Baby’s Baby Boomers - Teen pregnancy on the incline is growing trend.
It has been some time now that the “Baby Boom” generation has been conceived; most of this four hundred thousand plus generation will be retiring within the next few years. But what of the new baby boomers? A rise in teen pregnancy after a 15 year decline has the attention of some of the nations brightest minds.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics pregnancy in teens was on a steady decline for 15 years before a dramatic three to five percent national rise in 2006/2007. Although this may not seem like a big increase the numbers translate to about three in every ten teenage girls becoming pregnant at least once before they are twenty years of age. Repeat pregnancies may account for as much as twenty percent in some parts of the country.[ NCHS] The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy claims that babies born to teens in 2004 will cost taxpayers 9.1 billion dollars over time. This figure includes increased costs to public assistance, public sector health care, child welfare and state prisons and lower taxes paid by teen parents and their children over their lifetimes. Although the difference of birth rate varies for different ethnicities the NCHS rules out race as a potential factor in national birth rate.
The causes for such increases over the past two years range widely in theories widely from restriction of funding for certain types of sexual education, to religious background and belief, even personal need to feel accepted in society by older peers. But most of the data collected by various organizations points mostly to the fact that no highly effective sex education or HIV prevention education program is eligible for federal funding because mandates prohibit educating teenagers about the benefits of condoms and contraception. [American Foundation for Aids Research] The government will only allow funding for sexual education programs that teach abstinence until marriage which, according to the researchers at Columbia University “virginity pledge programs increase pledge-takers’ risk for sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy”. The study concluded that 88 percent of pledge-takers initiated sex prior to marriage even though some delayed sex for a while. Rates of sexually transmitted infections among pledge takers and non-pledge takers were similar, even though pledge-takers initiated sex later. Pledge-takers were less likely to seek STI testing and less likely to use contraception when they did have sex”. [Bruckner H., Bearman P]
Another cause to this new age baby boom sensation is the growing amount of support and acceptance for teenage mothers in society. As if they have done something they should be rewarded for, as if getting pregnant before marriage or even before they are allowed to vote is some sort of good deed. As unsettling as this may be it is true and maybe confusing for teenage girls. When teenage girls see celebrities that star on kid network television channels like Jamie Lynn Spears get pregnant and then pregnant again four months after the delivery of her first child they may be getting mixed signals. Or when seventeen year old Mackenzie McCollum was benched from her high school volley ball team until cleared via doctors note because she had gotten pregnant and her mother filed four suits against the athletic committee because they do not require doctor notation for none-pregnant student athletes. The mother Barbra Horton (note last names of mother and daughter) has been quoted saying “My goal is for them to change their policies to include pregnant athletes” and “to nurture pregnant athletes, and to make sure that these athletes are successful”. [Hatch] I think I make my point. What is the country coming to when we almost reward our children for doing something that is simply irresponsible?
Concluding the main cause of birth increase in teenagers is the lack of knowledge about contraception and condoms and that new norm in society when everyone is a winner despite how much they are failing. The teens are less informed about “safe sex” and more informed about being morally correct and given basically two options; be abstinent until someone will tell them the truth, Or learn on their own. And that is mostly the problem, we have to many young explorers taking adventures with no navigation system and unfortunately they don’t realize how far off they really are until they get a flat. Unfortunately the government doesn’t only have difficulty with the problems of the future but apparently are unable to read well documented statistics. In one recent study 94 percent of adults and 93 percent of parents said that sex education should cover contraception. Only 15 percent of Americans wanted abstinence-only education taught in the classroom. [National Public Radio et al] It just makes more sense to educate instead of attempting to refrain.
Having a baby is not the only repercussion that will come of teenage pregnancies. Each year these babies cost the tax payers over nine billion dollars. Most teenage parents can not afford a child because they are simply children themselves. Eighty percent of teenage mothers end up on welfare. Most teenage mothers do not finish high school. Only one third of them will finish high school and only one and one half percent will obtain a college degree by age 30. Children birthed by teenage mothers are more likely to do poorly in school and be abused or neglected, boys are thirteen percent more likely to end up in prison while girls are twenty-two percent more likely to become teenage mothers themselves. [NCHS] And so on this cycle will continue unless the education system explains the “rules and regulations” of sex, in place of telling kids just not to do it. And maybe a slap or two in the back of the head when they make a mistake instead of this positive reinforcement for negative action kick that America has been on. If society would just tell the youth to stop screwing up they might just listen.
