THE BIOSPHERE :: essays research papers fc

Biosphere:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The biosphere is part of the earth in which life exists. It is 20 kilometers thick from the bottom of the ocean to the lower atmosphere. It consists of three layers: the lithosphere, which is the land on the surface of the earth; the hydrosphere, which comprises of the water on the earth as well as water vapor in the air; and the atmosphere, which is made up of the air that surrounds the earth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The living organisms in the biosphere interact and affect each other in many ways. This is called a biotic community. There are non-living elements that have an effect on living organisms, these are considered abiotic factors. Some examples of abiotic factors are air, temperature, water, soil, light, and minerals. In a biosphere, organisms live in special groupings -- for instance - a population consists of all individuals of a type living in a general area. An community is a population located in a certain area living among different species. An ecosystem is a larger mass of a population, a community, and abiotic factors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ecosystems can be aquatic or terrestrial. The earth's aquatic ecosystem makes up about 75% of the earth's surface. This aquatic environment is divided into marine and freshwater environments. The earth's earthly ecosystem is mainly made up of forests and deserts, which make up for 25% of the earth's surface. The role or function of an organism in a community is that organism's function. An organism's role is an area picked by that organism based on physical factors such as temperature, light, oxygen and carbon dioxide content and biological factors such as food, competition for resources and predators. This niche provides the organism a place to live in. A habitat remains consistent with an organism's niche as well as provides the organism with a place to reproduce. In this case, organisms may have the same habitat, but different niches.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are three types of relationships involving the interactions between organisms. They are mutualism* (mutually beneficial association between different kinds of organisms), commensalisms* (a relation between two kinds of organisms in which one obtains food or other benefits from the other without damaging or benefiting it), and parasitism* (an intimate association between organisms of tow of more kind; especially: one of which a parasite obtains from a host which it usually injures.)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.) Mutualism is a relationship where both organisms benefit from their interaction with each other.

American History X vs. Malcolm X

The movies American History X and Malcolm X both tackle critical social issues evident in the past as well as in the present. These issues revolve around race and culture, which is well related to issues like freedom, individuality, discrimination, and social acceptance. In both the films, these issues were not really highlighted at the very beginning. Both Malcolm X and American History X showed a socially negative start, like the involvement of Edward Norton in a White supremacist group, or Denzel Washington’s portrayal of Malcolm X’s criminal past.But despite this, the film rebounded on the positive light through the realizations of the main characters at some points in the film. These realizations or moments of truth were life changing experiences for Edward Norton and Denzel Washington, as they portray the turning points in the life of the characters that they play in their respective movies. In American History X, Edward Norton’s moments of truth occurred t o him when he was sent to prison, after murdering a black man who tried to rob him. At first, the murder wasn’t really a big deal to him, since his principles dictate that it was the right thing to do.As a white supremacist, he sees himself as a better person than the person he killed, and that his deed was that of good will. He was even grinning when he was arrested (Kaye). When he was sent to prison, he realized that life was not only black and white. He was able to see the wrongs of what he thought was right, and because of that, he slowly distanced himself from the brotherhood and the beliefs that he catered for a long time. He began associating with people from other races, though it was hard for him, as he had to suffer the harsh ways of the people he turned away from.Despite all these, he became a changed man, and eventually desired to live a better life with his brother. On the other hand, Denzel Washington had his moments of truth in the film Malcolm X, in the same m anner as that of Norton in American History X. During his youth, Denzel Washington lived a life of crime in the streets. He was a member of gangs which had dealings with illegal activities. He was arrested for robbery at one time, and was then sent to prison (Lee). It was the life in prison that changed him personally.He met a man who introduced him to the Nation of Islam, and also motivated him to move away from a life of vices and crime. He stopped drinking and smoking, and eventually succumb to the Islamic ways that was introduced to him. After prison, he continued to live a clean life, and opted to influence others of his newfound strength. He also realized that race should not be an issue in society. Both the films realized the truth through their experiences. It was not only based on the words or the influences of others, but also on the accompanying actions that they experienced.The lives they lived previously were not good at all, but it served as a comparison for them when they decided to live away from hatred and discrimination (Cyrus and Fiske-Rusciano). It was their experiences and acquaintances in prison that made them realize the truth about their lives. They shunned away discrimination, dominance, and hatred, and embraced a life of acceptance and freedom, despite the dire consequences that they faced at the end of the movie. The truth that they found proved to be very ironic in the end of the films.In American History X, Norton’s brother was shot dead by a black gang member. On the other hand, Malcolm X was assassinated before giving a speech for the masses. Despite these, the truth that they found was not at all fragile. If they decide to revert back to their old selves and exact revenge on those who did them wrong, the cycle of hatred would just continue. Norton realized this in a hard hitting manner. He had killed somebody before, now it is returned to him when his brother was killed. Malcolm X led a criminal life in his youth, and in the end, he was assassinated.The truth that they found was cemented by these events. There is a need for a social acceptance in order to stop the cycle of hatred and violence. This is the truth. Edward Norton and Denzel Washington learned this truth the hard way. Works Cited Cyrus, Virginia, and Roberta Fiske-Rusciano. Experiencing Race, Class, and Gender in the United States. Third Edition ed: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages, 2000. American History X. 1998. John Morrissey, October 23. Malcolm X. 1992. Preston L. Holmes, et al. , November 18.

