HOW DOES MASS MEDIA INFLUENCE YOUNG PEOPLE? (Final exam)

The media, in this case television, has a big influence in society habits. The media makes billions of dollars with the advertising they sell and that we are exposed to. We buy what we have been told is good. After seeing thousands of advertisings we make our buying decisions based on what we saw on TV, newspapers or magazines and what we believe is a product that we can trust. We also purchase products based on what everyone else is buying because of their decisions which are also based on the media.

The media, which surrounds us and is an essential part of our life, affects people’s health because it influences people to smoke cigars as celebrity movie stars do. Constant exposure of sex images, the excessive images of violence and exposure to thousands of junk food ads also affect our health. Another fact is that young people who are in a stage of life where they want to be accepted by their peers, copy the standards of beauty created by Communications Medias causing them to fall into eating disorders  such as anorexia, bulimia and obesity.

Another effect on media is the increase in violent behaviors. Violent series and movies, which have a predominant presence in T.V schedules,   train people, especially young people who are most vulnerable, to solve problems with violence.

A third fact is that media influences the public opinion. For example, after the attacks of 911 the media gave a huge coverage of the event and blamed Osama for the attack, as they were told by the authorities. This shaped the public opinion to support the war on terrorism, the same happened with the war on Iraq. The problem is that if by chance the media received inaccurate information then the public opinion supported a wrong cause. This is an example of the power that public opinion has and its capacity to influence people. Other ways to influence are with polls and trends, especially in political campaigns. The candidates that can pay for more TV and media exposure have more influence on public opinion and thus can receive more votes.

My experience as a writer

I am definitely a romantic and idealistic writer. I write what I feel and think about topics given during the course. As I mentioned in many classes, I have very strong and firm values about polemic and transcendental topics related to human life and these values or thoughts are the ones that I defend in my essays. I always want my compositions to reflect as possible who I am in terms of personality, for example, the colors chosen for blog appearance, the images used and so forth. I try to make my writings easy for everyone to understand.  In order to have most of my readers to quickly understand my ideas, I keep vocabulary and grammar structures simple. There are a lot of ways to  lighten compositions. One can take advantage of  extra material for readers to increase their knowledge of the topic and from different point of views, such as videos, links to documentaries and publications. I enjoy using the blog because it is a very dynamic resource that makes  reading more active. I believe that I grew during the course not only as a writer but also as a person with the variety of topics analyzed during these weeks.  Researches made to obtain information required to write the pieces gave me a larger cultural background and allowed me to learn about other points of view and to understand why people have different concepts of a same situation.

 

 

 

Outline grupal composition: Recomending UIA (Composition week 10)

Studying English at UIA

 

UIA is a good place to learn English for several reasons.

 

A. The syllabus for English carrier is different of others universities.

1.       2 branches

a.        Teaching

b.       Translations

2.       Specific courses

a.        Phonetic

b.       Grammar

B. Easy to access at the university

1.       Several means of transportation

a.        The train

b.       Almost all the Guadalupe buses

c.        Barrio Escalante Bus

d.       University Buses

e.       University has a parking lot for professor and students

f.         Surrounding the area there are like three more public parking lots.

2.       The schedules are favorable for working people

a.        6:30pm instead of 5pm (which is the schedule of mostly other universities)

C. University counts with sever food options

1.       Two internal cafeterias

2.       Two more surrounding cafeterias

 

D. Quality and level of professionalism of the professors

1.       The grade of compliance with the student

2.       They tried to give the best material and give support for the students’ course deals.

 

For these reasons UIA is good choice as a place to study English.

