Working Thesis

In the field of Engineering, racism occurs throughout higher education universities and across engineering companies. Things are being done to bring equality to those who work in the engineering department; however more can be done and needs to be.

Racism at MIT?

In the article, "Racism at MIT," author Thomas Bartlett focuses on one teachers case that he was not granted tenure due to the reason he is black. The article reports on a professor named James Sherley, a biological engineer researching stem cells. The teacher claims that he was not granted private laboratory space or tenure partially because, "I am part black but also partially due to my belief in embryonic stem cell research," says James. This case is just one of numerous cases of racism that have been filed against other teachers, deans, administrators, etc. from schools and other major companies. Racism does occur in careers and jobs that eventually all of us with fall into and witness at some point. We will not all witness the racism first hand but by just working at a company or school that has racism is witnessing it. Sherley knows that it is not all just because he is black but he has a strong feeling that the way he was treated made him feel that it was due to him being of color. Sherley says, "I'd be naive to think that my beliefs on stem cell research don't play some role."

BIB

Annotated Bibliography RD

“Deforestation: The Modern Day Plague.” National Geographic Magazine.  Web. 12 March, 2012.  

In the article “Deforestation: The Modern Day Plague” the authors define the problem about global deforestation. The authors use many statistics and information gathered over decades of study to support their thesis that deforestation must stop. The purpose of this article is to raise awareness among humans in order to stir up concern about the natural habitat surrounding us. The audience is definitely Nation Geographic Magazine subscribers as well as the general public who wished to learn more about the problem. I will use this site to set up some basic understanding of what deforestation actually is and why it occurs.  

Hall, Anthony. “Getting Redd-Y: Conservation and Climate Change in Latin America.” Academic Search Premier. Vol. 46 pg. 184-210. 15 July, 2011. Web. 13 March, 2012.

In Anthony Hall’s article “Getting Redd-Y: Conservation and Climate Change in Latin America” he implies that deforestation in the Amazon basin is a major source to greenhouse gases and that protected areas play a vital role in the minimization of these gases. Hall proves his point by giving reasons why he thinks this is a contributing factor and goes on to provide evidence for his thoughts. His purpose is to inform the general public in order to raise awareness of what deforestation does to our atmosphere, not just the species living in the habitat being destroyed. The audience is the general public and people who care about our environment. I will use this article a little bit in order to prove how deforestation effects climate change. 

Rudel, Tom. “The Path to Rainforest Destruction: Cross National Pattern of Tropical Deforestation.” World Development Vol. 25.1 pg. 53-65. New Jersey 1997. Web. 13 March, 2012.

In Rudel’s article “The Path to Rainforest Destruction: Cross National Patterns of Tropical Deforestation” he implies that there are two major leading causes to deforestation. He provides evidence of why each theory contributes to the continuing devastation that is occurring and who as well as what is involved with each theory. His purpose is to make people aware that there are multiple contributing factors to deforestation in order for people to understand that they need to target multiple sources in order to stop this activity. The audience is the general public and anybody who cares about natural habitats and they current destruction patterns. I will use this to talk about the multiple ways that deforestation occurs so my audience is aware that there are many contributing factors.

Rudel, Tom. “Changing Drivers of Deforestation and New Opportunities for Conservation.” Academic Search Premier. Conservation Biology Vol. 23. 6 pg. 1396-1405. 1 December, 2009. Web. 12 March, 2012.

In Rudel’s article “Changing Drivers of Deforestation and New Opportunities for Conservation” he argues that human ways of deforestation have changed potentially in ways which have implications for conservation. He backs up his argument by stating what is happening and how these strategies could be used as a type of conservation. His purpose is to inform the public in order to make it clear that these changing circumstances could possibly suggest two new ideas for biodiversity conservation. The audience of this article is also the general public and potentially even small time farmers who are a contributing factor to these ideas. I do not know how much I will use this article but I can see myself using is as a way to set up an idea on how to change our deforestation habits.

 Walters, Ryan. “Deforestation in the Amazon: To Raise Awareness on the Issue.” Word Press, World Wildlife Fund. Web. 12 March, 2012.

In Ryan Walters article “Deforestation in the Amazon: To Raise Awareness on the Issue” he implies that deforestation occurs across the world and that it is devastating more than humans think. Walters provides vast amounts of factual evidence recovered from research so he can prove his point to be important. Ryan’s purpose is solely to raise awareness on the topic in order for more people to help stop this action of clear-cutting forests. The audience is the general public who will have the greatest influence in stopping the deforestation occurrence.  I will use this article because it has a lot of striking factual evidence that will raise emotion and concern.

