Jane Austen Essay -- essays papers

Jane Austen 6. How does Mansfield Park interrogate the relationship of power and gender? Mansfield Park by Jane Austen is a classic realist text, which is almost exclusively focused on a small strip of society, namely the upper-middle class of rural England; the class to which she herself belonged. Throughout her novel, Austen portrays the disadvantaged position of woman, presenting the issues of gender stereotyping and marriage choice as the main problems they have to confront. â€Å"Gender came to be seen as a construct of society, designed to facilitate the smooth-running of society to the advantage of men†1, proving that men gained power throughout the socially constructed subordination of woman. Taking a post-structuralist approach to Mansfield Park, we can see that there is a â€Å"pretence that bourgeois culture is ‘natural’†¦to limit meaning in the interests of control, repression and privilege†2. Austen’s writing embodies middle-class values, and portrays an ideology that emphasises patriarchal rule, along with social and economic power, with little reference to the hardships of the working class. This text is therefore a form of oppressive ideology, in which women are kept in their socially and sexually subordinate place. When Sir Thomas Bertram discovers that Fanny will reject Henry Crawford’s proposal, the cruelty of male power is evident, enforcing the gender role. He does not understand her refusal of a secure marriage, and attempts to change her answer by redefining what she says. Sir Thomas is an authoritative male, and represents the male-dominated system that tries to take control of, and organise a woman’s life for her. Although Fanny represents female resistance by opposing Sir Thomas’s judgement, Auste... ...ation to the women, as they can use their influence and power in a good or bad way. Austen takes the disadvantaged position of women, and analyses sexual stereotypes and prejudices in great detail. Therefore male power and female helplessness are explored fully in her novels. Bibliography: Jane Austen, Mansfield Park (Penguin, 1994) Simone De Beavouir, Women and the Other; Literature in the Modern World, Dennis Walder (Oxford University Press, 1990) Marilyn Butler, Romantics, Rebels & Reactionaries (Oxford University Press, 1981) Mary Eagleton, Feminist Literary Theory: A Reader (Basil Blackwell Ltd, 1986) Terry Eagleton, Criticism and Ideology (Oxford University Press, 1976) Terry Eagleton, Literary Theory: An Introduction, 2nd Ed (Blackwell Publishers Ltd, 1996) Dennis Walder, Literature in the Modern World (Oxford University Press, 1990)

The Disciplined Order of Christ: Dealing with the Storms of Everyday Life

In 1945, led by Dr. Albert Edward Day, some laity and clergymen have met and resolved to live a life of discipline in accordance to the teachings and life of Jesus Christ (www. dochr. org). Thus, on that meeting, an organization was founded and named The Disciplined Order of Christ whose members aim to live a life of discipline in the midst of the harsh realities of the world. Basically, the Order aims to incorporate self-discipline into the life of a Christian laity or clergy man.Although living up to the teachings of Christ is not a novel idea, the Order focuses on Christian Discipline. The once a hundred-member organization became a nationwide movement and still aiming to reach more other people as well (www. dochr. org). All members of the order strive to acquire the eight virtues of the organization; namely, obedience, simplicity, humility, frugality, generosity, truthfulness, purity and charity (www. dochr. org). In addition to these virtues, there are the seven fundamental dis ciplines that members live by.These are discipline of private prayer, discipline of personal commitment, discipline of small group fellowship, discipline of active church participation, discipline of witness and service, discipline of stewardship, and discipline of ecumenical fellowship (www. dochr. org). The Order’s ideals and vision are founded on the book written by the founder, Dr. Day, entitled â€Å"Discipline and Discovery† (www. dochr. org). Most of the preaching in the organization and the tips on how to live a disciplined life are based on this book.Although the ideals are based on the book, the organization still uses the bible, particularly the New Testament, as their primary reference for spiritual maturity. Nevertheless, there is less citations from the bible than from the founder’s book which makes it somewhat a practical guide rather than a biblical guide to a rich Christian life. The organization holds annual regional retreats as well as nationa l retreats every five years (www. dochr. org).This is the only activity that is explicitly presented in the website besides different articles regarding bible study guides and the organization’s basic doctrines. Although the Order also conducts small group fellowships, there were no presentations or exhibits regarding the retreats and fellowships. Such a defect is thus quite questionable. The organization wishes to impart disciplines of small group fellowship and active church participation and yet, there are no evidences of such events on the website. It would have been better if the organization presented places and schedules of fellowships.Furthermore, the Order only seems to offer suggestions and guidelines on how to live a self-disciplined life in the local church where the member is affiliated. One interesting feature, however, is that of the organization’s â€Å"Prayer Garden†. In the Prayer Garden, individuals can post their prayer requests and praise no tes while they can also view other’s prayer requests and join in praying for the many needs of the members of the organization (www. dochr. org). Such a connection of the different members through praying for one another is theologically noteworthy and yet original in its modern approach.The basic virtues that the order tries to emulate are actually all theologically based on the New Testament. And the disciplines are essentially practical means to attain such virtues. The practical approach of the organization’s ideals although not much proven by their own testimonial experiences is a helpful way for one’s spiritual growth. Its day-by-day advices and simplicity gives it an appealing way of living the life of Christ in the modern yet draining society people are currently dwelling in.Theologically, the ideals of the Order are theoretically and biblically acceptable. The practical guide it provides that fits the modern way of living in the world is very much helpf ul and charismatic. Upon reading on the basics of the organization, one can also find that the spiritual formation that the order offers to every individual is suitable for everyone. The very fact that self-discipline and discipline in general is the center of their ministry makes the order a viable and useful new way of living a life like that of the life Christ lived. References The Disciplined Order of Christ. (2008). Discipline and Discovery. Retrieved October 15, 2008, from http://www.dochr.org/discipline.php. The Disciplined Order of Christ. (2008). Historical Moments. Retrieved October 15, 2008, from http://www.dochr.org/history.php. The Disciplined Order of Christ. (2008). Albert Edward Day. Retrieved October 15, 2008, from http://www.dochr.org/day.php.