***Ver composición en blog de Mónica Astúa***

Euthanasia: Right to die? (Reading week 12)

Euthanasia is the termination of a very sick person's life in order to relieve them of their suffering, but does an individual who has no hope of recovery have the right to decide how and when to end their life? For Craig Ewert is his chose to give an end to his illness. He went to Switzerland, Belgium to practice an Assited suicide which is one form of euthanasia. This usually refers to cases where the person who is going to die needs help to kill themselves and asks for it. It may be something as simple as getting drugs for the person and putting those drugs within their reach. He was motivated by his degenerative disorder ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), which is a is a form of  motor caused by the degeneration of neuronst. The disorder is characterized by rapidly progressive weakness, muscle atrophy and respiratory compromise. Why a person like Mr. Craig Ewert want euthanasia? Most people think unbearable pain is the main reason people seek euthanasia, but some surveys in the USA and the Netherlands showed that less than a third of requests for euthanasia were because of severe pain. Terminally ill people can have their quality of life severely damaged by physical conditions such as incontinence, nausea and vomiting, breathlessness, paralysis and difficulty in swallowing. Psychological factors that cause people to think of euthanasia include depression, fearing loss of control or dignity, feeling a burden, or dislike of being dependent. He thought this was the best way to end his life, do you agree with him?

More about euthanasia
John Paul II speech about euthanasia	http://www.fluvium.org/textos/lectura/lectura534.htm
Catechism of the Catholic Church	http://www.es.catholic.net/escritoresactuales/524/1319/articulo.php?id=12871

COCO ISLAND IS A GOOD PLACE TO VISIT (II Test week 11)

Coco Island is a good place to visit for several reasons. The first one because of its unique, exotic and beautiful flora, fauna, important endemism and biological diversity that make the island a natural laboratory. For instance, visitors can watch 235 kinds of plants, 362 kinds of insects, 85 kinds of Birds, 57 types of crustaceans and so forth. Second reason to visit this island is because of its contributions to science through investigations based on its nature for different national and international entities and individuals, such as CIMAR UCR, MINAET, National Geographic, Jean Philippe Cousteau and Jacques Cousteau who consider the island the most beautiful of the world. The third reason is the several touristic activities people can do there. For example, Walks, Snorkeling, Scuba diving and Sighting of marine fauna, and also you can take a package tour to Coco Island from any touristic agency.

Another reason you should not ignore is the influence of the island in film industry and literature, such as Jurassic Park whose novel writer obtained the inspiration after his visit to Coco Island and The Treasure Island. This story was inspired in the historic relevance pirates and expeditionary groups gave to the island. The history says that pirates used the island as a refuge for their treasures and themselves. Because of the reasons above explained, you should add Coco Island to your list of “must” places to visit.

More about Coco Island
Official Web Site	http://isladelcoco.go.cr/
National Geographic Report	National Geographic: Coco Island
Videos	Videos Google Coco Island

OUTLINE

Coco Island is good place to visit for several reasons

A.      Flora and Fauna

1.       Fish

2.       Birds

3.       Plants

4.       Crustaceans

 

B.      Contributions to Science through investigations based on its nature

1.       CIMAR UCR

2.       Jacques Cousteau

3.       Jean Philippe Cousteau

 

C.      Tourist activities

1.       Walks

2.       Snorkeling

3.       Scuba diving

4.       Sighting of marine fauna

D.      Its influence in film industry and literature

1.       Jurassic Park

2.        The Treasure Island

Because of the reasons above explained, you should add Coco Island as an obligated place to visit in your list of places to do a trip.

Transgender (Reading week 8)

Transgender is a term that refer to a diverse group of individuals who challenge socially and culturally constructed gender norms. The term was used to refer to transvestites (those who desire to wear clothing associated with another sex). In contemporary context the term has broadened to include a number of gender variant groups: male-to-female transsexuals; female-to-male transsexuals; transgenderists (those who live in the gender role associated with another sex without sex reassignment surgery); bigender persons (those who identify as both man and woman); drag queens and kings (typically gay men and lesbian women, respectively, who dress in women's and men's clothing); and intersexed persons (those born with ambiguous genitalia).

