AP Exam Gilded Age Essay Samples

AP Exam Gilded Age Essay SamplesIf you are trying to study for your AP Lang exam, then you need to be aware of the fact that AP Exam Gilded Age samples are some of the best resources out there for you. These samples will show you what is possible in terms of a small sample and it will also help you in understanding what you will have to do to write an AP Exam Gilded Age essay.There are no secrets about writing essays, but you need to make sure that you are working with unique questions so that you will know exactly what to do with the materials for your essays. This is one of the keys for succeeding in AP exam since you will have to solve problems, the topics of which are based on the issues that you are assigned to write. You will find that these samples will give you the questions for you to work on and that you will have the answers and know exactly what you need to do to solve the problem.The first sample for AP Exam Gilded Age is actually an English sample. In this sample, you w ill find that there are six sentences that you need to complete and that you have to type as your first sentence and second one. In your second sentence, you will need to include the correct pronouns and adverbs.For this English sample, you will be asked to write about two English words that can bring up a discussion. One of them is 'being.' Since there are four words in this example, you have to type a maximum of four words.This example is one of the few that you can get from a kit, but remember that the different kits come with a lot of different examples. If you do not take a look at these samples, you might get confused by the words that you might not use correctly.The next sample that you should try to understand is the second English sample that you will receive from the kit. In this example, you will find that you have to take care about the question because there are three numbers.To get a good answer, you will need to figure out whether the answer should be a decimal point or an example. For the example, you need to figure out the decimal point and use it as the example.

Psychology Theories Essays - Freudian Psychology, Id,

Psychology Theories Sigmund Freud is one of the most famous psychologists to ever hit the study of psychology. His name alone symbolizes the importance of his theories, and the name that comes to most people's heads when saying the word psychology is Sigmund Freud. Freud was a psychodynamic psychologist and came from the conservative point of view which states that man is bad and society is good, which I do not agree with 100% because not all man's actions are necessarily bad and with bad intentions. Freud was a real pessimist when it came to human nature. He identifies man's weaknesses in saying that man is a biological creature with biological drives. He reflected these ideas off of Darwin's original ideas. I do agree with this theory because man's drives are survival and self-preservation. Freud also stated that mankind's aggression helps him to survive, he says that man has an innate sense of survival. I also agree with this theory because aggression and dominance guarantees our survival. He also believed that over the many thousands of years that man has been alive man developed rational thought. Freud stated that people do not have to live like animals because overtime we developed a society that has rules and regulations in order to keep our animal nature in check. I agree with Freud on this because of many cases when a person has some bad intentions in mind but let's them go when they know the consequences. Another thing Freud said was the idea of Opposing Instincts which when comes to mind creates conflict. The first of the two opposing instincts is the Eros, which is the life instinct, which also ensures the organisms life. The ID presses us to survive and pushes us to produce. The Eros seeks pleasure and then we rationalize it. Next comes the Thanatos, which is the death instinct, and this instinct says that all organisms have a death wish towards themselves and I agree completely. This he says becomes our own destruction. Freud says it is natural to move towards death and this I think is obvious. The feelings we have must be expressed and released and we direct our feelings outward. This becomes our aggression toward others. Freud's view on the mind is in the shape of an iceberg. He believes that mankind's mind works in the unconscious, which I do not agree with at all I feel that man is mostly conscious when it comes to behaviors. Every choice that mankind makes he is aware of, but maybe the consequences of our action might be unknown. The Structure of Personality which is another interesting part of Freud's theory basically states that we have an ID, a Superego and an Ego. The ID is a biological reservoir of urges and impulses that need to be gratified. He says the ID does not have a conscious, it acts on instinct. It seeks out gratification and pleasure. It is the pleasure principle. The Superego is the Morality Principle, and the Superego knows the difference between right and wrong. The Superego is a bunch of learned internalized morals and values of society. This is basically the thing that keeps the ID in check. Freud said that Superego is our conscious, and that