The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain - 1375 Words

Becoming Of Age It is a known fact that children struggle to become adults. The teen years are some of the most difficult, in which people are faced with new found responsibilities and authority, not to mention the years spent growing and maturing physically. Teenagers are stuck in an inbetween state where they must learn who they want to become and what they want to be when they grow older. The same is true for Huckleberry Finn, from the book â€Å"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† by Mark Twain. This is a book that was written in a time of great confusion over moral codes and standards. It was a world split in half by two different worlds of people; those who opposed, and those who promoted slavery. It was also a world of religion, a world†¦show more content†¦More than that, he has no idea who he wants to become. The widow that houses him seems nice but she is too religious and would never survive outside of her good Christian bubble. Huck’s father is an abusive drunk tha t only knows how to fist fight and cuss like a sailor. He’s unwilling to be like the wealthy because they are simply too uptight but he also sees the contrast in his father. He seems to want something in between. Once, while thinking about such things, Huck states, â€Å"I didn t see how I d ever got to like it so well at the widow s, where you had to wash, and eat on a plate, and comb up, and go to bed and get up regular, and be forever bothering over a book† (6). That life of dormant cleanliness just doesn’t cut it for Huck. He wants adventure and drama. Despite this want for the unknown he does cling to some stability, seen in how he keeps his friend Jim with him in order to have something in his life he can rely on. There’s no one in his life that has both stability in friends and a life of thrilling enterprise. Yes, Huck does want to grow and progress in his life, but he struggles to find someone who he wants to be like. The second point that helps define how â€Å"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† is about coming of age is how Huck endeavors to understand why he is helping Jim. Jim is an escaped slave and everything he has ever been told indicates that under no circumstances should Huck ever help such a man, but Huck is

