How to Visualize Your Research -

Last updated: June 2019Strategies on how to visualize data:Try flash spatial.Remember of maps.Create videos.Record vox pops.Draw an expressive design chart.Consider interactive charts, too.Make GIFs to illustrate street views/panoramas.Create infographics.Try data visualization software.What picture do you imagine when hearing of data visualization?Here is ours:Source: Bored PandaYes, its a pie chart, a pictorial representation of numerical data. Perfect for visualizing your research, right?Not really.Today, when people dont read but scan, the world goes crazy over videos and podcasts, and interactive content runs the show, data visualization goes far beyond pie charts, graphs, and diagrams. It takes so many forms that they even have a special course for it in colleges now! Students dont just write essays; they write visual essays and think of creative ways to represent their research to professors.No wonder:Proper visualization is the best way to make your data stand out. When illus trating a content asset by visuals, you increase its view rate by 94% and produce 180% more engagement, which multiplies its chances to get shared and remembered.(Okay, when a student, you hardly think of likes and shares. But what about impressing a teacher and, finally, getting that damned and so desired A+, huh?)Studies dont lie:Unique visualization types had significantly higher memorability scores than common graphs (circles, area, points, bars, and lines). It appears that novel and unexpected visualizations can be better remembered than the visualizations with limited variability that we are exposed to since elementary school.So, Why and When Use Data VisualizationVisuals are a new way to communicate information and make it easier for users to perceive. When you create a graphic essay or write a long read for your blog, visual elements are perfect to represent data because otherwise it would take many pages to convey.More than that, people respond to visual content better. Rea sons are many:The brain processes visual information 60,000 faster than text. (While it takes about 1/4 second to process a symbol meaning, it takes about 6 seconds to read 20 words.)Ideas presented graphically are easier to comprehend and remember than those presented as words.65 percent of the population are visual learners.Thats why all bloggers and marketing specialists focus on visualizing their projects for more reads, shares, and sales. Video is on its rise, interactive content (surveys, quizzes, calculators, infographics, e-books, emails) call the shots, and all they boost engagement, increase brand loyalty, and help marketers capture more data for their research.Hey, Im a student, okay? Whats in there for my essay writing? Do all these visual tricks meet academic requirements?Yes, they do.Most handbooks on evaluating research papers count tables and diagrams as the organization criteria and give 20% of a total grade for them. Content originality brings another 30%. Therefor e, if you decide to visualize your research in essays – you can get half of your paper grade in one go!The only detail to know is the proper places for visuals in your paper. Two options to consider:1) Within your essay, just after the reference to a visual.Like here:Or here: And remember of citing and referencing your visuals! This and this document will help you learn how to place visual data in the text of your essay, how to relate visuals to your writing, and how to create a caption.2) At the end of your essay, after the list of references. Known as the appendix, its a separate page at the end of your paper, including the additional information for readers. You can put visuals with corresponding captions there.If you have multiple items to include, create a separate appendix for each visual. Dont forget to format it according to essay standards (APA, MLA, etc.)The first mentioned is the most common way to use visuals in essays. But whatever option you choose, be consisten t: theres no need to place images or graphs both in the text and appendixes. Follow the instructions your teachers give, or just choose one option and keep to it.And now, for the most interesting part:Visual EssaysThey are quite a different story.To define visual essay, lets make it clear: its a set of pictures/other visual elements you use instead of words to complete a writing assignment. As a rule, its a mix of visuals and short written passages explaining what happens in your visual content.Important! Images you use to write visual essays should be original, i.e., made by you. (Keep on reading to find out what tools to use for data visualization.)Here goes a terrific example, â€Å"Who cares about the forest?