the Superego is the most powerful tool (guilt and pride). Last but not least is the Ego, which is the reality principle. The Ego finds socially acceptable ways to satisfy the ID. It finds the balance between the ID and reality. The functions of the Ego is to find a compromise between the ID and the Superego. The Ego must also learn to deal with anxiety, and it also helps to boost the self-esteem. Without the Ego there would be no mental health. I completely agree with Freud's theory of the Structure of Personality because I feel we have different parts of our behavior that we can control and that we are conscious about and there are other behaviors that come directly from our unconscious. Our ego lies to us, denies, falsifies, and distorts reality which in turn causes us to create what Freud likes to call the seven defense mechanisms. The first of the seven defense mechanisms is Repression. Repression pushes the problem to the subconscious. It is the exclusion of impulses and thoughts from the conscious mind. Next comes Denial, and denial is the cutting of the conscious mind from external threats. An example of this would be when you are walking in the mall with your girlfriend and a beautiful woman walks by and you look but when your girlfriend asks you say, I wasn't looking at her. Next there is a defense mechanism

War of 1812 Overview - Campaigns of 1814

War of 1812 Overview - Campaigns of 1814 1813: Success on Lake Erie, Failure Elsewhere | War of 1812: 101 | 1815: New Orleans Peace A Changing Landscape As 1813 came to a close, the British began to focus their attention on the war with the United States. This began as an increase in naval strength which saw the Royal Navy expand and tighten their full commercial blockade of the American coast. This effectively eliminated the majority of American commerce which led to regional shortages and inflation. The situation continued to worsen with the fall of Napoleon in March 1814. Though initially heralded by some in the United States, the implications of the French defeat soon became apparent as the British were now freed to increase their military presence in North America. Having failed to capture Canada or force peace during the wars first two years, these new circumstance put the Americans on the defensive and transformed the conflict into one of national survival. The Creek War As the war between the British and Americans raged, a faction of the Creek nation, known as the Red Sticks, sought to halt white encroachment into their lands in the Southeast. Agitated by Tecumseh and led by William Weatherford, Peter McQueen, and Menawa, the Red Sticks were allied with the British and received arms from the Spanish in Pensacola. Killing two families of white settlers in February 1813, the Red Sticks ignited a civil war among between the Upper (Red Stick) and Lower Creek. American forces were drawn in that July when US troops intercepted a party of Red Sticks returning from Pensacola with arms. In the resulting Battle of Burnt Corn, the American soldiers were driven away. The conflict escalated on August 30 when over 500 militia and settlers were massacred just north of Mobile at Fort Mims. In response, Secretary of War John Armstrong authorized military action against the Upper Creek as well as a strike against Pensacola if the Spanish were found to be involved. To deal with the threat, four volunteer armies were to move into Alabama with the goal of meeting at the Creek holy ground near the confluence of the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers. Advancing that fall, only Major General Andrew Jacksons force of Tennessee volunteers achieved meaningful success, defeating the Red Sticks at Tallushatchee and Talladega. Holding an advanced position through the winter, Jacksons success was rewarded with additional troops. Moving out from Fort Strother on March 14, 1814, he won a decisive victory at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend thirteen days later. Moving south into the heart of the Creek holy ground, he built Fort Jackson at the junction of the Coosa and Tallapoosa. From this post, he informed the Red Sticks that they were surrender and sever ties with the British and Spanish or be c rushed. Seeing no alternative, Weatherford made peace and concluded the Treaty of Fort Jackson that August. By the terms of the treaty, the Creek ceded 23 million acres of land to the United States. Changes Along the Niagara After two years of embarrassments along the Niagara frontier, Armstrong appointed a new group of commanders to achieve victory. To lead American forces, he turned to newly promoted Major General Jacob Brown. An active commander, Brown had successfully defended Sackets Harbor the previously year and was one of a few officers to have escaped the 1813 St. Lawrence expedition with his reputation intact. To support Brown, Armstrong provided a group of newly promoted brigadier generals which included Winfield Scott and Peter Porter. One of the few standout American officers of the conflict, Scott was quickly tapped by Brown to oversee the armys training. Going to extraordinary lengths, Scott relentlessly drilled the regulars under his command for the upcoming campaign (Map). A New Resilience To open the campaign, Brown sought to re-take Fort