Sentence Variety

My parents divorced in 1994, when I was only three. (S) SIMPLE My mom, the hair salon owner, explained it to me as “Daddy likes to play golf and mommy likes to cut hair.” (L) COMPOUND This simple explanation was enough to satisfy my questions on why we were moving in to our own apartment. (M)SIMPLE I would ask the occasional question on when I was going to see my Dad, but I never was distressed or truly concerned with the situation. (L) COMPLEX It was just something I grew up with. (S)-SIMPLE

Essay 3.1 Postive Outcomes of Divorce

Every Christmas since I was three, I got to open presents under the tree at two different houses. Compared to my friends, I received double the presents and seemed quite spoiled. But, really this was only due to the fact that my parents were divorced. Christmas and Easter morning seemed that much more exciting because when my little half-sister was done opening presents, I would go over my Dad’s house and open another set of gifts from Santa. I would often ask Mom and Dad for the same items, for example I had two “Baby Born” dolls and was envied by all of my friends. It might sound as if I was quite the manipulator, but hey, might as well milk it for what it was worth. Divorce is known to have a negative impact on children and my parents knew this; they wanted me to be happy in this less than optimal situation. Divorce has played such a major role in my life; I am a product of divorce.

My parents divorced in 1994, when I was only three. My mom, the hair salon owner, explained it to me as “Daddy likes to play golf and mommy likes to cut hair.” This simple explanation was enough to satisfy my questions on why we were moving in to our own apartment. I would ask the occasional question on when I was going to see my Dad, but I never was distressed or truly concerned with the situation. It was just something I grew up with.

Divorce is becoming more and more popular. According to Divorce Statistics, about 50% of marriages will end up in divorce. They also state that 40% of divorces involve children. (Divorce Statistics). My health teacher also mentioned that often couples will separate but not go through with all of the hassles of a legal divorce; so this number could be even higher that we think. But, this statistic shows divorce is a major issue and concern in our nation and will affect many children.

Many couples will try to stick it out and stay together for the kids, but I think this often causes more stress because the children are forced to witness arguments and tension within the marriage. According to Christina McGhee, an author and speaker on divorce and educating parents, “One of parent’s greatest concerns is how divorce will affect their children.” (Divorce and Children). When children are involved, it will often affect whether or not the couple separates.

In an article that appeared on HelpGuide titled “Children and Divorce: Helping Your Kids Cope with the Effects of Separation and Divorce”, by Gina Kemp, Rosemary Clandos, Jeanne Segaul, “Many kids feel angry, sad and frustrated about the prospect of their parents splitting up for good and are uncertain about what life will be like after divorce” (Children and Divorce, p. 1). According to this article, it emphasizes the importance of support and communication to help the kids deal with this major change. For me, my parents were very friendly and communicated with each other almost everyday. They made decisions together and both talked to me about the separation very often. I also think the reason I think I “turned out fine” was because my parents didn’t have a “nasty” divorce at all. It was a mutual decision that they thought would be most beneficial for me.

I never asked the devastating question, “was this my fault?” my parents always reinforced that it had nothing to do with me and kind of made it seem like not a big deal. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen first hand in my friends how much of a challenge it can be to cope with parents’ divorce. In an article titled “The Effects of Divorce on Children”, Lesley Foulkes-Jamison, Ph.D discusses the different cognitive abilities of children at different ages and how they react to divorces at different stages of life. She states, “Parents' sensitivity to their child's needs is one of the most important factors in facilitating adjustment. Other factors such as the child's age, gender and temperament will also influence how well the child adjusts” (Foulkes-Jamison, p. 2). My parents knew how tough this could be on me and gave me a lot of support. I just grew up with the mentality that they just weren’t meant for each other. I think that if it’s truly not going to work out divorce can be the best option if support and a lot of communication are given to the children.

Although I didn’t really struggle with my parents’ divorce, some aspects of it still affected me. When I was 5 or 6 my mom was dating my now stepfather. He was also divorced and had two daughters. My mom decided that it would be great to meet them because we were all within two years of each other. But the thing was, up to that point I was an only child; I received all of my parent’s attention and was basically spoiled rotten. So, when my stepsisters came over for the first time my mom suggested we go into my room and play with my Barbies and other toys. When they started playing with my things I freaked out and had a total meltdown. I think I realized that these weren’t just friends coming over to play, but they were girls who my Mom seemed to truly care about. I was definitely jealous and not a good sharer. This was definitely an obstacle I had to overcome. Now looking back, my stepsisters are basically my real sisters. I think this is evidence that yes, some things did affect me but I was able to adjust. I think most kids can adjust to these changes and grow into healthy adults with the proper support.