† by Franke James):Full version hereHe combined photos, illustrations, and writing in 20+ visuals to craft an essay on the red hot issue of deforestation and its influence on our planet. Storytelling is not about words only, huh?The best visual essays include:A short introduction, with hooks and thesis statement.A sequence of visual elements, related to each other and set consistently.A short analysis of each visual element, explaining whats in there.Conclusion. (Yes, short again.)An average visual essay consists of 10-12 visuals and 500-700 words of the accompanying text, formatted in Word Doc or PDF. When teachers give you a graphic essay assignment, theyll evaluate your critical thinking, presentation skills, cultural competence, and ability to convey arguments and facts in graphic form.Writing visual essays, you stimulate creativity, attention, memory, and analytical skills.Want to get a better idea on how to create a graphic essay? Let us know in comments, and well craft an ultimate guide on visual essay writing here on blog. 🙂 What Essay Elements to VisualizeTogether with how to write essays with visuals, content creators often ask what exact elements to visualize and how to know if a particular method is relevant to their topic or niche.Heres how you solve this:First, consider the audience.SourceIf you are a student writing essays for teachers, everything will depend on many factors: a subject, a format (printed or online), and other specific requirements your teacher gives.For Geography-related majors, research papers require at least one map. Make it interactive et voilà  , it brings engagement.For Business and Management, Marketing and Data Science specialties, statistics presentation is a crucial skill that will get you extra points. Get wild with the charts, and you can do so much better than that old boring pie.History papers â€Å"tell the story† with data. GIFs are perfect for illustrating timelines in just one pic.English and Literature will rock if you support the text with visual features. For example, if writing an essay about Dickens – create a collage with that-era bookshelf and add pop-up descriptions of each book cover.If a digital copywriter or marketer, think of a specific visual presentation format that would engage your audience most. Consider a platform where youll land it: is it a blog post, your landing page, a YouTube channel, cold email, slideshow presentation at a conference?Two questions to answer:How can this visual best appeal to my audience in this specific setting?What is the simplest method for displaying this data? Which one will represent my information better? What data do I need to highlight most?And second, rely on these criteria when deciding what argument or fact to visualize:Is it exciting? – Boring topics will rarely benefit from visual adaptation.Is it complex? – Copybook maxims don’t need visualization.Does it spark a discussion? – If its unequivocal evidence, then it’s not worth the effort.But when its not a fact of common knowledge, and you understand its worth visualizing, the question arises as to what option and tool to choose for it.How to Visualize Data in Essays and Other ContentWhen you write visual essays or create content assets for marketing goals, forget about ready-made templates. They are boring. And big chances are, your peers or competitors have used them already.Be creative, design visuals on your own! Tools to use are many, and the most common ones are:Adobe FlashPhotoshopWindows Movie MakerPowerPointMicrosoft WordImovieBut if your ambitions go beyond diagrams, charts, and infographics, here go alternative options on how to visualize data.1. Flash spatialPerfect for Geography, History, Politics, or Social Sciences papers. If you have any map-based data, overlap two pictures and let the reader compare them by moving the slider back and forth. A small step from spatial comparison, yet far more engaging and impressive.Example:2. MapsCarto is a terrific tool for making amazing interactive maps. Leaflet is another one. Location-related facts will help to illustrate any scientific research. Gather the metrics and build up a visible backdrop for your thesis. Example:3. VideosNothing says â€Å"I gave a major damn about this research† like a video file in your professor’s inbox. Presenting your research in a 3-minute speech is the best way to sift through the backbone facts and wrap them in the perfect form. Don’t overlook the screen recording option!Example:And another one:4. Vox PopsThe favorite tool of many marketers, it works best with a study involving people and opinions.Record your respondents in their natural habitat or via Skype and edit into a convincing illustrative interview to support your thesis. Choose between â€Å"audience opinion† vs. â€Å"expert’s opinion,† depending on your subject.Check the examples of