Sources
National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report, Births: Final Data for 2006, January 2009. Web. Dec.5.2009
National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report, Births: Final Data for 2006, January 2009; National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, By the Numbers: The Public Costs of Teen Childbearing, 2006.Web.Dec.5.20009
American Foundation for AIDS Research. Assessing the Efficacy of Abstinence-Only Programs for HIV Prevention among Young People. [Issue Brief, no. 2] Washington, DC: Author, 2005. Web. Dec.5.2009
Brückner H, Bearman P. After the promise: the STD consequences of adolescent virginity pledges. Journal of Adolescent Health 2005; 36:271-278.
Brückner H, Bearman P. Promising the future: virginity pledges and first intercourse. American Journal of Sociology 2001; 106(4):859-912.
National Public Radio et al. Sex Education in America: NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School Poll. Menlo Park, CA: Kaiser, 2004. Web.Dec.5.2009
Hatch, Amy. Teen Athlete Claims She was Benched for Pregnancy. Parentdish.com. Dec8th2009. Web.dec.10.2009
Post Write.
I like this paper, i feel like i use enough resources and evidence and fully answer the requirments of the assignment
Edit Edit Edit, its never really done is it? At this point i wait for critizism and work from there.
Is it engaging enough, entertaining enough? who wants to be boring.
Did i leave anything vital out, or do I meet the assignment requirments fairly well?
Is it bias or bias sounding truth?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
The Next Generation
Baby Boomers' Babies - Teen pregnancy on the incline a growing trend.
It has been some time now that the “Baby Boom” generation has been conceived, most of this 400 thousand plus generation will be retiring within the next few years. But what of the new baby boomers. A rise in teen pregnancy after a 15 year decline has the attention of some of the nations brightest minds.
According to the NCHS pregnancy in teens was on a steady decline for 15 years before a dramatic three to five percent national raise in 2006/2007.[1] Although this may not seem like a big increase the numbers translate to about three in every ten teenage girls becoming pregnant at least once before they are twenty years of age, And repeat pregnancies may account for as high as twenty percent in some parts of the country.[1] The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy claims, babies born to teens in 2004 will cost taxpayers $9.1 billion over time. This figure includes increased costs to public assistance, public sector health care, child welfare and state prisons and lower taxes paid by teen parents and their children over their lifetimes.[2] Although the difference of birth rate varies for different ethnicities the NCHS rules out race as a potential factor in national birth rate.[1]
The causes for such increases over the past two years range in theories widely from restriction of funding for certain types of sexual education, to religious background and belief, even personal need to feel accepted in society by older peers. But most of the date collected by various organizations points mostly to the fact that no highly effective sex education or HIV prevention education program is eligible for federal funding because mandates prohibit educating teenagers about the benefits of condoms and contraception.[3] The government will only allow funding for abstinent until marriage sexual education programs which according to the researchers at Columbia University “virginity pledge programs increase pledge-takers’ risk for sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. The study concluded that 88 percent of pledge-takers initiated sex prior to marriage even though some delayed sex for a while. Rates of sexually transmitted infections among pledge takers and non-pledge takers were similar, even though pledge-takers initiated sex later. Pledge-takers were less likely to seek STI testing and less likely to use contraception when they did have sex”.[4][5] Concluding the main cause of birth increase in teenagers is the lack of knowledge about contraception and condoms. The teens are less informed about “safe sex” and more informed about being morally correct and given basically two options; be abstinent until someone will tell them the truth, Or learn on there own. And that is mostly the problem, we have to many young explorers taking adventures with no navigation system and unfortunately they don’t realize how far off\ they really are until they get a flat. Unfortunately the government doesn’t only have difficulty with the problems of the future but apparently are unable to read well documented statistics, In one recent study 94 percent of adults and 93 percent of parents said that sex education should cover contraception. Only 15 percent of Americans wanted abstinence-only education taught in the classroom.[6] It just makes more sense to educate instead of attempting to refrain.
