STUDENT WRITING: Cause / Effect by ROMAIN HERNANDEZ

Causes and Effects Essay: Environmental Pollution

Nowadays, people use different methods of mass media to express their concern about which sources cause pollution and which consequences will result from it. Indeed, pollution has become a serious environmental and societal issue that nobody can deny or ignore anymore. Above all, pollution is defined as the introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment. We will examine three main parts of pollution: water, air, and land.
The factors that contribute to water pollution can be categorized into two different groups. Firstly, the point sources which include the waste products from factories, the waste from sewage systems, the waste from power plants, the waste from underground coalmines, and the waste from oil wells. They are called point sources because they are direct sources of water pollution and can be reduced and monitored. The term non-point source encompasses a large range of sources such as when rain or snow moves through the ground and picks up pollutants as it moves towards a major body of water or the runoff of fertilizers from farm animals and crop land. Another example is the air pollutants getting washed or deposited to earth and the storm water drainage from lawns, parking lots, and streets (Leed).

Concerning the air pollution, one of the main causes is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which happens because of deforestation and fossil fuel burning. Furthermore, Sulfur dioxide is another air polluter that is released into the atmosphere by the burning of sulfur containing compounds of fossil fuels. Another cause of air pollution is the Chlorofluorocarbons that also contribute to air pollution by reducing the amount of ozone in the stratosphere. This organic compound comes from a variety of places such as the burning of plastic foam items, leaking refrigerator equipment, and spray cans. However, air pollution isn’t necessarily linked to humans, but can also be natural. For instance, smoke from wild fires, methane released from livestock, and volcanic eruptions (Hill).

The latest form of pollution that we will develop is land pollution that results from four main causes. The first cause is the construction of buildings that take up resources and land; the trees are chopped down and used to make buildings. Besides, it takes away from places for animals and other organisms to live. The second cause is agriculture. As there are more and more people inhabiting the earth, food is in higher demand and so forests are chopped down and turned into farmland. In addition, herbicides, pesticides, artificial fertilizers, and animal manure are washed into the soil and pollute it. The third cause is the tons of domestic waste that are dumped every day. Even though some waste from homes, offices and industries can be recycled or burnt in incinerators, there is still a lot of garbage, such as refrigerators and washing machines that are dumped in landfills simply because they cannot be reused in anyway, nor recycled. The fourth and last cause of land pollution is industrial waste such as plastics factories, chemical plants, oil refineries, nuclear waste disposal activity, large animal farms, coal-fired power plants, metal production factories and other heavy industry that all contribute to land pollution (Causes).

Because of the causes mentioned above, our environment is changing. The air becomes less clean than ever before. With the introduction of petroleum to replace coal economies in countries, photochemical smog has become predominant in many cities which are located in sunny, warm, and dry climates with many motor vehicles. Consequently, many people wear masks when they walk in the streets in these cities. Moreover, the temperature becomes higher, the air in the cities becomes hotter, and water in oceans becomes warmer. Indeed, CO2 is a good transmitter of sunlight, but it also partially restricts infrared radiation going back from the earth into space, which produces the so-called greenhouse effect that prevents a drastic cooling of the Earth during the night. Therefore, increasing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere reinforces this effect and is expected to result in a warming of the Earth's surface.

Many old green forests are like a bald hill when you see them from an airplane. The effects cannot be good for the environment itself and neither for the people. Indeed, land pollution exterminates wild life, acid rain kills trees and plants, and the vegetation that provides food and shelter is destroyed. Land pollution can seriously disrupt the balance of nature, and, in extreme cases, can cause human fatalities. In addition, pesticides can damage crops, kill vegetation, and poison birds, animals, and fish. Most pesticides kill or damage life forms other than those intended. For example, pesticides used in an effort to control or destroy undesirable vegetation and insects often destroy birds and small animals. Nevertheless, some life forms develop immunity to pesticides used to destroy them.

There are many efforts which are being started to protect the environment. However, there is one more important thing which must be performed. We must stop causing harm to the environment by our actions before making any effort to protect it. Ways to stop or reduce pollution are multiple. We can help to reduce global air pollution and climate change by driving a car that gets at least 35 mpg, or by walking, biking, and using public transportation. Buying only energy efficient appliances, recycling products (newspaper, aluminum, etc.), planting trees, and not purchasing products that contain CFCs are many solutions to start the reduction of environment pollution.