Transgender refers to an identity that does not stick to the strict categories of man and woman. Transgender identity differs from biological conditions that produce ambiguous physical characteristics often associated with gender. Through genetic and chromosomal testing (karyotyping), typically an individual's biological sex is determined to be either female or male. A differentiation between sex and gender must be understood to grasp the complexity of these variations.

Since the early twentieth century a number of theories have been proposed in an effort to understand and explain gender variant identities. Early theories proposed by John Money, Harry Benjamin, and Richard Green tended to view gender identity as resulting from pathology deeply rooted in the psyche. However, the introduction of feminist and queer theories, which challenged the traditional gender binary, created an interest in understanding alternative gender identities, including transgender.

The term transgender derives from relatively new concepts surrounding gender identity theory. Though there is no specific author cited for the original use of the term, Virginia Prince was one of the first researchers to use the term in an academic context in the early 1960s. Later, transgender gained use among the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transsexual community as a distinct identity category independent of sex/gender role and sexual orientation. This identity category served as a contrast to transsexual, differentiating between individuals who sought surgical and hormonal interventions and those who did not.

Since the mid-1980s there has been a noticeable rise in activism by transgender communities both at the social and political level. In 2006 the State of New Jersey passed a bill that extended civil rights protection to transgender individuals and nondiscrimination laws protecting gender identity and expression have been enacted in several states. The increased visibility and activism of transgender communities has challenged traditional constructions of gender and created a space for alternative gender identities within society.

Curiosity: Transgenders
Tabú Latinoamerica: Cambio de género	1/6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34870svz6rk
	2/6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT3GtEw0Gb4&feature=relmfu
	3/6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtVxwFjgzto
	4/6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvJqNol5HV0
	5/6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJJhW-zqV88
	6/6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeI4BL5h4nA

TRIPS WITH MY FAMILY (Paper week 6)

Every trip that I have made with my family represent for me and entire life experience. I always have so much fun and get very good memories when we do a trip. As a family we like to go out as much as we can and we do it only the 4 of my nuclear family (mother, father, younger brother and me) or with members of the rest of the family: aunts, uncles, cousins and grandmothers. I also think these trips have joined the family.

We have visited a lot of places. Some of them in one day trip and some others in trips of many days. A little list of this places is: Puntarenas, Samara, Carrillo, Playa Hermosa, Playa Iguanita, Playas del coco, Jacó, Swimming pool Los Patios and last but not least the National Amusement Park.  We have been hosted in hotels, relative’s houses, and camping in the beach and as well we have made fires to cook the meals. Really good experiences.

My parents wants the best for us, so they do their biggest effort and we have made trips out of the country. One of those trips were to Cartagena Colombia for my 15 birthday. The other one was to San Andres in 2006 and we are planning to go once again this December for my little brother 18 birthday. We can’t wait until that date!

In conclusion, the family and friends are the most important treasure for a person. You have to spend all the time that you can with your family and be sure to make it count and trips are a good way to do it.

OUTLINE

Trips with my family:

-        All the trips that we made have represented for me an entire life experience

-        Sacrifice from my parents to give us the trip

-        As a family we like to go out as much as we can.

-        We have visited a lot of paces

-        Trips have joined the family

-        I always have fun in these trips.

Kind of trips:

-        Trips into and out of the country

-        Only we 4 and also with other members of the family

-        Trips of one day

-        Trips of many days

Places:

-        Cañas trips

-        Trip to Cartagena as a gift for my 15 birthday

-        Trip to San Andres

-        Trips to Puntarenas

-        Swimming pool Los Patios

-        Next trip in December 24^th to December 31^st of this year to San Andres as a gift of my brother’s 18 birthdays

-        Trip to the amusement park.

Conclusion: The family and friends are the most important treasure for a person. You have to spend all the time that you can with your family and be sure to make it count.