Having a baby is not the only repercussion that will become of teenage mommies. Each year these babies cost the tax payers over nine billion dollars. Most teenage parents can not afford a child because they are simply children themselves, eighty percent of teenage mothers end up on welfare. Most teenage mothers do not finish high school. Only one third of them will finish high school and only one and one half percent will obtain a college degree by age 30. Children birthed by teenage mothers are more likely to do poorly in school and be abused or neglected, boys are thirteen percent more likely to end up in prison while girls are twenty-two percent more likely to become teenage mothers themselves.[1] And so on this cycle will continue unless the education system explains the “rules and regulations” of sex, in place of telling kids just not to do it.
Sources
1. National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report, Births: Final Data for 2006, January 2009. Web. Dec.5.2009
2. National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report, Births: Final Data for 2006, January 2009; National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, By the Numbers: The Public Costs of Teen Childbearing, 2006.Web.Dec.5.20009
3. American Foundation for AIDS Research. Assessing the Efficacy of Abstinence-Only Programs for HIV Prevention among Young People. [Issue Brief, no. 2] Washington, DC: Author, 2005. Web. Dec.5.2009
4. Brückner H, Bearman P. After the promise: the STD consequences of adolescent virginity pledges. Journal of Adolescent Health 2005; 36:271-278.
5.Bearman PS, Brückner H. Promising the future: virginity pledges and first intercourse. American Journal of Sociology 2001; 106(4):859-912.
6.National Public Radio et al. Sex Education in America: NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School Poll. Menlo Park, CA: Kaiser, 2004. Web.Dec.5.2009
Post Write.
Im not sure how i feel about this paper so far, its unfinished and it isnt as long as i would like it to be.
I think i want to add another minor cause and a few more effects and lenghten the paper up a bit
Do you think ive responded well to this assignment? Is teen pregnancy clearly defined as a trend in this piece. Is there enough information and statistics to back up my allegations?
It has been some time now that the “Baby Boom” generation has been conceived, most of this 400 thousand plus generation will be retiring within the next few years. But what of the new baby boomers. A rise in teen pregnancy after a 15 year decline has the attention of some of the nations brightest minds.
According to the NCHS pregnancy in teens was on a steady decline for 15 years before a dramatic three to five percent national raise in 2006/2007.[1] Although this may not seem like a big increase the numbers translate to about three in every ten teenage girls becoming pregnant at least once before they are twenty years of age, And repeat pregnancies may account for as high as twenty percent in some parts of the country.[1] The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy claims, babies born to teens in 2004 will cost taxpayers $9.1 billion over time. This figure includes increased costs to public assistance, public sector health care, child welfare and state prisons and lower taxes paid by teen parents and their children over their lifetimes.[2] Although the difference of birth rate varies for different ethnicities the NCHS rules out race as a potential factor in national birth rate.[1]
The causes for such increases over the past two years range in theories widely from restriction of funding for certain types of sexual education, to religious background and belief, even personal need to feel accepted in society by older peers. But most of the date collected by various organizations points mostly to the fact that no highly effective sex education or HIV prevention education program is eligible for federal funding because mandates prohibit educating teenagers about the benefits of condoms and contraception.[3] The government will only allow funding for abstinent until marriage sexual education programs which according to the researchers at Columbia University “virginity pledge programs increase pledge-takers’ risk for sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. The study concluded that 88 percent of pledge-takers initiated sex prior to marriage even though some delayed sex for a while. Rates of sexually transmitted infections among pledge takers and non-pledge takers were similar, even though pledge-takers initiated sex later. Pledge-takers were less likely to seek STI testing and less likely to use contraception when they did have sex”.[4][5] Concluding the main cause of birth increase in teenagers is the lack of knowledge about contraception and condoms. The teens are less informed about “safe sex” and more informed about being morally correct and given basically two options; be abstinent until someone will tell them the truth, Or learn on there own. And that is mostly the problem, we have to many young explorers taking adventures with no navigation system and unfortunately they don’t realize how far off\ they really are until they get a flat. Unfortunately the government doesn’t only have difficulty with the problems of the future but apparently are unable to read well documented statistics, In one recent study 94 percent of adults and 93 percent of parents said that sex education should cover contraception. Only 15 percent of Americans wanted abstinence-only education taught in the classroom.[6] It just makes more sense to educate instead of attempting to refrain.