Erie before turning north to engage British forces under Major General Phineas Riall. Crossing the Niagara River early on July 3, Browns men succeeded in surrounding the fort and overwhelming its garrison by noon. Learning of this, Riall began moving south and formed a defensive line along the Chippawa River. The next day, Brown ordered Scott to march north with his brigade. Moving towards the British position, Scott was slowed by an advance guard led by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Pearson. Finally reaching the British lines, Scott elected to await reinforcements and withdrew a short distance south to Street Creek. Though Brown had planned a flanking movement for July 5, he was beat to the punch when Riall attacked Scott. In the resulting Battle of Chippawa, Scotts men soundly defeated the British. The battle made Scott a hero and provided a badly needed morale boost (Map). Heartened by Scotts success, Brown hoped to take Fort George and link up with Commodore Isaac Chaunceys naval force on Lake Ontario. With this done, he could begin a march westward around the lake towards York. As in the past, Chauncey proved uncooperative and Brown advanced only as far as Queenston Heights as he knew Riall was being reinforced. British strength continued to grow and command was assumed by Lieutenant General Gordon Drummond. Unsure of British intentions, Brown dropped back to the Chippawa before ordering Scott to reconnoiter north. Locating the British along Lundys Lane, Scott immediately moved to attack on July 25. Though outnumbered, he held his position until Brown arrived with reinforcements. The ensuing Battle of Lundys Lane lasted until midnight and was fought to a bloody draw. In the fighting, Brown, Scott, and Drummond were wounded, while Riall was wounded and captured. Having taken heavy losses and now outnumbered, Brown elected to fall back on Fort Erie. Slowly pursued by Drummond, American forces reinforced Fort Erie and succeeded in repelling a British attack on August 15. The British attempted a siege of the fort, but were forced to withdraw in late September when their supply lines were threatened. On November 5, Major General George Izard, who had taken over from Brown, ordered the fort evacuated and destroyed, effectively ending the war on the Niagara frontier. 1813: Success on Lake Erie, Failure Elsewhere | War of 1812: 101 | 1815: New Orleans Peace 1813: Success on Lake Erie, Failure Elsewhere | War of 1812: 101 | 1815: New Orleans Peace Up Lake Champlain With the conclusion of hostilities in Europe, General Sir George Prevost, the governor-general of Canada and commander-in-chief of British forces in North America, was informed in June 1814 that over 10,000 veterans of the Napoleonic Wars would dispatched for use against the Americans. He was also told that London expected him to undertake offensive operations before the close of the year. Assembling his army south of Montreal, Prevost intended to strike south through the Lake Champlain corridor. Following the route of Major General John Burgoynes failed Saratoga Campaign of 1777, Prevost elected to take this path due to antiwar sentiment found in Vermont. As on Lakes Erie and Ontario, both sides on Lake Champlain had been engaged in a ship-building race for over a year. Having built a fleet of four ships and twelve gunboats, Captain George Downie was to sail up (south) the lake in support of Prevosts advance. On the American side, the land defense was headed by Major General George Izard. With the arrival of British reinforcements in Canada, Armstrong believed that Sackets Harbor was under threat and ordered Izard to leave Lake Champlain with 4,000 men to reinforce the Lake Ontario base. Though he protested the move, Izard departed leaving Brigadier General Alexander Macomb with a mixed force of around 3,000 to man the newly built fortifications along the Saranac River. The Battle of Plattsburgh Crossing the border on August 31 with around 11,000 men, Prevosts advance was harassed by Macombs men. Undaunted, the veteran British troops pushed south and occupied Plattsburgh on September 6. Though he badly outnumbered Macomb, Prevost paused for four days to prepare to assault the American works and to allow Downie time to arrive. Supporting Macomb was Master Commandant Thomas MacDonoughs fleet of four ships and ten gunboats. Arrayed in a line across Plattsburgh Bay, MacDonoughs position required Downie to sail further south and round Cumberland Head before attacking. With his commanders eager to strike, Prevost intended to move forward against Macombs left while Downies ships attacked the Americans in the bay. Arriving early on September 11, Downie moved to attack the American line. Forced to combat light and variable winds, the British were unable to maneuver as desired. In a hard-fought battle, MacDonoughs ships took a beating were able to overcome the British. During the battle, Downie was killed as were many of the officers on his flagship, HMS Confiance (36 guns). Ashore, Prevost was late in moving forward with his assault. While artillery on both sides dueled, some British troops advanced and were achieving success when they were recalled by Prevost. Having learned of Downies defeat on the lake, the British commander decided to call off the