non-video vox pops here.5. Expressive Design ChartsStuck with charts to state your theses in Business and Management and related disciplines? Thy this trick: keep the chart but pimp it up in a creative way, so your paper will immediately stand out and get remembered.Example:6. Interactive ChartsNothing gets your reader more engaged than the possibility of tailoring your research to them personally. With a 5-dollar-help from a freelance programmer, you can turn your data into a fun personalized illustration. Add some back-end work: gather the data from your professors or peers for further use.Examples:Years You Have Left to Live, ProbablyHow You Will Die7. Street Views / PanoramasTen years from its launch, Google Street View has become a powerful tool for illustrating Geography and Communities research. You can use it to predict the city areas development over time, for example. Pull several layers in a timeline GIF to illustrate your findings.Example:QUOTE: â€Å"It’s always nice when your research checks out with the view outside your window.† – Scott Duke Kominers, the Harvard Business School MBA Class of 1960 Associate Professor8. InfographicsInfographics are a great help in learning because this content format requires you to sum marize concepts and identify certain things as significant. It helps your professor to better evaluate your knowledge, too. A whole host of handy (and free) tools are out there to help you with the designs: Visual.ly, Tableau, Venngage, and Infogram are just several to mention.NB: If you also need to promote the research among college communities or online, a comprehensive infographic increases your chances of getting noticed by far.Examples of infographic templates: here and here.9. SaaS Data Visualization SoftwareMany businesses leverage data visualization tools through a SaaS subscription. These tools help organizations translate big data and their key metrics into digestible charts and graphics, helping them better understand how they’re tracking towards their goals.But students, universities, professors, and other researchers can use these tools as well to create dashboards and turn big data/research sets into easy-to-interpret visualizations. Those looking to implement a tool such as these should look at online review sites to compare the over 200 data visualization software products on the market.Examples of SaaS Data Visualization Software:What Else Do You Need to Know?If you choose to work on your data visualization with a freelancer, make sure not to leave it to the final day before submission. Its time-consuming, so save yourself several wiggle days to input extra data as needed.When creating a complex visualization, skim to just one per academic paper to avoid clutter.One final piece of advice:Don’t assume that data visualization is research. Your paper still needs a strong hook, good thesis, and all the required chapters included. So make your impressive illustration a cherry on the top of this delicious cake.Sources:Spatial History ProjectData-Driven Guides: Supporting Expressive Design for Information GraphicsResearchers Use Google Street View to See the Future of Cities

Flowering Dogwood Care and Identification

Flowering Dogwood Care and Identification Flowering Dogwood grows 20 to 35 feet tall and spreads 25 to 30 feet. It can be trained with one central trunk or as a multi-trunked tree. The flowers consist of four bracts below the small head of yellow flowers. The bracts may be pink or red depending on cultivar but the species color is white. Fall leaf color on most sun grown plants will be red to maroon. The bright red fruits are often eaten by birds. Fall leaf color of Dogwood is more vivid in USDA hardiness zones: 5 through 8A. Specifics: Scientific name: Cornus floridaPronunciation: KOR-nus FLOR-ih-duhCommon name(s): Flowering DogwoodFamily: CornaceaeUSDA hardiness zones:: 5 through 9AOrigin: Native to North AmericaUses: Wide tree lawns; medium-sized tree lawns; near a deck or patio; screen; shade tree; narrow tree lawns; specimenAvailability: Generally available in many areas within its hardiness range. Popular Cultivars: Several of the cultivars listed are not readily available. Pink-flowering cultivars grow poorly in USDA hardiness zones 8 and 9. ‘Apple Blossom’ - pink bracts; ‘Cherokee Chief’ - red bracts; ‘Cherokee Princess’ - white bracts; ‘Cloud 9’ - white bracts, flowers young; ‘Fastigiata’ - upright growth while young, spreading with age; ‘First Lady’ - leaves variegated with yellow turning red and maroon in the fall; ‘Gigantea’ - bracts six inches from tip of one bract to tip of opposite bract. More Cultivars: Magnifica - bracts rounded, four-inch-diameter pairs of bracts; Multibracteata - double flowers; New Hampshire - flower buds cold hardy; Pendula - weeping or drooping branches; Plena - double flowers; var. rubra - pink bracts; Springtime - bracts white, large, blooms at an early age; Sunset - supposedly resistant to anthracnose; Sweetwater Red - bracts red; Weavers White - large white flowers, adapted to the south; Welchii - leaves variegated with yellow and red. Description: Height: 20 to 30 feetSpread: 25 to 30 feetCrown uniformity: Symmetrical canopy with a regular (or smooth) outline, and individuals have more or less identical crown formsCrown shape: roundCrown density: moderate Trunk and Branches: Trunk/bark/branches: Droop as the tree grows, and will require pruning for vehicular or pedestrian clearance beneath the canopy; routinely grown with, or trainable to be grown with, multiple trunks; not particularly showy; tree wants to grow with several trunks but can be trained to grow with a single trunk.Pruning requirement: Needs little pruning to develop a strong structureBreakage: resistantCurrent year twig color: greenCurrent year twig thickness: medium Foliage: Leaf arrangement: opposite/suboppositeLeaf type: simpleLeaf margin: entireLeaf shape: ovateLeaf venation: bowed; pinnateLeaf type and persistence: deciduousLeaf blade length: 4 to 8 inches; 2 to 4 inchesLeaf color: greenFall color: redFall characteristic: showy Flowers: Flower color: Bracts are white, actual flower is yellowFlower characteristics: Spring flowering; very showyThe showy flowers are, in fact, bracts that subtend a boss of 20 to 30 real flowers each of which are less than one-quarter inch in size. The actual flowers of Cornus florida are not white. Culture: Light requirement: Tree grows in part shade/part sun; tree grows in the shade; tree grows in full sunSoil tolerances: clay; loam; sand; slightly alkaline; acidic; well-drained.Drought tolerance: moderateAerosol salt tolerance: lowSoil salt tolerance: poor In Depth: Dogwood branches on the lower half of the crown grow horizontally, those in the upper half are more upright. In time, this can lend a strikingly horizontal impact to the landscape, particularly if some branches are thinned to open up the crown. Lower branches left on the trunk will droop to the ground, creating a wonderful landscape feature. Dogwood is not suited for parking lot planting but can be grown in a wide street median, if provided with less than full-day sun and irrigation. Dogwood is a standard tree in many gardens where it is used by the patio for light shade, in the shrub border to add spring and fall color or as a specimen in the lawn or groundcover bed. It can be grown in sun or shade but shaded trees will be less dense, grow more quickly and taller, have poor fall color, and less flowers. Trees prefer part shade (preferably in the afternoon) in the southern end of its range. Many nurseries grow the trees in full sun, but they are irrigated regularly. Flowering Dogwood prefers a deep, rich, well-drained, sandy or clay soil and has a moderately long life. It is not recommended in the New Orleans area and other heavy, wet soils unless it is grown on a raised bed to keep roots on the dry side. The roots will rot in soils without adequate drainage.

Compare and contrast Meyer and Stowers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Compare and contrast Meyer and Stowers - Essay Example In the essay, the worm at the Core of the Apple, there is a provision of an excellent concise statement and defense of the majority position. According to Stowers, gentiles and Jews play different essential roles in the constitution of ethnicity. He states in Paul’s world that it is difficult to distinguish between ethnicity from religion. This is because they are not ethnic groups but a constitution of Paul’s most central religious distinctions. According to him, Gentiles are ethnic-religious other of the Jews just as the Barbarian is ethnic-religious other of Greeks. However, Wayne Meeks describes the gentiles as a non-Jewish group of people who have the opportunity of getting preaching from Paul.According to him, there are many controversies as to why Paul is preaching to Non-Jews. This proves that Wayne does not view the Gentiles as a constituent group of the Jews, a different perspective from the one of Stowers. In all the texts, the writers have proven that there were differences among the communities in the time of Paul reaching. It is elaborated that the gentiles were viewed as a lesser group when compared to the Jews, but Paul used his preaching techniques to show that they were equal. Although the Jews have an expectation that Paul is supposed to administer to them, they are disappointed because his mission is to all people including the gentiles.According to Romans 5:12-20, Paul explains that one man’s actions can bring significant effects to many others.

