives that could be told at one sitting. The overall arc of the tale would emerge only through the telling of multiple such sections. Fables, succinct tales with an explicit moral, were said by the Greek historian Herodotus to have been invented in the 6th century BCE by a Greek slave named Aesop, though other times and nationalities have also been given for him. These ancient fables are today known as Aesops Fables. Read MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesseries of separate and largely self-contained episodes, resembling so many beads on a string. The unifying element is the protagonist, as he wanders into and out of a series of adventures that, in their totality, initiate him to life and provide his moral education. A third type of chronologically arranged plot is encountered in psychological novels, such as James Joyce’s Ulysses, Virginia Wolf’s To the Lighthouse, in which the reader’s attention is centered on the protagonist’s unfolding state of