Persuasive Speech Outline Essay - 1117 Words

Persuasive Speech Outline ALL 50 STATES SHOULD HAVE MANDATORY MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAWS TOPIC: Mandatory motorcycle helmet laws PURPOSE: To persuade the audience that all 50 states should enact and enforce a mandatory motorcycle helmet law. THESIS STATEMENT: Mandatory helmet laws save lives and dollars. INTRODUCTION ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · Did you know that only 19 states and the District of Columbia have laws in place that require all motorcycle riders to wear a helmet? 19!? 28 states have laws covering some riders, usually people younger than 18. 3 states (Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire) that do not have any helmet requirements at all. I find it odd that we all are required by law to wear our seatbelts and put our children in safety†¦show more content†¦Repeatedly, the effect is the same, no or fewer laws enforcing helmet wearing means increased motorcycle rider fatalities i. Less law requirement = less helmet wearing = more deaths D. And that’s the very real cost to you and me fewer Dads, uncles, sons, nephews (90% of all killed are men) Transition: But why? Why on earth would we weaken or get rid these laws when we know that they prevent deaths? II. Lots of motorcycle riders vehemently oppose these laws A. They are passionate and vocal. They turn out in large numbers and ride their bikes around Washington DC and state capitols. They walk the halls of legislatures and knock on doors lobbying against helmet restrictions. B. But safety is not the point that motorcycle rights activist groups are arguing: its freedom a. The government shouldn’t tell us what to do b. It’s so un-American it’s embarrassing i. Freedom fighters c. it is my personal choice to make i. Courts have time and again stuck down this individual argument 1. Public roads 2. No insurance=Govt funded hospital bills and disability benefits a. IIHS backs that up by reviewing 25 studies and concluding that just over half of riders involved in accidents had private health insurance Transition: So, let’s take a quick look at the safety issue that the freedom fighters can’t refute. III. The solution is already documented: A. A report released by theShow MoreRelatedPersuasive Speech : Persuasive Outline2149 Words   |  9 PagesDyadic Persuasive Comprehensive Outline General Purpose: To persuade Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience how to be more successful as a college student. I. Introduction A. Attention Getter: How many of you have said that there are too many options? Whether you are talking about choosing a college, class selection once you get to college, or even something as simple as choosing what to eat for dinner tonight. If you made a choice on what career field you will enter after college, you come toRead MorePersuasive Speech Outline1028 Words   |  5 PagesPERSUASIVE SPEECH OUTLINE TOPIC: WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE UP SMOKING PROPOSITION: Give up smoking and you will save yourself and the others around you and live in a healthy environment. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES/PURPOSES: I want to persuade my audience on how harmful smoking does to the body and giving up the habit is the right way to do because it will literally save their lives and the people around them and the environment as well. SPEECH PLAN ATTENTION STEP: Opening statement: Smoking†¦Read MorePersuasive Speech Outline1309 Words   |  6 PagesPersuasive Speech Outline (Using Monroe’s Motivated Sequence) Topic: Voting in Election Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience to vote in democratic elections to voice out their opinions and beliefs regardless of their background, to decide for their future, and to preserve the essence of democracy. Attention: * Provide a vivid description of people struggling to fight for their voting rights in certain countries. * Share relevant facts /statistics of how a small number of votesRead MorePersuasive Speech : Speech Outline819 Words   |  4 PagesElmer Lombana Jr. Dr. Shane Gunderson SPC 2608 November 6, 2015 Persuasive Speech Outline General Purpose: To persuade Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to contact Florida Department of Education to incorporate Personal Finance courses in high schools. Thesis: Instead of teaching children in schools non-vital skills like sewing and baking, Personal Finance should be taught in Home Economics or as a curriculum during a summer semester if not fulfilled with aforementioned elective. I. TheRead MorePersuasive Speech Outline994 Words   |  4 Pages10/31/12 Persuasive Speech Outline I. ADG- It is not a myth why people call fast food disgusting. On a Friday night during my graveyard shift at McDonald’s a drunken customer passed by the Drive-Thru around 2:30a.m.While my coworker was taking his order the customer decided to cuss and call her really offensive names because she couldn’t get his order right. She got mad and decided to spit in the customers Sweet Tea, she was immediately fired when another coworker told the manager. Since I startedRead MorePersuasive Speech Outline2793 Words   |  12 PagesSamples of Persuasive speech Outline SAMPLE 1 From the time we wake up in the morning to the moment we lay are head down at night, we are constantly making choices. Some take a conscious effort, some should, and some do not. Have you ever taken the time to really stop and think if you’re giving the correct amount of attention to the right choice? I’m here today to ask you to be more conscious of what you eat. I’m going to discuss health reasons, effect of food advertisements, reading foodRead MorePersuasive Speech Outline1169 Words   |  5 PagesTitle:  What’s In Your Glass? Topic: The Opposition of Artificial Intelligence Method of organization:  Refutative Specific Purpose:   My specific purpose of this speech is to encourage those who oppose artificial intelligence to see the good that can be done with this technology. Thesis:   In this presentation I hope to explain the opposition that artificial intelligence faces, show examples of successful uses of AI, and challenge those opposed to this technology to consider a change ofRead MorePersuasive Speech Outline1649 Words   |  7 PagesComm 110 Informative Outline Template (remember that a presentation aid must be used within the body of this speech.) Please label these parts as you create your outline: I. Introduction a. College is an integral time period for many people – college is a time for freedom, receiving an education, and learning what it means to survive on little to no food for long periods of time. Or at least that’s what it’s been like for me. Food is arguably one of the most important things to a collegeRead MorePersuasive Speech Outline1232 Words   |  5 PagesI. Attention A. Attention Grabber: In this moment in time, the United States has only 5 percent of the world s population, but holds 25 percent of the world s prisoners, this is costing the country approximately $80 billion dollars per year. B. Tie to Audience: From your point of view, you might think that keeping all the law violators behind bars is a positive thing because it enhances public safety, but you should take a look on how incarcerating people impacts families and the nation’s economyRead MorePersuasive Speech Outline On Immunizations1004 Words   |  5 PagesPersuasive Speech Outline Immunizations Specific Purpose: The specific purpose of my topic is to persuade my audience that immunizations are important and actually do more good than harm. Thesis: Immunizations are one of the most important medical advances in history. They have severely reduced the effects of dozens of viral infections and everyone should consider getting immunized. Introduction: Take a good look. These are the effects of just some of dozens of infectious diseases we are dealing