Both of my parents remarried which means I got double the parents. In The Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, Brian Higginbotham, Linda Skogrand, and Eliza Torres published a journal titled: Stepfamily Education: Perceived Benefits for Children. This study looked at step families and the effects they have on the children and the marriage. The researchers state, “The presence of children from a previous relationship makes new family relationships more complex.” (Stepfamily Education). When I reacted negatively to my future stepsisters it truly worried my Mom. She didn’t know if her remarrying was selfish and affected the course of her and my stepfather’s relationship. Now looking back, I definitely warmed up to the situation after a few weeks but some children don’t adjust and cause more problems.

But now, as an ‘adult’, I think my parent’s divorce definitely turned out for the best. Instead of seeing one suffering marriage, I saw two successful marriages. I also got two new stepparents, which I consider my real parents. Out of this situation I also got a total of four sisters (two step and two half) who are all my best friends. I would argue that if done in the right way, divorce can be the best option for a failing marriage. I think my parents handled this situation the best way they could, which caused me to come out of it believing in marriage and relationships with no emotional problems from the divorce. Not only did I receive double the presents on holidays, I also got double the family and double the love.



Works Cited

Divorce Statistics. Divorce Magazine. Web. 13 April 2010.

Foulkes-Jamison, Lesely. “Effects of Divorce on Children.” Gainesville Family Magazine. 1 Jan. 2001. Web. 13 April 2010.

Higginbotham, Brian, Linda Skogrand and Eliza Torres. “Stepfamily Education:
Perceived Benefits for Children”. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage 3:51 (2010). 36-49, Web. 13 April 2010.

Kemp, Gina Rosemary Clandos and Jeanne Segal. “Children and Divorce: Helping your kids cope with the effects of separation and divorce.” Helpguide. January 2009. Web. 15 April 2010.

McGhee, Christina. Divorce and Children. 2009. Web. 14 April 2010.

Rogerian Reflection

I actually really enjoyed writing this paper. I think it was because I picked a topic that I was really passionate about, and truly having this debate in my own head. I think after doing the research and learning more about both sides I honestly did learn a compromise for the situation and that accreditation for these facilities that make money off of the animals needs to be pushed. I also came to the conclusion that I'm not going to be supporting a circus again.

I feel like it was helpful to have the Rogerian structure and to state both sides in a clear way. I think it helped ultimately shape my paper and make it clear and easy to understand. Before I actually implemented this structure the paper said what I needed it to, but not in an effective way.

Overall, I really enjoyed this paper. It was different from what I had written before and I think I learned more about having Rogerian qualities and different methods of argument/persuasion.

Essay 2.3 Animals In Captivity: Torture or for Education?

Over the years, I grew up with a great appreciation for animals; I was always known as the ‘animal lover’. I had a need to pet every dog in sight and shocked my friends’ dads when they cowered in fear while I captured a spider to release it back outside. Like most kids, I was always excited to go to the zoo and just watch all different types of animals in their natural habitats. Little did I know, these are not their natural habitats at all. I’ve begun to rethink whether zoos, aquariums or circuses are a good thing or not. There has been much debate concerning whether or not these places are ethical and in the best interest of the animals. The more and more I’ve looked into this issue, it seems that many of these zoos, aquariums and circuses are more negative than positive.

Places where you can see animals are considered to be magical and educational entertainment. For my family, going to the zoo was one of the most fun things we could do. Learning about the different types of fish at the aquarium and watching the giraffes eat from the tallest trees was the highlight of my year. These experiences gave me an appreciation for animals; going to these places to learn more about animals is what made me an animal lover.

Having the opportunity to see wild animals in real life will have much more of an impact towards the education than will reading about them in a book. Only a select few children are privileged enough to actually go scuba diving or on an African Safari; zoos and aquariums provide easy access for everyone to witness these amazing animals.