assault. Believing that control of the lake was necessary for the resupply of his army, Prevost argued that any advantage gained by taking the American position would be negated by the inevitable need to withdraw down the lake. By evening, Prevosts massive army was retreating back to Canada, much to the astonishment of Macomb. Fire in the Chesapeake With the campaigns underway along the Canadian border, the Royal Navy, guided by Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, worked to tighten the blockade and conduct raids against the American coast. Already eager to inflict damage on the Americans, Cochrane was further encouraged in July 1814 after receiving a letter from Prevost asking him to assist in avenging the American burnings of several Canadian towns. To execute these attacks, Cochrane turned to Rear Admiral George Cockburn who had spent much of 1813 raiding up and down the Chesapeake Bay. To support these operations, a brigade of Napoleonic veterans, led by Major General Robert Ross, was dispatched to the region. On August 15, Ross transports passed the Virginia Capes and sailed up the bay to join with Cochrane and Cockburn. Discussing their options, the three men elected to attempt an attack on Washington DC. This combined force quickly trapped Commodore Joshua Barneys gunboat flotilla in the Patuxent River. Pushing upstream, they swept aside Barneys force and began landing Rosss 3,400 men and 700 marines on August 19. In Washington, the Madison Administration struggled to meet the threat. Not believing Washington would be a target, little had been done in terms of preparation. Organizing the defense was Brigadier General William Winder, a political appointee from Baltimore who had previously been captured at the Battle of Stoney Creek. As the bulk of the US Armys regulars were occupied in the north, Winder was forced to largely rely on militia. Meeting no resistance, Ross and Cockburn advanced rapidly from Benedict. Moving through Upper Marlborough, the two decided to approach Washington from the northeast and cross the East Branch of the Potomac at Bladensburg (Map). Massing 6,500 men, including Barneys sailors, Winder opposed the British at Bladensburg on August 24. In the Battle of Bladensburg, which was viewed by President James Madison, Winders men were forced back and driven from the field despite inflicting higher losses on the British (Map). As American troops fled back through the capital, the government evacuated and Dolley Madison worked to save key items from the Presidents House. The British entered the city that evening and soon the Capitol, Presidents House, and Treasury Building were ablaze. Camping on Capitol Hill, the British troops resumed their destruction the following day before beginning the march back to their ships that evening. 1813: Success on Lake Erie, Failure Elsewhere | War of 1812: 101 | 1815: New Orleans Peace 1813: Success on Lake Erie, Failure Elsewhere | War of 1812: 101 | 1815: New Orleans Peace By the Dawns Early Light Emboldened by their success against Washington, Cockburn next advocated for a strike against Baltimore. A pro-war city with a fine harbor, Baltimore had long served as a base for American privateers operating against British commerce. While Cochrane and Ross were less enthusiastic, Cockburn succeeded in convincing them to move up the bay. Unlike Washington, Baltimore was defended by Major George Armisteads garrison at Fort McHenry and around 9,000 militia who had been busy building an elaborate system of earthworks. These latter defensive endeavors were overseen Major General (and Senator) Samuel Smith of the Maryland militia. Arriving at the mouth of the Patapsco River, Ross and Cochrane planned a two-prong attack against the city with the former landing at North Point and advancing overland, while the navy attacked Fort McHenry and the harbor defenses by water. Going ashore at North Point early on September 12, Ross began advancing towards the city with his men. Anticipating Ross actions and needing more time to complete the citys defenses, Smith dispatched 3,200 men and six cannon under Brigadier General John Stricker to delay the British advance. Meeting in the Battle of North Point, American forces successfully delayed the British advance and killed Ross. With the generals death, command ashore passed to Colonel Arthur Brooke. The next day, Cochrane advanced the fleet up the river with the goal of attacking Fort McHenry. Ashore, Brooke pushed on to the city but was surprised to find substantial earthworks manned by 12,000 men. Under orders not to attack unless with a high chance of success, he halted to await the outcome of Cochranes assault. In the Patapsco, Cochrane was hampered by shallow waters which precluded sending forward his heaviest ships to strike at Fort McHenry. As a result, his attack force consisted of five bomb ketches, 10 smaller warships, and the rocket vessel HMS Erebus. By 6:30 AM they were in position and opened fire on Fort McHenry. Remaining out of range of Armisteads guns, the British ships struck the fort with heavy mortar shells (bombs) and Congreve rockets from Erebus. As the ships closed, they came under intense fire from Armisteads guns and were compelled to draw back to their original positions. In effort to break the