Having a baby is not the only repercussion that will become of teenage mommies. Each year these babies cost the tax payers over nine billion dollars. Most teenage parents can not afford a child because they are simply children themselves, eighty percent of teenage mothers end up on welfare. Most teenage mothers do not finish high school. Only one third of them will finish high school and only one and one half percent will obtain a college degree by age 30. Children birthed by teenage mothers are more likely to do poorly in school and be abused or neglected, boys are thirteen percent more likely to end up in prison while girls are twenty-two percent more likely to become teenage mothers themselves.[1] And so on this cycle will continue unless the education system explains the “rules and regulations” of sex, in place of telling kids just not to do it.
Sources
1. National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report, Births: Final Data for 2006, January 2009. Web. Dec.5.2009
2. National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report, Births: Final Data for 2006, January 2009; National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, By the Numbers: The Public Costs of Teen Childbearing, 2006.Web.Dec.5.20009
3. American Foundation for AIDS Research. Assessing the Efficacy of Abstinence-Only Programs for HIV Prevention among Young People. [Issue Brief, no. 2] Washington, DC: Author, 2005. Web. Dec.5.2009
4. Brückner H, Bearman P. After the promise: the STD consequences of adolescent virginity pledges. Journal of Adolescent Health 2005; 36:271-278.
5.Bearman PS, Brückner H. Promising the future: virginity pledges and first intercourse. American Journal of Sociology 2001; 106(4):859-912.
6.National Public Radio et al. Sex Education in America: NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School Poll. Menlo Park, CA: Kaiser, 2004. Web.Dec.5.2009
Post Write.
Im not sure how i feel about this paper so far, its unfinished and it isnt as long as i would like it to be.
I think i want to add another minor cause and a few more effects and lenghten the paper up a bit
Do you think ive responded well to this assignment? Is teen pregnancy clearly defined as a trend in this piece. Is there enough information and statistics to back up my allegations?
Saturday, December 5, 2009
2012 2nd draft
Morrison, David. “2012 and Counting, a NASA scientist answers the top 20 questions about 2012” Skeptic volume 15 number 2 2009, AcademicOne.web.23.Nov.2009
In this Essay and Interview, Morrison expresses his frustration caused by and email flooded with questions from people concerned with Doomsday “myths and hoaxes” such as Nibiru; a supposed giant brown dwarf as large if not larger than the earth that is supposed to crash into and dissipate the planet sometime in the near future, And 2012; the predicted end of the world. Morrison also answers twenty questions from a NASA website [astrobiology.NASA.gov]. He concludes that all the talk of Nibiru, 2012, and most other doomsday scenarios are strictly fiction. They are just a way for the media to cash in while fueling the inferno of fear in the mind of many people.
David Morrison, a scientist for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, answers twenty of the most popular questions posted by the public. The answers provided by Morrison could be viewed by a skeptic as bias and possibly false or misleading, but this is common nature of a skeptic anyway. A scientist may look at these answers as fact, truth, and nothing more. It seems that the answers given make sense, but if you are not a NASA employee or at the least an amateur astrologer you may not be so quick to accept. This is a problem that can not be solved because most skeptics do not work for NASA and must accept the words of Morrison on a very serious matter. He does not present much evidence but like he states, it is not the job of NASA to prove these claims false but the responsibility of the people presenting the claim to prove them truth. Morrison also urges people to do there own research if they are still a skeptic.
Post Write.
I dont really care for this paper, i like the topic but If you notice it is exactly the same as my first draft because I didnt receive any feedback to improve it and wasnt sure on my own how to impove it.
There is alot that needs to be changed on this paper i think. It is technically my first draft and i imagine there would be many errors.
Do you feel this is a good topic for this kind of writing piece ?
Is there anything specific that you like about the information provided?
Do you feel there is enough information for this type of paper?
In this Essay and Interview, Morrison expresses his frustration caused by and email flooded with questions from people concerned with Doomsday “myths and hoaxes” such as Nibiru; a supposed giant brown dwarf as large if not larger than the earth that is supposed to crash into and dissipate the planet sometime in the near future, And 2012; the predicted end of the world. Morrison also answers twenty questions from a NASA website [astrobiology.NASA.gov]. He concludes that all the talk of Nibiru, 2012, and most other doomsday scenarios are strictly fiction. They are just a way for the media to cash in while fueling the inferno of fear in the mind of many people.