Development Theories - 1579 Words

Development Theories Sara Nackowicz Psy : 104 Child and Adolescent Development Karen Williams 9/17/12 Page One Development Theories In this paper I will talk about three of the development theories which are personality structure, psychosexual development and psychosocial development. All three of these developments are very important in a child’s life and helps them become who they are and I will explain how and why in this paper. According to Sigmund Freud in our text, there are three essential components: the id, the ego, and the superego. The id stage is more of a selfish state where everything is about you and only you. For an example when you are an infant everything is about you and only you. According†¦show more content†¦According to Sigmund Freud, in psychosexual development the child is discovering their own body in different ways. The first stage is the oral stage where they infant is putting everything in their mouths. According to WIKI, â€Å"In Freudian psychoanalysis, the term oral stage denotes the first psychosexual development stage where in the mouth of the infant is his or her primary erogenous zone.† The mouth is very important for eating and drinking and the babies Page Four Development Theories start to figure this out and learn that it is gratifying when eating and sucking. For an example, babies put a bottle or nipple for feeding or even toys for teething. Babies are so fascinated over their mouths and with them teething it feels good for them to chew on something firm and sometimes when it is cold like a frozen teething ring. The second stage is the anal stage where the child is about two or three years of age and it is time for them to start toilet training. Also according to WIKI, â€Å"The anal stage is the second stage in Sigmund Freud’s theory of psychosexual development, lasting from age 18 months to three years. According to Sigmund Freud, the anus is the primary erogenous zone and pleasure is derived from controlling bladder and bowel movement.† With babies learning how to use the toilet they become fascinated over their body parts too. Now according to Victorian Web Home, â€Å"AtShow MoreRelatedThe Theory Of Child Development858 Words   |  4 PagesSocial scientists have given us several theories on child development. There have been three influential theories that have really shaped how we look at the subject. Each one of these theories offers an insightful perspective that has been very influential in how we view child development. The first theory, we will delve into is Geor ge Herbert Meads Theory of the Social Self which focused on social interaction with developing human beings. Meads believed that, â€Å"a symbolic interactionist, saw theRead MoreThe Theory Of Child Development2414 Words   |  10 Pagesa sound understanding of theories of child development so they can offer activities that are appropriate for the child’s particular stage of development (Early Education, 2012). This essay will compare and contrast key features of developmental theories by applying them to a particular aspect of child development, the aspect that will be investigated is language acquisition. This essay will consider differing theories of language development such as the behaviourist theory proposed by Skinner (1957)Read MoreThe Theory Of Cognitive Development1752 Words   |  8 Pagesspecific, or sequential and elaborate. Piaget believed that cognitive development in children is contingent on four factors: biological maturation, experience with the physical environment, experience with the social environment, and equilibration. 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This theoryRead MoreComparing Theories of Mathematical Development948 Words   |  4 PagesFor this assignment I will describe two theories of mathematical development. I will discuss Jean Piaget’s and Tina Bruce’s theories about how children’s understandings of mathematical develop. Jean Piaget’s research led him to believe that we develop by taking in information, which is then processed by the brain and as a result of this our behaviour changes. He stated that there are stages of development that children move through. The ages are approximate but the sequence is the same for everyoneRead MoreThree Theories of Cognitive Development1674 Words   |  7 PagesThree Theories of Cognitive Development The Swiss psychologist and philosopher Jean Piaget (1896-1980) is well-known for his work towards the cognitive sciences. Arguably one of his most important contributions involves his theory of cognitive development. In this theory, thinking progresses through four distinct stages between infancy and adulthood. Similar in scope to Piaget’s theory is Information Processing, in which human thinking is based on both mental hardware and mental software (KailRead MoreHuman Development Theories Essay1649 Words   |  7 PagesHuman Development Theories In addition to Freud’s psychodynamic theory there are four other human development philosophies; biological, cognitive, behavioral and systems model. Even though these theories differ they all contain the same basic assumptions. People will continue to grow. People exhibit both stability and flux as they pass through life. People are holistic, of mind body and spirit. Lastly, individual people must be understood in the context of relationships and setting (Cash White,Read MorePsychology : Child Development Theories1094 Words   |  5 PagesPsychology: Child Development Theories According to Merriam-Webster, psychology is â€Å"the study of the human mind and its functions†. With psychology, we are able to understand and predict human behavior and overall understand how we think and process the world around us. In this research paper we will be discussing the most known theories of a specific branch of psychology, child development, then I will explain which theory of all I believe is right and why. Developmental psychology is the scientificRead MoreJean Piagets Theory of Development1080 Words   |  5 PagesJean Piaget’s theory is basically cognitive and developmental and most of his studies were based on his three children, he called this the clinical method. This method was used in interviews with patients by asking them questions and observing their behaviour. Whilst using this method he learnt that children under 7 years use different principles to base their judgments on compared to older children. Piaget would use the interview responses for following questions he could ask. The method at firstRead MoreTwo Theories of Literacy Development1395 Words   |  6 PagesIn this task I am going to identify 2 different theories of language development I am going to be doing, Naom Chomsky and Jean Piaget. Jean Piaget According to Piaget, language development is related to cognitive development, that is, the development of the child’s thinking determines when the child can learn to speak and what the child can say. For example, before a child can say, â€Å"This teddy is smaller than that one†, she/he must have developed the ability to judge differences in size.