Endangered species are often saved by human intervention. Humans can help save species in captivity by breeding and prolonging lives through medical care. In the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, senior staff writer Bridget M. Kuehn states in the journal: “Is it ethical to keep animals in zoos?”, “Zoos support conservation by educating the public, raising money for conservation programs, developing technology that can be used to track wild populations, conducting scientific research, advancing veterinary medicine, and developing animal handling techniques” (Kuehn, par. 11). Zoos and aquariums fulfill the need to protect animals who are affected by humans harmful actions on their habitats.

Endangered animal populations have been replenished by the human actions. According to a journal in the American Veterinary Medical Association titled: “In defense of zoos and aquariums: the ethical basis for keeping wild animals in captivity” claims that populations such as the California condor and the Oregon silverspot butterfly have benefited from research to rehabilitate and release these organisms. (Hutchins, Smith, Allard, par. 14). The use of zoos as breeding facilities has recovered species that might not have made it without captivity.

Zoos have many benefits for protecting endangered species, but many organizations don’t meet the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation. According to the AZA website, fewer than 10% of animal exhibitors in the United States meet this accreditation (Benefits of Accreditation, Par. 4). The major zoos and aquariums throughout the United States provide safe environments for wild animals with proper care, but the other 90% do not.

On February 24th 2010, Tilikum, the great orca whale fatally attacked his second trainer at Sea World in Orlando, Florida. According to an article in Time, Tilikum grabbed his trainer, Brancheau, by her ponytail and dragged her to the bottom of the pool where she drowned (Chua- Eoan, par. 2). This brings up the question, are humans meant to work with and domesticate these wild animals? I think it’s shocking that after Tilly’s first murder, he was still expected to perform.

These amazingly intelligent animals are captured and put into tanks that would be proportional to a human living in a bathtub. According to PETA, Orca whales swim up to 100 miles a day in the wild and are imprisoned in confining tanks (Marine Animal Exhibits: Chlorinated Prisons, par. 5). Think about the natural habitat of a polar bear-the very cold Arctic Circle-yet there are polar bear exhibits in zoos all over the world, often nowhere near their natural climate. And I’m sure there aren’t hundreds of people passing by and tapping on the glass in the wild either. Richard Ellis, a marine conversationalist, states in a live Q&A for the Washington Post, “It is part of human nature to keep wild animals in small spaces and train them to do tricks. I'm against it because I think it humiliates the animals” (Ellis, par. 6). Animals in captivity aren’t the same animal they would be in the wild; often these creatures are living a life that nature didn’t intend for them.

Marine animal exhibits such as Sea World train whales and dolphins to jump through hoops, swim with the trainers and of course, splash the audience. As a little girl, I always left the aquarium in awe of the talent and intelligence of the mammals in these performances. But now I know these tricks and moves are not natural for these animals at all. According to PETA, “Animals forced to perform are subjected to rigorous and abusive training methods to coerce them into doing stressful, confusing, uncomfortable, and even painful acts” (Live Animal Acts and Exhibits: Anguished ‘Entertainers’, par. 4). Many zoos don’t show natural behaviors or natural interactions, we only see trainers handling and feeding the animals. These zoos and aquariums shouldn’t be applauded for teaching about wild animals; rather, they should only be given credit for showing how some animals are capable of adapting to such a drastic change.

When I was 6, my Dad took me to the circus and I was captivated by the animals. So much that I begged him for a T-shirt with all of the animals on it, which I still have today. But, now I’ve learned that circuses have the worst reputation for animal cruelty and are on a much higher level for abuse than most zoos and aquariums. I personally understand the lure and excitement as a child to see elephants balance on stands and see tigers jump through fire. But, the truth isn’t as glamorous as we are made to believe.

Not only do animals in the circus experience tough travel and living conditions, the process of training them is very disturbing. According to PETA, the most common method of training is physical punishment, often by hitting, electric shock, and whipping (Circuses: Three Rings of Abuse, par. 8). I don’t think anyone would want to support these helpless circus animals be beaten in order for our entertainment. According an informational pamphlet on circuses from the Humane Society, circuses travel all year round all over the world. Elephants, lions and monkeys are put in small cages and taken from town to town. These animals are often not given proper care and don’t have access to basic necessities while traveling. The animals are often only released from their cages in order to perform, and when performing they are sometimes leashed and shackled. (The Truth Behind the Big Top, page 2). We often hear from musicians how difficult and exhausting life on the road can be, but circus animals endure extreme circumstances.