The Fashion Industry and the Role of the Media in Shapin Dissertation

The Fashion Industry and the Role of the Media in Shapin - Dissertation Example The study "The Fashion Industry and the Role of the Media in Shapin" concerns the fashion and media and analyzes the Changing Perception of a Woman’s Physical Image. After World War I, with the popularity of fashion magazines, print media, television and the internet, the popular media has presented the perceived ‘ideal’ image of a woman. This mostly unrealistic perception, being pushed on to the people, has had a negative effect on the women’s own perception of their physical image often putting health on a lower priority or even contradicting healthy routines in favor of attaining such physical attire. The complicated perceptions of one’s own physical image make one concerned about this aspect. Research on this self perception has found discontent among women showing their body dissatisfaction and at a higher rate than males. Such false projections, which have nothing to do with a real drive to get a better appearance, put individuals at a risk of disturbance and discontent. The idealized thinness and prejudiced height, hair and weight projected by the media as being ‘attractive’ influences the masses and makes women match those descriptions which is not only destruction of originality but also dangerous for health the way it gets commercialized, rather littered, and then picked by the adolescents. The wrong message of ‘standards for acceptability’ that the models from fashion industry and the media send do not actually define the beauty; in fact, the repeated pushing of such image on the women.... ? that the models from fashion industry and the media send do not actually define the beauty (Dittmar & Howard, 2004; Thompson & Stice, 2001); in fact, the repeated pushing of such image on the women population puts a conflict between the actual standards and the depicted standard making a woman choose to be unhealthy in order to achieve that standard (Dittmar & Howard, 2004, p. 478). This has been found in previous research to have direct proportion to the time of exposure to such commercial propaganda (Schooler et al. 2004). Many times, the sole purpose of such depictions and portrayal is to create an artificial need of the products, which are not actually needed, and then to sell them to that audience. 2.0 Purpose of research The purpose of this research is to evaluate the change in perception of a woman’s physical image in the eyes of the population in general and in the eyes of woman herself. Researching on why and how these perceptions have changed over this period of ti me, which can safely be regarded as an era of contemporary change in this respect, can provide us with useful results that actually provide some insight on how the fashion and show business industry has driven this. Addressing everlasting concern over weight and appearance in a non issue approach can help minimize the prejudice on being slimmer from as young as 6 years old (Striegel-Moore & Franko, 2002). The dissatisfaction, which is one of the major issues in a woman’s teenage due to perception of one’s own physical image (Schwitzer, Bergholz, Dore, & Salimi, 1998; Stice & Whitenton, 2002), is a topic that needs special attention to guard young girls from further worsening their health situation in fear of weight gain (Striegel-Moore & Franko, 2002; Field et al., 1999). What you think of

Judy Bacas Great Wall of LA (Historical and Geographic and american Essay

Judy Bacas Great Wall of LA (Historical and Geographic and american dream aspect) - Essay Example The community in which it exists is also highly diverse, including residents of Mexican, Indian and African descent, making a history of this nature seem entirely appropriate for the area and necessary for the state. Each panel depicts a different event in California history while can be pieced together through the 1960s. By looking at the panels that depict the California Gold Rush and California’s role in World War II, it is possible to see how the American Dream was shared by people of all races in the first and defended by people of all races in the second. The panel depicting the California Gold Rush is an important point in history as it is the event that brought numerous white settlers out to the west to displace those individuals already living there. Panels before this depict the level of Indian and Mexican settlement that had already taken place, as well as Spanish domination. However, with the discovery of gold, more and more white settlers moved in from the east seeking their own fortunes. The panel begins innocently enough with the depiction of the discovery of gold and the arrival of gold seekers by ship. Here is the American dream in action, with people of all colors coming to the California coast to seek their fortunes and pursue the American Dream of some property, a home to call their own and the ability to make their own livings. Included in the image are portraits of Mifflin W. Gibbs, who is identified on the wall’s official website as the publisher of the first Black newspaper, and Mary Ellen Pleasant, also iden tified on the same site as a civil rights activist who helped defend Blacks arraigned under the fugitive slave laws. While the inclusion of these two figures is intended to indicate the positive impact of black people on California history, it also serves to remind viewers of the limited number of people of color that were able to have such an impact on the people of this time period. The inclusion of a