INTRO

Imagine waking up early in the morning to the sound of a wrecking ball smashing into your beloved house. Species across the world experience such a thing daily. Deforestation has always been a problem in the world, and more than likely, always will be. When humans clear-cut massive sections of forests or rainforests we create more damage than we do well. Destroying the natural habitats of millions of species is not something that should be done in order for comfortably.  Deforestation is not just allowing more space for the human race but is in fact completely destroying the habitats of millions of plant and animal species each year. If humankind cannot come up with ways in which to cut back our cutting rates, then we will eventually wipe out our entire livestock of vegetation.

Deforestation: Diminishing the Natural Habitat

One problem that is currently still going on in the world around us today is the fact of deforestation. This has been a worldwide issue for quite some time; however, it seems to be occurring across seas in other countries and on other continents more. The Rainforests, vast lands of natural habitat, are being destroyed by the acre. Humans are coming into this world faster than ever and find themselves needing more and more space each and every year. What do they do? Wipe out the lands and homes of thousands of other species just to support themselves. Not realizing the harm that is being caused, humans continue to deplete natural resources that are found in rainforests across the world. If something is not done to stop humankind from this path of destruction, complete devastation with hit planet earth.

                There are many driving forces behind the reason of why to deforest land but the main cause is for money and to provide for a family. Possibly the biggest driver of deforestation is agriculture. Small time, even big time farming companies and families continue to clear out areas of forests in order to provide space for planting crops or just for grazing livestock. If every farmer cuts out only a few acres for their needs we begin to see huge accumulations of missing forest land. This is absolutely devastating to the animals that reside within forests and rainforests. Something that many farmers will do now is a procedure known as “cut-and-burn.” The farmer will cut down acres of forests and take burn them to dispose of the wood instead of properly recycling the wood for other uses.

                Although, farmers do play a big role in deforestation, it is not all their fault. Lodging operations, which provide most all wood and paper products, will make new roads, sometimes illegally, that meander through the forests to remote areas that were earlier inaccessible.  In doing this, not only are they breaking laws but they are also allowing for more and more acres of forests to be cut down, that, in turn, should never have been cut down in the first place.

 Now, deforestation would not be as big of a problem if there were not any species that lived in forested areas. But in fact, millions of different birds, insects, rodents, animals, etc. as well as trees, flowers and shrubs, many of which are endangered, reside in forested areas.  When humans deforest land at such an extreme rate, not only are we clearing space for us, but we are also taking away the homes of hundreds of thousands of innocent animals. Not to mention that deforestation drives climate change at a faster rate. The soil at the bottom of a forest is moist and wet but with no protection from the canopy of trees, it will quickly dry out and will not be able to provide water for living vegetation. Trees also play a huge role in the water cycle by returning water vapor back into the atmosphere. Without the help that trees provide, many of the former forest land will dry out into a barren desert.

There are some things that can be done to help slow the rate of deforestation. The easiest way to control deforestation is to completely stop cutting completely. However, this is something that is inevitable and will definitely not happen. Humans have a drive in their mind to make it so they are comfortable in living, without any real care or attention to what they are harming around them. Also, due to the fact that illegal cutting is occurring today, what says that this will not continue to occur? An easier solution to the problem is to closely manage clear-cutting to make sure that forests stay intact. With the cutting that will occur, a proper balance must be highly watched in the cutting to planting ratio of trees. Basically, there should never be more trees cut down in a year then there are being planted. This will help with the rate of deforestation but will not completely discontinue the process of cutting. I am unsure if deforestation can ever be completely eliminated but there are certainly things that humans can do to reduce our own damage to the natural habitat that surrounds us.

Source #1 annotation

In Jeremiah's personall true story The Lure of Gang Life he asserts the importance to always make smart decisions. Jeremiah tells his true life story giving examples of bad desicions he made and how it has affected his life since then. The author's purpose is to tell people his story in order to make it aware for teenagers that gang life is not too far away. YOung teens and young adults are the authors intended audience.

Utley, Jeremiah . "The Lure of Gang Life" Campus Life's Ingite. 5 March, 2012 <>.

MWP 2 first thesis

Gang life for young teens has always been a problem in the United States and will continue to be a problem for these youngs kids for as long as gangs are around. They see this image of a higher power and brotherhood that feels good to them. This will continue to be a problem unless young teenagers start to see that there is a different way of life and that they just need to give it a chance.