David Morrison, a scientist for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, answers twenty of the most popular questions posted by the public. The answers provided by Morrison could be viewed by a skeptic as bias and possibly false or misleading, but this is common nature of a skeptic anyway. A scientist may look at these answers as fact, truth, and nothing more. It seems that the answers given make sense, but if you are not a NASA employee or at the least an amateur astrologer you may not be so quick to accept. This is a problem that can not be solved because most skeptics do not work for NASA and must accept the words of Morrison on a very serious matter. He does not present much evidence but like he states, it is not the job of NASA to prove these claims false but the responsibility of the people presenting the claim to prove them truth. Morrison also urges people to do there own research if they are still a skeptic.
Post Write.
I dont really care for this paper, i like the topic but If you notice it is exactly the same as my first draft because I didnt receive any feedback to improve it and wasnt sure on my own how to impove it.
There is alot that needs to be changed on this paper i think. It is technically my first draft and i imagine there would be many errors.
Do you feel this is a good topic for this kind of writing piece ?
Is there anything specific that you like about the information provided?
Do you feel there is enough information for this type of paper?
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
2012
Morrison, David. “2012 and Counting, a NASA scientist answers the top 20 questions about 2012” Skeptic volume 15 number 2 2009, AcademicOne.web.23.Nov.2009
In this Essay and Interview, Morrison expresses his frustration caused by and email flooded with questions from people concerned with Doomsday “myths and hoaxes” such as Nibiru; a supposed giant brown dwarf as large if not larger than the earth that is supposed to crash into and dissipate the planet sometime in the near future, And 2012; the predicted end of the world. Morrison also answers twenty questions from a NASA website [astrobiology.NASA.gov]. He concludes that all the talk of Nibiru, 2012, and most other doomsday scenarios are strictly fiction. They are just a way for the media to cash in while fueling the inferno of fear in the mind of many people.
David Morrison, a scientist for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, answers twenty of the most popular questions posted by the public. The answers provided by Morrison could be viewed by a skeptic as bias and possibly false or misleading, but this is common nature of a skeptic anyway. A scientist may look at these answers as fact, truth, and nothing more. It seems that the answers given make sense, but if you are not a NASA employee or at the least an amateur astrologer you may not be so quick to accept. This is a problem that can not be solved because most skeptics do not work for NASA and must accept the words of Morrison on a very serious matter. He does not present much evidence but like he states, it is not the job of NASA to prove these claims false but the responsibility of the people presenting the claim to prove them truth. Morrison also urges people to do there own research if they are still a skeptic.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Are YOU Addicted? 2nd Draft.
Are YOU Addicted?
-63% of Fall River residents say they are addicted. Addicted to coffee.
By: Joshua Bonanca
FALL RIVER- The next time you pick up a cup of coffee you may be asking yourself, “Am I addicted to this”. Despite the recession across the country the continuous opening of Dunkin Donuts franchise coffee shops in the city of Fall River may lead you to believe many people are in fact addicted to coffee. Currently the city of Fall River is home to seventeen Dunkin Donut shops for a population of approximately ninety-one thousand people.
The second most valuable traded commodity in the world only to oil is coffee (National Coffee Association), which is basically derived from seeds of a coffee plant along with other chemical constituents. One of the main chemical constituents in coffee beans and freshly brewed Dunkin Donuts coffee is caffeine. As you may not know caffeine is considered a “GRAS” a Generally Recognized As Safe substance or drug to the FDA, but a drug none the less. According to the researchers at John Hopkins University it is not the caffeine in coffee but “altering the coffee-drinking routine that produces problems”. Simply stating when missing that morning cup of coffee you may experience a caffeine withdrawal with symptoms ranging from headache, nausea, muscle pain, and in more serious cases depression; that could last up to nine days depending on the amount you regularly drink. Some people may consider this to be an addiction, but it seems to be more of a personal opinion at this point.
