First Generation Students: The Dropout Disaster
Fairly recently, universities have begun working to address the considerable risk of first generation student dropout. This dropout problem threatens to keep potential scholars from being able to bring valuable new knowledge to the world by forcing them out of college before they can finish their education. First generation students appear to drop out after failing to overcome a disproportionally large amount of problems with adjusting to, and succeeding in, college.
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Indian Healthcare: A Rising Enterprise
Like many other developing countries, India has poor health care delivery. This problem can be attributed to the underdevelopment of historical institutions, corruption within the system, and many other factors. It is a mistake, however, to lose faith in the government’s capacity to remedy health care. Recently introduced public-private partnerships pose hope for the system, but are not as beneficial to reform as has been suggested. The Indian government is fully capable of improving health care without the help of private enterprise.
Articles copyright © 2024 the original authors. No part of the contents of this Web journal may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission from the author or the Academic Writing Program of the University of Maryland. The views expressed in these essays do not represent the views of the Academic Writing Program or the University of Maryland.
Stuck on a Lower Rung: How Far Have Women Really Come?
Despite the long and winding road of struggle for women’s rights, the pinnacle of the journey has not yet been reached even in 2008. Why do women still earn less then men? Why are sexually promiscuous women looked down upon and ostracized while men who are considered “playboys” and “studs” praised? And why are women still forced to face the choice of either being a good mother or having a successful career?
Articles copyright © 2024 the original authors. No part of the contents of this Web journal may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission from the author or the Academic Writing Program of the University of Maryland. The views expressed in these essays do not represent the views of the Academic Writing Program or the University of Maryland.
Problems with Polarization: A Critique of the Gay or Straight Model
Like many others, I was brought up with very rigid views of sexuality, especially with regards to sexual orientation. People came in one of two packages: heterosexual and homosexual. For a while I never questioned this categorization, assuming it was a natural state. However, as I learned more, I started to see flaws in a polarized construct of human sexuality. As history shows, a binomial definition of sexual orientation has not always existed. Historians have postulated that homosexuality is largely a social construction. Scientific surveys and psycho-a
Articles copyright © 2024 the original authors. No part of the contents of this Web journal may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission from the author or the Academic Writing Program of the University of Maryland. The views expressed in these essays do not represent the views of the Academic Writing Program or the University of Maryland.
Doing the Right Thing?: A Firsthand Look at Special Education in Public Schools
“Alright, class, why do you think we study art in school? Yes, Katie, what do you think?”
“Uh… well… I think we do art here cause it’s fun to paint in pretty colors!” In that moment, the whole class jerked their heads around to glare at her. Was that a joke? Is she serious? There must be something wrong with her.
Articles copyright © 2024 the original authors. No part of the contents of this Web journal may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission from the author or the Academic Writing Program of the University of Maryland. The views expressed in these essays do not represent the views of the Academic Writing Program or the University of Maryland.
The Limits of National Insecurity
I stood in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in November of 2002, along side my brother Hans, with whom I share a love of rubber chickens. Hans and I always bring a small stash of rubber chickens with us on our travels because we have found that they cause perfect strangers to smile, laugh, and respond in ways they would not otherwise. On this comfortable fall day, within sight of the fabled Forbidden City, the Great Hall of the People, and the Tiananmen Gate (“the Gate of Heavenly Peace”), we felt the warmth of thousands of Chinese tourists whose language we did not speak.
Articles copyright © 2024 the original authors. No part of the contents of this Web journal may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission from the author or the Academic Writing Program of the University of Maryland. The views expressed in these essays do not represent the views of the Academic Writing Program or the University of Maryland.
Spring 2009
Journal Information
Spring 2009 Essays
Considering Another Side Essays
Experience and Other Evidence Essays
Experience as Evidence Essays
Final Research Essays
Articles copyright © 2024 the original authors. No part of the contents of this Web journal may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission from the author or the Academic Writing Program of the University of Maryland. The views expressed in these essays do not represent the views of the Academic Writing Program or the University of Maryland.
Hearing Loss: Fixing Problems at their Source
Before I discovered quieter places to study at University of Maryland than the McKeldin Library, I was constantly forced to relocate myself throughout the library, as other students would seat themselves by me and subject me to the sickening, thrashing music which they listened to on headphones.
Articles copyright © 2024 the original authors. No part of the contents of this Web journal may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission from the author or the Academic Writing Program of the University of Maryland. The views expressed in these essays do not represent the views of the Academic Writing Program or the University of Maryland.
Understanding the Art of Economics
An argument in defense of free market capitalism in concern with the 2008-2009 recession and the structure of the United States’ economic system. This piece debunks Keynesianism and reveals major logical fallacies in the leftist school of thought. This paper is intended for American citizens, particularly those belonging to the academic and economics communities.
Articles copyright © 2024 the original authors. No part of the contents of this Web journal may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission from the author or the Academic Writing Program of the University of Maryland. The views expressed in these essays do not represent the views of the Academic Writing Program or the University of Maryland.
Being Multiracial in a Country that Sees Black and White
In America mixed race individuals are becoming more prominent in the media, politics and sports throughout the country. Some of the most popular mixed race individuals that we see everyday include Tiger Woods, Vin Diesel, Mariah Carey, Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson, Derek Jeter, Halley Berry, Alicia Keys and of course President Obama. The fact that this population of mixed race individuals is growing at an astounding rate is the reason behind the current discussion on the racial classification of such individuals.
Articles copyright © 2024 the original authors. No part of the contents of this Web journal may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission from the author or the Academic Writing Program of the University of Maryland. The views expressed in these essays do not represent the views of the Academic Writing Program or the University of Maryland.