stalemate, the British attempted to move around the fort after dark but were thwarted. By dawn, the British had fired between 1,500 and 1,800 rounds at the fort with little impact. As the sun began to rise, Armistead ordered the forts small storm flag lowered and replaced with the standard garrison flag measuring 42 feet by 30 feet. Sewn by local seamstress Mary Pickersgill, the flag was clearly visible to all of the ships in the river. The sight of the flag and the ineffectiveness of the 25-hour bombardment convinced Cochrane that the harbor could not be breached. Ashore, Brooke, with no support from the navy, decided against a costly attempt on the American lines and began retreating towards North Point where his troops re-embarked. The successful defense of the fort inspired Francis Scott Key, a witness to the fighting, to write The Star-Spangled Banner. Withdrawing from Baltimore, Cochranes fleet departed the Chesapeake and sailed south where it would play role in the wars final battle. 1813: Success on Lake Erie, Failure Elsewhere | War of 1812: 101 | 1815: New Orleans Peace

Miscommunication in Aviaition Safety Research Paper

Miscommunication in Aviaition Safety - Research Paper Example Consequently, miscommunication among these individuals may result in grave consequences such as a fatal crash or accident. Of all aviation accidents that have been reported, over 70% points to miscommunication as a significant contributor to the fatal aviation crashes. Hence, miscommunication in the form of improper English, language errors, as well as inefficient cockpit communication is among the leading causes of fatal aviation accidents. Language problem is the major cause of airspace accidents due to crew communication and coordination. Pilots operate huge and complicated planes in busy and large terminals, and thus, they need help from the ground including information and support on landing and taking off provided by the air-traffic control (ATC). Therefore, communication between ATC and pilots should be clear, efficient, and proper because any mishap in communication can lead to a fatal crash as seen in the case of two Boeing 747 crashing into each other. Evidence shows that improper English and communication interference were the major cause of the fatal crash on March 27, 1977 that injured 61 and killed 583 people (Tajima 454). The captain notified the controller that they were at a takeoff position, and since this statement has double meaning, the controller misinterpreted it. The controller thought that the captain meant they were waiting for runway clearance, but not in motion, but sadly, the plane was alrea dy in motion making a run on the runway. Further instructions given to the captain to standby did not reach him due to radio transmission interruption. What followed was a fatal crash between KLM 4805 and PAA airplane, which was still on the runway when KLM 4805 was taking off. According to Tajima, this was a case of improper English whereby the captain’s native language Dutch influenced unconscious code-mixing that interfered with English phrase resulting in inefficient communication to the ATC (456). Apart from pilot and ATC

Conflict resolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Conflict resolution - Essay Example A conflict is a situation of misunderstanding between two or more people. When there is a conflict, it is advisable to solve the problem peacefully and if the disagreement can not be solve and is likely to cause undesirable situation like a fight then one can run away. The complicated consequence that can arise from the action of any one in the conflict is referred to as ramification. Running away from the conflict will leave the problem unresolved and this will increase enmity. In my experience of two classmates quarreling one of them fled due to fear of being beaten by the other one. Fighting over a conflict can make one to get injuries like nose bleeding or bruises or other forms of injuries and this will make either or all of the people involved in the conflict to be punished by the school administration. The cause of a fight is failure by the two people in a conflict to agree and reconcile with each other. The fight I witnessed was between two school mates who disagreed and star ted shouting at each other and this lead to a fight. It ended with one bruising the other and the principal punished all of them.To fix a conflict is to solve a problem that causes disagreement between people and restore peace. In the School my two classmates disagreed but the class teacher called them to the office and solved the problem and they became friends again.  Competency 1 In terms of the campus culture the principal is somewhat serious and this is observed often.Competency 2 The collaboration with the surrounding community is somewhat significant to principal as often observed.Competency 3 Compliance with code of ethics is somewhat often observed by the principalCompetency 5 It is often observed that the principal perceive the importance of this leadership qualityCompetency 6 This leadership is often taken somewhat serious by the principle.Competency 7 This leadership the principal like it but often observed by the studentsThere was no place marked 1, 2 or 0 which means all the leadership skills were admired.