The upside of being a heavy drinker is the health benefits it may produce. An article on the WebMD website reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD says it may reduce the risk of such diseases as type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, colon cancer, and even be used as treatment for asthmas attacks. "Overall, the research shows that coffee is far more healthful than it is harmful," says Tomas DePaulis, PhD. "People who smoke and are heavy drinkers have less heart disease and liver damage when they regularly consume large amounts of coffee compared to those who don't," says DePaulis. But doesn’t drinking coffee everyday get costly? A recent U.S. survey revealed that 69% of American coffee drinkers consider coffee to be an “affordable luxury” (NCA).
I was still a skeptic of coffee addiction like many are, so I did my own research. I surveyed one hundred Dunkin Donuts coffee drinkers with one simple question. “Do you think that you are addicted to coffee” of the one hundred people 63% said they were addicted 31% said they were not and 6% said they really were not sure.
One woman said she was “absolutely addicted to coffee” “I drink at least ten twenty-four ounce cups each day” at two dollars and thirty-nine cent each; coffee “is breaking the bank” says Stacy Sousa who spends approximately $8700.00 a year. Some people may consider this to be an addiction. Are you addicted?
Post write:
I like this paper alot. Possibly because of my own coffee addiction and that I learned some new things while writting it.
I do believe there is room for improvment, in overall structure I am not very familiar with "news story" type writing structures yet.
some questions i could ask my readers; Do you like the piece? Anything specific you did or did not like in this story? Do you think you have a coffee addiction?
-63% of Fall River residents say they are addicted. Addicted to coffee.
By: Joshua Bonanca
FALL RIVER- The next time you pick up a cup of coffee you may be asking yourself, “Am I addicted to this”. Despite the recession across the country the continuous opening of Dunkin Donuts franchise coffee shops in the city of Fall River may lead you to believe many people are in fact addicted to coffee. Currently the city of Fall River is home to seventeen Dunkin Donut shops for a population of approximately ninety-one thousand people.
The second most valuable traded commodity in the world only to oil is coffee (National Coffee Association), which is basically derived from seeds of a coffee plant along with other chemical constituents. One of the main chemical constituents in coffee beans and freshly brewed Dunkin Donuts coffee is caffeine. As you may not know caffeine is considered a “GRAS” a Generally Recognized As Safe substance or drug to the FDA, but a drug none the less. According to the researchers at John Hopkins University it is not the caffeine in coffee but “altering the coffee-drinking routine that produces problems”. Simply stating when missing that morning cup of coffee you may experience a caffeine withdrawal with symptoms ranging from headache, nausea, muscle pain, and in more serious cases depression; that could last up to nine days depending on the amount you regularly drink. Some people may consider this to be an addiction, but it seems to be more of a personal opinion at this point.
The upside of being a heavy drinker is the health benefits it may produce. An article on the WebMD website reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD says it may reduce the risk of such diseases as type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, colon cancer, and even be used as treatment for asthmas attacks. "Overall, the research shows that coffee is far more healthful than it is harmful," says Tomas DePaulis, PhD. "People who smoke and are heavy drinkers have less heart disease and liver damage when they regularly consume large amounts of coffee compared to those who don't," says DePaulis. But doesn’t drinking coffee everyday get costly? A recent U.S. survey revealed that 69% of American coffee drinkers consider coffee to be an “affordable luxury” (NCA).
I was still a skeptic of coffee addiction like many are, so I did my own research. I surveyed one hundred Dunkin Donuts coffee drinkers with one simple question. “Do you think that you are addicted to coffee” of the one hundred people 63% said they were addicted 31% said they were not and 6% said they really were not sure.
One woman said she was “absolutely addicted to coffee” “I drink at least ten twenty-four ounce cups each day” at two dollars and thirty-nine cent each; coffee “is breaking the bank” says Stacy Sousa who spends approximately $8700.00 a year. Some people may consider this to be an addiction. Are you addicted?
Post write:
I like this paper alot. Possibly because of my own coffee addiction and that I learned some new things while writting it.
I do believe there is room for improvment, in overall structure I am not very familiar with "news story" type writing structures yet.
some questions i could ask my readers; Do you like the piece? Anything specific you did or did not like in this story? Do you think you have a coffee addiction?
Monday, October 19, 2009
Are You Addicted ?
Are YOU Addicted?
By: Joshua Bonanca
Fall River- The next time you pick up a cup of coffee you may be asking yourself “am I addicted to this stuff?” Despite the recession across the country the continuous opening of Dunkin Donuts franchise coffee shops in the city of Fall River may lead you to believe many people are addicted. Currently the city of Fall River is home to seventeen Dunkin Donuts shops for a population of approximately ninety-one thousand people.