Childhood Obesity Obesity And Obesity Essay - 1671 Words

Fight to End Obesity Childhood obesity has increased drastically over the past years and has become a health risk to children. In fact, childhood obesity has doubled in numbers in the past thirty years (Childhood Obesity Facts). Obesity occurs when an individual becomes overweight and can be diagnosed by using the body mass index or BMI scale. Obesity causes many diseases in children which cannot be cured without a doctor, in result, childhood obesity drives high health care costs. The existence of childhood obesity has begun to get out of control and there is little effort to prevent the obesity epidemic. The number of children who are obese have greatly increased over the years and people are trying to come up with a solution to prevent obesity. Without the prevention of obesity future generations could be in serious trouble with health issues. Childhood obesity should be prevented by showing the youth that healthy is the smart option, the main causes of obesity include lack of gui dance, fast food restaurants, and the market for unhealthy foods. The rising numbers of childhood obesity benefits the health care system because with obesity comes many doctors visits, and many doctors visits comes with plenty of money spent in the health care system. Childhood obesity causes an early onset of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even asthma (Chronic Disease). With all of these health problems and diseases follows suffering of the youngShow MoreRelatedChildhood Obesity : A Obesity1247 Words   |  5 PagesChildhood Obesity: A Review to Prevent the Risk Factors of Childhood Obesity in Our Community. The rates of childhood obesity Worldwide are alarmingly high! Obesity is a global nutritional concern and leads to horrible consequences on our children and becomes a worldwide pandemic. Worldwide estimates of obesity are as high as 43 million, and rates continue to increase each year. In this study, people will find healthy tips to prevent childhood overweight or obesity to help children in our communitiesRead MoreThe Effects Of Obesity On Childhood Obesity Essay1953 Words   |  8 Pagesfind out what has caused or what the leading factors to obesity are. Researchers are currently still doing research to find out what causes or what may be the lead to obesity. Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition which considers a child to be obese if their Body Mass Index (BMI) is at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex. (Rendall., Weden, Lau, Brownell, Nazarov Fernandes, 2014). Obesity is on a rise in the Unites States and all over the worldRea d MoreChildhood Obesity : Children Can Not Combat Obesity1158 Words   |  5 Pages Childhood Obesity Jesus Dorado DeVry University Prewriting My narrowed topic is that parents need to play a bigger role in helping reduce childhood obesity. Children cannot combat obesity by themselves. My primary audience consists of parents of children (ages 7-12). This is my primary audience because parents of young children should be aware of the potential dangers of childhood obesity. If parents do not teach their children how to make healthy decisions, their children will beRead MoreChildhood Obesity : The Adolescent Essay3626 Words   |  15 PagesChildhood Obesity: The Adolescent The Finale Paper Presented to: GEN499: General Education Capstone Instructor: Robert Bass Ashford University By: Ranita Wallace March 27, 2015 Childhood Obesity: The Adolescent Obesity is a growing health problem. Obesity is when individuals are overweight, it causes health problems and is a threat to their lives. Usually obesity is a result from over eating and lack of exercise. Obesity is the cause of many health problems such as diabetesRead MoreEssay on Childhood Obesity1599 Words   |  7 PagesChildhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. The problem is global and is steadily affecting many low- and middle-income families particularly in the United States. The socioeconomic status of these families contributes to the childhood obesity epidemic. Summary of Article 1 The article, â€Å"Beliefs about the Role of Parenting in Feeding and Childhood Obesity among Mothers of Lower Socioeconomic Status† is a study that was conducted by Alison KalinowskiRead MoreThe Causes Of Childhood Obesity1937 Words   |  8 PagesCauses of Childhood Obesity Imagine yourself walking into a kindergarten class, and all you see are obese children not walking, but moving on wheels because they simply cannot walk anymore due to their excess body weight. Their legs are so weak since they have to handle so much more weight than what they are designed to do. This vision may no longer be fictional if the world keeps ignoring the issue of childhood obesity. 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Self-este em, or self-worth, is important as it helps develop personality and is a major ingredient to our mental health status (Wang, F. and Veugelers, P. J., 2008). Some have said obesity may even have a negative effect on cognitive developmentRead MoreChildhood Obesity Essay976 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to a 2010 report by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past thirty years. As well as having an impact on health, studies have cited a relationship between obesity and poor school performance as well as a child’s readiness for learning and education. This can be correlated with studies finding â€Å"obese children have a greater risk of social and psychological problems, such as discrimination and poor self-esteem†Read MoreThe Issue Of Childhood Obesity2238 Words   |  9 PagesSmaller governmental initiatives have proven effective, as well as campaigns run by non-governmental organizati on, yet a large scale federal initiative has yet to be established. Childhood obesity is an ever growing epidemic that has increased to unacceptable proportions. In order to prevent any further escalation of this public, federal legislation must be advocated for and passed that creates more opportunities for physical activity, increased access to healthy food, and puts an end to dishonest