Kneeling During the National Anthem: An Opinion Piece

Kneeling During the National Anthem: An Opinion Piece A Bad Combination The NFL represents â€Å"The National Football League,† which contains thirty-two professional American teams (â€Å"NFL Football Teams,† para 1). Over the past year to present time, there has been a lot of controversy within the league concerning a major political issue with select NFL players kneeling during the playing of the national anthem before kickoff. Kneeling is executed to represent a form of silent protest. The NFL players who are kneeling believe that there are prevailing issues in the United States that need to be brought to the public’s attention. According to the philosopher, Boxill, protest is meant to not only stop the injustice from happening, but to also show self-respect (Boxill, para 1). The injustices that the NFL players are silently protesting against during the playing of the national anthem, are police brutality and racial inequalities occurring in the United States. The issues behind the protest should be addressed, but the way the NFL is allowing players to kneel during a time which celebrates patriotism and the symbolic representation of our country, should not be allowed. The protest first began in the NFL when a player from the San Francisco 49ers sat on the benches during the playing of the national anthem at preseason games (Mindock, para 3). Later in the season, he changed to kneeling during the national anthem while his other teammates remained standing (para 4). Ever since the first player, Colin Kaepernick, kneeled during the anthem, it has started a widespread protest encouraging other players in the NFL to join. The reasons behind the protest, such as police brutality and racial inequalities, are extensive issues in the United States. According to the mapping of police violence, police have killed 1,079 people in the United States this year. Of these 1,079 people, 26 percent of those killed were of the African American race, which represents 13 percent of the American population (â€Å"Mapping Police Violence†). These statistics are well known and alarming to most. The NFL players felt that something needed to be done in order to bring the injustices to the public’s attention. As mentioned above, the protest itself is genuine, but the way it is being executed is exceptionally wrong and troubling. My first argument, is that the form of protest the NFL players are using shows disrespect towards the members of the military and the American flag because the national anthem is played during sporting events to display patriotism for the wars that were fought. The national anthem was written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812, which was a conflict between Great Britain and the United States, killing roughly 15,000 Americans (â€Å"Star Spangled Banner Lyrics,† para 2). By kneeling, the players are showing a lack of patriotism for our country and this draws attention away from their concept of protesting. Under Title 36 in the United States Code, Section 301 states, â€Å"all other person’s present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart† (â€Å"United States Code,† para 2). Although there is no federal punishment for violating the United States code, it shows overall disrespect towards the country. Many soldiers have lost their lives fighting for the freedom of the United States, and to military personnel, it may come off as very discourteous. The first argument not only enrages the majority who serve in the military, but it also upsets the fans. The disrespectfulness fans perceive from the way the protest is performed, can lead to unintended consequences. Protesting in the public eye may lead to boycotts and un-peaceful events. Ever since the protest began, more security has been needed at the games to protect fans from violence that might occur due to the kneeling that takes place (â€Å"Refusing to Stand for the National Anthem,† para 8). Also, fans have been committing arson by burning the jerseys of players who promote the protest to show dislike (para 8). Not only is the kneeling making the audience feel uneasy, but causing them to lash out to also be heard. My second argument, is that not standing up during the national anthem is a very ineffective way to promote a protest of injustice. Kneeling during the national anthem catches the viewers’ attention, but can be a major distraction (para 6). It can be a distraction to their teammates and can also cause internal team controversy for those who don’t agree with the style of protest. Not standing for the national anthem before the game, can get in the way of the main message they are trying to protest, which is police brutality and racial injustices. The national anthem stands for men and women who have fought for our country (para 5). Once people see a player kneel, it is hard for them to get past the perceived disrespect for the military personnel of the United States and listen to the deeper concerns of the protest. Many fans get distracted by the action the players are performing, not even realizing there is a bigger cause behind the action. Not only does it distract the players and the audience, but it takes away from the overall football game starting minutes after the kneeling