The second most valuable traded commodity in the world only to oil is coffee (National Coffee Association), which is basically derived from seeds of a coffee plant along with other chemical constituents. One of the main chemical constituents in coffee beans and freshly brewed Dunkin Donuts coffee is caffeine. As you may not know caffeine is considered a “GRAS” a Generally Recognized As Safe substance or drug to the FDA, but a drug none the less. According to the researchers at John Hopkins University it is not the caffeine but “altering the coffee-drinking routine that produces problems”. Simply stating when missing that morning cup of coffee you may experience a caffeine withdrawal with symptoms ranging from headache to nausea, muscle pain, and in more serious cases depression; that could last up to nine days depending on the amount you regularly drink. Some people may consider this to be an addiction, but it seems to be more of a personal opinion at this point. The upside of being a heavy drinker is the possible health benefits it may produce. An article on the WebMD website reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD says it may reduce the risk of such diseases as type two diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, colon cancer, and even be used as a treatment for asthma attacks. “Overall, the research shows that coffee is far more healthful than it is harmful,” says Thomas Depauils, PHD. “People who smoke an are heavy drinkers have less heart disease and liver damage when they regularly consume large amounts of coffee compared to those who don’t,” says Depauils. But doesn’t drinking coffee everyday get costly? A recent U.S. survey revealed that 69% of American coffee drinkers consider coffee to be an “affordable luxury” (NCA).
I was still a skeptic of coffee addiction like many are, so I did my own research. I surveyed one hundred Dunkin Donuts coffee drinkers with one simple question. “Do you think you are addicted to coffee” of the one hundred people 63% said they were addicted 31% said they were not addicted and 6% said they really weren’t sure.
at two dollars and thirty-nine cent each Stacy Sousa says coffee cost are “breaking the bank” still she spends over $8700.00 a year. Some people may consider this to be an addiction. Are you addicted?
POST WRITE JOURNAL: NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
***How do you feel about the paper so far? Please explain and offer evidence from the work.
So far I like this paper. I just feel that I have too much information that can be included in this article so I had to just stick with the major things.
I want to get some opinions from various readers before I consider changing anything. I would leave the paper as it is now and just correct any writing errors.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Childhood 2nd Draft
University Of Chicago College Admissions 2009/2010
Essay Option 2
The late-eighteenth-century popular philosopher and cultural critic George Lichtenberg wrote, "Just as we outgrow a pair of trousers, we outgrow acquaintances, libraries, principles, etc. at times before they're worn out and at times-and this is worst of all-before we have new ones." Write an essay about something you have outgrown, perhaps before you had a replacement-a friend, a political philosophy, a favorite author, or anything that has had an influence on you. What, if anything, has taken its place?
Through out life everyone will outgrown things. This happens from birth, you outgrow baby clothes and cribs, and it will continue to happen even if we may not want it to. When asked about something I have out grown numerous things come to mind, but few are worth writing about and only one is relevant to most people, childhood.
My childhood was a memorable and fun time. I remember going to the park, eating ice cream, and not doing my homework. People too often don’t have the chance to experience a good childhood, but I was fortunate enough to. I could stay up real late, wake up real early, and then go to school with more energy then an auctioneer. I could eat whatever I liked and never gain a pound. No problems, no stress, no bills, and best of all no responsibilities. I never wanted to outgrow childhood. I had it good.
Then came preteens, and teens. Then came the hormones and the girls and the influences. Then came the stress of a teenager, and the responsibility. Society calls it “adolescence” that took over a nice young problem free child. Adolescence took place of my childhood before I had a chance to fully enjoy it. I had girlfriends who needed the whole world at fourteen, teachers who wanted ten page research papers, and parents who wanted me to do chores. I remember thinking, “things will be a lot different after I get my license,” I don’t know why but at that time, I believed getting my license was the secret of the universe that just couldn’t wait to be unlocked. After adolescence the young adult stage spun me around so fast I had to stop and reassess things. I had jobs, college, and bills; things that were very new to me. Now I’m utilizing ssn numbers, filling out W2’s, and organizing my budget book.