The Mayan Civilization In Mesoamerica

The Mayan Civilization In Mesoamerica This area is geographically varied, ranging from volcanic mountains to limestone, to rainforests. Often, these extremely varied geographic areas are divided into areas known as the Highlands, and the Lowlands, both important to the presence of trade in the Mayan civilization. The lowlands were a beautiful location, surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico to the north and west, and on the east was the Caribbean Sea. This was an area that was essential in the planting and production of crops such as maize, squash, beans, cotton, and sisal. As you can believe, the lowlands climate was very warm, and even in Rain season provided little rain. The Southern lowlands were home to rainforests and savannahs, where lakes were present and fed by the Usumacinta River. Rainfall was much higher in this area and drained towards the seas, creating essential rivers, (the Usumacinta and the Grijalva) for the Mayan people. These large rivers also provided a means for transportation. The Northern Lowlands were relatively drier, and home to small trees. This area was often an area of slash and burn agriculture. The Highlands were a more dangerous area, composed of mountains and valleys, and were shouldered on the south by the Pacific. This area was home to dangerous animals, such as Jaguars and poisonous snakes. Even though this area was more prone to natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanoes, the highlands were the Mayans source of precious metals such as obsidian, jade, hematite and cinnabar, which were extremely important in trade relations, as well as value for themselves, as burials of wealthy individuals contain items such as head dresses, necklaces and other items of value made from metals. The Mayan civilization had many advanced methods of food production. It is now thought that raised fields and terracing, field managing, and wild harvesting were needed in order to support the large populations, which can be seen through aerial photographs, and appear to be connected by man-made canals. Most commonly, maize was their primary staple, but Mayans also grew beans, squash, as well as sisal and cotton for textiles. The wax and honey production from bees was also obtained, and various alcoholic drinks were made from corn. The Mayan people are most commonly known for their development of a complex writing system, as well as the construction of large, dramatic urban centres for their people past and present. Out of all the Mesoamerican civilizations, Mayan architecture may be the most highly recognized. Definitely the most dramatic, Mayan architecture is known for its huge step pyramids, which were adapted from earlier nearby civilizations. These pyramids were built for honouring gods and past leaders, who are commonly found deep within. Often, these great pyramids were built over with new structures. Other significant buildings of the Maya were often related to religion, administration, observatories, or high ranking citizens. Buildings were created with large, careful stone placement, as well as highly decorated. Understanding this architecture allows us to understand the customs and ways of the Maya civilization. Building materials often consisted of Limestone, lime stucco, plaster, flint, and cement; as they were readily available and fairly easy to produce. Often, buildings were adorned with murals, sculptures, and short script which expressed activities that were related to the building, often presenting mythological features or impressions of their gods. This was all done through man-power, as there were no metal tools, large domesticated animals, or even wheels to move all of these materials for building. The houses of the Mayan people were located within the city limits, and are often referred to as compounds. These areas consisted of wide open parts in the middle, in which religious ceremonies were held, usually on raised platforms right in the middle, allowing all to see. Also located near the middle were administration and ball courts. Often, people higher on the social ladder were located on the inner parts of the city, closer to amenities, and had much more spacious living quarters then those of commoners. The Maya people were very interesting in their sense of keeping track of things. Large numbers of administration related buildings, their invention of the calendar, as well as their recordings on stone stelae were the evidence of progression to a real organized state. This helps with the decipherment of how the population lived in every aspect of their lives; who they worshiped and the importance to respect (often in the form of bloodletting), how they were organized as a civilization, as well as their forms of communication. A lot of the historical record of the Mayans was lost during the Spanish rule, which resulted in the burning of Mayan books. These books would have provided a lot of insight into the way they lived, as well as helpful information to deciphering hieroglyphs. The Mayan Collapse To this day, there is still a lot of debate on what actually happened in the fall of the Mayan