occurs. In addition, the protest draws attention away from the actual reason people bought tickets, which was to view and enjoy the football game between two opposing teams. There are many objections that you could use to rebuttal against the first argument. I think the best objection is that if one believes the United States is not holding up the foundations the country was established on, not standing during the playing of the national anthem is reasonable. The reason the protest was executed by kneeling, was because Kaepernick felt that his country wasn’t showing justice for all and was oppressing African Americans (para 3). He did not want to show pride in a country and flag that undermined police brutality and racial injustices, acting like these were not issues in the United States. Many other players now kneel during the national anthem for this reason. The players are not purposely trying to offend the military, police, or others who find it disrespectful, they are trying to bring recognition to the issues, so other people can be informed. Raising awareness of social injustice is their main target, not dishonoring those who have risked their lives for America (para 3). Another major objection to the first argument could be that kneeling during the national anthem is protected by the First Amendment. The football players are exercising their constitutional right to peacefully protest, bringing the issues of police brutality and racial injustices to the public’s attention. Legally, there was nothing wrong with Kaepernick’s form of protest. The players of the NFL have the right to speak out and make a statement about something they believe is unfair. The First Amendment states, â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances† (Staff, para 1). In addition, it is an individual’s choice whether or not he or she wishes to participate in standing for the national anthem. With the freedom of speech, comes the right to express your opinion peacefully with either direct words or symbolic actions without diminution, and that’s exactly what the NFL players are doing (â€Å"What Does Free Speech Mean?,† para 1). The second argument emphasized that kneeling during the national anthem is not an effective way to promote and protest the injustice occurring in the United States. A possible response to this argument could be that kneeling is an effective way to promote the issues because it easily grabs people’s eyes on a platform that is viewed by millions of Americans. Kneeling is an unexpected action taken by the NFL players and it shocks the audience which makes them pay attention to the issues (para 6). This sparked other players to join Kaepernick in the kneeling because they realized the public would react, good or bad. Also, it created a conversation on social media and in the news. The protest spread like wildfire, and people were widely talking about it. On social media, there were those who took the NFL players’ side and others who did not agree with the form of protest. By grabbing the fans’ attention, they are able to speak out and voice their opinions on racial issues that needed to be displayed. Now that the public is more aware of the police brutality and racial injustices, actions can be taken to try to prevent those injustices from happening further. The objection to the first argument was that refusing to stand during the anthem was justified if you feel that your country is not holding up the ideals it was founded on. The other objection to the first argument was that the right to peacefully protest is protected by the First Amendment. A response to these two objections could be that yes, NFL players are protected by the First Amendment, but if they are going to protest it should be done respectfully. The national anthem is repeatedly used to honor those who lost their lives or those who were injured while fighting for the United States. It is not something that should be belittled by a protest against totally separate prevailing issues. You gain self-respect from protesting injustices done to you (para 1). Through this form of protest, the NFL players are gaining self-respect, but are alienating others such as select military personnel and viewers who don’t agree with kneeling. The players are utilizing the First Amendment to proceed with their protest, and therefore can’t fully state that the United States is not holding up its ideals which is the reason why they kneel. As for the second argument, the objection was that kneeling is an effective way to protest because it makes others notice and is widely seen by many. A response to this could be that kneeling does grab people’s attention, but it takes away from the game NFL players are paid to play. Adding politics to a professional sport, creates even more tension and possibly the loss of fans. There are more effective ways to protest that are more serene and reduce unintended consequences. The players could conduct a protest that can be heard and seen outside of the football game, or even spread the issues another way during the game. Several other ways the NFL players can speak out about the police brutality and racial injustice in the United States could be by wearing a piece of clothing, making a speech, or dedicating a color to the cause. Another alternative could be the NFL players kneeling before the national anthem playing begins and then standing back up, which shows solidarity without being