Works Cited
Causes Of Land Pollution." Knowledge Galaxy. N.p.. Web. 22 Apr 2013. .
Hill, Adam. "What Causes Air Pollution?." wiseGEEK: clear answers for common questions. N.p., 14 Aug 2009. Web. 22 Apr 2013. .
Leed, Mauro. "Causes and Effects of Water Pollution." Go Green Academy. N.p., 06 Jun 2012. Web. 22 Apr 2013. .

STUDENT WRITING: Concept by PATRICIA ROMAGOSA

Migraine headaches

It is Wednesday morning, one of those typical days when once again I am not able to perform my regular activities. When I wake up early in the morning to go to the bathroom, all of a sudden I start seeing ill-defined lights and realize that I cannot see my husband’s face clearly. Alarmingly, my vision becomes very blurry and at that moment I know I must run to take my prescription medication before the throbbing headache starts and increases its intensity. I have to go to bed and remain quiet in a dark place. It seems that most of the time sleeping helps. After two hours, I try to get up to go to school, but it is one of those occasions when the pain is still there. In addition I have nausea and vomiting as well. Sometimes the pain subsides the same day, other times it comes and goes for several days. I have been having migraines since I was nineteen years old. It is important to know what a migraine is and what causes it. It is also important to be familiar with the two main types of migraines, the symptoms and treatment.

A migraine is a very interesting headache that most of the time becomes chronic and is manifested by particular or unique characteristics, including a neurological presentation in the classic migraine. Raymond D. Adams and Maurice Victor are the authors of the book Principles of Neurology. According to them “migraine is a familial disorder characterized by periodic, commonly unilateral, pulsatile headaches which begin in childhood, adolescence, or early adult life and recur with diminishing frequency during advancing years” (152).

Even though the causes of migraines are still not clear, it is well known that they occur in multiple members of the families. Adams and Victor support this statement, mentioning that “clearly, the familial occurrence of migraine in the majority of patients implicates an underlying genetic factor.” They also mention that “tension and other emotional states, which are claimed by some migraineurs to precede their attacks, are so inconsistent as to be no more than aggravating factors” (157). It is also a fact that many migraine sufferers are more prone to have an attack after they eat and drink certain foods and beverages. According to Migraine.com “the foods that trigger migraines overwhelmingly contain high levels of tyramine, with chocolate at the top of the list, accounting for 75% of all migraine food triggers. Some food groups that contain high levels (6 mg or more) of tyramine are: processed meats, poultry, and fish, aged cheese, fermented foods, condiments, yeasted dough, fruits and vegetables and alcoholic beverages.” In my personal experience, chocolate and red wine have led to migraine headaches with red wine producing the most intense and prolonged headaches. On my 10th wedding anniversary a glass of red wine resulted in a debilitating headache at the worst time possible. Other products including medications such as contraceptives or estrogens can increase the risk of migraine headaches in women. Even without this medication, women are at increased risk of migraine headaches during the premenstrual part of their cycle. Affected women can continue to experience migraine headaches during their reproductive years. I had a gynecological condition requiring treatment with estrogen or contraceptives. This medication in combination with any emotional stressors increased my risk of migraine headaches.

There are two main types of migraine headaches which are manifested in two different ways. The classic migraine headache, also called neurological migraine and the common migraine. The first type is characterized for being accompanied by an aura, usually preceding the headache. On the other hand, the common migraine is characterized by the headache, but not by the aura. The aura is caused by blood vessels around the brain vasoconstricting or tightening their diameter decreasing the blood flow to the visual centers of the brain. That is then followed by the second phase in which the blood vessels dilate or increase in size resulting in pressure on the brain or nerves, which leads to the pain and nausea, vomiting. According to Rafii and Cohrane, in their text First Aid, the symptoms of migraines headaches should be “more than five headaches lasting 4-72 hours, with at least two of the following: unilateral. Pulsating, moderate to severe intensity (inhibiting daily activities), aggravation with routine physical activity, and at least one of the following: nausea and/or vomiting, photophobia, or phonophobia.” Photophobia is defined as hypersensitivity to light and phonophobia is hypersensitivity to sound. One can experience these two symptoms when the migraine headaches are severe.