Supermarket Marketing Free Essays

1) For this assignment I decided to visit the Tom Thumb Supermarket located in Lovers Lane. When I walked into the supermarket the first thing I saw was a stand in the middle of a small-like room in which people get the kart to do their shopping. In this stand there were organic fruits such as apples, peaches, melons, kiwi and a couple of other small fruits. We will write a custom essay sample on Supermarket Marketing or any similar topic only for you Order Now All of them contained the yellow sign of â€Å"every day savings†, meaning that the fruits were on a discount from their regular prices. I think that the retailer strategically puts these items in the entrance since they know fruits are a high demand product for consumers. Once I passed through the doors and into the supermarket, I observed a flower stand with many flowers for sale and many stands containing chips and many soft drinks that came in boxes like coca-cola, sprite, Canada dry and others. I think that the flowers are great location since they attract every consumer that walks into the supermarket independently if he/she is going to buy flowers or not. It also gives a better experience to the consumer as he walks in, since flowers are produce a sense of calm for many. ) As I walked through the supermarket, I reached the pharmacy of the supermarket. As I had seen in many places before such as CVS and Walgreens, this supermarket also had generic brands in many of the medications being sold. These generic brands were found among the most common medications sold daily. Beside Advil, Tylenol, and ZzzQuil, there were the generic products. The generic products had a simpler look from the outside than the national brand names, but contained the exact same ingredients as the national brands, for $2 and up to $3 dollars less in most cases. There were also generic products for well-known brands such as Tums, Mucinex, Aleve, Alka-Seltzer, and even Pepto Bismol. I believe that that these brands are positioned this way so the consumer is able to compare the national brand to a generic product and realize that the only difference between them is the price and a nice looking box. 3) While walking through the aisles I realized that there were products at the end-of-aisle that were not from the same category as the aisle. There was a similarity between all of these products that were located at the end-cap. The majority of these items were snacks or small products for daily use. These items were mostly chips, there were some with water and it was the cheapest one, one contained small toys, wine, and soft drinks. I believe that these items are located at the end-cap since it is something that almost every consumer likes and wants. So it is a strategic location for retailers to place products that have a very high demand. 4) I was not shocked to see an item that was displayed in two different locations since it was one that we usually do not relate to a supermarket. While walking to the pharmacy there was a stand in the middle of the aisle. This stand contained ceramic plates and silverware, there were also a few toys and a lot of hard plastic containers for water or drinks. These items were located in a different area than they usually are. I imagine that these products do not have a lot of demand. So the retailer tries to create this demand by separating the product into two locations and probably attract consumers in different locations such as the pharmacy that could be more interested in the product. ) When I went to the mustard category I realized that the most expensive type of mustard were also among the most famous brands. The most expensive mustard was Heinz, followed by other brands such as Safeway, Guldens, Jack Daniels, and Grey Poupon, which were in the same price range. The cheapest mustard was the French’s brand, which I am almost sure is no different than the Heinz mustard. The differences in prices among the mustards wer e also influenced by the type of mustard not only the brand. The Dijon, Horseradish, Spicy Brown, Sweet and Spicy, and Brown mustards were more expensive than regular plain mustard. How to cite Supermarket Marketing, Papers