divisive. If they used one of the other ways mentioned, people would not feel disrespected and attention would still be drawn to the present issues. The protest against police brutality and racial injustices began by one NFL player kneeling during the playing of the national anthem. This created tension between fans and the players. Now, there are over 200 players kneeling for these issues and the number of players participating in the protest is growing. There are some who think the kneeling is justified and others who believe it is disrespecting our country and those who fought for the United States. Police brutality and racial injustice are major issues occurring throughout the country, and it is important for others to speak out on the issues they believe are corrupt. Due to the First Amendment, people have the right to freedom of speech with includes peaceful protest, which is what the NFL players are executing. Although protesting by kneeling during the national anthem is viewed by many as disrespectful and can cause viewers to have negative thoughts towards the NFL, players are proceeding with the protest. There is a significant reason behind the cause, but the form of protest could be conducted in a more efficient and less controversial way. The kneeling should not be allowed during the national anthem, so that there is less tension and miscommunication between the public and players. The protest should be executed in a different way in order to only draw full attention to the issues at hand. Works Cited Boxill, Bernard R. â€Å"Self-Respect and Protest.†Ã‚  Self-Respect and Protest, vol. 6, no. 1, 15 Feb. 2017, pp. 1–13. Accessed 3 Dec. 2017. â€Å"NFL Football Teams Official Sites of all 32 NFL Teams.†Ã‚  NFL.com, 2017,www.nfl.com/teams. Accessed 12 Dec. 2017. â€Å"Police have killed 1,079 people in the U.S. this year.†Ã‚  Mapping Police Violence, 4 Dec. 2017, mappingpoliceviolence.org/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2017. â€Å"Refusing to Stand for the National Anthem: Top 3 Pros and Cons.† ProConorg Headlines, Procon.org, 27 Sept. 2017, www.procon.org/headline.php?headlineID=005323. Accessed 3 Dec. 2017. Staff, LII. â€Å"First Amendment.†Ã‚  LII / Legal Information Institute, 5 Feb. 2010, www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment. Accessed 3 Dec. 2017. â€Å"Star Spangled Banner Lyrics.† Star Spangled Banner Lyrics and Meaning ***, 2017, www.american-historama.org/1801-1828-evolution/star-spangled-banner-lyrics.htm. Accessed 10 Dec. 2017. Mindock, Clark. â€Å"Taking a knee: Why are NFL players protesting and when did they start to kneel?†Ã‚  The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 25 Sept. 2017, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/taking-a-knee-national-anthem-nfl-trump-why-meaning-origins-racism-us-colin-kaepernick-a7966961.html. Accessed 12 Dec. 2017. â€Å"United States Code.†Ã‚  OLRC Home, United States House of Representatives, uscode.house.gov/browse/[emailprotected]/subtitle1/partA/chapter3&edition=prelim. Accessed 3 Dec. 2017. â€Å"What Does Free Speech Mean?† United States Courts, www.uscourts.gov/about-federal courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/what-does. Accessed 11 Dec. 2017.

Belief Systems and Gender Roles in Dracula :: Dracula Essays

Belief Systems and Gender Roles in Dracula There is a classic "good versus evil" plot to this novel. The evil of course being Count Dracula and the Good being represented by the Harkers, Dr. Seward and Lucy, Arthur, Quincy and the Professor. It is the continuing battle between Dracula and the forces of good. Good in this case is the Christian God. The battle is foretold by the landlady where she says, "It is the eve of St Georges Day. Do you no know that tonight, when the clock strikes midnight, all the evil things in the world will have full sway?" and she hands Harker a crucifix (p 12). The crucifix and the empty cross are symbols of fear, loathing and danger to Dracula. There is a certain irony here as the cross is the ultimate symbol of redemption to all Christians. Sin or rather the dark side of humanity's turning from God is recognized and can be redeemed by coming to the cross. The cross is also a symbol of resurrection. The resurrection is the gift of eternal life through Christ to which all Christians can aspire. This is opposed to the Un-Dead nature of Dracula. He is immortal but it is not an eternal joyful thing. Indeed the eternity is always under threat by the very normalcy and goodness of people like the Harkers. This book is set in an age where science and the world of the Enlightenment, that is the world of rational thought and proven theories, ruled. Dr. Seward represents this world. It is opposed to the seemingly unexplainable world of Dracula and his world of mystery and fable. The events that the different characters experience, although documented faithfully are thought too unbelievable by Professor Van Helsing to be passed on (p 486). It is as if the truth can't be handled by the world at large or that by retaining the story to themselves the central characters will preserve a very terrible but precious memory. A memory made precious because of the depths of courage and faith that had to be mined by and in each of them. This is not a case of post-modern thought challenging the modernist attitudes of that Enlightenment nor can it be because post-modernist thought was not formulated in the book's context.