The treatment of migraine headaches involves several steps. In the classic migraine it is very important to attack the pain once the aura starts. In the common migraine, the pain should be addressed immediately with the onset of presentation. There are several different medications prescribed depending on the patient’s type of migraine headache and response to the medication. Occasionally, it is also important to prescribe for the nausea, vomiting. When migraines headaches occur often interfere with the patient’s daily activities, then prophylaxis is recommended. Prophylaxis medication on a daily basis and other migraine medication as needed had been shown to be helpful. There are also some non-medication measures to take. According to a Mayo Clinic Health Newsletter:

1- Seek a calm environment: at the first sign of a migraine, retreat from your usual activities if possible.
a) Turn off the lights.
b) Try temperature theraphy.
c) Massage painful areas.
d) Drink a caffeinated beverage.
2- Sleep well: migraines can keep you from falling asleep or wake you up at night. Likewise, migraines are often triggered by a poor night’ sleep. Here is help encouraging sound asleep.
a) Establish regular sleep hours.
b) Unwind at the end of the day.
c) Minimize distractions.
d) Don’t try to sleep.
e) Check your medications.
3- Eat wisely: your eating habits can influence your migraines. Consider the basics.
a) Be consistent.
b) Don’t skip meals.
c) Avoid foods that trigger migraines.
One can figure out from the previous suggestions that the best way to control migraines headaches is following both the medical treatment and healthy habits.

We now know that migraine headaches have been recognized to have a genetic predisposition with two main types, including the classic migraine and the common migraine. The presentation and symptoms can lead to temporary physical disability. As mentioned, the classic migraine headache is preceded by the aura while the common migraine is simply the throbbing headache. Again, there is no a specific cause of migraine headaches but many risk factors as cited. From the recommendations described above, one can build up a plan to minimize and better treat migraine headaches through medical control and a careful life style.

STUDENT WRITING: Evaluation by MAYELA PEREZ

The Circus

I have never forgotten the times when my mother used to take us to Circus Atayde’s Brothers in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico, when we were children. In those days, circuses commonly traveled around performing in different places.

The circus performed in a ring that was about 13m in diameter but large circuses had multiple rings. They also had a system of tiered seating around the ring for the public. Their capacity was maybe 800 people. The performances included a variety of acrobatics, gymnastics, including tumbling and trampoline, aerial acts such as trapeze, aerial silk, tight rope walking, and contortion. Juggling was one of the most common acts in the circus as were balancing acts and the rolling globe with motorcycle riders inside. Clowns interacted with the public and a variety of animals such as horses, elephants, tigers and dogs were used in the acts. Some of the things that have stuck in my mind forever are the smell of popcorn, the flavor of Coca-Cola in a glass bottle, the sawdust on the floor and the opening music which was “Entrance of the Gladiators.” Sideshow acts were part of the circus. Their activities include fire eating, knife throwing, magic shows and, of course, the strongman. I really enjoyed the traditional circus, but suddenly the circus changed and a contemporary genre of circus was born.

These circuses tend to focus more attention on the overall aesthetic impact, character and story development, the use of lighting design, original music and costume design to convey thematic or narrative content. Music used in the production is often composed exclusively for that production and aesthetic influences are drawn as much from contemporary culture as from circus history. Animal acts appear less frequently in these circuses. The best example of this kind of circus is Cirque du Soleil and if I had to evaluate this circus in one word, this word would be “awesome.” Cirque du Soleil is a Canadian entertainment company. Each show is a synthesis of circus style from around the world with its own central theme and storyline.

The first performance that I saw from this circus was Mystere which was presented in the Mirage hotel in Las Vegas, in its own theatre. The theme of Mystere is an exploration of the origins of life in our universe. The show is a conglomerate of mythologies from multiple cultures. Its music relays ethnic music of Peruvian, African, and East European inspiration. Cirque du Soleil has expanded rapidly, going from one show to 19 shows in over 271 cities on every continent. The shows employ approximately 4,000 people from over 40 countries and generate an estimated annual revenue exceeding us$810 million. The multiple permanent Las Vegas shows alone play to more than 9,000 people a night, adding to the 90 million people who have experienced Cirque du Soleil’s shows worldwide. I have seen several of its shows and I can only say that Cirque du Soleil is a fantastic circus with plenty of talent in its creators, performers, musicians and all people that collaborate in its creations.