civilization. Around 870 Ad, the southern part of the lowlands began to collapse. There was no new construction beginning, and the cities gradually became deserted. This was a result of a combination of events, and is still today not definitely answered why this happened. There are many different opinions readily available, but these were some of the most convincing I came across. One point of view was that warfare was the last string pulled in the collapse. Warfare had become widespread, and some argue that the increasing power of royalty lead to a revolt. Another view was that environmental issues led to the collapse. Over harvesting to feed the growing populations damaged the small area of land that was workable, and eventually draining the nutrience of the land. This put a huge strain on the stability of the community, and the possibility of a few droughts made it inevitable. Stanley believes that the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Maya centres were abandoned, not because of burgeoning managerial costs, peasant revolts, or invasions from the outside, but because of erosion of the systems economic baseà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (Santley 149), Basically stating that over-harvesting of land for food every year left unfertile soil, in which nothing would grow. Another view I found interesting was by Crist, where on page 29 he suggests that with a civilization as large as the Mayan come issues such as epidemics such as malnutrition and disease which could be triggered by the infertile land not being able to produce for the ever-growing population of the Maya. I could see this to also be a contributing factor, as they really did not have any way to treat disease, or any solutions to malnutrition when you combine it with the potential environmental issues at the time. I believe that any of the previous situations could have easily dispersed if not ended the Maya civilization, and a combination of the proposals out there would have definitely been detrimental In my opinion, the Maya people were extremely advanced people. As a group, they were very knowledgeable farmers, and used their land to their advantage. Their ability to extract gems and metals and create semi=precious pieces that were highly valued really put them on top with trade relations. Although we have seen substantial structures in the past, the Maya structures were enormous, and highly decorated. The power and respect that Nobelà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s had to construct these types of structures must have been amazing, as well as the respect required for the cooperation needed for the labour of these cities. The Mayan were highly intelligent, as they were able to build on Olmec civilization and come up with their own original calendar system, hieroglyphic writing, as well as astronomy. These three areas are still very much a part of our education today, and I believe that even though it may seem farfetched, that the Maya had a significant impact on how our calendars and interpret ation of astronomy was constructed to be what it is today.

Death be not Proud and Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night :: Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night

Death is an aspect of life that everyone becomes acquainted with sooner or later.   From my own experiences I am more familiar with death than I could ever want to be.   Poetry is something that is very difficult for me to follow, but when it deals with concept that I am familiar with, then I am able to associate with the soul of the writer.   Two poems that deal with the concept of death that I actually enjoyed reading and will compare to each other are "Death be not proud" by Dylan Thomas and "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas.   Firstly, in "Death be not proud," Donne tells Death that it is not anything special.   That Death is a low being that deals with the pitiful aspects of life: war, disease, and murder.   Donne says that Death is nothing more than an aspect of life, just an event of the moment, "one short sleep past, we wake eternally."   Donne goes on to explain that we all will go through this door while on the way to another existence.   In comparison, "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" by Thomas is a battle cry against death.   To fight against it until the last breath of life is gone.   That to give up life is the coward's way.   To his father, who is dying from a protracted illness, Dylan says to show his love, that it is all right to cry even though he has never seen his father show the weakness of crying, just so long as he continues to fight against the coming end.   In both poems, the writers are against Death; however Donne writes of Death as a weak entity that has no real power, because after we die, we will never have to face the worry of Death.   Thomas, however, writes as if he doesn't believe in any kind of hereafter.   An example of this is the repeated cry "Rage, rage against the dying of the light."   These are two very different beliefs for an ineludible fact of life.   Death is something that I have faced and will eventually succumb to;