Plastic Surgery Debate free essay sample

Plastic surgery has been, and will continue to be a controversial subject in many ways some people will agree with plastic surgery and some people won’t agree with plastic surgery. Plastic surgery has become increasingly common today for a variety of reasons and countless individuals are consulting plastic surgeons with the hopes of looking the way they have always dreamed of looking. Whether plastic surgery is the right choice is a question that requires some serious searching and personal examination both by the person interesting in plastic surgery and the doctor who is performing the surgery. There are multiple types of plastic surgery procedures that can be performed for cosmetic or corrective reasons. Plastic surgery can range from minor enhancements to major body overhauls depending in the needs of the person requesting this life changing surgery. While the benefits of plastic surgery are widely accepted, patients should consider the positive and negative aspects of plastic surgery before undergoing any treatments. This debate considers only cosmetic surgery carried out purely to improve appearance, and does not address plastic surgery for medical reasons, for example post-disfigurement reconstruction or remedial surgery. II. Definition of Terms 1. Surgery – the branch of medicine that treats diseases, injuries, and deformities by manual or operative methods. 2. Cosmetic – involving or relating to treatment intended to restore or improve a persons appearance. 3. Cosmetic Surgery – surgery that modifies or improves the appearance of a physical feature, irregularity, or defect. 4. Anaesthesia – medicine that can cause total or partial loss of sensation. 5. Appearance – the way that someone, or something, looks. 6. Disfiguration – to mar or spoil the ppearance or shape of; deform. III. Arguments a. The benefits of cosmetic surgery are fantastic – both physically and emotionally. Patients are no longer self conscious about their physical defects. Many cosmetic surgery patients discover that they are more outgoing, more personable, and more confident. They can focus on living their lives instead of worrying about the way others are looking at them. And given that the reality is that we’re judged on our appearance all the time, it’s perfectly rational to want to look good. . We should not restrict freedom of choice. Certainly there’s an element of danger involved. But why shouldn’t we let people undertake dangers in the pursuit of beauty, and higher self esteem? As humans, we are in charge of our bodies and should have the right to decide what we want to do with it. c. Cosmetic surgery can turn a profit for hospitals that is put towards more general medical areas. And doctors receive training and practice in difficult techniques which can then be used to help patients in genuine need. . The vast majority of people who have cosmetic surgery have one procedure and never look back. They’re made happier and more secure in themselves because of it. It’s fine to oppose cosmetic surgery, but don’t falsely portray those that have it as being mentally unstable. IV. Counter Arguments a. Cosmetic su rgery is a harmful influence on people. As time changes so do the standards of beauty. People follow the trends whenever they change. People ask surgeons to make them look like the latest famous star. Doing this ignores the natural beauty and diversity that our culture is made of. We should promote the idea that appearance is not as important as character. People should be content with themselves and not be so hung up on their looks. b. We agree that sometimes we must accept those dangers, as they come in the course of necessary medical procedures. But with elective surgery – procedures people don’t need, but rather merely want – the risks can’t be justified. Pain is a significant drawback to plastic surgery, and recovery times can be as long as six months in some cases. Some patients may be at risk for severe reactions to anesthesia or may develop health problems such as hemorrhaging as a result of their surgery. c. Doctors should heal, not waste their talent on appearance. Precious talent and resources are spent on this frivolous activity. Surgeons should do medical operations that are needed, not cosmetic procedures that are desired. d. Cosmetic surgery is addictive. The compulsion to change one’s body is often a symptom of a deeper mental instability. It should be treated as a problem, not indulged and encouraged with surgery. It’s only a plaster patched over a much deeper problem. V. Rebuttal a. It is not necessarily true that people undergo cosmetic surgery for the sake of looking as perfect as famous stars. Majority of those people do it to improve how they look physically, or to fix physical deformities that they think are unattractive to others. Though they do change their outward appearance, it does not mean that they are ignoring diversity and culture. And in the type of world we live in today, looks do matter in some instances. Let’s say, for example, two people are being interviewed for a potential job, and one candidate is completely put together and gorgeous, and the second candidate is not so attractive and looks quite disheveled. Who do you think would make the best first impression? b. Cosmetic surgery is becoming safer and safer. It is increasingly strictly policed and sky-high legal pay-outs by bad surgeons have ensured that practitioners take more and more care. Technology in surgery and in implants and so forth is forever improving. VI. Conclusion