STUDENT WRITING: Evaluation by JANETT AMORES

“Fifty Shades of Grey”

“Fifty Shades of Grey” has become a topic of conversation across the country. This erotic novel was written by E. L. James, arrived in 2011 and has become a best -seller with more than 40 million copies sold.
E. L. James, a British author, describes a relationship between Anastasia Steele, a 21 year old, virginal college student of Washington State University in Pullman, Washington and Christian Grey, a 27 year old, rich, business man.

“Fifty Shades of Grey,” is a narrative story in which Christian Grey, one of the main characters, is a person economically and psychologically dominant. When Anastasia, a journalism student, goes to interview him, she realizes that he is handsome, intelligent, and intimidating. Once they get to know each other, he tells her that in order to continue the relationship they have to sign a contract which designates her as the “submissive” and him as the “dominant” party. The contract allows Grey to have complete control of her life, besides having to fulfill any desires he has in the bedroom. The book has many explicit sexual scenes involving pain, discipline, dominance, submission, masochism and sadism.

I firmly believe that it is a great responsibility to educate my children to respect them-selves and to establish limits in their relationships. This book raises the question of how sexual submission, especially when pain is involved, can be such a turn-on for many young, well-educated women, Today the statistics of violence are alarming. According to Domestic Violence Resource Center, “One in four women (25%) has experienced domestic violence in her lifetime” (Domestic). Also the Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that, “Among victims of intimate partner violence, about 1 in 4 women (24.3%) and 1 in 7 men (13.8%) have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner (e.g., hit with a fist or something hard, beaten, slammed against something) at some point in their life” (US--). I think this book explains the reality of many women who are in a dangerous and abusive relationship. All of us should read this book because it is educational and helps in our daily life.

Nowadays in the developed world, technology has its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it has been helping human progress scientifically and medically. On the other hand, technology such as cell phones and computers take time away from face to face interaction. The Internet is the most important tool for working but it can be a monitoring device in a relationship between human beings. Modern technology like Facebook, What ‘s-up, and text messages can be used as forms of surveillance. For instance, Christian Grey gives Anastasia a Nextel and an Apple Computer. So, he knows where she is and what she is doing wherever she goes. He expects her to always be available. She does not have a private life.

There are other control forms that Christian includes in the contract. She has to wear clothes that he approves for. The submissive which is what he calls Anastasia has to drive an Audi. Christian also chooses her doctor and the birth control she takes. He authorizes the beauty salon where she is allowed to go. Anastasia has to do exercise at least four times every week with a trainer that he provides for her. She eats foods only from a list that Christian supplies. She also gets eight hours of sleep a night. The Submissive does not drink in excess or take drugs. So you might think that all these rules above are safe, but she has to agree to any sexual activity in which he uses methods of pain such as spanking, caning, and biting.

E.L James captivates her readers with adventures and suspense. She hooks her readers in every chapter in which she mixing feelings and providing rollercoaster action, so readers are always eager to read the next chapter. Falling in love with someone is a feeling that really cannot be described. As a woman, I was educated to believe that a romantic relationship should be like a fairy tale, but this is not reality. “Fifty Shades of Grey” reminds one that no one is perfect. All of us have a dark side. Everyone has his own emotional baggage. When Anastasia realizes that Christian is a person who controls everything around him, she hesitates. Later, she falls in love with him, so she wants to know why Christian acts that way. It is a long process. Even though she knows that it is difficult for him, she starts to ask. Because of he was abused by his mother, he has a lot of scars. His sadistic acts come from the pain he felt when he was a child. Consequently, he enjoys hurting his submissive because it helps him to release his anger. Christian Grey grew up with the idea that he could not inspire love. Suddenly, Anastasia appears in his life and he realizes that there is a true love and he dares to live it.

