Final Exam

Responsibility is vital in the success of obtaining a college degree. To be responsible for something means you will do what is expected to accomplish the task at hand. It is a must to take responsibility for your learning, especially in university or college atmospheres.  Equally important, in a higher level setting, such as a college or university, professors are much more professional and take education to a different level.  Furthermore, teachers and instructors in high school settings were much more lenient.  Reminders of due dates for assignments were constantly given, where as in college one is not constantly reminded of an upcoming deadline.  Also, in terms of high school, much time is spent in the classroom for assignments to be completed.  In college, a lot of time for studying and completion of assignments is done outside of class.  It is not uncommon for a student to go to class and then come home and study or work on assignments for another 3-4 hours a day.  The success of students at the college level comes truly from the student. The amount of effort a student puts forth will determine the success he/she will have.  If a student does not take responsibility for their own assignments, then they will not be successful. A new student can accomplish this sense of responsibility by recognizing what their aspirations in life are.  If they significantly want to accomplish something great in their life, responsibility will help them on their way to the right track.  Time management is key in grasping the responsibilities of college.  Balancing the priorities in your life will help you in your responsibilities.

Dedication to my parents

My parents are definitely my role models in my life. I admire so many things about them.  They are both very hardworking people.  I feel like they never stop working whether its their day job, working out in the yard, or to doing dishes and laundry at the end of the day.  Although they are both hardworking, they also know how to have fun and live life to the fullest. I appreciate all things they have done for me and the support they have given to me, especially through my journey of nursing school currently.  I want to say thank you  to them, and that I love them and appreciate them very much!

"The Case for Torture"

"The Case for Torture" by Michael Levin is a short essay that represents an argument throughout the writing.  The argument displayed in this essay is concluded as is it probable to torture a terrorist or other being if they are putting innocent people in harm?  Levin develops this argument by displaying scenarios that in turn describe situations in which terrorists are putting innocent people in means of harm.  He concludes with each scenario asking if torture is barbaric or unconstitutional.  As many people would argue "yes" in this situation, think about it as your own child being kidnapped by a terrorist group. This exact example is used in the story "The Case for Torture."  Levin provides results of a poll done by mothers who were asked if they would accept torturing kidnappers if they took their newborns. Four specific mothers answered "yes."

The main points of this essay are categorized in the ideas of death and idealism.  Listed under the death explanation is what Levin stated, "Torturing the terrorist is unconstitutional? Probably. But millions of lives surely outweigh constitutionality. Torture is barbaric? mass murder is far more barbaric" (Levin 575).  In simpler terms, Levin is stating that although torture does seem uncivilized and brutal, that is the only way to potentially help save hundreds-millions of lives.  Under the idealism explanation is the broader aspect of even though you torture a terrorist, is one sure that it is justifiable and that the person in torture is the right one. I believe that the author does not use any other logical fallacies within the writing.

A potential counterargument of the argument stated in the essay would be what if the officials who are holding the perpetrator at torture have the wrong subject in hand.  This would be an embarrassing yet unethical situation.  It would be morally wrong in society to hold someone innocent at captive, especially when the real terrorist or harmful individual is still on the streets waiting to kill hundreds of people.  "Governments have used systematic torture in conflicts with rebel, insurgent or resistance groups in long running conflicts since the 1980s. It is questionable whether these should always be called terrorism conflicts. Governments are likely to call their non-state violent opponents terrorists, but only sometimes are they clearly engaged in terrorist activity" (Zalman).

Levin, Michael. "The Case for Torture."  The Millenium Reader. Hirschberg, Stuart and Terry Hirschberg.
      5th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2009. 574-577. Print

Zalman, Ph.D., Amy. "History of Torture and Terrorism." New York Times Company, 2011. Web. 31 Mar. 2011. <http://terrorism.about.com/od/humanrights/p/Torture.htm>.

Olive Garden

I went to Olive Garden for dinner tonight. I absolutely love this restaurant. Everything from their bread sticks and salad to the entree, and then finishing with the mints they give you before leaving is amazing.  I enjoy going out to dinner with family and friends.  Having a good conversation over a delicious dinner is what I love most about going out to eat.

Video Game Interview

My boyfriend plays video games everyday.  He gets so drawn in to playing video games that you can barely have a conversation with him while he is playing.  I personally am not a fan of video games, but if video games is what makes him happy than I will let him be.

Question 1: What is your favorite video game to play and why?
 Street Fighter. It is a fun game that I played as a kid, and I like playing the newest version of it.

Question 2:Why do you enjoy playing video games?
 They are fun and gives me something to do when I am bored.

Question 3: In your opinion do you think you play video games too much?
No

Question 4: If you had an opportunity to make a video game, what kind of game would you make?
I would make a game that dealt with fighting, one that is similar to Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. I like the adrenaline rush while playing it.

Question 5: Is there any upcoming video games you plan on buying?
Mortal Kombat. It comes out April 19th, and I am very excited!

"Workday" and "Did I Miss Anything?"

The poem "Workday" by Linda Hogan is centralized around a universal theme. This theme is no matter what culture one is, embrace it and keep the connection between you and your fellow members of that particular culture.  This theme can be seen throughout the poem as the author seems to have a sense of detachment from her native culture.  She even remarks on how her professors know more about the Native American culture than she does.  A literary element that can be seen used throughout the poem is allegory. The author writes in the form of a narrative to describe her usual day.  She writes in a sequence from the beginning of the day until the end of the day.  Another element that is seen throughout the poem is imagery.  Hogan uses visual imagery as she describes at the end of the poem about the men coming home from a day's work.  The stanza that stuck out was, "The perfect legs even with their spider veins...the thighs with their cravings, the pelvis an small back with its soft down..." (224-225). Using this element creates a picture in my head of how the men appeared after work.  The third literary element that is depicted throughout the poem is the structure of the poem.  Toward the end of the poem, when the author is describing the men walking down the street, she uses a unique way of how the structure is laid out. For example, on one line is only a few words versus the other lines having more.  Hogan separates this so the poem is more drastic and the readers can understand the intensity shining through from the author.

The poem "Did I Miss Anything" by Tom Wayman has a theme that can be described as if one will be late or unable to make it to an event, be proactive and ask what did you miss.  A literary element that was used by Wayman is the speakers tone and voice.  Throughout the whole poem, the author conveys a tone that is sarcastic to make the poem humorous and entertaining.  For instance, the author states, "A few minutes after we began last time a shaft of light descended and an angel or other heavenly being appeared" (226).  Another element used would be figurative language, specifically hyperbole.  A hyperbole means exaggeration. This was definitely seen in the poem.  On page 226, the author writes, "I gave an exam worth 40% of the grade for this term and assigned some reading due today on which I'm about to hand out a quiz worth 50%." Finally,  the author diction. Wayman interchangeably used the words "nothing" and "everything" in the poem.  This was used to emphasize the author's feeling toward the theme of the poem.

spring weather

I love when the month of March and April come around each year because then I know the weather will begin to be much better.  I absolutly hate winter due to the snow and ice.  Therefore, on nice, beautiful days like today, my mood changes.  It is almost like I become such a happier individual.  The glooms of winter I know will soon be in the past, and the sunshine of Spring and Summer are in the near future.  Sunny, clear skies and the smell of spring flowers are what I look forward to.