CANNABIS LEGALIZATION (Reading week 5)

There are a lot of opinions about this topic and many groups doing their movements in order to support or disapprove it. The youth groups who are in favor of legalization fundament their theories in ideas like selling is forbidden but consuming not, or this will put an end to drug’s traffic, or what are the difference between tobacco, alcohol and marijuana and more similar ideas. Is true that in countries like Netherlands cannabis is sold in coffee shops and it produce the closure of 8 prisons, but is Costa Rica prepared for this step? Well, Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla thoughts so. She is joined with Guatemalan President in calling for regional legalization discussions. There are, as well, those who are not agreeing like Nicaraguan President and US Department of Homeland Security Secretary. There are many opinions, but in mine, all depends of educations and information. Let educate and inform our kids and also ourselves about pros and cons of drug use, the effects that produce and the eventually addiction it can convert.

More info about cannabis
News	Google news: Cannabis legalization
Wikipedia: Cannabis drug	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_(drug)

Abortion (Reading week 10)

There is definitely no right in kill someone and is worse if this person cannot defend his or her own life. The abortion is an inhuman way of pretend to be God deciding if a little and innocent life should or should not live. Who are we and who gave us this righ? The abortion kills more children than car accident or diseases. Every year, by sickness or accidents dies thousands of children, but by abortion dies millions of unborn babies. There is no abortion method in which the fetus or embryo does not suffer. Women around the world who had practice more than one abortion during their fertile years do not know how lucky are they of no suffer any consequence, because a woman can die too during the abortion. Legal or illegal the result are the same, the results are these:

More info about abortion
Methods and consequences	http://www.anael.org/english/abortion/index.htm
Images	http://www.priestsforlife.org/resources/abortionimages/index.htm

Sex change (Composition week 4)

Due to the global value change in 21^st century takes couples of 50 years of marriage to think in reasons to ask for each other in sex change as a gift. Through the years, even centuries, the human values have changed and this as a domino effect produced changes in society way of life. Behaviors that people used to see as a taboo or morally inappropriate are no longer see it in that way. Sex change is now not only a no taboo practice but also a trend even practiced in couples of 50 years of marriage. Sex change implies a serial of emotions like excitement, insatisfaction, auto acceptation, and as a new trend people practice it influenced by crazy society, fast and liberal way of life.  Sometimes the person who is asking the sex change is not completely compliance with his or her couple feelings. There are cases in which both members of the relationship are agree in sex change and others in which one of the members makes the decision without speak about it with the other. That’s why this topic needs to be seriously analyzed with professional guidance  by those who are thinking of practice it.

More about sex change:
Curiosity: What are some side effects of gender reassignment therapy and surgery?	Video. Decision Making Video: Sex Change Hospital Video. Post surgery

Brainstorming practice:

1.       Help! My wife wants a sex change for our golden anniversary

-          Fantasy

-          Couple compliance and satisfaction

-          Auto-satisfaction

Topic sentence: Due to the global value change in 21^th century takes couples of 50 years of marriage to think in reasons to ask for each other in sex change as anniversary gift.

2. Topic: Sex change for golden anniversary.

Questions:

-          What have change through the years that now day couples of 50 years of marriage are interested in sex change?

-          What does take a person in think about sex change?

-          Why people search sex change?

-          What are the feelings of my partner about sex change?

3. Look at your topic and your questions use the answers in order to get supporting detail sentences.

Q/ What have change through the years that now day couples of 50 years of marriage are interested in sex change?

A/ Through the years, even centuries, the human values have changed and this as a domino effect produced changes in society way of live.

Behaves people used to see as a taboo or morally inappropriate are no longer see it in that way.

Sex change is now not only a no taboo practice but also a trend even practiced in couples of 50 years of marriage.

Q/ What does take a person in think about sex change? Why people search sex change?

A/ Sex change implies a serial of emotions like excitement, insatisfaction, auto acceptation and more.

As a new trend people practice it influenced by society crazy, fast and liberal way of live.

Q/ What are the feelings of my partner about sex change?

A/ Sometimes the person who is asking the sex change is not completely compliance with his or her couple feelings.

There are cases in which both members of the relationship are agree in sex change and others in which one of the members takes the decision without speak about it with the other.