“Fifty Shades of Grey,” is an example of woman who loves a man for his strengths and vulnerabilities. When Christian starts sharing his vulnerabilities, he strengthens his romantic relationship with Anastasia. Also this book describes how a person can change his life if he really wants to. Even though Christian does not forget his pain, he learns how to have a better life. He falls in love with Anastasia and she becomes his motivation.
I read both positive and negative comments on the Internet. One of the positive ones was that thanks to this book, some readers have explored their sexuality and feel more freedom with their partners. I think sex is an important tool in a romantic relationship. Sex is not only a mechanical act. It is a way partners communicate their desires. Some couples admit that the monotony in their sexual relationship was what ended their romantic relationship. However, I also read some negative comments about the book being badly written. Also, today I understand why people look at me strangely when I say that I am reading ‘Fifty Shades of Grey.” For me, as an English student, this book is easy to understand and I find a psychological side, which makes it interesting.


Works Cited
Domestic Violence Resource Center | Domestic violence statistics www.dvrc-org/domestic/violence/resources/C61
US -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) www.cdc.gov official site

STUDENT WRITING: Reflection by ARTURO GARCIA

Learning from my Mistakes

Peter Piper Pizza was the first franchise of pizzas which arrived in my city. This chain had two places where they sold pizzas in different ways. One was the restaurant and next to it was a small place where we made pizzas for delivery. It was my second home when I was seventeen years old. I became a worker because I had to wait for my semester at university to start. This unforgettable place changed the logistics of how people could buy food without leaving their home in my city. In a very short period of time, its sales increased surprisingly. We sold almost a thousand pizzas every weekend day. We had approximately thirty motorcycle drivers delivering in every part of the city.
The wave of pizzas was huge in the city, so the owner decided to bring a manager from Chicago because he wanted someone qualified to control his business. This manager had worked in Domino’s when he was young. Bryan was a typical American who spoke Spanish with a special accent. However, he knew how to speak understandable Spanish.

He had a very strong character. His face looked angry all the time. His mood was tough. He never demonstrated appreciation for anyone. He just controlled the business and never left until the store closed.
I made pizzas on the line of “toppings.” Every day in the morning, I had to review the orders and make all of them on time. However, it was unpleasant work when our leader was so strict. Therefore, I tried to do my chores perfectly in order to show him that I was a good worker. Little by little I gained his confidence.

One day the business looked like a madhouse; every worker was running. The orders were more than the people who controlled them could handle. Bryan was upset due to the fact that a lot of pizzas were waiting for a driver to take to deliver, so Bryan yelled at me, “Raton, (a little mouse in my country) do you know the name of the streets?” I did so he and I went to deliver some of them.

He had a new Honda Accord and he drove like a teenager. That day we finished with the demand of pizzas and this day was the first time that I heard Bryan laughing. When we were in the kitchen he always treated me like he did the others.

However, he couldn’t hide his appreciation for me, so the workers realized that he treated me differently. I became the youngest boy of the family. I had the responsibility to tell Bryan everything that my co-workers needed at work.

Due to the fact that the restaurant outsourced the tortillas, we couldn’t choose the best ones. Bryan was tired of getting the worst tortillas, so he brought a special machine to produce our own tortillas in the little kitchen. He decided to give me training because he trusted me.
This new assignment made me look like a typical baker with a lot of flour on me. One day, Bryan invited me to select another machine which was in El Paso. Before we left the city, we went to pick up the person who was offering us the new machine. I moved to the back of the car and I saw maybe a dozen work caps like mine. They were new and my cap was very dirty, so I took one of them and put mine on the floor. The entire day I had a new cap on my head, but before I got out of the car intended to return the new cap and get mine back, but I didn’t do it.

A bad thought came to my mind, so I put my dirty cap under my shirt and left the new one on my head because I had convinced myself that Bryan had enough caps. I didn’t feel nervous about my action. I was passing in front of the windshield when suddenly my old cap fell on the floor. Bryan got out of the car and began with his sermon.
“Why did you do that? I put all my trust in you. I invited you to my home. You were my best worker. If you want another work uniform, I would give it to you. My best friend failed me. I cannot believe it. Now I understand why people call you raton (it is a nickname used for people who steal things in my country). He left me and I couldn’t say anything. I felt very bad. My action was embarrassing. I felt I was in a dark place. I was wondering all day why I did it.

Then, I understood that my action gave me a lesson. It was good that I was discovered by Bryan. What would have happened if he had not found out? What would be the next thing that I would steal?
Maybe I am not a good person today but I am sure that I know that stealing is bad. I understood that everything has a prize. If I want to obtain it, I need to pay for it.