“Responsibilities!, you have no responsibility!” my Dad would say.
“Oh I’ve got plenty,” I would reply at the age of ten or eleven. Well he can have them back. Everything used to be nice and carefree. Moving at my own pace with no worries; riding my bike around the neighborhood and hanging out. These days I feel like everything is on fast-forward; I would pause it if I could, to just take a breather for a few minutes, grab a coffee and then hit play again.
If I could go back in time I would try and hold on to that childhood state as long as I could because children these days don’t get to enjoy it either. The whole world is about growing up early and being the best first. When it should be about kids being kids and adults being lame, living life as it comes at you not as its thrown at you. If I only knew then what I know now, I would have thrown it right back and jumped on my big wheel and rode away shouting “Long live childhood”.
Post Write:
** How do you feel about the paper so far?
* I am not sure if i like it yet, I sometimes have a habit of going off topic and I dont know if i have done that here
**What remains to be done? Please be precise.
*I still need to proof read this paper thoroughly and correct grammatical errors and possibly change some sentences around , restructure the paper differently to be completely satisfied.
***What questions do you have for readers about the piece?
* Do you feel that i stay on topic and write this paper correctly?
*Is there anything particular that you enjoy about this piece?
Essay Option 2
The late-eighteenth-century popular philosopher and cultural critic George Lichtenberg wrote, "Just as we outgrow a pair of trousers, we outgrow acquaintances, libraries, principles, etc. at times before they're worn out and at times-and this is worst of all-before we have new ones." Write an essay about something you have outgrown, perhaps before you had a replacement-a friend, a political philosophy, a favorite author, or anything that has had an influence on you. What, if anything, has taken its place?
Through out life everyone will outgrown things. This happens from birth, you outgrow baby clothes and cribs, and it will continue to happen even if we may not want it to. When asked about something I have out grown numerous things come to mind, but few are worth writing about and only one is relevant to most people, childhood.
My childhood was a memorable and fun time. I remember going to the park, eating ice cream, and not doing my homework. People too often don’t have the chance to experience a good childhood, but I was fortunate enough to. I could stay up real late, wake up real early, and then go to school with more energy then an auctioneer. I could eat whatever I liked and never gain a pound. No problems, no stress, no bills, and best of all no responsibilities. I never wanted to outgrow childhood. I had it good.
Then came preteens, and teens. Then came the hormones and the girls and the influences. Then came the stress of a teenager, and the responsibility. Society calls it “adolescence” that took over a nice young problem free child. Adolescence took place of my childhood before I had a chance to fully enjoy it. I had girlfriends who needed the whole world at fourteen, teachers who wanted ten page research papers, and parents who wanted me to do chores. I remember thinking, “things will be a lot different after I get my license,” I don’t know why but at that time, I believed getting my license was the secret of the universe that just couldn’t wait to be unlocked. After adolescence the young adult stage spun me around so fast I had to stop and reassess things. I had jobs, college, and bills; things that were very new to me. Now I’m utilizing ssn numbers, filling out W2’s, and organizing my budget book.
“Responsibilities!, you have no responsibility!” my Dad would say.
“Oh I’ve got plenty,” I would reply at the age of ten or eleven. Well he can have them back. Everything used to be nice and carefree. Moving at my own pace with no worries; riding my bike around the neighborhood and hanging out. These days I feel like everything is on fast-forward; I would pause it if I could, to just take a breather for a few minutes, grab a coffee and then hit play again.
If I could go back in time I would try and hold on to that childhood state as long as I could because children these days don’t get to enjoy it either. The whole world is about growing up early and being the best first. When it should be about kids being kids and adults being lame, living life as it comes at you not as its thrown at you. If I only knew then what I know now, I would have thrown it right back and jumped on my big wheel and rode away shouting “Long live childhood”.
Post Write:
** How do you feel about the paper so far?
* I am not sure if i like it yet, I sometimes have a habit of going off topic and I dont know if i have done that here
**What remains to be done? Please be precise.
*I still need to proof read this paper thoroughly and correct grammatical errors and possibly change some sentences around , restructure the paper differently to be completely satisfied.
***What questions do you have for readers about the piece?
* Do you feel that i stay on topic and write this paper correctly?
*Is there anything particular that you enjoy about this piece?
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