The temperatures and climates these animals experience while traveling from town to town are definitely not what they would experience in a natural setting. According to PETA, “A young lion named Clyde died in a sweltering boxcar as a Ringling Bros. train crossed the Mojave Desert on a day when temperatures exceeded 100°F” (Circuses: Three Rings of Abuse, par. 3). There have been many other preventable fatalities of circus animals because lack of veterinary care and basic necessities for survival while on the road.

I don’t think these programs should be done away with, but I think something needs to be done to enforce the accreditation of all zoos and aquariums. I also think animals such as Tilikum who have not adapted very well, should not still be held in captivity. There are other options for him such as sanctuaries where he can live in a normal environment with other whales. There are other options to learn about these creatures, technology has come so far. I sincerely hope everyone can agree that circuses need the biggest intervention. There needs to be a conscientious effort to help the animals that suffer daily, circuses that travel all over the world should not be allowed to have animals in their shows, I think this issue needs to be discussed in order for a change to take place for these circus animals.

As I’ve seen personally, there are great benefits to zoos and aquariums. These organizations provide a place for people to learn about different species and gain an appreciation for them. But, within this great realm of educational facilities, come those who don’t have the best intentions. As I have learned, many of these venues are focused more on profit than the animals’ welfare. We all need to work for the best interest of these charming animals and be a voice for the animals who aren’t able to speak out. I know I will still take my kids to zoos and aquariums in hope of a similar love for animals; but I’ll be sure these organizations are accredited and have good intentions for their animals.




Works Cited


“Benefits of Accreditation.” Aza.org. Association of Zoos and Aquariums. n.d. Web. 14 March 2010.

Chua-Eoan, Howard. “The Killer-Whale Attack at SeaWorld: How It Happened.” U.S. 25 February 2010. New York Times. Web. 14 March 2010.

Ellis, Richard. “Sea World Killer Whale Attack.” 25 February 2010. Washington Post. Web. 13 March 2010.

Hutchins, Michael, Brandie Smith, and Ruth Allard. “In defense of zoos and aquariums: the ethical basis for keeping wild animals in captivity”. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 223.7 (2003): p. 960. Web. 29 March 2010.

Kuehn, Bridget. “Is it ethical to keep animals in zoos?” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. (2002). n. pag. Web. 14 March 2

PETA. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. 2010. Web. 13 March 2010.

The Truth Behind the Big Top. Washington D.C. The Humane Society of the United States. 2007.

Setting Exercise

When thinking back on my childhood home, my favorite room would have to be my bedroom. My room was a place that I could decorate and arrange however I felt that month. It was the only room in the upstairs of our house with high, slanted ceilings which gave me a sense of independence. I had a huge (full) bed with stuffed animals and pillows overflowing onto the ground. I had fake kitchen toys to play house with and Barbie playhouses left set up in the middle of a scene. I had posters covering every inch of one wall because my mom wouldn't let me spread to the other three walls. Now looking back, my room was quite cluttered, but it was my favorite place to be. It was whatever I wanted it to be.

News Narrative

When looking at the top stories of the newspapers, they mostly deal with health care and other political things. Neither of these really relate to my life in an interesting way. Of course, I am affected by these things, but, I don't really have any stories that will shed light on these situations

There are more social discussions or issues that interest me. Such as using dogs to treat PTSD. I think this is interesting because I know how greatly a dog can affect your mood and spirits. But I'm also not sure that I have any specific stories that will contribute to this.

Narrative Argument Pre-Writing

I had a lot of trouble thinking of a topic for this type of argument. I kind of feel like I live an average life that nothing that exciting has happened to. I was in a car accident when I was younger and a cell phone was involved so I was considering arguing why texting should be illegal. I was also thinking my grandmother had just died of melanoma and I could argue how important it is to take care of your skin and wear sun block. This issue is very important to me because I always lecture my friends not to go tanning and to be responsible.

But, the topic I like the best so far would probably be divorce. My parents divorced when I was very young and it has definitely been a major part of my life. I am a product of divorce and I think throughout my experiences I've learned that the divorce between my mom and dad was the best decision. I think I can argue about divorce being an ultimate evil and that it can have a positive outcome. I think I've turned out fine and as a result I've seen two successful marriages and know what a healthy relationship is. So far, this is my favorite topic, I think my experiences will have a lot to offer that divorce can be the best option.